Swiss Cycling Experience

Narrow well maintained roads, farm stands, and diverse scenery. That is how I would sum up my best bike riding experiences. The Swiss realize they have a special place; they create roads, vistas and nooks that exploit the landscape so all can enjoy. Towns, farmers and the road engineers all seem to agree on making rds for those who want to enjoy the journey.

Signs

Standard colors and symbols helped us navigate the thousands of trails we found in Switzerland. The government and tourism lobby felt it was important to pay for standardization of the signs for the benefit of the tourists. These would be great in Washington what do you think?

Bernina Pass Ride

Bernina Pass Railroad and Autoroad head south and west from the Engadine Valley. On a nice summer day, my friend Peter and I road the train over the pass into Italy. After fueling up on some pasta, we returned, but this time I was on my bike. Going over the pass twice allowed us to see the glaciers, valleys and cows from different perspectives and lighting.

Swiss Clean

It is common to find a well used bike cleaning station at the bottom of popular Mtn Bike Flowride trails.

Alpen Flower Ride

In 1200 meters of climbing on a mountain bike between Arosa and Lenzerheide, the flowers and greenery just got more intense. I took these pictures as we climbed.

Ahh Tanks!

After 20 km of riding in the countryside Ruth and I were surprised to be stopped by a convoy of tracked personnel carriers. I was really alarmed until I saw the Swiss flag and the smile on the drivers' faces. They were doing drills, humming along at about 40kph! 10 tanks took a turn in front of us and ripped the pavement up in the process. The drivers were clearly have fun with this very impressive display of force. Glad, we are not a war zone.

Pass Season

The snow is melting and all of major passes in Switzerland are open. During a recent ride, I met Daniel, a Davosite (person from Davos, CH). We climbed Fluela Pass, 2326m high, under threatening skies. In this case, the downhill to Susch was the most dramatic. Lots of Alpen roses were in bloom.

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Fl%FCela-Pass&qryMountainID=5346

Ruth looking for Cows

What do you think - could she find any?

Obersee Ride

Normally, I head for the hills for a bike ride, but Switzerland has some amazing flat rides around the local lakes. Today, my experienced bike-touring uncle, Manuel (visiting from California), and I cycled around the Obersee. Starting and ending in Rapperswil, this ride had it all: lake, mountain, and valley views, an ice cream stop, and a quiet road for Fiona to run on. Riding with friends is much better than alone.

Kyburg WyStubi: Making Friends

Just about every town in the Zurich Oberland has a small public building, close to the town square. At one time the one pictured here housed the communal milk house, as was typical. This building was fixed up and made into a wine tasting room. Michel and his wife put out a bench once a month and allow the public to try their Lac Leman wines. It made a great stop on our local bicycle ride.

Ligurian Coast Cycling

At the end of our Provence Cycling Trip we trained home via Italy. We spent the night in Spotorno and I got up early for a short bike ride around Capo Noli. Bellissimo!

Peille and Ste-Anges: Heart stoppingly beautiful ride in the French Rivera’s countryside

On our last day in France, we cycled north from Nice into the Alps to see to examples of the 11^th Century perched villages. Built high on the side of mountains, these villages were unwelcoming to blundering gangs of long ago and so have remained intact. The pre-car streets were narrow and designed to keep the wind out. People today welcome visitors (tourists) by painting and planting things (like window shutters) that increase the appeal of the towns. We rode our bikes over a pass, Colde la Madone (927m), between the towns and then finished with a thrilling downhill to Menton, France.

Southern Bike Ride

On a sunny day in Ticino (southern CH), we all went for a bike ride up the valley to a really neat (and long) suspension bridge the provides access across the river to an old village on the remote side of the valley.  The warm sun was glorious, it felt like another continent instead of a 3 hour train ride away.  Switzerland surprises again.

Scooters are taking over

This original bike rack at a school has been usurped by today's scooter generation.  Bikes are more popular here than in the US,  but these scooters are also a very common transportation device with kids and commuting adults.  Ruth would like one for getting to the morning train.  

Low Light Cycling

Afternoon light made the green fields, Zurichsee, and new snow on Mt. Santis stand out.
Pfaffikon, SZ

Carrrara Doftbrunnen:

Kind of bizzare, why is there a roof over the fountain? That is the Glarner Alpen in the distance. - Glaubunden

Rock Fall Protection: Versam-Bodaduz Road. - Glaubunden

Valendas Town fountain:

Wow strange, a wooden mermaid fountain, seit 1750.   It is 500kms from the sea  and 800 meters above sea level makes you wonder who the carver was. - Valendas, Glaubunden

Late Summer:

On this warm sunny day, I got in one more cycle hillclimb. They are a great way to see the country. Giswil is the town in the distance. Uphill is a deeply eroded canyon, that created this braided river in the foreground. Sarnersee and Stansberg are in the distance.

Yes, I am a gps/climbing dork

Old Fire house:

Built before fire hydrants and fire companies.  Two built the built to house a pump and canvas hoses. The fountain (with reservoir basin) in front is to draw water from.