Stelvio Pass

[shrekonwheels]

I would love to go there for the scenery, but I do not like riding hair pins. Give me some high speed corners any day over that. I'm probably in the minority, though.

Im with you, I disliked the Hairpin corners going to Devils Lookout in Death Valley.

 

[2112]

Hope you got to Mandello del Lario to visit the Guzzi museum

I took the obligatory 'Guzzi in front of main gate' shot, hardly original but a must do for any Guzzista ::008::

 

[johnpitts01]

We are doing the Lakes region of Italy and The Dolomites 08 July - 25 July.

Should be on the Stelvio 23 July
Grossglockner 22 July

 

[markjenn]

On the subject of summer snow on Stelvio, the following was posted to a bicycling forum I frequent and has some great photos. I don't think you need to be a forum member to read the thread and see the pictures....

http://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/965164-stelvio-pass-where-winter-came-visit-summer.html

- Mark

 

[groundhog]

Great pictures on that link ::008::

 

[Rasher]

A Bucket-List road, but highly over rated IMO, really not a great ride up either ramp, and it is a bit touristy at the top, but the views are pretty good - but you must try the Gavia running South West away from the Stelvio, one of the most beautiful passes in the Alps and the nearby Albula is also very pretty.

Stelvio Top:




Gavia:




The Bernina and Fluella are probably two of the best riders roads in the area, the Bernina is not far from where the Gavia drops you off. The Fluella was where Top Gear went after they decided the Stelvio was crap - and rated it the best road in the world - along with all the other best roads in the world they have named.

The Splugen is probably one of the most stunning roads from an engineering perspective:

Splugen:



You can loop around the Splugen and Albula in a ride out and take in a couple of other passes depending on where your staying.

 

[mingo]

Definitely over rated. From a riding perspective, it's not much fun, doesn't require much in the way of riding technique, add to that lots of bicycles, and slow moving vehicles, campers, etc.. I guess it's worth doing once so you can say you did it, but Gavia pass not far from there is far more enjoyable and traffic is very light.


Enjoy your trip and post a few pics!

 

[groundhog]

We were planning on doing some other passes and it looks like the Gavia needs to go on the list then ::008:: My mate has the sat nav and does all the route planning, I just happily follow him around enjoying the roads and scenery. He usually comes up with some great routes and more than likely already has the Gavia on his list. I will check though. just in case!
Wherever we end up............I won't be at work, I'll be somewhere new in a foreign land, and I'll be on my first big trip on my S10............that will do me

 

[mingo]

If you decide to hit Stelvio, try to do it early in the morning before the bicycles and their support vehicles arrive. Btw, the section of Stelvio below the tree line is meandering and enjoyable. On your way down from Stelvio, the pass coming down from Stelvio into Switzerland is fun. If you're in the vicinity of the town of Bolzano (Bozen), you must hit Passo Pennes, it's a fast paced ascent with spectacular views, it's also known as Penser joch in German. (all towns and mountain passses have dual Italian and German names in south Tirol, as it used to be part of Austria, and was "given" to Italy at the conclusion of the Great War; "the war to end all wars".)

 

[Rasher]

+1 to ride it first thing - or later in the day, the first time we went there we were staying in Livigno about 30 minutes away, arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday and as the weather was great went to tick the Stelvio off the list, we went up the Umbrail (comes up North to South and joins just short of the top of the Stelvio meeting the West ramp)

Barely saw another vehicle, and by the time we came down again on the West ramp it was almost devoid of traffic as everyone was leaving as we arrived.

In 2013 we went over it again to "tick off" the East Ramp, we had come in via the Gavia and stopped overnight in Bormio so hit the Stelvio at around 8:30 and got a good run.


Tell your route planning mate to buy a copy of "Motorcycle Journey's through the Alps and beyond", it has @ 80 Alpine Ride-Outs covering around 300 passes with a number of good routes in the Stelvio region.

I have posted a bit about my two visits here:

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1274

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4143

Lots more good info on the site ::008::

 

[groundhog]

+1 to ride it first thing - or later in the day, the first time we went there we were staying in Livigno about 30 minutes away, arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday and as the weather was great went to tick the Stelvio off the list, we went up the Umbrail (comes up North to South and joins just short of the top of the Stelvio meeting the West ramp)

Barely saw another vehicle, and by the time we came down again on the West ramp it was almost devoid of traffic as everyone was leaving as we arrived.

In 2013 we went over it again to "tick off" the East Ramp, we had come in via the Gavia and stopped overnight in Bormio so hit the Stelvio at around 8:30 and got a good run.


Tell your route planning mate to buy a copy of "Motorcycle Journey's through the Alps and beyond", it has @ 80 Alpine Ride-Outs covering around 300 passes with a number of good routes in the Stelvio region.

I have posted a bit about my two visits here:

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1274

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4143

Lots more good info on the site ::008::

Just had a quick look at your write ups Rasher, great pictures, looks like two fantastic trips !! I will take a longer look later tonight and digest it all ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

Just had a quick look at your write ups Rasher, great pictures, looks like two fantastic trips !! I will take a longer look later tonight and digest it all ::008::

::026:: on the Umbrail Pass, I drive that way to the Stelvio on route to Bormio. But the road through the Swiss National Park is fantastic.

 

[littledave]

I will be riding this in four weeks time.................YIKES !!!!! https://youtu.be/nArAepvdeI0

myself and 2112 will be there on the 23rd of june on our s10 all things being well have a good trip

 

[2112]

myself and 2112 will be there on the 23rd of june

::015:: ::015:: ::015::

 

[groundhog]

::015:: ::015:: ::015::
[/quote

You wouldn't be a tad excited would you 2112 ?? ::025::

We are there the week before you ! Have a great rip yourself ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

I just hope all the snow is way off the road ways by then...... I took a small 225km ride this morning up through the Klausenpass in Glarus, snow still around and that was only at 1900 meters, roads were wet with snow run off. I'll try to post some picks if I can

 

[Dogdaze]

another

 

[2112]

Nice pic's ::008::

 

[2112]

We are there the week before you !

I hope you have a great trip too, enjoy ::008::

 

[Bryn]

Just be careful where you pull up for photo opportunities ;D