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July 12, 2008: More details on France, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria after my Europe trip.
January 3, 2008: More details riding in Switzerland, France and Italy.
November 26, 2007: Hints on riding in Switzerland, France and Italy.
November 21, 2007: More photos from travelings, and now all travel diaries online.
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A few travel diaries, most of them written in german.
The bicycle tours I made mostly with a recumbent, a so-called "longrider" ( Fateba L1).
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2008: Europa, 8 weeks, 7500km,  : Switzerland, Italy, France, Netherlands, Danmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria |
2007: France, 1 week, 750km, : Lenzburg (Switzerland), Basel, Montbeliard (France), Dole, Bourg en Bresse, Geneve |
2005: France & Italy, 5 weeks, 3500km, : through France, and then meditarean coast, and north of Italy |
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| 2004: Marseille (german only), 1 week, 800km, : from Lenzburg (Switzerland) to Marseille (France) via Rhone Valley |
2004: USA, 6 weeks, 1600km, : from Denver/CO to Sedona/AZ - the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon |
2003: Sardegna (german only), 1 week, 560km,  : on the northern part of the island |
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| 2002: Bordeaux - Hendaye (german only), 2 weeks, 500km, : french atlantic coast from Bordeaux to Hendaye |
I'm also planning a USA Coast-to-Coast Tour sometime, apprx. 4800km or 3000 miles.
I'm often now cycling aside of the official cycling roads but on the streets which often have a cycling lane aside. The official bicycle routes are aside, without much traffic by cars, but often up to 50% longer, and not so fast to ride (lot of curves).
Usually I also ride flat routes, along rivers and lakes as you can see the map.
 My Personal Routes in Switzerland |
Routes themselves in red, steeper ascents marked orange, with following detail description:
- Hinwil - Uster - Zürich: 24-30km 1:45-2:15h, reverse way +30min - mostly bike trail or bike lane, go through Dübendorf, stay on main road inside the city
- Zürich - Baden - (Brugg or Mellingen) - Lenzburg: 38km 2:30h - from Bucheggplatz go down direction City/Limmatplatz, go off Escher Wyss Platz and go along Tram 4 to Hard, then either along Limmat river or main road to Spreitenbach, there detour from main road to bike signs, then rejoin main road after Spreitenbach, in Baden either detour to Fislibach, direction Mellingen there take bike trail avoid Mellingen itself, or ride through Brugg, and then to Othmarsingen, Lenzburg
- Zürich - Baden - Koblenz - Basel: 80km 5:00h, stay on main road to Baden, it's most fast - reverse way make sure at first "Zurich" sign take "City Bike Trail", don't remain on main road but take last section into the city the bike trail
- Zürich - Zug: 30km 1:50h - direction Adliswil, either main road with bikelane, or dedicated bike road along the river Sihl, mostly flat, after Sihlbrugg decending to Baar; reverse direction +20min
- Lenzburg - Olten - Solothurn - Biel: 78-100km 3:30-5:30h - ride bike trail to Olten, there you can take official (+10-20km longer) bike trail No 5, or take the "Solothurn Bike Trail" which is less nice but much faster, you even can stay on the main road which is also nice as you travel through nice villages, after Solothurn either take bike trail No 5 or stay on main road to Biel
- Biel - Yverdon Les Bains - Lausanne: 100-120km 5:30-6:00h - Biel to Yverdon take nice bike trail No 5, it's a bit slow but nice, after Yverdon ride to La Sarraz, Cossonay, then via Morges to Lausanne, or leave Lausanne out and go to direction Morges in case you ride further to Geneve later
- Lausanne - Geneve: 60km 3:00-3:30h, bike lanes on main street, not so much traffic as most cars and trucks are on the highway
- Hinwil - Rapperswil - Hirzel - Zug: 38km 2:30h - reverse way +30-40min - from Wädenswil to Hirzel apprx. 40-50min, downhill from Hirzel to Sihlbrugg takes 7 min when you let it ride, rather ride fast and avoid cars trying to pass you, after Sihlbrugg take bike trail leading down to Baar, from there good signalisation to Zug or Rotkreuz in case you ride to Lucern
- Zug - Luzern: 24km 1:30h - bike lane on main road, very busy road from Cham to Rotkreuz, avoid afternoon and evenings for that part, after Ebikon before Lucern a lot of traffic lights which slow you down, enter Lucern itself, it's worth it a stay
- Luzern - Wolhusen - Langnau i.E.: 78km 4:30h - pass main train station, keep right then, ride to "Emmenbrücke" (not via Littau), there direction Wolhusen, has nice bike lane, after Wolhusen some climbing to Ebnet, apprx. 150m, afterwards flat mostly, going up a bit til Escholzmatt, afterwards a bit downhill again but hardly noticeable
- Langnau i.E. - Langenthal - Lenzburg: 87km 4:30-5:00h, head direction Sumiswald, there a bit climbing, detour left once you see "Langenthal", a bit climbing, a bit downhill again, otherwise rather flat, to Langenthal, then stay on rather busy road of Kantonstrasse "Bern - Zurich", follow sign to "Zurich", Oftringen, Unterentfelden, stay then on the main road direction "Zurich" still until you reach Lenzburg, as said, it's a busy road but has bike lane all along
- Bern - Langenthal - Lenzburg: 82km 4:00h - from Bern railway-station, left follow "Zurich (1)", Worblaufen, Schönbühl, Hindelbank, Kirchberg, stay on "Zurich (1)" until Langenthal, then the same mentioned above
Official Swiss Bike Trails/Routes |
Switzerland has 9 large bike trails No 1 to No 9, they are ideal for enjoying the ride and taking some vacation on the road with a bicycle, but aren't always as good to get from A to B, and better bike trails are available, for more information see Veloland.ch  .
- Rhone Route: Basel, Aarau, Luzern, Stans, Andermatt, Locarno, Chiasso
- Rhein Route: Basel, Koblenz, Romanshorn, Chur, Andermatt
- Nord Süd Route: Basel, Liestal, Aarau, Luzern, Stans, Andermatt, Bellinzano, Chiasso
- Alpenpanorama Route: St. Margrethen, Ziegelbrücke, Glarus, Stans, Sarnen, Thun, Fribourg, Aigle
- Mittelland Route: Romanshorn, Zürich, Aarau, Solothurn, Biel, Yverdon les Bains, Lausanne
- Graubünden Route: Martina, Scuol, St. Moritz, Thusis, Chur, Bellinzona
- Jura Route: Basel, Sainelegier, Vallorbe, Nyon
- Aara Route: Koblenz, Aarau, Solothurn, Biel, Bern, Thun, Gletsch
- Seen Route: Rorschach, Landquart, Rapperswil, Zug, Luzern, Sarnen, Interlaken, Gstaad, Montreux
There is hardly a place you can't get with the bicycle in Switzerland, which is nice to know.
If you care to ride Switzerland, purchase the "Generalkarte 1:300,000" which is the best as it has topological detail information, don't buy the official "Veloland Schweiz" by Kümmerly + Frey map as it may illustrate the official bike trails which are signalized quite well themselves, but it gives you almost no information of climbing elevation details; it only gives you >> indication for hard climbing and is missing smaller roads suitable for riding with the bicycle.
Typical waterfountain in Switzerland, Neuthal near Bauma (Switzerland) |
- Shopping: Mo-Fr 8:00-18:30, Sa 8:00-16:00 (17:00), at larger railway stations Migros, Coop and Aperto exist which have open also Su. Backeries open 6:30 or 7:00 and some have open Su morning as well.
- Camping: sufficent commercial camp-sites (season is 1st May to 30th September, a few whole year), CHF 15-25 per person & night, wide-range quality:
- Geneve: has only one official campsite, a bit outside of the city (follow "camping" sign) - otherwise sufficient option to camp in the wild outside of the city itself direction border to France
- Biel/Bienne: Biohof Camping on No 5 direction Yverdon ca. 10min to ride, beautiful sight and quiet
- Chur: worst camp-site, avoid it
- Wild Camping: best spots are near forests, at or after sunset pitch your tent, or ask owner/farmer of the land beforehand, WC: "dig a hole with a small shovel, do your business, cover hole with earth/dirt" as all wild camper do.
- Water: in swiss-german part almost every village has a well with drinkable water to fill your bottles, swiss-french alike but less often, swiss-italian part rather scarce.
- Umbrail 2501
- Nufenen 2480
- Gr. St. Bernhard 2469
- Furka 2436
- Flüela 2383
- Bernina 2328
- Albula 2312
- Julier 2284
- Susten 2224
- Grimsel 2165
- Ofenpass 2149
- Splügen 2113
- Gotthard 2108
- S. Bernardino 2065
- Oberalp 2044
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- Simplon 2005
- Klausen 1948
- Lukmanier 1914
- Kerenzerberg 1848
- Maloja 1815
- Col d. l. Croix 1778
- Glaubenbühl.1611
- Gurnigel 1608
- Lenzerheide 1549
- Pragel 1548
- Col du Pillon 1546
- Jaun 1509
- Chasseral 1500
- Ibergeregg 1406
- Brünig 1008
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My Italy Routes |
From Genua to La Spezia has two steep ascents, also less possibilities to camp in the wild, after La Spezia again more space.
Along the meditarrean sea not many possibilities to camp in the wild, but many camp grounds.
Beautiful route from the meditarrean sea to Lucca, Florence, and then Passo de la Muraglione - very beautiful.
- Camping: sufficient camp-sites, €4-12
- Wild Camping: good options near forests, or rivers; along meditarrean sea rare possibilities due high density of population and houses
- Water: public wells scarce, rather buy water
Roma is a nightmare with the bicycle, it's the worst city I ever rode, there are a few bicycle lanes, but hardly anyone rides bicycles in the city, it's simply too dangerous, much traffic in the east part of Roma.
Genua is easy to pass through, lot of traffic during the week, and weekend almost empty streets.
Florence is terrific to ride through by bicycle, narrow streets, lot of places to stay and site-seeing.
Venice there isn't much to ride, put the bike aside and walk, but definitly worth a visit nevertheless, once in your life.
Entry from Italy to Switzerland via Reschenpass, nice ascent from Bozen, then Martina (Switzerland), and steep and long Fluelapass (apprx. 1:45-2:15 ascending), descending down to Davos.
Entry St. Gotthard, flat part to Erstfeld, then light ascension to Wassen, then more climbing to Göschenen, then either take the train to Airolo through the tunnel, or go over the pass, be aware of winter season (November to May) when the St. Gotthard pass is closed and you have to take the train. From Airolo light descension into Leventina, exit to Italy via Chiasso and Como, direction Bergamo very hilly and immense traffic, to be avoided.
My France Routes |
The route from Bordeaux to Biaritz along the coast is terrific, and many possibilities to camp in the wild - at high-season (June-August) most camp grounds are full, be aware.
Route from Sete to Marseille is beautiful, lot of possibilities to camp in the wild, Camargue. After Marseille is no more flat but quite hilly for a while with multiple ascents, afterwards even bicycle trails to Nice, then slow traffic to Monaco and Genua as most traffic is on the highway.
East / West from Geneve to Limoges, Bordeaux, the east side is hilly and therefore slow to ride.
Route from Mulhouse to Montbeliar as the Rhone-Rhine channel is pleasant, afterwards no cycling roads and still hilly as one cannot ride that close to the river anymore.
- Shopping: 8:00-13:00 14:30-20:00 like Casino, Carrefour, Lidl etc, a few also open Su for a short time except at holidays
- Camping: sufficient camp-sites, €4-15, be aware of high season (June-August) of full camp-sites
- Wild Camping: good options near forests, or rivers; along meditarrean sea a bit more rare, but still possible
- Water: public wells scarce, rather buy water
Paris is most beautiful and a joy to ride with the bicycle, it might be hard to get into the center of Paris passing through all the suburbs which seamless connect to Paris itself, once you are in there is a lot to explore, most beautiful city I saw in my life; leaving the city by bicycle is as hard as entering the city avoiding highways and such, detail map of the city required.
Marseille is worth to pass through, best along the coast, then you enter the city go on the large Boulevard St. Michelet which becomes Avenue du Prado, that road leads to Cassis then.
Bordeaux is difficult to pass through, as most signs show highway to the atlantic - another option is keep riding north in the city, til you almost left Bordeaux and watch cycling signs, go that bicycle path which leads to the atlantic without any car traffic, but is 15km longer than direct route.
Entry from France to Switzerland over Basel/Bale is flat, via Bourg en Bresse and then Geneve has two ascents; via Viry/Frangy (without passing through Lyon) also flat reaching Geneve, also a way to ride down the rhone-valley, with a lot of industry (not that beautiful) but fast reaching meditarrean sea. Passing Avignon at weekends as it has almost no traffic, otherwise try to ride around Avignon.
Germany / Czech Republic / Austria Routes |
Northeast has many bicycle roads and lanes, almost every street from town to town has a bicycle lane as well, with good signalization.
East germany the roads are all newly made and well for riding, yet, many farmer roads, also newly built, lead parallel to main roads yet are not signalized - unfortuntely.
South germany, Bavaria and Badenwürtenberg have good bicycle roads, yet, dedicated maps are required to decipher where they start and lead to, as local signalization isn't sufficient.
Berlin is worth to ride, approaching it from west from Potsdam follow B1, once you read city border follow B1 or the local bicycle signs "Mitte" - be aware from the border of the city to the center over 27km, it took me 2 hours.
Once you are in the city most attractions are well signalized for pedestrians and bicycles.
Leaving Berlin via B96 toward south, e.g. to Dresden is recommended, yet, the first 20km of B96 outside Berlin is a car-only highway, and one has to ride through small villages parallel to B96 - once the B96 reaches the Berlin Highwayring it becomes rideable for bicycles and leads to Dresden.
German cities have often bicycle lanes and are well signalized for bicycles as well - unfortunatly Schleswig is not part of that list, really bad signalization in general, but in particular for bicycles.
Rendsburg you can use the pedestrian tunnel to ride under the Nord-Ostsee Kanal/North-Eastsea Channel, use the elevator to reach the tunnel.
In general the east part of Germany is nature-wise very beautiful and recommended.
From Dresden you may take the Elbe bicycle road almost to Prague, unfortunatly the road isn't always that close to the river, e.g. at Königstein rather take normal street.
- Shopping: Su most stores closed except backery, otherwise 8:00 to 20:00 for large supermarkets.
- Wild Camping: good opportunities, south Germany a lot of farming with less opportunities - reach for forests.
- Water: south Germany has public wells, otherwise rather buy water
The bicycle road no 2 leads from north to Prague, unfortunatly there are parts with gravel and even stairs - unbelievable.
Approaching Prague/Praha from north take 603, that's most simple - leaving Prague I experienced as difficult, finally I rode via Jesenice and then 608 and then 3 to the south, yet, the 3 is very busy and not really recommended - after Tabor direction Wien/Vienna yet it becomes more soothing traffic wise and acceptable.
Czech Republic is nature-wise very beautiful, in particular the Elbe area and hilly region around Prague with forest.
In 2008/06 when I was visiting Czech Republic they still used Kronen (Kr) as currency (1 € = Kr 237), by 2009 they will use Euro as well.
Approaching Austria from Prague you ride 4, until Pettendorf where bicycles are no longer permitted, ride to Tulln and reach the Donau Radweg / Danube Bicycle Road, there you ride either to Linz or Wien/Vienna.
From Linz to Salzburg it's slightly hilly.
The Donau Radweg / Danube Bicycle Road in the east is well maintained and easy to ride, particular Wien/Vienna is well signalized for bicycles. West around the Wachau is nature-wise most beautiful and recommended, yet, the bicycle road leads away often from Danube, before Linz the signalization isn't that good anymore - two provinces have their own number for bicycle roads, stupid.
Via Salzburg (A), Chiemsee (D), Lindau (D), Bregenz (A) you may reach Switzerland without any passes.
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