Are you up for an STN International (Dolomites, Alps, Pyrenees, or UK)

[stefrrr]

Vote & comment please! If you know of any particularities that would exclude a certain time frame, post here!

[throttlemeister]

As said in the other thread, avoid may and august. May will have plenty passes still closed due to snow, and august is still holiday season meaning crowded roads and slow traffic.

[bizarro]

Any time is fine (in my dreams).

[greench440]

What happened to July  

The last two weeks of June / first two weeks of July are the time frame I would like.

[Global Rider]

As said in the other thread, avoid may and august. May will have plenty passes still closed due to snow, and august is still holiday season meaning crowded roads and slow traffic.

  the last two weeks in JUNE are the best compromise. All passes are open. It isn't too hot. And the roads and hotels are quite empty.

[Ant]

What happened to July  

The last two weeks of June / first two weeks of July are the time frame I would like.

July is when it starts to get busy with Central Europe peoples going on holiday  

[Aero]

I agree that May is too early for the high passes, although there is beautiful riding at lower altitudes around then. And yes, August is when everyone is on holiday so lots of restaurants in France are closed and the roads are crowded. The snow can fall in the passes in September, so that leaves June or July. I am happy with either.

[uvakat]

Anytime during school holidays would be good

[Lon]

Mods: Sticky?

[DredheadV2.0]

Okie.  

[gforce]

Just returned from Frankfurt, where my wife has a little ancestral house, 10 min from Frankfurt Airport, which we usually occupy during July.  Though we don't have much spare sleeping space, we do have off-street parking space for several bikes (not to be taken for granted in European cities) and plenty of hotel space nearby.  Given the ease, both logistically and economically of shipping bikes to FRA, it might be a very good place to start and/or finish.

I'm seriously thinking of shipping the FJR over there next summer because there are so many enormously enjoyable sport-touring opportunities in nearly every direction in "old Europe."  The old roads wend their way through truly gorgeous country, dotted by towns and villages of varying size, many with an old burg or schloss (small castle) or other notable historical bit.  And, no matter where you may stop, there are almost universally wonderful inns and bistros where an hour, or an evening, can be passed quite pleasantly.  

Add a dollop of GPS and the Autobahn network and you can either get to what you need or get back on schedule in a flash.  

IMO, there's no need to flock to the headline attractions; except for the big cities, you almost can't make a wrong turn.  Europe is the end of the sport-touring rainbow.

[Ant]

 

come oooooon guys... this plan must not die!!!  

[Ant]

Speaking of which... would it be possible for a mod to merge the "Ride the Dolomites" thread with this one? Most of the planning to date has occured in that thread but this one got stickied.

Ta muchly!  

[Cpl Punishment]

Can do most times, with warnings, but I do like the UK...for biking it has some of the most varied country anywhere in the world. Except NZ. But they have the most irritating accents in the universe. And are in the middle of nowhere for that reason.

[Migs]

Just come back from a fortnights hiking in the Dolomites and can certainly vouch for it being drop dead gorgeous . Touble is, the whole world knows about it and it is totally mobbed  

I was based in Pedraces near Corvara, plenty of very nice passes within easy reach but the traffic is so heavy, bikes are just permanantly overtaking.

Slovenia is much quieter and cheaper but more limited in the size of the alpine region.

[Global Rider]

Just come back from a fortnights hiking in the Dolomites and can certainly vouch for it being drop dead gorgeous . Trouble is, the whole world knows about it and it is totally mobbed  

Thats because you went now. Expect to find it crowded July till the beginning of September.

Go in June and the roads are near empty.

[Orson]

Thats because you went now. Expect to find it crowded July till the beginning of September.

Go in June and the roads are near empty.

I was there in June 2005 and it was still crowded  

most notable were the packs of newbie motorcyclists. I say newbies cuz I wuz havin' to pass them incessantly. They'd have to be newbies to be getting passed by a Guzzi on roads that favor a lighter bike  

[Mitcho]

June of next year would be good if I can rent a bike over there.
I have done lots of cycling in June in the Dolomites so I would love to go on a STN INT event there
ciao,
Mitch

[Cpl Punishment]

How about a trip to Romania?

[Ant]

How about a trip to Romania?

What is there? My geography gets hazier the further east you go