Europes best biking roads

[Aero]

I saw a link to this on the Visordown site. Some nice sounding roads!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/mar/24/europe.top10motorbikerides?page=all

[R Doug]

I have bookmarked the site for future reference.  Thanks.

[FJR-UK]

If you do No.1. The Cat and Fiddle run - A537, Buxton-Macclesfield, England, go for the views, not the sport riding. Speed cameras, police and the Sport Biking Lunatics have pretty much ruined it. Around Buxton, it's not uncommon to see a "No Leathers" or "No Bikers" sign on pubs.

Still a nice cruise.

[Guzzipat]

The Cat & fiddle is a nice road, but it is't even the best road in the UK, never mind Europe. There are many better, including half the roads in Scotland.


There are some pretty obvious omisions from the rest of the list too;
The Stelvio Pass, and a whole area of geat riding in the Eiffel Germany (nr the Nurburgring) for instance.

[Cpl Punishment]

Still like the A470 from Cardiff up north...

[FJR-UK]

Still like the A470 from Cardiff up north...

Damn close to what I was thinking: the A44 from Rhayader to Aberystwyth used to be a favourite of mine.  

[Cpl Punishment]

Damn close to what I was thinking: the A44 from Rhayader to Aberystwyth used to be a favourite of mine.  

Oh, the Elan Valley. I was brought up in that area. It is just so stunningly beautiful.

[Ant]

If you do No.1. The Cat and Fiddle run - A537, Buxton-Macclesfield, England, go for the views, not the sport riding. Speed cameras, police and the Sport Biking Lunatics have pretty much ruined it. Around Buxton, it's not uncommon to see a "No Leathers" or "No Bikers" sign on pubs.

Still a nice cruise.

 
That's the area I grew up in and I regularly ride the Cat and Fiddle when I go to visit my parents. It is a gobsmacking road but it just isn't worth riding hell for leather. One hand you can lose your license, the other hand you're off the edge of the road getting intimately acquainted with the valley below. The area between Burton-upon-Trent, Buxton and then on to Glossop is beautiful riding country as long as you don't want to be doing warp speed.
Via Gella in that area around Buxton is a nice road too.
Oh, and if you see a cyclist around Buxton heading towards Glossop then give a wave, it might be me if I'm back at my parents

How about some of the roads through the Brecon Beacons in Wales? Or lot of other roads in Wales? We spent Easter riding around there (ended up near Saundersfoot), beautiful area. Now I need to try and get out there more often.

[Cpl Punishment]

Wales, Scotland and the North are riding Nirvana. Even in other areas, like the mIdlands and the South, there are great roads. I think we're very, very lucky here in the UK.

Now, remind me, why are we going to Italy?

[Ant]

Now, remind me, why are we going to Italy?

We're going to Italy so that the 'muricans and co don't know what we have over here and we can keep them to ourselves!    

[FJR-UK]

I thought you were going so you could practice your Italian!  

Last year, I learned the Italian word for "wheel bearing". Have fun!  

[Cpl Punishment]

Oh, please come too! Without you, I will feel so oooold besides these children.....

[FJR-UK]

All my money is being spent in this country this year. I'm afraid you'll have to feel old without me.  

[Orson]

I saw a link to this on the Visordown site. Some nice sounding roads!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/mar/24/europe.top10motorbikerides?page=all

He says this about the Amalfi coast road: Never attempt this ride in summer as you'll spend most of your time stuck in the tourist traffic that chokes the narrow road.

 

whut kinda dweeb gets stuck in Italian traffic?  

I think it`s a law there that you must straddle the center line and banzai yer way to the front  

At least that`s the impression I get  

[throttlemeister]

You mean... they actually have laws in Italy???  

[Cpl Punishment]

All my money is being spent in this country this year. I'm afraid you'll have to feel old without me.  

I am sure that they are going to put me in a corner and throw things at me.

[FJR-UK]

Hope it's food...  

[Global Rider]

Now, remind me, why are we going to Italy?

Because it doesn't rain nearly as often.  

[Global Rider]

Last year, I learned the Italian word for "wheel bearing". Have fun!  

Simple! Cuscinetto or cuscinetti (plural). Why, did one fail on you?

[FJR-UK]

Why, did one fail on you?

Front left. Disintegrated. Gave me the opportunity to explore Avezzano. A very nice Yamaha mechanic dropped everything to get me on the road again.

[Global Rider]

Front left. Disintegrated. Gave me the opportunity to explore Avezzano. A very nice Yamaha mechanic dropped everything to get me on the road again.

What, on an almost new, ultra reliable FJR...whats this world coming to. 

I had the same thing happen in the town of Santa Maria Maggiore, except the original rear bearing was 21 years old; damn BMW quality. I was expecting at least 30 years out of that sucker! By the way, the 337 from Locarno into Domodossola is nice and twisty.

You know how English speaking people get so worried about travelling outside of English speaking areas. You've read about those concerns on my Euro touring thread in this folder. Well back then, I spoke a whole 5 words of Italian...maybe.

That was late afternoon when that happened. By 10 the next morning, I was rolling up the Simplon Pass.

So much for language issues and worries.

[FJR-UK]

What, on an almost new, ultra reliable FJR...whats this world coming to.  

My sentiments exactly.

I had been in a 20 mph collision with a van several months previously. I don't know if that had any impact on the bearing condition. (Pun intended.) The left front was fractured in several places, the right was fine. The mechanic got the thing dismantled only to find out he had no replacement. Some would have told me to wait a day or two for delivery. This gentleman hopped in his van, drove to another dealer (I'm guessing here – he went somewhere) and had the bike back on the road in three hours.

The main hiccup was the Italian lunch hour. We arrived at his dealership at noon. The place was shut for lunch until 1600. So, although he had me back on the road, same day, we took a hotel room for the night. Not much to recommend in Avezzano besides the dealer and a steak house we found.