Fall Ride - Am I crazy?

[longshanks]

We're picking up a bike in mid September and riding for a month in the western Alps.  One of our goals is to tour near Zermatt and Chamonix.  Is it too cold in Sept/Oct for this ride?  Riding on icy roads is not my idea of fun.

If we get early cold weather, our plan is to head south to Tuscany.  Does this make sense?

We've ridden in Austria, Switzerland and Italy before, but it was June.  Very wet on some days, but no frost.

[Handyman]

I rode that area back in 2006 during the first week of October and had no real problems. It does get cold in the early morning and we did have some snow in the higher elevations. You just need to pay attention to the weather and avoid the high passes if it looks like rain. Temps got as low as 30 and as high as 75. Dress in layers and you should be fine,

Handyman

[Orson]

I rode in Tuscany in the first week of November and enjoyed sunny, 70 degree days  

All bets are off if there's any precipitation  

The Appenines extend the entire length of Italy, so there is no need to stick to the Alps to get twisty roads  

[longshanks]

We're bringing wired vests and gloves.   I've never ridden the Appenines, so that has me thinking good thoughts.  I know the Alpine weather can be freakish.  Maybe it will be freakishly perfect.

[Orson]

Apuan Alps, Northern Tuscany  

[longshanks]

We watched the weather and noticed that most of Europe was being drowned in a rain storm, but France was dry.  We spent three weeks touring Provence.  What a trip!

[Aero]

We watched the weather and noticed that most of Europe was being drowned in a rain storm, but France was dry.  We spent three weeks touring Provence.  What a trip!

 

[longshanks]

Here's a French switchback going downhill.

[longshanks]

This is the highest paved road in Europe: Col de Bonette

[longshanks]

This is the back side of the Matterhorn.  There's an article about this in the August issue of Motorcycle Escape.

[longshanks]

We had nearly no rain, but lots of goats.

[longshanks]

Oops.  Missed posing the shot of the goats.  Most of my pics are on my little web site:
www.mjpnw.com

[longshanks]

Here's a shot of a French Alpine road.