Planning an Alpine tour

[RBEmerson]

Agreed that trip insurance is not a great idea.

I have Medicare with supplemental insurance. I'll check the coverage. Even if I weren't riding, it's useful to know about coverage in more pedestrian (as it were) situations. Given we visit family at least annually, it's nice to know if we're covered if someone trips over a curb.

Swiss German is, IMHO, a secret code. We just spent a couple of days occasionally chatting with Swiss sailors. The German expression "Swiss German is a throat disease" is not without its basis in fact. Ask DD for more information on this.  

I spent some time trying to discuss the details of a snowboard with a fellow ski gondola passenger. After too much time spent finding the right words, the guy said "I'm Dutch, you're American, let's speak English. It's easier."  

[Sport-Touring]

[GvG]

IMO the best reason to not go with an organized tour is the weather. I've rerouted or switched from a clockwise trip to a counter-clockwise one pretty often because of bad forecasts.

Next to the obvious Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein you can also use your German in Italy......as long as you stay in South Tyrol (Stelvio anyone?). And it's also one of the official languages in Belgium, but that region is like 0.7% of Belgium.

[RBEmerson]

Good point about being flexible with travel as weather changes.

[Orson]

In case you haven't been, Luxembourg is often overlooked and is worth a visit. While the southern part is relatively flat, the northern part is in the foothills of the Eiffel Mountains and offers some nice riding. The city of Luxembourg has a nice castle.

The ride to Luxembourg along the scenic Moselle River is definitely worth it if you haven't ridden it before.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I'm back!!

Sorry to have missed this thread until now, but I was busy exploring some new roads in southern France  My god, but there are some fantastic roads down along the French/Spanish border  


I can understand your desire to stick with countries with Germanic languages, but as others said, that's not a good reason to not explore further. Give me a day to get settled and I can give you some more thoughts...

[GvG]

In case you haven't been, Luxembourg is often overlooked and is worth a visit. While the southern part is relatively flat, the northern part is in the foothills of the Eiffel Mountains and offers some nice riding. The city of Luxembourg has a nice castle.

The ride to Luxembourg along the scenic Moselle River is definitely worth it if you haven't ridden it before.

Forgot it it in my list of German speaking countries  
And Namibia....  

The roads in Luxembourg are very well maintained and petrol is cheap (for western Europe).
Best racetrack road: the 25 from Wiltz to Kautenbach. _{And the police know it as well.}

[RBEmerson]

Good friends, let me sort out a few points.

Point the first: this won't be an open-end, Gene & Neda tour. Give or take, two weeks is about it. "So many places, so little time."

Point the second: this isn't being done on an open-ended budget.

Point the third: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are in. Andora through Zambia are out. Yes. I'll miss the delights of Azerbaijan, Qatar, etc., etc.

[RBEmerson]

At this point I have leads on tour companies. More names are welcome.

What I don't have is options for DIY bike rentals..

And I'm still looking for comments from BTDT from the States.

ADDED: Agreed that the trip along the Moselle, at least as far as Trier (didn't get further on the day trip), recommends itself highly. Coming back towards Wiesbaden via Hunsrück commends itself, too.  

Oh yeah, and there's some very good wine to be had along the way. Oh my yes.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

At this point I have leads on tour companies. More names are welcome.

What I don't have is options for DIY bike rentals..

More to come, but here's an early-morning addition to this thread: Knopf Tours

Based in Heidelberg, so not too far out of the way and more importantly, some of the most prestigious and professional motorcycle riders that I personally know use this guy's services (such as Helge Pedersen, et al, of GlobeRiders). I have heard nothing but A+ stuff about him, even if I can't vouch for him personally. He has a good selection of bikes and support - I recommend that you check out his site.


Ok, off to class. I'll post up some destination thoughts in a bit.  

[GvG]

And when are you going?
If it's July/August than that'll influence the route suggestions I would be giving.

[RBEmerson]

  We have a major coach/bus operator in town: Knopf. Sounds like a good omen.

I think July is most likely. Given all of Europe is on vacation during August, there's not much chance of going then. It might also be I'll wait until September.

[kendenton]

For bike rentals we were very happy with renting from Moto Maier in Landshut Germany, about 20 minutes from Munich.  Dealt with Hermann, 2 good experiences.

If you want to start in Switzerland then try Moto Mader in Oberentfelden, not far from Zurich.  Dealt with Thomas Pabst, but that was 8 years ago.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

If you want to start in Switzerland then try Moto Mader in Oberentfelden, not far from Zurich.  Dealt with Thomas Pabst, but that was 8 years ago.

He still works there - or did as of last year - as he's the one who sold me my BMW    It is a great shop as well.

[RBEmerson]

Interesting... We have friends who live in a small town, Oberflachs, north of Oberentfelden.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

This would be beneficial, as it would give you a head start on the southern routes that you'd probably enjoy the most  

[stegs]

Have a look at Moto Charlie  www.alps-tours.com   I have ridden in the Alps and Dolomites independently but my tour with Charlie was much more enjoyable. Only 7 bikes and lots of riding. A great group and a lot of fun, good hotels and food and good company when not riding. Im planning on getting back to the Alps next year, again with Charlie, if I can get my wife's permission. Although I am of course the boss in the household. I wish.

[GvG]

  We have a major coach/bus operator in town: Knopf. Sounds like a good omen.

I think July is most likely. Given all of Europe is on vacation during August, there's not much chance of going then. It might also be I'll wait until September.

In the following countries the school holidays start in July (and often early in July): Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, France, the Netherlands. September is generally quieter, mainly because my fellow countrymen are back home. So they can't clog up all the roads with their travel trailers.
I'll be doing a round trip in the Alps the first week of September with some friends (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy).

And avoid the (northern) French and eastern Swiss alps from 17-23 July because the Tour de France will be there. So, closed roads and overcrowded.

[RBEmerson]

Sigh... there is that... (vacations and TdF)

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Personally, I'd shoot for September. The weather isn't as hot and the roads are much emptier (as GvG pointed out).

[RBEmerson]

OK, I've finally gotten ashore (we're in our sailboat, current in Stuart, FL) and I've had some time to read sites for the suggested operators. Great thanks for the leads to date!  

I'd like to hear a bit more about life with Edelweiss.

Looking at Beach's site, there's something of a near rant about "smaller [bike] is better". Is this a personal view or...?

If the weather shows us some love, we'll start moving north tomorrow (31Mar). As a result I may not respond to posts as quickly as I'd like. But please keep informing.