kennyc
Registered user
I did much of this a couple of years ago, for what its worth heres my 2 pennethEnd of next week I'm off on the GSA with Mrs F and my eldest stepson (on his MT07) for 6 nights riding through France to Switzerland and back. Been up to my neck with work etc so no time to do much research. Mrs F has booked the hotels and the plan is as follows:
Day 1 - Morning crossing to Calais, ride to Reims
Day 2 - Reims to Dijon
Day 3 - Dijon to Innertkirchen in Switzerland
Day 4 - Day riding in Switzerland - 5 passes loop weather permitting as it sounds fab
Day 5 - Innertkirchen to Colmar via Panoramastrasse
Day 6 - Colmar to Verdun
Day 7 - Verdun back to Calais
The routes for days 4 and 5 are sorted, but I wondered if anyone has recommendations for things to see/roads to ride/detours to make between...
Calais and Reims
Reims and Dijon
Dijon and Innertkirchen
Colmar to Verdun
Verdun to Calais
Want to avoid motorways where we can and haven't bought Vignettes for Switzerland as we don't plan to ride the motorways there - though I did wonder of it's worth buying 2 vignettes just in case and selling them after the trip if we don't use them.
Cheers chaps.
Switzerland is an easy 2 days away, a few more miles a day and spend more time in the Alps, it gives you a bit of leeway in case the mountain weather strikes ! (as happens to me everytime I take a bike to the Alps!)
Innertkirtchen is on the lead into to the Sustan pass and as such is a great starting point.
the Panoramastrasse is well worth the ride even if the weather is poor.
Buy the Vignettes don't fanny around ! over the cost of the trip its bugger all and believe me, although it is possible to drive through Switzerland without using the motorways it is a real ball ache in poor weather or when on a timescale (I know I have done it) whether you wish to take the chance of riding without one is up to you (I have done that as well) personally I don't think its worth the hassle, not when there are dozens of short cuts that are effectively closed to you without the Vignette, forcing you to take the long way around in 50 kph limits (again been there done that , wouldn't bother again)
Luxembourg is a really good option to consider as mentioned previously, and to my mind the route back Via Lux and Belgium is far more interesting than Via Reims, again you are on a timescale so you will probably be on the autoroute, the other advantage is the roads back from Basel through the Vosge and via Nancy, Metz ,Lux etc are tollfree so offsetting the cost of the vignettes.
all that being said, its your holiday, enjoy it