Cycling in the high mountains. Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees etc

thank you very much @andyp and @Philbythesea, but almost as soon as I posted my question plans changed and now it seems were going to verona then bolzano then into the dolomites.

Am I right in thinking the riding is better to the east of Bolzano over towards Cortina (such as the route of the Maratona)? Or is there somewhere else near there that will be quieter and just as good? I'm a bit worried it'll be full of American youtubers flying drones.

And does anyone have a good accommodation recommendations up that way?

i have a couple of friends who are from there, they hate road riding now because roads are crazy busy in the dolomites and trafic has increased a lot in the pat years.

However i think it's probably very enjoyable :) the maratona roads seem fantastic.

I think everyone should ride in the proper Dolomites (so east of Bolzano) once in their lifetime. The scenery is breathtaking.

The Sella ronde is a must, even if it can be very busy at times, but you can get off the beaten track without much difficulty and find much quieter roads, especially south and east of Cortina.

Thank you.

I think the current plan is a few days around Seis (as there's a regular bus to Bozano so there's a lot we can get to from there) then head further into the mountains, perhaps near Selva di Cadore, later on. Does that make sense?

I'd never heard of Seis, but worked out you mean Siusi (all places in that area have three names; Italian, German and Ladin versions). That's a great place for a base, loads of good routes available from there, including the classic Dolomite passes. The massif above Siusi is stunning, the first time I rode in that area I rode up to Siusi from Bolzano and as you started climbing out of the valley floor, the scenery just got more and more amazing.

For a second base, I'd possibly look a bit further east, around the Pieve valley, but its so long since I was last there, that I don't know what any of the villages/towns are like nowadays.

Thank you thank you

Anyone done the Pico de Veleta in Spain? I'll be in the area for in a few weeks and will be taking a bike and trying to work out some routes. Seems brutal (42km, 2700m of climbing) though.

Maybe "just" the first 30km until the proper road stops.

@TTM has i think

Didn't someone say the top has been paved?

It was gravel when I did it, which means it can't be too hard to do.

It can get chilly on the descent.

No, I’ve spent some time in the area and know the roads on the south side down to the coast, but haven’t done the pico.

Where abouts are you going to be based?

Dunno, somewhere between Cordoba and Granada. Chances are I'll drive out a couple of mornings for rides.

Looks like the closest > 1000m climb is from Fuensanta de Martos from what I understand about roughly where I'll be

https://www.lastampa.it/cuneo/2023/11/05/news/frana_di_massi_e_detriti_sulla_strada_del_vallone_di_elva-13838389/

In my mind's eye this was a picture of you in sandals riding a gravel loop of Lake Annecy. Was I thinking of another thread/picture and can you share a gpx of the above loop plus the Annecy loop purleaze?

i never did the full annecy loop :( only semnoz and colombiere

Okay, looks like I'm doing La Pandera at easter... got a day off and I can get to it pretty easily whereas Pico de Veleta is a bit of a drive. @TTM - have you ridden that one?

I’ve not ventured that far north. Please report back, it would be good to hear about your trip.

Repost?

Where is that please?

On the way to sitting out the thunderstorm at Berghaus Oberaar last summer.

Right turn just before the Grimsel from Meiringen.

Thank you, looks glorious

I was in the Jura Mountains this week, it was a bit wintery. Had to turn back before the summit of Mt Chasseral.

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Shoulda taken snow chains.

What is that titanium-printed-lug weapon!?