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I have met a friend on the occasion of the Norwegian 'Styrkeproven'. My longest tour, I ever did. The Styrkeproven starts at Trondheim and finishes after 540 kilometres in Oslo. I made it in 21 hours... My Norwegian friend decided to join me on a planned tour throughout the Alps.

We started at Landeck (Austria). So, the first summit has been the Arlberg Pass. Then we have been riding up the Rhein Valley in Switzerland. Night we spent at the city of Chur.

The very next day, we did two summits: Lenzerheide and Julier Pass. I remember, when I did the Julier Pass in my youth: people in the valley avoided to talk to foreigners. Of course they speak the Roman language (some of the 'ladinisch' - which is more or less the same, but with a touch of Italian (latin) influence... We ended in an expensive area. St. Moritz. [...] We left Livigno over the two Eira Passes ending at Bormio. It has been late, but there was still a little power in us: we made the Stelvio Pass from the South. Very demanding attempt! As it was late, we spent the night at the Franzenshöhe Hostel. Further down we hit Mals and later the Rescia Pass. As we ended at Landeck again and my Norwegian friend had time enough, we decided to continue by bicycle. We have been riding all the way the 'Inntalradweg' to Passau and further to Vienna, where the tour ended. Good luck to all the followers!

This has been my first attempt of crossing the Alps by mountainbike. I joined an experienced group. They started at Lech/Arlberg. On the first day, we climbed the Kristbergsattel, having night at Silbertal (Montafon). The very next day, we climbed up to Gargellen and then the 'bike-push' part over the Schlappiner Joch. Now, we are in Switzerland. Night, somewhere in the Engadin Valley. [...]

On top of the Tremalzo Pass you find a tunnel, which you have to pass. There is a bus shuttle service for bikers accommodated in Riva, just interested on the downhill. It is one of the most famous downhill roads in Europe. You find down hillers, never seen before... But you see, from time to time bike accidents... A wonderful scenic view to the Lago die Garda paid for the effort of climb. Our tour ended in Riva. This people are prepared for bikers. You can find every spare part you need. Hotels and restaurants are prepared for bicyclists. We left Riva, after a rest day, by a shuttle bus, back to Austria. Good luck to all the followers!

We have been at Hamburg for a couple of days. Riding the local bike ways (Elberadweg - to Willkommhöft). With the train to Wilhelmshaven and then: Ostfriesland. Following the coast to Carolinensiehl, passing Horumersiehl and Schillig, we finally ended at Wangerooge. Wangerooge is a family place. But people are friendly, we found accommodation at the 'Westturm', an old light house. Riding back via the beautiful and quite and clean Ammerland; heading to cross the river Weser by ferry. I remember Oldenburg and surroundings.

After crossing the river Weser we made a stop at Worpswede, a city dedicated to Artists. Riding back to Hamburg we crossed over via 'Das Alte Land' - a huge garden. Full of all kind of fruits. Last stop at Harburg, directly at the river Elbe. Crossing the river Elbe by ferry, landing at Blankenese, Hamburgs high society quarter. Good luck to all the followers!

We couldn't t stop us... We have heard so much about this tour; so we tried it. As longer you travel as more lonely the road become. Worth to go. Good luck to all the followers!

To complete our Hwy 1 experience (remember, we did Seattle - San Francisco), we decided to do the Southern part. Final destination has been San Diego (I tried a bit more: Tijuana [MX]). Anne has been a very brave rider! It's was a beautiful tour. Worth to go!

Recommended to have a stopover at Solvang, and further the Foxencanyon Road via the San Marcos Pass which leads you to Santa Barbara. We made it it via Lompoc and the Vandenberg airfield. Funny: we, as foreigners have passed the military complex, whilst an US citizen has been stopped... Maybe because of the reason: we had an ID, the poor US cyclist had no ID. The distance San Diego - Las Vegas we managed by a rented car. But we where back on bike in Las Vegas. Going down to the Hoover Dam, is recommended. Wonderful, real scenic landscape! If you like it or not: Las Vegas is always a place to see. Good luck to all the followers!

We said: we can do it on our bicycles...: The Route des Grandes Alpes. Starts on Lake Geneva (Genfer See) and is one of the famous French routes through the Alps to the Mediterranean. It leads, from Lake Geneva to the Côte d'Azur and crosses 16 high alpine passes (nine of which more than 2000 m), including the Col de l'Iseran, the highest road pass with 2770 m in the Alps. The route to overcome about 700 km long with an altitude difference of 15 700 m. The 1913 opened for the first five individual stages range is now 600 km from Department of Streets and along 68 km of national roads. Several cuts are stages of the Tour de France. Passing Martigny, and climbing the Forclaz Pass, heading for Charmonix. On the foot of the Aquille du Midi we have seen the huge glacier which winds down near Charmonix. Impressive: the climb up on the Roselend road.

See all 119 reports by Iris Mueck

After the good experience on the Amalfi coast, we tried further South: Sicily. For a round trip to large... Anyway, we climbed up the Etna road (elevation round 2.000 meters). We had a rest day at the city of Belpaso. This people understand to live! I remember an excellent Grappa, we have been offered...!

Leaving Belpaso, we followed the costal road to Messina. Crossing the sea street by ferry. We went up the Aspromonte mountain range. Interesting experience. We continued in going back by ferry to Island Sicily and followed the North costal road. Wonderful climbs, untouched nature. Interesting little villages; often found on top of a mountain. Going back 'home' (to the airport Cantania), has been a very powerful ride, because of the high numer of hills... Good luck to all the followers.

My daughter Anne, a very brave bicyclist, joined me. After a long winter we like to see the sun again... Unfortunately, we have seen rain and snow again... The best part has been the Lago Lugano (on Italian side...) and the Lago di Como (North shore - wonderful detours to avoid the Hwy tunnels...). We have visited Madonna di Ghisallo, whereas a museum and a bicycle monument is there... Nevertheless, Madonna di Ghisallo is elevetad by round 800 meters, what means: climb bicyclist, climb!

On the way back we hit the very nice city of Sondrio. Due to strong front wind, we went up the passo Bernina by train (ferrovia Retica). Worth to do this relax tour: good views to Piz Bernina and Piz Palue. But we went back on bike at the Hospiz Bernina. A short downhill to meet the entrance to the Passo Forcola (Border to Livigno, which is a so called free trade zone - no value added tx - belongs politically to Italy). [...]

Recommended to see this wonderful bicycle path... Good luck to all the followers!

As my managing director retired in the same year as I did, we decided to do a joined bicycle tour... We have found information in a popular booklet 'bicycling the Pacific coast'. At the Internet, we found the tour description by the publisher of this web page.

Me, as the tour leader, was inspired by the idea of doing this tour. Nearly 2000 kilometres. That' s what we have been looking for... Staring at Seattle, which is a hilly city (I found myself reminded on San Francisco), we took the ferry to Bremerton in order to hit Hwy 101 in day trip. Washington has been a little 'wet' - not raining, but high ambient moisture. Oregon coast: just beautiful. Every day continuous eye catchers... [...]

Californian people are very open. Clear English, easy to understand, and still a flower people mentality... Very pleasant! Good luck to all the followers!

Half way of the classic tour to Lago di Garda. But still nice, as it covers the prim half part. Interesting the climbing over Schlapiner Joch, Scaletta and most interesting Alp Chaschauna. A sort of power check... Livigno is a very nice ( and rather cheap - no tax) place to stay. We left Livigno, using the tunnel to the lower end of the Passo Fuorn (Ofenpass). Further down the Inntal bicycle path way. Ending at Landeck, whereas we catched the train back to Vienna. Good luck to all the followers!

1st day: start at Innsbruck (after a night travel by train): Innsbruck - Brennero - Lana (a wonderful bike path down the Eisack valley). Distance: 140 kilometres.
2nd day: Lana - on the bike path to Trento and back. Distance: 115 kilometres.
3rd day: Lana - Prad - Stilfer Joch - Umbrail - Santa Maria - Meran - Lana. Distance: 176 kilometres.
4th day: rest day (it is not recommended to go by bicycle to any Alpine road due to heavy traffic of motorcycles).
5th day: Lana - Kastern - Sant Nicolo - Mendel Pass - Gampenpass - Lana. Distance: 90 kilometres.
6th day: Lana (by train to Mals) - by bicycle to Reschenpass (a new wonderful bike path), and on the ``Inntalradweg'' to Landeck.
by train, back to Vienna. Distance: (by bicycle) 90 kilometres.

My former managing director Raimund and me (Iris Mueck) started bicycling the Western world after our retirement. Our most desire: to pedal round the Grand Canyon (what we actually did not - as the distance is too big. With the help of a rented car, we made a lot of local trips to the parks.

Starting at Los Angeles, we hit Las Vegas. If you like it or not. It is worth to see. And, if you plan a trip to Grand Canyon, there is more or less no way. A stopover should be planned.

Sideway trips leaded us to the Arches park (oh wonder bicycle path ways up to the park) and to Page (Glen Canyon). From there to the Antelope Canyon, which is operated by native Americans. And further to the Monument Valley. On the way back, to complete the circle trip, we hit Bryce Canyon and the Zion park.

Back to San Francisco with another side tour to the Yosemite park. As a well known book author was still alive, we tried to meet him at the campus of the Stanford University. Good luck to all the followers!

Starting at Feldkirch (Austria), we followed the Upper Rhein bike path, which leaded us nearly to the city of Chur. As it starts raining, we went by bus over the San Bernardino pass, down to the city of Bellinzona (Ticino). Via Monteceneri we hit Lugano.

The Italian side of the lake is just wonderful. Not so extreme busy as on the Swiss side. Looks logical we followed the road to the Lago di Como and further to the city of Sondrio. At Tirano we have crossing the boarder again. Back to Switzerland and up the Bernina pass from the South. Nor recommended - too strong head wind. With our very last power, we have been climbing up the Passo Forcola. Downhill to Livigno on low speed to avoid further cold. Fingers went stiff!

The very next day, we left Livigno in snow. Snowflakes at night covered the landscape with snow powder. We have been one of the last bikers leaving Livingo Tunnel by bicycle. Today they have installed a bus shuttle service. Down the Ofenpass (Passo Fuorn) to Zernez and further the Inn valley bike path to Landeck. Now the very last part close to Landeck is finished. Good luck to all the followers!

Starting at the Wurzenpass, were we suffered the very steep climb, crossing boarder to Slovenia near Kranska Gora. Not knowing that we end up in a rather long climb again, we rod South, doing the Vrsic Mountain road. On the other side, the beautiful Soca river valley (Slovenian name of the river Isonzo). We have crossed back to Italy at the Selva Nevea pass. This tour covered cities like Udine, Grado, Triest, Ljubljana, whereas we went home by train. Good luck to all the followers!

I have heard so much about the beautiful Hwy 100 which mainly winds down Vermont. Starting at Montreal, which is worth more as a day. I remember, when mountains appeared at the skyline, and a Canadian bicyclist said: you will find hundreds of them, if you ride down to NYC. He was right...! NYC, a place for bicyclists. Car drivers are friendly - never closing a path gap. Police are friendly. If I would get a Dollar for crossing an intersection on red, I would be a millionaire...

The Central park: a huge bike way, which closes in a round 5 miles circle. Some bikers doing city races. Hard to follow. I have been staying for 10 days in NYC, did my daily exercise in crossing the city to the Hudson river bike path. Very recommended bicycle path. Starting at the Statue of Liberty, ending at the Harlem river mouth. Good luck to all the followers!

We tried hard. To our surprise we ended in a snow field. If weather would have changed, we won't be more able to publish this page... As the weather didn't change, we had a wonderful tour. Passing Val di Vizze, ending at the Inn river valley bike path. Good luck to all the followers!

By train from Vienna to Milano. Following the route 'Milano - San Remo'... Left the route near Genova and riding the Cinque Terre coastal road. Visiting Carrara. Back home via the Passo Cisa. And further North along the Lago di Garda. Hit the train again at Innsbruck. Good luck to followers!

The Big Circle: A round trip which is a little demanding. All eye catchers needs to be 'earned' by your personal power. Good luck to all the followers!

San Francisco - Los Angeles - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Bryce Canyon - Zion Park - Death Valley - LAX.

One of the best tours in Europe. Fun, good weather, good landscape. Down the Amalfi coast - like Hwy 1 in California. Good luck to all the followers!

Germany's best!
Eifel - Mosel - Rhein...
Eifel: old German houses, friendly people.
A secret bicycle path: the Kyll Radweg. Leads you directly down to the city of Trier at the river Mosel.
Mosel: so many loops; for what the river Mosel is known for. On road: 100 kilometres; on water (and bicycle path) 180 kilometres. Very good touristy infrastructure: lodging, food.
Rhein: bicycle path not a throughway. Needed: some intuitive findings.

Prima parte del ciclotour da Tallin a Riga

Se viaggiare in bici è il vostro mezzo ideale per fare turismo, mettete in programma l'opportunità di scoprire questi Paesi.

La facilità del percorso, quasi sempre pianeggiante, faciliterà il vostro procedere e non sarà scevro di bellezze da scoprire, di cultura da approfondire, di amabili persone da conoscere.

Fernando Da Re

Cynthia Wong, Kekoa Proudfoot, Phil Sung, Lisa and I just returned from the Tour of the German Speaking Alps. As tours go, the statistics were unusually bad: we got in 945 miles and 88,916 feet of climbing, of which 13,879 came from 4 hikes we did in Switzerland, meaning we got in only 75,037 feet of climb on the bike. We only had 2 flat tires, both of which were caused by a bad tire blowing out on descents. We did lose almost a week to rain, and another 3 days due to a number of us (myself including) getting sick on tour.

On my second winter travel through Northern Russia I explored the region of Komi and Nenets west of the Polar Ural. This part of Russia is like the most areas of Northern Siberia not reachable by bike in summer, because only fragments of roads exists. So I followed the winter roads along the rivers Izhma and Pechora from Uchta up to Nar'jan-Mar north of the Arctic circle and from there though the tundra partially back to the railway line. The main challenge was the extrem coldness in first days, accumulated snow on little roads and a lot of crazy meetings with the locals...

This is our family trip with our son, and a loaded triple through eastern Switzerland. Biking with an eight year old, means more chances to stop and enjoy the scenery, but still be able to climb through the mountains.

We're back! It's the Main Bike Path once more. We again find time for a few days cycling along the Main, this time from Würzburg to Aschaffenburg. The weather couldn't be better for this scenic ride with picturesque towns between the Spessart and Odenwald mountain ranges.

A short summery of my bicycle tours done in the past in Italy, Austria, Romania,Hungary,Slovakia,Poland,Ukraine.

There are a lot of tour suggestions including Georgian Millitary High Road,where I am looking for cycling mates.

My web site is getting richer in every two-three months by adding new tours.

A short tour in German Switzerland

Some lakes, and the great capital: Bern

The Appenzell region, and the great lake of Bodensee

The fresh Jura, the great north of Switzerland

The east part of Switzerland and the West part of Austria. Great mountains, great nature!

The wonderful Jura, the beautiful lake of Ginevra, the great land of lakes.

This year I made a tour in German language Switzerland. This reportage is completed with some photo that illustrate how to having fun in this wonderful country

This is a tour in French Switzerland, from Como to Ginevra... this is Calvino anniversary!

The most interesting places of this trip are:

• Lago di Como (Italy)
• The Alpes (Switzerland and Austria)
• Munich
• Crossing the border to Check Republic
• Praga
• Dresden
• Berlin

Cycling in America is; friendly people, vast landscapes, hamburgers and picnic tables by the campsite. Our favorite region to tour through is the American Southwest with its painted deserts, mountains and colorful rock formations.

On our Cycling in America website we show what it's like to travel across the states (via the Adventure Cycling Transamerica trail) and through the American Southwest.

Nepal isn't just the Himalayas. Of course you have great views over the Himalayan mountain range while cycling from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Still what we most enjoyed was cycling through Nepal's medieval towns and across the Terai.

On our Cycling in Nepal website we show what it's like to travel through this ancient mountain kingdom.

Cycling in Indonesia gave us a new definition to the word ``green''. Green is overwhelming, multi-hued and... tropical. So it also means, ``dreaming of a shower'' after a long (hot?) and humid cycling day.

On our Cycling in Indonesia website we show what it's like to travel through this tropical country.

Which country do we keep coming back to? India! For India's diverse people, landscapes and religions make it a fascinating land to bicycle through.

On our Cycling in India website we show what it's like to travel through this enormous country.