Italian tradition - post up your mountain passes

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by stefano

Bill, I meant to get back to you but temporarily forgot... that's great that you came to Italy to do some riding!!! What did you think of our landscape and... more importantly... our twisties? The mountains you took those shots of look like the Dolomites in the Veneto region... could be Cortina D'Ampezzo or thereabouts... am I right?

Yup. The Dolomites. Our tour group was based at Ortisei (St Ulrich), and with the exception of the one where I'm kneeling in the parking lot, all of the passes pictured involved riding over the Sella Massif first. The one where I'm behind the bike is the pass with the World War 1 museum, the one with the ridge of mountain leading up to it is Passo Giao.

The Dolomites are just absolutely stunning. And the twisties, EVEN BETTER. I'm pretty sure I spent twice as much time leaned over as I ever did straight up. And, shops/folks in the area are motorcycle friendly. So many shops had "Bikers Welcome" signs or motorcycle theme signs.

I saw a picture of a typical Dolomites road on another website, I'll see if I can find it again.

I dreamed of riding the DOlomites for ten years before I finally managed to make it happen, now I dream of riding the Dolomites again!

[W-P Bill]

Well, the second post in the linked thread below you a good idea of the roads in the Dolomites, but not so much scenery.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...ight=dolomites


For one with scenery, well, this linked pic below just about says it all:



I'm pretty sure this pic is of the road going down the eastern side of the Sella Massif.

I'm careful to say linked because I'm not responsible for these great shots, other riders are.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Well, the second post in the linked thread below you a good idea of the roads in the Dolomites, but not so much scenery.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...ight=dolomites


For one with scenery, well, this linked pic below just about says it all:



I'm pretty sure this pic is of the road going down the eastern side of the Sella Massif.

I'm careful to say linked because I'm not responsible for these great shots, other riders are.

I don't know what would be more fun, the scenery, or the road.

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by likearock4x4

I don't know what would be more fun, the scenery, or the road.

Well, the first day we all gathered for the Edelweiss orientation brief. One of the first questions was : ride hard with few picture stops, or ride easy with lots of picture stops? We all voted for ride hard. So, didn't get to enjoy the scenery that much, but that was OK. I could always come back in a car or bus and enjoy the scenery. Or even buy a postcard if I had to. I wanted to BLAST THE ROADS!

WOOOO! HOOOO!

Does that answer your question?

[W-P Bill]

By the way, a non paid plug for Edelweiss Dolomites Touring Center.

Its the best way to see Stefano's 'hood.

You are based in the same 5 star hotel for a week, and radiate out on different routes every day M-F. This way you only have to unpack/pack once, instead of having to have your bags packed and placed outside the door before you go to breakfast every morning as you would on a point-to-point trip.

One morning it was raining like a cow p***ing on a flat rock. As we didn't have to be anywhere by a certain time, we were able to wait until lunch to let the weather lighten up. When it slowed down to a drizzle, us guys pulled out and went riding. Most of the wives/gf's decided to stay at the hotel and enjoy the health spa there.

You don't HAVE to ride a BMW either, Edelweiss rents out a few Japanese bikes and as a bonus they are cheaper to rent than the Beemers.

However, since this was my first time in Europe, I just HAD to do it on a Boxer Twin, hence the Roadster in the pix. Next time I do it, it'll be a Bandit 600 or something like that. And, I'll remember to take winter weight gloves with me this time. No heated grips on the 'Zook

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by stefano

Sure is, that's why I love the shot so much The fact that it was hazy though does it no justice, I'll take it again on a clear day so I can start competing with yours

My grandfather lives on a lake - the biggest lake in Italy (which is probably as big as the smallest lake in the States LOL), so he only lives probably 500 feet above sea level, but since it's hilly on his side of the lake, that's why all the twisties

Art, 12,000 feet is crazy man!!! Looks like you got the record so far!

I'd love to see more pics of that castle!

So is the weather there pretty mild in winter time or does it snow there?

We're competing?

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Well, the second post in the linked thread below you a good idea of the roads in the Dolomites, but not so much scenery.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...ight=dolomites


For one with scenery, well, this linked pic below just about says it all:



I'm pretty sure this pic is of the road going down the eastern side of the Sella Massif.

I'm careful to say linked because I'm not responsible for these great shots, other riders are.

That's beautiful!

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by 2WheelFun

That's beautiful!

+1

[stefano]

Bill, that's nice to hear you enjoyed our twisties so much

So were you based in Austria but hopping over the border? The places you mention sound Austrian, though there is a region in Italy in the Alps (Alto Adige) where they basically speak German though they are Italian (land given to Italy after the WWI/WWII treaties).

Just remember that anytime you decide to come back I'll be waiting for you

Cary, nah, we're not really competing but I'd love to be able to top your shots of Glacier Pass

I'll be going to visit my parents this weekend in the Alps, they live a few miles under another pass, so I'll have another one to add to my list and since that castle is on the way, if the day is clear I'll take a little detour and try and get some better shots

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by stefano

Bill, that's nice to hear you enjoyed our twisties so much

So were you based in Austria but hopping over the border? The places you mention sound Austrian, though there is a region in Italy in the Alps (Alto Adige) where they basically speak German though they are Italian (land given to Italy after the WWI/WWII treaties).

Just remember that anytime you decide to come back I'll be waiting for you

Cary, nah, we're not really competing but I'd love to be able to top your shots of Glacier Pass

I'll be going to visit my parents this weekend in the Alps, they live a few miles under another pass, so I'll have another one to add to my list and since that castle is on the way, if the day is clear I'll take a little detour and try and get some better shots

If it means that you will take more pics and post them...then let the competition begin!

[bross]

Originally Posted by stefano

I don't know if you have a similar thing in the States, but in Italy, any respectable rider puts as many mountain passes on his riding curriculum as possible - it's the equivalent of pilots putting stars on their planes for all the enemy bogies they've taken down

So here goes my first one: Passo della Presolana in the Alps, about an hour a half away from where I live. Not too high, in feet it's like 4000 feet, but it's the closest one to home so it's the easiest one to get to


I had actually intended to hit 2 yesterday, but the second one was closed, it's still snowed in! I thought I'd post the "evidence" of my attempt up anyway

This is kinda cool Stefano, this guy mapped most of the passes in Colorado in google earth. You can "fly" through the passes, maybe you can do the same for your passes...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191772

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by stefano

Bill, that's nice to hear you enjoyed our twisties so much

So were you based in Austria but hopping over the border? The places you mention sound Austrian, though there is a region in Italy in the Alps (Alto Adige) where they basically speak German though they are Italian (land given to Italy after the WWI/WWII treaties).

Just remember that anytime you decide to come back I'll be waiting for you

Stefano:

We were actually based in Italy. Pretty sure it was that Alto Adige region you talk about. That's the same thing as South Tyrol, right? There were motorcycles all over the place. In fact, our guide said that Passo Giao was the motorcycling Mecca of Italy.

Anyways, our hotel was in a ski resort town called Ortisei, about an hour's bus ride from Bolzano. Most of our rides were in Italy, except for the last day we made a 400km shunt to the Grossglocknerhof. That was the only day we went into Austria.

Didn't go into too many major towns, although we did make a lunch stop in Cortina, and I vaguely remember San Pellegrino (seen at about 60kph).

One of the guys in my group, Jim Garrison, has a website upon which he posted a lot more pix and details, including routes and place names. The link is:
http://home.comcast.net/~jimnjane50/vacation1.htm


Yeah, I'll be back there someday.

[bross]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Stefano:

We were actually based in Italy. Pretty sure it was that Alto Adige region you talk about. That's the same thing as South Tyrol, right? There were motorcycles all over the place. In fact, our guide said that Passo Giao was the motorcycling Mecca of Italy.

Anyways, our hotel was in a ski resort town called Ortisei, about an hour's bus ride from Bolzano. Most of our rides were in Italy, except for the last day we made a 400km shunt to the Grossglocknerhof. That was the only day we went into Austria.

Didn't go into too many major towns, although we did make a lunch stop in Cortina, and I vaguely remember San Pellegrino (seen at about 60kph).

One of the guys in my group, Jim Garrison, has a website upon which he posted a lot more pix and details, including routes and place names. The link is:
http://home.comcast.net/~jimnjane50/vacation1.htm


Yeah, I'll be back there someday.

Sounds like an awesome trip Bill, it's definitely on Jodie and my "must do" rides. Thanks for the link to the pics.

[stefano]

Originally Posted by bross

This is kinda cool Stefano, this guy mapped most of the passes in Colorado in google earth. You can "fly" through the passes, maybe you can do the same for your passes...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191772

I'd have to download Google Earth to see that, but I'm too lazy

It sounds like a really cool thing to do though!

I might start thinking about something like that once I have a decent number under my belt... some bikers here in Italy have done hundreds of them!

[stefano]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Stefano:

We were actually based in Italy. Pretty sure it was that Alto Adige region you talk about. That's the same thing as South Tyrol, right? There were motorcycles all over the place. In fact, our guide said that Passo Giao was the motorcycling Mecca of Italy.

Anyways, our hotel was in a ski resort town called Ortisei, about an hour's bus ride from Bolzano. Most of our rides were in Italy, except for the last day we made a 400km shunt to the Grossglocknerhof. That was the only day we went into Austria.

Didn't go into too many major towns, although we did make a lunch stop in Cortina, and I vaguely remember San Pellegrino (seen at about 60kph).

One of the guys in my group, Jim Garrison, has a website upon which he posted a lot more pix and details, including routes and place names. The link is:
http://home.comcast.net/~jimnjane50/vacation1.htm


Yeah, I'll be back there someday.

Bill, that's awesome dude. Yes Alto Adige and Sud Tirol are the same thing, the first is the Italian name and the second the German

Although I have not been there, I know very well the places you talk about. My parents live in a ski-resort town about an hour west of Bolzano. I spend every summer there, and this year that I will have my bike I will make sure to hit those parts, and visit this famous Passo Giau that you speak of

The cool thing about the Alps though is that from east to west, you get the same roads all over the place, it's harder to find a straight than some twisties

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by stefano

Although I have not been there, I know very well the places you talk about. My parents live in a ski-resort town about an hour west of Bolzano. I spend every summer there, and this year that I will have my bike I will make sure to hit those parts, and visit this famous Passo Giau that you speak of

Hmmm....

WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK

That's the gears in my brain starting to turn.

Here's my thought process:

1. Burning desire to do the Dolomites via motorcycle again.
2. Countered by the fact I'm not working at the moment (full time grad student) so my wallet isn't as thick as it was during my previous trip.
3. Edelweiss, which utilizes 5 star hotels, is awesome but very expensive.
4. Fellow motorcycle forum buddy, Stefano, whose parents live in a ski resort town in the Dolomites region, spends summers there with his parents.
5. Betcha there are some inexpensive but decent hotels in that ski resort town Stefano hangs out in over the summer, and prices would be much less during the summer than during the ski season.
6. Starting to see ads in the motorcycle magazines for bike rental places in Italy, whereas the ads always used to be for guided tour groups.
7. Even if Stefano cannot come riding every day with me (us), he is but a cell phone call away should any emergencies arise.

Hmmmm....


WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK

[bross]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Hmmm....

WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK

That's the gears in my brain starting to turn.

Here's my thought process:

1. Burning desire to do the Dolomites via motorcycle again.
2. Countered by the fact I'm not working at the moment (full time grad student) so my wallet isn't as thick as it was during my previous trip.
3. Edelweiss, which utilizes 5 star hotels, is awesome but very expensive.
4. Fellow motorcycle forum buddy, Stefano, whose parents live in a ski resort town in the Dolomites region, spends summers there with his parents.
5. Betcha there are some inexpensive but decent hotels in that ski resort town Stefano hangs out in over the summer, and prices would be much less during the summer than during the ski season.
6. Starting to see ads in the motorcycle magazines for bike rental places in Italy, whereas the ads always used to be for guided tour groups.
7. Even if Stefano cannot come riding every day with me (us), he is but a cell phone call away should any emergencies arise.

Hmmmm....


WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK-WHIR-CLICK

LOL, 1-800-ride-dolomites-with-stefano

Better be careful what you wish for Stefano, I remember not all that long ago that you wished you had somebody to ride with...

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by bross

LOL, 1-800-ride-dolomites-with-stefano

Better be careful what you wish for Stefano, I remember not all that long ago that you wished you had somebody to ride with...

You mean be careful of stuff like this?

Originally Posted by bross

Sounds like an awesome trip Bill, it's definitely on Jodie and my "must do" rides. Thanks for the link to the pics.