Right so iv just been reading an article in the rose mag and came across this trans alp route. It sounds like a great bikepacking idea on the full susser for seven days. Has anyone ever done it and is there a gpx floating about in the mists??
Next question , anyone fancy it

so is it a point to point, not a loop?
Looks nice, looks fine for a hardtail maybe?

Looks like you can buy a gpx here http://shopping.transalp.info/index.php ... &Itemid=53



I've just been researching somewhere warm for a late September trip. I was considering jumping in on the Morocco trip but am now thinking Spain, perhaps Sierra Nevada area
This looks interesting though

There's some great riding in the Sierra nevada!

Theres a loop too, trans nevada. Its difficult to find out it if its just fire roads though.

This is the route that I did in 2012.

It's technically simple on day one but gets more interesting as things progress.

There's some great riding, stunning views and interesting places to see along the route - well worth the trip.

If you've got any specific questions I'm happy to offer up my knowledge.

For more info have a read of:

http://gairy.co.uk/transalp

(Currently there's an annoying script thing going on which means that I can't view the site on a mobile but it works on my PC)

Or, watch the video here:

https://vimeo.com/m/46580213

Cheers, Gairy.

Loved ya video gairy! I really need to make more effort with the Alps

Thanks for that link Gairy. Good read in XXC mag. Looks like an ideal route, was planning a trip ending at Garda this summer until a holiday with the OH took priority (about time really haha) and hadn't seen that one, or at least seen it listed as the Albrecht. One for next year perhaps.

For the swiss stages of the Albrecht route I know that this route misses the best parts, albeit running paralell to them.
The Albrecht route too often follows tracks that are boring.

Some examples: Albrecht follows a road down from Pass da Costainas instead of hitting the trails just some 15-20 min off route.
Albrecht climbs up the Val Mora instead of keeping the altitude and climbing a little bit (all in all roughly the same elev. gain as the Albrecht) further to ride the Fuorcla del Gal. What follows is (next to Piz Daint) one of the most spectacular places to ride in that area, yet the single track is dead easy to ride.
Albrecht then again follows a road once past Lago di San Giacomo di Fraele instead of hitting the beautiful trail through Val Pila or Botta Trelina - Valle di Foscagno - Isolaccia.

In the end you can have it all, just ask yourself how you'd like to cross the Alps. Should it be by gravel roads, tarmac or single tracks?


p.s. I'll be bikepacking in that area (Val Müstair and surroundings) this weekend

Dave,

Sierra Nevada has some amazing riding, I was there last summer, got n apartment in Bubion, and rode up Mulhacen (highest mountain in Spain). Really amazing, glad I had my 160mm travel beast with me, lots of loose shale and drops, used lots of the trails that Switchbacks holidays built (found them through strava). We went in August, it was 43º at the beach and 8º at the summit.

The Trans-Andalucia trail is mostly gravel roads from what I have worked out. It's a loop I'd love to do though.

[quote="mountainbaker"]Dave,

Sierra Nevada has some amazing riding, I was there last summer, got n apartment in Bubion, and rode up Mulhacen (highest mountain in Spain). Really amazing, glad I had my 160mm travel beast with me, lots of loose shale and drops, used lots of the trails that Switchbacks holidays built (found them through strava). We went in August, it was 43º at the beach and 8º at the summit.

The Trans-Andalucia trail is mostly gravel roads from what I have worked out. It's a loop I'd love to do though.



Thanks for that, if the gravel roads are like that, I think it would be a lovely tour round. Its on the cards for sure!

Yeah, they are pretty smooth, not all that smooth though. None of it was very steep (nothing more than 10-12% I reckon), but some of the climbs are huge. Food around there is amazing, and very cheap, and more importantly, beer is about as cheap as bottled water.

Alpinum wrote:For the swiss stages of the Albrecht route I know that this route misses the best parts, albeit running paralell to them.
The Albrecht route too often follows tracks that are boring.

I remember reading about why Albrecht chose roads so often and he was saying that he wanted to minimise hike-a-bike and maximise rideability. It did feel like I might have been missing out on more technical riding but as a route that's easy to download and comes with a nice little route-book to follow it's an easy and painless option.

I plan on doing more riding in that area too and so any advice and/or suggestions would be welcome.

Cheers, Gairy.

The Trans-Andalucia trail is mostly gravel roads from what I have worked out. It's a loop I'd love to do though.

I've just had a look at the website: http://transandalus.org/ looks like a cracking 2000km ... nice for a bit of winter sun

Yeah, gets pretty snowy up in the Sierra Nevada, would need to check how high the trans-andalucia gets. Definitely a route I'm up for doing, maybe a group of us could do it. Hmm...

maybe a group of us could do it.

Nice idea.


That's all I'm saying as for the last 18 months interest from me has transpired to be the kiss of death for most trips.

s8tannorm wrote:

maybe a group of us could do it.

Nice idea.

Watches with interest...

Trans Andalucía looks so good..

It's tempted to start organising something for Trans-Andalucia, but I am saving/spending for TD bike/kit/transit for next year, so have to be careful.

Saying that, I know a couple of spanish speakers who might be up for this trip too, which would make things way better. Oh to be in Trevelez (highest village in spain) eating the best jamon on earth with a cold beer.

Just seen this TransSierraNevada route
http://www.pedalingnowhere.com/routes/b ... _9gDICwJBI

Tempting for a winter break.

Very tempting. Well up for a trip if anyone else is interested?

Anyone know when the weather window would be?

Every now and then I look at the Trans-Anducia route. Would be nice to do early in the year but never sure how early it is feasible. My thinking was to use one of the various local mtb companies to do transfers, look after bike box and maybe first and last night accommodation. That is far as I have ever got.

Guys im off for twelve days in November and looking for some ideas so if anyone does fancy this trip or somat id be well up for somat! Iv ridden around this kinda area on a previous holiday and its cracking. Ive also thought about a trip to the canaries im sure I read a thead here about a trip someone did?

The High Sierras does get a lot of snow. Where I stayed in Bubion we rode up to Mulhacen (highest peak in spain, 11500 feet I think), and it was 38º in Bubion and 8º at the top. That was in mid-august. I'll speak to a mate of mine who knows the area pretty well and is currently looking to move out there and see what he knows of the weather. I'm thinking I'd like to do a trip out there in March/April maybe.

I could possibly also do march / april so I'll keep my eye on this thread if that's OK :0)