Geneva into the alps..?

[Tin Pot]

Okay, I might be seriously nuts this time. Dublin was just a decoy

So, I've emailed a swiss bike hire company but not got a response yet. They're probably too busy laughing.

It's 77km from Geneva to my spot in the Alps, the last 10km climbs 600m.

I've driven it many times, and the amount of traffic usually keeps the ice off the roads.

It would be about 2ºC leaving Geneva with scattered showers, later 3ºC with a bit of rain and snow, then down to 0ºC as I get up the last 600m into the mountains.

I'd need a road bike to cover that distance in reasonable time, but the climb at the end could be a nightmare. I'm sure I've seen cyclists on it before, but the drivers can be nutters.

Are there magic tires like winter tires for cars?

Am I mad and need to stop now, close the thread and think of my family?

 

[Broadside]

You should reckon on the temp dropping 2c for every 1000ft/300m of ascent, so you will lose 4c on that last climb alone.

You sound like a regular to the area but in my experience the roads tend to be snow free up to around 1400m and often much higher dependant on recent snowfall in the area of course. What height is the target location?

The gradients tend to be consistent rather than ramps in the Alps even if it's a 600m climb so it could be very doable if the roads aren't covered in snow. When are you dong this?

 

[Tin Pot]

You should reckon on the temp dropping 2c for every 1000ft/300m of ascent, so you will lose 4c on that last climb alone.

You sound like a regular to the area but in my experience the roads tend to be snow free up to around 1400m and often much higher dependant on recent snowfall in the area of course. What height is the target location?

The gradients tend to be consistent rather than ramps in the Alps even if it's a 600m climb so it could be very doable if the roads aren't covered in snow. When are you dong this?

Yeah it's lower than some at 1100m in town, it does get buried in snow some times but I've never needed snow chains on the main roads just some of the residential streets and ramps.

 

[Broadside]

It would be easy to say go for it, but realistically it is so weather dependant it could turn in to a nightmare.

Go out there for the skiing with friends/family and enjoy it for that without the pressure of cycling in potentially dangerous conditions. I have had similar thoughts recently and have dropped the cycling idea, as I can do that for the other 51 weeks of the year.

 

[Tin Pot]

It would be easy to say go for it, but realistically it is so weather dependant it could turn in to a nightmare.

Go out there for the skiing with friends/family and enjoy it for that without the pressure of cycling in potentially dangerous conditions. I have had similar thoughts recently and have dropped the cycling idea, as I can do that for the other 51 weeks of the year.

I'm on my own without family, but it's getting too late to plan it properly and I have business to attend to as well so I'll just hire a car. I'd like to try it some day though.

I'm doing four sessions on a training bike out there, this would've subbed to of them for on road 'experience'.

 

[jonny jeez]

Okay, I might be seriously nuts this time. Dublin was just a decoy

So, I've emailed a swiss bike hire company but not got a response yet. They're probably too busy laughing.

It's 77km from Geneva to my spot in the Alps, the last 10km climbs 600m.

I've driven it many times, and the amount of traffic usually keeps the ice off the roads.

It would be about 2ºC leaving Geneva with scattered showers, later 3ºC with a bit of rain and snow, then down to 0ºC as I get up the last 600m into the mountains.

I'd need a road bike to cover that distance in reasonable time, but the climb at the end could be a nightmare. I'm sure I've seen cyclists on it before, but the drivers can be nutters.

Are there magic tires like winter tires for cars?

Am I mad and need to stop now, close the thread and think of my family?

I drive from GVA ro Megeve or les Gets in the French Alps a fair bit. The climbs up to both resorts are on beautiful twisty mountain roads...that have no run off, no shoulder, no pavement and are usually flanked for miles by unforgiving concrete walls (right at the edge of the road)

Couple that with the way in which local drivers treat the bends as if they don't exist and just overtake wherever they fancy...i would not enjoy riding those roads in the winter