The French Ride

[loudbeard]

Gents,
I’m currently on a week long tour of the Alps aboard a Multistrada V4S. I’ll do a much more detailed write up once this is over but this is an unmatched experience. These twisty mountain roads just *do not quit.* I am in motorcycle heaven.

Booked with:
The French Ride

[FriskyDingo]

Super jealous, looks incredible!!! Safe remainder of your trip, ENJOY!!

[JettaJayGLS]

I've done a lot of riding in the Alps on a bicycle and completely agree. Theres no comparison to those roads, and the family oriented culinary experience, in the US.

[xrocket21]

Epic!!!!!!!

[jimmycapp]

Awesome!

[Paul_E_D]

Wowza!

[loudbeard]

Sorry for the sideways photo :/ the ride was epic though!

[loudbeard]

There was a photographer camped out on our route the first day, probably need to get this framed.

[loudbeard]

I've done a lot of riding in the Alps on a bicycle and completely agree. Theres no comparison to those roads, and the family oriented culinary experience, in the US.

Is it ever demoralizing to be pedaling up one of these mountain pass on a 17 lb carbon bike only to be passed by some 80 year old Swiss granny riding a steel ten speed with jeans, a cardigan, and her week’s grocery in the panniers?

[JettaJayGLS]

Is it ever demoralizing to be pedaling up one of these mountain pass on a 17 lb carbon bike only to be passed by some 80 year old Swiss granny riding a steel ten speed with jeans, a cardigan, and her week’s grocery in the panniers?

Never! The best/worst was a pass in the Dolomites. I hopped on a group of old men on e-bikes smoking cigarettes and ALMOST made it to the top on their wheel. A steep kicker towards the top knocked me off.

American tourists driving the roads are the biggest downside.

Did you hit any of the big Tour De France climbs - easily identified by crazy amounts of graffiti.
The Galibier, Col Du Sarenne, and Col Du Granon (out and back, so you probably wouldn't do it) will be tough to unseat as favorites. These are probably too heavily trafficked to be fun on a moto, unfortunately.
But the sneaky best, and not a race route, was Villard Notre Dame -> Col Du Solude. Amazing single lane rock tunnels and a gravel top through fields of Cows. Then a ripppppppping descent down.

The best part is ALL the roads out there are like this.

[breakdirt916]

DUDE