Several routes over passes and gravel roads from Germany to Italy have become Classiques. Tips on route selection, navigation and travel planning.
Physical challenge in a paradisiacal landscape: mountain bikers near Livigno in Lombardy.
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If you don’t want to be stuck in traffic on your trip south in summer, you have an attractive alternative: you can set off on a mountain bike or gravel bike. Theoretically, a racing bike is also suitable for the project, but many motorized holiday travelers leave the motorway in favor of driving through the passes. So that you are spared from automobiles and motorcycles, we recommend a bike that is suitable for gravel paths or mule tracks.
Admittedly, the whole thing can become a major physical challenge. Some are looking for exactly that, others use an e-mountain bike to help them.
Routes
Lake Garda is a particularly suitable destination for beginners. Reaching Italy’s largest lake by pedaling has long been a trend, especially among German tourists. Several legendary bike routes from Germany lead to Lake Garda. They are considered classiques among the so-called Transalp routes.
Heckmair-Route: This route was developed by Andreas Heckmair in 1989 and published in the mountain bike magazine “Bike”. It should not be confused with the Heckmair route on the north face of the Eiger, which was laid by Andreas’ father. The Heckmair route for bikes is considered the first crossing of the Alps by mountain bike.
Those who choose this route do so primarily for nostalgic reasons. Because there are now more attractive options. The route begins in Oberstdorf im Allgäu and ends after six stages at Lake Garda. It’s best for Swiss people to get into Davos on the third day. www.heckmair-route.de
Joe-Route: In 1995, Achim Zahn alias Serac Joe developed the Joe route as a variant of the Heckmair route. It runs partly parallel to the route from 1989, also from Oberstdorf to Riva del Garda. However, it includes one more stage, is 120 kilometers longer and has more elevation gain as well as some pushing and carrying sections. Swiss people can start on the third day in Scuol. https://www.gps-tour.info/de/touren/detail.6975.html
Albrecht-Route: In 2004 Andreas Albrecht published a route from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Torbole on Lake Garda on his website. It is technically less demanding than that of Heckmair and Joe. Albrecht has also adapted his route for e-mountain bikes and gravel bikes. Even with Albrecht, the best place for Swiss people to get started is in Scuol. transalp.info/albrecht-route/
Tourenportal von Uli Stanciu: If you’re looking for as much singletrack as possible, you should stick to Uli Stanciu’s site. He seems to have conquered almost every valley and crossing in the Italian Alps. Individual sections can be hung together here, with information about the nature of the subsurface always being stored. If you want to save yourself the hassle of assembling, you can also choose a prefabricated tour. www.bike-gps.com
Navigation
The best way to find the right path is to download the GPS data onto a navigation device or cell phone. Heckmair and Joe’s routes can be found free of charge on the navigation app Komoot. Here you can also get information about the nature of the path.
To be fair, Albrecht and Stanciu’s GPS data is obtained via their portals. The cost for both is around 15 euros. Albrecht also provides free road books with valuable information for his tours. If you are overwhelmed by the choice of route, you can join a guided tour. There are numerous providers online.
Travel time
On all routes you cross passes that are just over 2000 meters above sea level. There is usually no snow at this altitude from mid-June to the end of September. If you avoid August, you can book at shorter notice or even check in spontaneously on site. The following applies: the larger the place, the easier it is usually to find accommodation.
Security
It’s an advantage that you don’t go on the journey alone. It’s safer to travel in the mountains with two or three people and you can support each other and request help in an emergency. If you still want to go on a solo trip, the months of July and August are recommended. Because then there are usually others on the route. In this case, it is also advisable to take a GPS spotter with you, which you can use to make an emergency call even in a dead zone.
Baggage
A small daypack is the ideal piece of luggage on the bike. In theory, these backpacks are actually intended for day trips, but in practice you can easily use them for a whole week or even longer.
A rain jacket makes sense even if the forecast is good. On the one hand, changes in the weather are always possible, and on the other hand, the jackets also protect against wind. The charging cable for your cell phone is essential. Finally, a smartphone can also serve as a means of payment, a translator and much more.
Return journey
There are various options for the return journey. If you want a direct train to Zurich, you can find it in Peschiera del Garda, daily without changing (from 4.48 p.m., at 10.27 p.m.), six hour journey for 75 euros in 2nd class or 115 euros in 1st class. A bike space costs 12 euros.
The challenge: Peschiera is at the other end of the lake, around 60 kilometers from Riva del Garda. The route is flat and beautiful when traffic on the main road is limited. Or you can take the boat to Sirmione (direct) or to Peschiera (with a change in Garda). When taking your bike with you, please pay attention to the colors in the timetable. There is white (no problem), yellow (little space on the boat) and red (bicycles not allowed). www.navigazionelaghi.it
The return journey via Munich is also relatively stress-free. During the season there are shuttle buses from Riva del Garda to the Bavarian capital five times a week (seven hour journey, from 130 euros). From there there are seven direct trains to Zurich every day (three and a half hours, from 50 euros). www.fahrtwind.de
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