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12 Crazy Roads!

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Granville57

Granville57

Dec 7, 2010
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This was on the MSN.com homepage.
http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Crazy+Drives%3a+Stelvio+Pass%2c+Italy&cid=msn1134249&form=HPTRAV&gt1=41000
Some of these look familiar. ;)
Pics are accompanied by some interesting stats as well.

FFF633BE86C71ACA865C591E99DA8.jpg


I would love to ride these roads!
Funny how the segment begins with some babble about "driving," but the homepage captured the pic from above. :D
 
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kiwirider

Jun 16, 2009
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The Milford Road (number 10) doesn't deserve to be on that list.

Don't get me wrong, the road is very nice - and the section from the Homer Tunnel through to Milford Sound is beautiful. But nothing makes it crazy! I mean, there are heaps of roads around the country with "no stopping" zones because of snow or rock fall ... They've even improved the Homer Tunnel - which is the section where the avalanche risk prevents stopping in the winter. It now has lights and is controlled by traffic lights in the summer (so that tourist buses don't hit each other as they pass).

There are plenty of other much madder roads in NZ - Gentle Annie, Lake Waikaremoana, Paraparas, almost anything on the Coromandel, Otago Peninsula, Banks Peninsula, Crown Range, Queen Charlotte Drive - and that's only the first few that instantly come to mind... Anyone building a list of nutty places to ride that includes NZ should check them out well before Milford ... (And many of them are even nicer on a motorbike! :))
 
Granville57

Granville57

Dec 7, 2010
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Thanks kiwi.

I'm hoping to get as many first-hand accounts of these various roads as possible. Any cool pics of alternate roads would be nice too. :)
 
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kiwirider

Jun 16, 2009
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Granville57 said:
Thanks kiwi.

I'm hoping to get as many first-hand accounts of these various roads as possible. Any cool pics of alternate roads would be nice too. :)
Click to expand...

Glad to be of service. :)

And I like your idea of getting feedback on the roads ... can't wait to get the word on some of those awesome switchbacked European mountain roads!!! :D
 
Buffalo Soldier

Buffalo Soldier

Apr 12, 2009
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Help me remember, what was that climb they did in the last giro, going through some fantastic canyons? That was also really beautiful. (but the ski stations they passed afterwards were bit of a bummer)
 
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ergmonkey

Aug 11, 2009
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Highway 1 near Big Sur gets an A+ in my book. Contrary to the description in the slideshow, it's not a very dangerous road (on a road bike at least), while the views are fantastic and the riding is varied and fun. Lots of short risers in the 2-3 minute range; a few longer drags; and some legitimate climbs here and there if you turn off of Highway 1 and head up into the hills.
 
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Matteo

Jun 25, 2009
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Buffalo Soldier said:
Help me remember, what was that climb they did in the last giro, going through some fantastic canyons? That was also really beautiful. (but the ski stations they passed afterwards were bit of a bummer)
Click to expand...

I think you might mean the Passo di Fedaia (the Marmolada). They passed through a narrow gorge with a waterfall on the lower slopes. This is the Sottoguda gorge.
 
Bala Verde

Bala Verde

Mar 10, 2009
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Buffalo Soldier said:
Help me remember, what was that climb they did in the last giro, going through some fantastic canyons? That was also really beautiful. (but the ski stations they passed afterwards were bit of a bummer)
Click to expand...

Matteo said:
I think you might mean the Passo di Fedaia (the Marmolada). They passed through a narrow gorge with a waterfall on the lower slopes. This is the Sottoguda gorge.
Click to expand...

Those images were stunning.

4230282.jpg
?

pictures of the actual stage
 
F

fishtacos

Jun 17, 2009
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#9 Hana Highway in Maui -

There's a group ride every Sunday that leaves around 6:30 AM from Twin Falls and goes to Hana, so not only can you ride the road, you can do it with other cyclists pretty much any week of the year.

Both Hana and Highway 1 in California are definitely worth it - Incredible rides if the weather's good. Lombard St. in SF is pretty nuts, too.
 
Archibald

Archibald

Jun 15, 2009
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I love it how everyone goes ga-ga over the Great Ocean Road. Jam packed full of tourists, cars, caravans, campers, etc... like driving in peak-hour except you get to occasionally go up to 40kmh. Was like that every time I've been on it between Apollo Bay and Geelong.
That said, I'd still like to ride the Great Ocean Road Classic - just not as much as I'd like to ride some of the others mentioned.
 
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kiwirider

Jun 16, 2009
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flyor64 said:
One can race #3 on the list, Trollstigen, on 2 July if one so has the desire:
The Trollladder Race[/URL][/U][/B]
QUOTE]

Awesome!! :)

Since I am trying to use the limited Danish that I remember to try to help me read Norwegian ... and since I don't necessarily trust goole translator ... can you tell me if the Isfjorden Rundt is a "proper" MTB race? Or is it the sort of thing that you could tackle on a cyclocross bike? Have you ever ridden either ride?

Either way, I'm thinking that a trip to see my friend in Trondheim might well be on the cards next summer! :D
Click to expand...
 
flyor64

flyor64

Mar 18, 2009
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kiwirider said:
Awesome!! :)

Since I am trying to use the limited Danish that I remember to try to help me read Norwegian ... and since I don't necessarily trust goole translator ... can you tell me if the Isfjorden Rundt is a "proper" MTB race? Or is it the sort of thing that you could tackle on a cyclocross bike? Have you ever ridden either ride?

Either way, I'm thinking that a trip to see my friend in Trondheim might well be on the cards next summer! :D
Click to expand...

No I haven't ridden either of them but have planned to do Trollstigen before and will hopefully pull it off next year (it always happens at a bad time for me and I'm usually traveling).

Isfjorden Rundt is classified on the announcement as a "touring" MTB race with asphalt, gravel, forest paths/roads, and a "little" singletrack. The map provided at raumask.no is poor and doesn't provide any more insight.

I couldn't give you a definitive yes or no to the cross bike thing but I can say that at other longish MTB races I've done here (Grenserittet, Hortensmarka rundt...) I've seen guys on cross bikes. It seems to me that one could unclip and run the really technical bits (which alot of the MTBers are doing anyway ;)), which are likely not very long.

Perhaps someone else who raced the actual race may chime in.

Oh, and I've hear Trondheim is very cool to visit in the summer! You should def go visit your friend :D
 
hiero2

hiero2

Jul 10, 2010
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US - Mackenzie Pass

If you like switchbacks - how about MacKenzie Pass in Oregon, the Pacific side. Although, it has been many many years since I have been there, and I seem to recall at some point they prohibited cyclists from using it.
 
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