09-01-2019, 11:54 AM
Yep, this was taken from the top of Stelvio, looking east down towards Glorenza (Glurns), Italy.
![[Image: 1c149e25f7f9a667a4141f74a101afa0.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201909/1c149e25f7f9a667a4141f74a101afa0.jpg)
I've ridden it before and find it to be similar to the experience of riding up Pikes Peak here in Colorado. Straights and hairpins, including a few steep ones that go more than 180 degrees around. Hard on the throttle, and then hard on the brakes. Tough to get past 2nd gear. Most of the hairpins are only wide enough to allow traffic to move in one direction. Lots of bicycles, cars, trucks, buses, and tourists. The top is almost carnival-like, with vendors and merchants and food stands and lots of people standing around taking photos. On the way down (westbound), I recommend detouring down Umbrail Pass into Switzerland, instead of following Stelvio all the way down to Bormio, Italy. But on this trip, we rode down to Bormio, and then over Passo di Gavia, which is two-say traffic on a narrow single-lane road.
We also visited an exquisite motorcycle museum at the top of Timmelsjoch, which is a high pass connecting Italy and Austria. On display were several bikes I knew existed but had never seen before, including this 1970 Munch Mammut. I remember reading about it as a kid when it was featured on the cover of Cycle magazine.
![[Image: 201fcb2866018d2d5d26b450e659207a.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201909/201fcb2866018d2d5d26b450e659207a.jpg)
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that ten minutes into the ride, on the first day, we stopped to collect everyone after passing through a village. I was sitting on my bike on the side of the road, waiting, when another rider pulled up outside of me, lost his footing, and tumbled into me. I came off the bike and landed on the roadway with my bike on top of me. My helmet boinked off the pavement and my Helite airbag vest deployed. I wasn't hurt but it took about a minute for the vest to deflate, and I felt like an idiot standing there almost unable to move my head and upper body. I don't know if the vest prevented injury but I'm glad I was wearing it. I'm certainly glad I was wearing my helmet, which is mandatory. The guy who knocked into me was quite embarrassed and bought me a new CO2 cartridge for the vest (about $25). ATGATT. Hey, it happens.
I've ridden it before and find it to be similar to the experience of riding up Pikes Peak here in Colorado. Straights and hairpins, including a few steep ones that go more than 180 degrees around. Hard on the throttle, and then hard on the brakes. Tough to get past 2nd gear. Most of the hairpins are only wide enough to allow traffic to move in one direction. Lots of bicycles, cars, trucks, buses, and tourists. The top is almost carnival-like, with vendors and merchants and food stands and lots of people standing around taking photos. On the way down (westbound), I recommend detouring down Umbrail Pass into Switzerland, instead of following Stelvio all the way down to Bormio, Italy. But on this trip, we rode down to Bormio, and then over Passo di Gavia, which is two-say traffic on a narrow single-lane road.
We also visited an exquisite motorcycle museum at the top of Timmelsjoch, which is a high pass connecting Italy and Austria. On display were several bikes I knew existed but had never seen before, including this 1970 Munch Mammut. I remember reading about it as a kid when it was featured on the cover of Cycle magazine.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that ten minutes into the ride, on the first day, we stopped to collect everyone after passing through a village. I was sitting on my bike on the side of the road, waiting, when another rider pulled up outside of me, lost his footing, and tumbled into me. I came off the bike and landed on the roadway with my bike on top of me. My helmet boinked off the pavement and my Helite airbag vest deployed. I wasn't hurt but it took about a minute for the vest to deflate, and I felt like an idiot standing there almost unable to move my head and upper body. I don't know if the vest prevented injury but I'm glad I was wearing it. I'm certainly glad I was wearing my helmet, which is mandatory. The guy who knocked into me was quite embarrassed and bought me a new CO2 cartridge for the vest (about $25). ATGATT. Hey, it happens.