Intro
Another epic cycling adventure by Mike Ramseyer this time with his friend Kieran. Mike has done the UK to Italy on four different occasions (for fun and the love of cycling) and on his new adventure starting today the 18th September he and Kieran will be doing the mammoth route as a fundraiser/awareness for The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.
Riding to Italy from the UK and raising money for a wonderful local charity that supports terminally ill children. If you feel able to make a donation it will be massively appreciated. Keep pedalling. Cheers, Mike
Mike Ramseyer
One has to be very fit to Cycle a 160 Km stretch… imagine having to do that every day for 10 days🚴🏻♂️. Inspirational!
Starting the 18th September we will be updating this page daily with photos of this monumental feat. Visit this page daily or follow Mike Ramseyer on Strava. Mike and Kieran will be taking us through magnificent scenery. We look forward to Mike’s comments as they go along some brutal climbs and amazing descents. Please consider contributing to the Fundraiser/ Awareness for The Sussex Snowdrop Trust. https://www.justgiving.com/page/kieranandmike-cycle-to-valdobbiadene-1692023033616
Day 10-152 Km
The day started with a 13 mile climb in the chill morning air. Once over the top and down through the Italian border we descended into the famous Italian apple Groves which stretch for possibly 25 to 30 miles as we wound our way through the cycle parts continuing to head south.
Mike Ramseyer
Long 13 mile climb out of the valley, rapid descent in the chilly shade, into Italy and cycle path through miles and miles of apple orchards EPIC.
Kieran Breheny
Day 9-64 Km
Stunning weather. Clear skies heralded a chilly start for the climb to Davos. However we were quickly down to Summer kit as the climb intensified. Klosters road works created a small diversion and the climb from there to the hill above Davos proved challenging. A café stop, a quick descent into Davos and then the Flüelapass in the warm sunshine. What a great climb. What a great day.
Mike Ramseyer
Breakfast then climb and climb until your reach the sky! Amazing road, narrow at times, steep at others. Descent down into a valley of sun!
Kieran Breheny
Day 8-128 Km
Cycleways in Europe are a whole new world. Forget anything you know about UK cycle paths. This was a day to remember. Blue skies, warm sunshine and a light breeze on our backs as we followed the perfectly macadamed cycle path along the Rhine climbing ever so steadily towards Schiers with Davös and the 2300m Flülepass waiting beyond. Our early into the day easy tempo along the edges of Lake Konstanz was rudely interrupted by a vicious 18% climb up and over and out of the valley. Stunning scenery accompanied by cows with their bells ringing out across the lush green meadows was our reward. Hans joined us on the ride today, as he will for the rest of the tour, and the 3 musketeers pushed on at a steady pace. Finished feeling strong.
Mike Ramseyer
Amazing lake, 25 mile and we still hadn’t reached the end. Stiff climb out of the valley which treated us to an amazing descent in to lush green pastures. Chalets, cows with bells, super smooth cycle tracks along the Rhine. Into the narrow valley towards Davos! Amazing day.
Kieran Breheny
Day 7
Sincere apologies. Did not enter details in time and they are no longer available on Strava.
Day 6-173 Km
Terrific day of which 90% was on the most fantastic cycle ways. Cold start, good weather, sunshine and blue skies, which held off until some rain later but ended dry so great all-around. Good cake and much needed got chocolate stop at 90 miles, right on the cycleway. Germany really knows how to look after cyclists. Felt good all day and the end was tantalisingly close as energy levels sapped so a need to mentally keep strong to the finish. The countryside changed quite rapidly becoming hillier with some mountains awaiting us over the next few days.
Mike Ramseyer
Wonderful French medieval villages leading into German, Swiss Cottage style buildings, mostly cycle paths and backroads. Fine weather with just a little rain. Excellent German hotel. It was a long slog but fun also!
Kieran Breheny
Day 5-122 Km
Luxembourg, Germany, France, Germany, France
A day of city centres cycle paths countryside and heavy industry. Chilly start some dry and sunny weather accompanied by headwinds, less strong, and a rainy finish. Another very good day. 👍
Mike Ramseyer
Weather was good until 5 miles to go, we arrived at the hotel pretty darn wet, again!
Kieran Breheny
Day 4-123 Km
France, Belgium, Luxembourg
A day of rolling Ardennes hills with a big climb at the start. Out of France and back into Belgium and now Luxembourg. The video is of the rain at our lunch stop which thankfully pretty much stopped when we were back on the road. The last 10 miles in driving rain once we crossed the border into Luxembourg. Arrived cold and soaked at the hotel.
Mike Ramseyer
Day 3-130 Km
After clearing the rush hour urban sprawl we were presented with the delights of a canal tow path with no traffic running for miles through the French countryside, passing hulking derelict industrial behemoths from earlier prosperous times on our way South. The wind continued to blow hard. Sometimes a headwind, occasionally a tailwind but mostly a side wind and sometimes on our westerly shoulder. The beautiful French countryside unfolded before us taking it through small villages and larger towns with the pizza stop on route much needed, and served in what must of been a Chinese restaurant, the decor now as shabby as last year’s noodles. We entered Belgium and enjoyed a cycleway, turn right after the railway level crossing. A pristine track ran down through a wooded pathway along a ridge of hills for miles and miles away from the wind, the traffic and seemingly the rest of the world. The day ended with a long downhill to Haybes, difficult into a blustery headwind with Kieran leading the way across the bridge over a wide river into picturesque Haybes and then a long hard climb up to the hotel. A great day with more climbing than we realised.
Mike Ramseyer
The end of the day for a long distance cyclist involves cleaning your kit whilst showering then spending time drying it with the hotel hair dryer, in this case that doesn’t work. Try explaining to your French host, who speaks very little English, and your French is pidgin at best, that you need a working hairdryer, when you’ve got no hair! The romance!
Day 2-145 Km
A good day with tail, side, side-on and headwinds. Great Kommot route along canals and through small rural villages as well as in and out of Lille. Some rain at times some sunshine. Great team effort. Schoolboy error.🤪 Selected wrong Course so spent some time wondering why I couldn’t find our route out of Calais, so can claim a couple of additional miles due to Garmin stop and re start 🤣
Mike Ramseyer
Day 1-180 Km
Strong winds heavy rain sunshine we had it all as well as having a great ride.
Mike Ramseyer
