grossglockner pass - anyone done it?

look4now

looking for some advice on the grossglockner pass. how steep and preferred gear choice is my main q's. don't have a triple or compact so can only really play with rear cassette.

thanks

cycladelic

I did it from the south side. It's 34km to the top from the last village. I was spinning in low gears all the time as I was fully loaded.

You can see some pics and a write-up here...

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page ... 35199&v=2x

dilemna

I did it, but by car, about 15 year ago. It didn't seem that steep. Views were stunning.

look4now

cycladelic wrote:

I did it from the south side. It's 34km to the top from the last village. I was spinning in low gears all the time as I was fully loaded.

You can see some pics and a write-up here...

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page ... 35199&v=2x

Thanks for that, nice pictures and ride diary.

Now looking forward to it, will make do with what I have gear wise.....

daviesee

I did it on a tour bus 4 years ago.

Not much help I know but for others that have not seen it, I have been inspired.
That is one climb I "must" do soon!

Spectacular!!!!!!! :P

rhnb

I've done it from the Heiligenblut side when we toured over that way in 2002, so with those panniers I was mighty glad of the triple! All I'll say is I couldn't do it on a double. Touch and go maybe on a compact but you're probably younger and fitter than me1 ;-)
I wrote our trip up here..
http://www.bikeit.eclipse.co.uk/bike2002/index.htm
See day 10 for the Grossglockner.

It's a fantastic climb from either side (Bruck or Heiligenblut), trouble was the weather - lashing rain and bitterly cold when we went over. We also did the extra bit up to the Pasterze Glacier (well worth doing) which is quite a flog.
Must go back and do it in good weather - I'd been over it in a coach the year before and the views on that clear day were stunning - bloody typical. Just watch when you're going. We went in May and it had just opened after heavy snow.

Cheers... Allan

dilemna

Some nice pics there Allan. I see what you mean about the view at the summit of the GG.

You have inspired me to add it to my list of must do rides.

knedlicky

I did it as last of three passes in a cyclosportive a few years ago. We came from the south side (Heligenblut, on the right edge of the profile below) and I found the hardest part to be the short 1+ km climb to Fuscher Törl from Fuscher Lacke, i.e. after the slight drop down from Hochtor. It might have been 12% and I was on 39/25 and the legs were tired by then.
The steepest section coming from the south is actually shortly after leaving Heiligenblut, before reaching the toll booth, when it's 18% for 300-400 m. After the toll booth, there's several 12% sections.

Each year in June there is a open-to-all hill climb in the reverse direction, i.e. from Bruck to Fuscher Törl, on a closed road, 1700 m rise in 27 km. This has 12% sections too but nothing steeper.
The winner typically manages it in less than an hour, and the average participant needs just over 2 hours (men) or just over 2 1/2 hours (women).

There are a couple of tunnels up the top, both unlit if I remember right (a friendly car escorted me through with his headlights on).
The lower parts of the climbs don't really have many sharp curves, and the upper sections are wide enough not to worry traffic, meaning cars and motorbikes sometimes like to speed. So it's best to ride outside of the favoured afternoon tourist hours (1-4). When the evenings are long and the weather is fine, to avoid traffic I've heard it recommended to do the descents early evening, when the setting sun might also give a nice warm orangey glow to the vista.
I'd say the descent to the north is probably the most impressive descent in the Alps, in terms of view and landscape.

rhnb

To go with the above, here's a couple of profiles.
This one shows the bit which we missed in the fog from Fuscher Torl to Edelweissspitze,
That's the absolute heighest point but like I say we missed that as it must be a road off somewhere. It climbs to 2571m.
http://www.zanibike.net/altimetria/17/A ... Fusch.aspx

This one shows the profile from Heiligenblut to Kaiser Franz Josefs Hohe.
http://www.zanibike.net/altimetria/18/A ... khorn.aspx
The road splits at Guttal where you'd normally turn right and climb on up to Hochtor, but if you carry straight on, you climb up to the Glacier - a dead end but well worth it. From the top of there the Grossglockner peak is just about directly opposite.

Agree with knedlicky - the bit up from the lake to Fuscher Torl seemed bloody hard - probaby worse 'cos you've done some descending. 39x25!!!! My kneecaps would have popped out ;-)

We had no problem with traffic, but there again, what other idiots would go up there on a day like that!

durhamwasp

Im thinking of a family holiday in either Austria or Italy with a bit of cycling thrown in. Is there any other climbs or worth while routes near to Grossglockner? Other place im thinking of is Bormio. Will need a nice campsite too if anybody can recommend any!