That time of year again. Swiss trip 2018

I'm sure that the years are passing by quicker and quicker, and the annual trip to the Swiss Alps has semingly come round even quicker this time.

I had hoped that I would be taking the Scott E-Genius 720 as the trip would of made for a brilliant review of the bike, but the failure to deliver a promised second battery means a no go for the bike. I had suspected that this would be the case, and luckily had the sense to ensure that the KTM was fully stripped down, refreshed, and good to go, with the bonus for me being that it is several kilogrammes lighter which makes a massive difference when the time comes to carry the bike up certain sections of the ascents. According to my scales the Shimano battery is also 505 grammes heavier than the Bosch battery and is also 56mm longer. That 505 grammes is all extra weight to carry in the Camelbak Mule, and overall adds over 1kg of weight to whole set up. I consider weight to be a crucial issue, and is one that I like to plan for.

The down side of not having the Scott, is brake rotor size. Something that the KTM is sadly going to be lacking in when it comes to alpine descending. 203mm rotors on the Scott, compared with 180mm on the KTM. The KTM is a full XT set up though, so who knows what if any differences that there might or not be. I do know that brake fade has been a frequent issue in the past though, and the local lads all seem to run Shimano Saint.

Trivial issues aside, I'm really looking forward to finally getting to put a hardtail through it's paces in respect of climbing. I've long suspected that several of the climbs would be best placed using a hardtail, so it's good to get the chance to prove or disprove this to my self as well. I do know that I'm certainly looking forward to trying the 2.8 tyres on one particular climb that has always beaten me through loss of traction and balance point.

Speaking of 2.8 tyres, I had also read that bikes with plus size, don't fit properly onto Thule bike racks. I don't have my model number to hand, but that statement is utter nonsense, as I found out earlier when doing a trial fit.

It was no more difficult than any other bike that have carried, so not actually difficult at all.

Good to go.

As for planned climbs, sadly the trip is being split between Germany and Switzerland, so I'm only getting five days in for climbing, and these are likely to be either starting before sunrise, or heading towards sunset. Some of this years proposed climbs, get busy during day time hours with hikers, so I'm planning on working around this, as I like the mountains to my self. Greedy I know, but the mountains take on a whole different feel when they are empty of human life. It is a feeling that I very much cherish and love.

Climb one is going to involve a lot of bike carrying, and for all I know no one has probably ever ridden it, and I won't even know if I can until I try it. I have tackled the first half of the climb last year, from a different direction, but had to turn back, when I was confronted by two very aggressive and large dogs. I shall be disappointed if the same happens again this year!

8.2 miles of climbing with 7,824ft of elevation gain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k2dL6nzlck

The second ride is one that I have completed the first stage of on many occasions, but have never completed the second stage, as the weather has always turned against me. The first stage is a ten mile long climb, with roughly 7,000ft of elevation gain. This climb has always lead me to have a change of battery towards the latter stage of the climb, and that is with me being pretty frugal with the power settings. Stage two of the ride, takes in the base of the North face of the Eiger. I so want to manage this route on this trip, and will be greatly disappointed if I don't. Being truthful, one of the failures to complete it was my own fault, as I stupidly hadn't that I had charged the second battery. I hate failure at the best of times, and even more so when it comes down to poor preparation and incompetence. The second confession is that I also did the same on a climb the previous year.

Start of stage two of climb two.

The third ride is another that I had intended to do last year, but ran out of time. In the following clip I have completed everything up to the 3.08 point but not beyond. It isn't a difficult ride, but I want to tackle it for the views. I am cautious about though, as it a hiking route, not mtb route, and I don't head out to annoy walkers and give mtb riders a bad name. It might have to be a very early start for this one.

The uncompleted section. https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?bgLayer=pk&lang=de&resolution=2.5&E=2632832&N=1155883&trackId=3968552&season=summer

I have other major rides planned, including the one below, but suspect that these will have to wait for another time. I would love to get back out in October, but who knows.

Still on my bucket list of rides is certain sections of this hiking route, but not using the eMTB, and not on the SAC T5 graded sections.

Edited June 24, 20187 yr by EddiePJ

Well, I take my hat off to you riding those trails.

I didn't overly enjoy the Grutsch Trail at the 1.45- 2.50 point in the second clip. Riding it on my own at night time possibly wasn't the best or smartest thing to do for a first run with no knowledge of where it went or what was ahead. That kind of down hill riding really isn't my idea of fun, as I prefer the technical climbing and slower trials riding style of descent. Speed isn't for me.

Edited June 23, 20187 yr by EddiePJ

I didn't overly enjoy the Grutsch Trail at the 1.45- 2.50 point in the second clip. Riding it on my own at night time possibly wasn't the best or smartest thing to do for a first run with no knowledge of where it went or what was ahead. That kind of down hill riding really isn't my idea of fun, as I prefer the technical climbing and slower trials riding style of descent. Speed isn't for me.

I’m not envious of your trip much

Have a great trip Eddie

If that's your car, what model ya got?

Gaz

(Octy vRS 220 DSG)

Hi Gaz, many thanks for the kind words.

Ref the Skoda, we have only had it for about two months. It is a 2015 Octavia Estate Elegance auto with the 2.0 litre diesel engine and has covered just over 10,000 miles. Prior to this, we had a Volvo D5 S60 for 14 years, but it was just starting to make me a bit wary that it was going to sooner or later let us down. I have to say that I'm really impressed with the Skoda, especially with the economy figures. Making motorway trips and setting the cruise control at 70mph, it is returning an indicated 64mpg. It's also £30.00 to tax it.

The shock for me though was just a few weeks ago when I decided that I couldn't put off having a towbar fitted. I thought that I would do it myself until I looked on Youtube and saw just what was involved! I'm still reeling from the near on £700.00 cost of it.

The only other thing that I have bought was a spare wheel kit, as I didn't fancy going outside the UK with just sealant and a pump.

I hadn't intended to buy an estate, or even a Skoda, but after sitting in and trying my cousins vRS I was sold on them. We went to Caffyns to look at saloons, but after seeing the load space of the estate, I couldn't resist it. Both designs have quite prenominal load carrying capacity, and with my daughter at uni, and frequent trips to and from, it was something high on the list of requirements. I'm not into cars, but this one has certainly increased my interest in them, to the extent that I even used a clay bar and full polish treatment, under the bonnet and boot space! I suddenly have a new interest in vehicle valeting, and find it oddly therapeutic and relaxing. It is also the first car that we have owned that hasn't made my daughter car sick.

Nice 184 engine then? (poss. 150) - good bit of grunt.

Mine's a 2015 Estate too. Went in for a 1.6TDI Blackline (replacing a 2.5V6TDI Superb), but ended up with the vRS. MPG's a bit different to yours though - 20k miles (all mine) and the long term average is 29.6 - but then you don't buy a vRS for the economy

Anyway, way off topic - soz! That second video makes my knees go wobbly just watching it!

Gaz

PS: Highly recommend getting a rearguard:

http://www.rearguards.co.uk/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=RBP610&sid=4xl68rh9pd9oy77y299m92850cs3z5d9

Edited June 24, 20187 yr by Gaz

I'm not sure of the bhp, but it certainly flies along, and accelerates very well.

The actual model is an Elegance TDI CR S-A 1968cc

Yup, us Octavia owners are jammy b'stards!

Mine is 1.9 pd , it's virtually bullet proof,nothing gone wrong ,apart from a flat battery ,replaced after 10 yrs .

Thing is they are not the bargain bin buys they use to be