Stage 3: Binn

From Vauderens to Pura in 3 days - The Pestalozzi / Gasser Bike Trip over the Alps

Stage 3: Binn - Pura

130 km, 2000 m elevation. 10 AM to 1 AM, 9:30 hours riding (and pushing...) time.

This was the pièce de résistence. The Albrun Pass was finally there, and we wanted to prove that it was cyclable. Well, it was not. Of course we got over it, but it took a lot of pushing and shouldering our bikes. Still, it was worth the effort. The descent to lake Devero was unforgettable.

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       Once again a late start. It looks like we never learn... at the beginning it was a nice ride on an unpaved road. Later the trail got narrow, but still OK. After all, the lady from the Binn tourist office had told us, the way to the Albrunpass was a "quiet walk". Here Cristoforo points at the pass and notices: there is not trail anymore... at least not a cyclable one.

     Now it was only pushing and carrying. The views made up for the effort, somehow. About 100 altitude meters before the pass there was a cabin, we welcomed the breaks. Enrico's knee wasn't doing too bad, but he had barely eaten breakfast and was feeling kind of strange.

   Albrunpass, finally there. We pose after the ultimate effort to the kind click of a bypassing wanderer. Once over the pass we tried riding but no way ("No Way" Hans Rey might have ridden, but we pushed). After a total of 2 hours of pushing, we finally stood in the pedals again.

The descent towards Alpe Devero was very nice and technical. Of course we where all trying to remain in the saddle and show to each other that it could be done. From left to right: First bit of cyclable road after the pass, first view of Lake Devero and the final descent before the lake shore. Shortly before the lake, Enrico gave up entirely, needed a break and then barely made it to Alpe Devero.

Having ice cream while spaghetti are cooking    In Alpe Devero there was an nice little restaurant and they where so kind to serve us pasta in the late afternoon. Enrico managed to stay on his feet somehow and have lunch, but pretty soon had to go lay down in the van with fever. The remaining 4 of us started on a wild descent to Domodossola on a narrow paved road. Lorenzo had a flat and switched to Cristoforo's rental bike, while Cristoforo rode his racer again.

Getting closer to Domodossola we read our maps carefully and came to the conclusion that we would not make it home before dark. So we raced as fast as we could to reach Domodossola before 7 PM, in order to buy some lights. We reached a bike shop minutes before they closed and where able to buy some lights.

Now it was a flat run to the lago Maggiore. Cristoforo lead the way most of the time, acting as a windshield. We left Domodossola around 8 PM and made it to Verbania just in time to miss the 10 PM ferry boat, which was carrying our supporting van. So we had Pizza and boarded the 11 PM boat to Laveno. Catherine was waiting for us there. Enrico and Mami had already been picked up by Emanuelle (one of the Gasser daughters), whom we had alerted.

In Laveno we decided to take the lake road to Luino and to continue on the Italian side to the customs station in Ponte Tresa. In spite of our lights, we thought it safer to have Cathérine drive behind us and light up the road with the van's headlamps. This lead to a huge traffic jam, as the cars where piling up behind us. From time to time Cathérine pulled over, and they passed honking and shouting.

It was clear that we would have a little race to Ponte Tresa. Lorenzo and Cristoforo tried to start a flight from time to time, but only burnt their energy by trying not to let the other get away. Francesco and I rode steady and always caught up with them again. A few miles before Ponte Tresa we increased the speed and on the last mile I decided to give it a try. I passed Lorenzo and together we caught Cristoforo by surprise and made it ahead of him to the customs station. If Lorenzo didn't manage to pass me again, it was certainly because he was not riding his own bike.

After Ponte Tresa Cathérine drove on to the Gasser home in Pura and we slowly pedaled the last 200 altitude meters to reach villa Montebello around 1:30 AM. We where welcomed by Cathérine and daughters and a champagne shower.

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	Once again a late start. It looks like we never learn... at the beginning it was a nice ride on an unpaved road. Later the trail got narrow, but still OK. After all, the lady from the Binn tourist office had told us, the way to the Albrunpass was a "quiet walk". Here Cristoforo points at the pass and notices: there is not trail anymore... at least not a cyclable one.
	Now it was only pushing and carrying. The views made up for the effort, somehow. About 100 altitude meters before the pass there was a cabin, we welcomed the breaks. Enrico's knee wasn't doing too bad, but he had barely eaten breakfast and was feeling kind of strange.
	Albrunpass, finally there. We pose after the ultimate effort to the kind click of a bypassing wanderer. Once over the pass we tried riding but no way ("No Way" Hans Rey might have ridden, but we pushed). After a total of 2 hours of pushing, we finally stood in the pedals again.
The descent towards Alpe Devero was very nice and technical. Of course we where all trying to remain in the saddle and show to each other that it could be done. From left to right: First bit of cyclable road after the pass, first view of Lake Devero and the final descent before the lake shore. Shortly before the lake, Enrico gave up entirely, needed a break and then barely made it to Alpe Devero.
	In Alpe Devero there was an nice little restaurant and they where so kind to serve us pasta in the late afternoon. Enrico managed to stay on his feet somehow and have lunch, but pretty soon had to go lay down in the van with fever. The remaining 4 of us started on a wild descent to Domodossola on a narrow paved road. Lorenzo had a flat and switched to Cristoforo's rental bike, while Cristoforo rode his racer again.
Getting closer to Domodossola we read our maps carefully and came to the conclusion that we would not make it home before dark. So we raced as fast as we could to reach Domodossola before 7 PM, in order to buy some lights. We reached a bike shop minutes before they closed and where able to buy some lights.	Now it was a flat run to the lago Maggiore. Cristoforo lead the way most of the time, acting as a windshield. We left Domodossola around 8 PM and made it to Verbania just in time to miss the 10 PM ferry boat, which was carrying our supporting van. So we had Pizza and boarded the 11 PM boat to Laveno. Catherine was waiting for us there. Enrico and Mami had already been picked up by Emanuelle (one of the Gasser daughters), whom we had alerted.
In Laveno we decided to take the lake road to Luino and to continue on the Italian side to the customs station in Ponte Tresa. In spite of our lights, we thought it safer to have Cathérine drive behind us and light up the road with the van's headlamps. This lead to a huge traffic jam, as the cars where piling up behind us. From time to time Cathérine pulled over, and they passed honking and shouting.
	It was clear that we would have a little race to Ponte Tresa. Lorenzo and Cristoforo tried to start a flight from time to time, but only burnt their energy by trying not to let the other get away. Francesco and I rode steady and always caught up with them again. A few miles before Ponte Tresa we increased the speed and on the last mile I decided to give it a try. I passed Lorenzo and together we caught Cristoforo by surprise and made it ahead of him to the customs station. If Lorenzo didn't manage to pass me again, it was certainly because he was not riding his own bike.
After Ponte Tresa Cathérine drove on to the Gasser home in Pura and we slowly pedaled the last 200 altitude meters to reach villa Montebello around 1:30 AM. We where welcomed by Cathérine and daughters and a champagne shower.