[Home]     Cycling Down the Rhine Monday 21st August 2017 Andermatt to Chur It was quite a nice day today, cool but dry and with sunny patches breaking through the light cloud. We left the Gasthaus Skiklub just in time to catch the funicular train up to Oberalppass, the start of the ride. There is good provision for bikes on the train, with hooks so you can hang them vertically by the front wheels. The Rhine starts just up the hillside from Oberalppass. Oberalppass station Oberalppass summit Once we got going on the bikes it was steep zigzags downhill for the first few miles, and felt quite cold as a result of the height and the airflow. Short, fast bits followed by brakes and tight turns as we shed great dollops of the 2046 metres altitude we had started from. As we got lower the incline became gentler and the temperature rose a bit. At Ilanz we crossed the Rhine and had a stretch of slogging up hill - supposedly the only significant bit of uphill stuff we'll have to do this trip. We got to Chur about 16:45 having done 52.18 miles. Andrew emerging from the zigzags Upper Rhine valley The young Rhine Andrew outside Hotel Toddy It's a sign Tightrope walkers at the bridge over Rabiusa Gorge My bike and the Rhine valley   Adrift in Chur