Reply to "Pre-LMC trip to the Swiss Alps"

So far the passes had been like pearls on a string, I didn’t have to double back any of them, but I expected I had to in the next one: Gotthard Pass. So up, over the top, down. Coding the GPS to the next and last pass, I expected to go over the pass again, but the GPS led me into the mountain, probably the Gotthard Tunnel, over 16 km long.

Lastly I drove to Oberalp Pass. This would be out and back the same route. I stopped at the top on the return trip to sit in the sun for an hour.

I was a bit tired by then, the level of concentration and corrections needed is very different here. A great ride today, best day so far for sure. Only problem is that my daily commute will seem even more boring after this trip 

The Longchamp didn’t act up in any way, and had plenty of torque to deal with the mountains. The thing that put me out of contention last time, I believe, was the very hot PS fluid after 2 passes in rather cold weather. This year I had a simple Summit oil cooler installed, and after 5 passes in varmer weather, the fluid was nowhere near hot. Such a cooler makes a big difference.