Touring - The Sella ring...which direction?

Hi again,
Is there anyone out there who has riden the Sella Ring in northern Italy? ie Passo di Sella, Passo di Gardena, Passo di Campolongo and Passo di Pordoi located near Arabba and Canazei.

I am wondering if going in one direction is easier or more enjoyable than the other? Any idea's?

Thanks
Mat

:confused:

Hi!

I did the Sella Ring on a "rest day" (unloaded) while touring between Barcelona and Venice a couple of years ago. We started in Canazei and went counter clock-wise over the Pordoi, Campolongo, Gardena and Sella and back to Canazei.

I made a profile (http://cykelsemester.eurotourism.net/alp/21__Pordoi__Campo__Gardena__Sella.gif) of the ride based on other profiles I have found (the first and last six kilometers are the same, just split at different points). I don't think it matters much which direction you choose, you climb just as much and the views are awesome all the way. But it was fun descending the 33 hairpin bends of Passo Pordoi :).

If you haven't visited it already, I can recommend the Virtual Alps (http://www.cycling.uk.net/alps/).

You will have a great ride.

/Csson

Hi,
Thanks for your reply and your gradient profile is great. Looks pretty much the same 'difficulty' which ever way I approach it.

Another question...what time of year did you go?. I will be there in late September and wonder about the weather conditions. Also, how easy is accomodation to get?

Thanks
Mat

I did it in late July, so the weather was good. The end of September is near the end of the season. According to my maps the passes are kept open from May through September/October, but that is no guarantee. During the same tour we passed Col de l'Iseran in France, and it was officially closed on that day (the 16th of July) due to fresh snow (about two dm) above 2000m.

I can't say much about accomodation. We camped, and I doubt that you want to camp at that time of year even if the camping ground is open. It's quite cold at 1500 meters at night in the summer, so it's most certainly below freezing in September. I would guess that hotels aimed at winter tourists are open at that time of year.

/Csson