There have been many helpful posts already that I have reviewed in planning my upcoming vacation.

June 2008 - flying into Zurich.

What is a nice area (flat / easy) for a day or two of bike rides before I head to Gimmelwald area for the remainder of my stay?

I've been to Geneva & Lucerne before. Don't want to be right in a big city. Lake Constance?? And if so, which town as my place to stay and rent a bicycle? Or are there better suggestions for casual, scenic bicycling.

Travelling solo, female.

Thanks for any information/suggestions.

Solothurn or Schaffhausen would be two nice places to stay that offer flat bike trails.

For more ideas: http://www.bikeandhike.co.za/info/switzerland-cycle.htm

Hi Syv,

I don't think you have to go far at all -- the Lake Zürich area itself would serve you well!

I've stayed in the suburb of Küsnacht a few times, and my friend has taken me to some restaurants atop some hills nearby. She pointed out the miles and miles of trails winding through the forests and said that both bicyclists and horse riders use them all the time. The other towns we were in are Herrliberg and Erlenbach -- you may want to take a look with google earth to see what the area is like.

You could also think about the town of Rapperswil, on the other end of the lake, and use it as a base for rides along the lake.

Here's a link with a drop-down menu for cycling.

http://www.zuerichsee.ch/en/navpage....egory=SummerRZ

Good luck!

s

There is lots of biking IN Zurich which is flat, including a bike path that follows the river out of the lake and along the Limmat for several miles. The path starts just behind the main train station (Hautbahnof). You can also ride along the lake on either side for miles, and turn around when you have had enough, it is flat (going around the entire lake would take you probably the entire day). A nice ride down the north/west side of the lake would be to Rüschlikon /Thalwil to have lunch at the Restaurant Seetract (Seestrrasse 25 http://www.seerestaurant-tracht.ch) and maybe have a swim in the lake. It about 8 miles from Zurich on flat road, there is sort of a bike lane. I don’t believe you can take the ferry back with the bike, but do ask about this, as there is a ferry stop about 100 yards from this restaurant which would be quite convenient if you did not want to ride back. (Thalwil is also a major train stop, so you could train back with the bike, but the station is up a fairly steep hill.)

You can also join a bike tour of Zurich, the itinerary looks interesting, riding over the cobblestones in the old town is always good for a laugh, go to http://www.zurichbybike.ch/daytour_e.htm.

Best of all, Zurich and many other major and minor Swiss cities offer FREE bicycles in the summer, you can usually pick them up at the main train station (Hautbahnhof) and the Enge train station, and some other locations (see the website); you may have to pay a very small deposit or leave and ID as security for return; also ask about an option to return to another train station which may be closer to the end of your ride. See the Zurich tourism website at zuerich.com and in particular http://www.zuerich.com/en.cfm/inform...port/bicycles/.

The hills above Kusnacht mentioned above are indeed lovely for walks and biking, but are <b>not</b> flat, they are rolling hills. I would try to take the bicycle on the train from Zurich up the hills and ride <i>downhill</i> into Kusnacht, have lunch at the Sonne (http://www.sonne.ch/restaurant.htm ), and then ride along the Seestrasse (the lake road) along the lake back into Zurich (or put the bicycle on the train at Kusnacht and take it into Zurich). Train cars which can accommodate bicycle have a bicycle painted on them, see rail.ch for info; there is usually a small charge. For bicycling down to Kusnacht, I would take the Forchstrasse tram to Forch. The Forchstrasse train begins at the Stadelhofen train station, near the Opera House in the old town; the ride takes about half an hour. From Forch, follow the yellow walking trail signs from there down to Kusnacht; these can be a bit hard to follow, a map would probably help, and also ask directions from time to time, the level of English is very good.

Lake Constance is a fine idea, it’s a flat area as well, I don’t know much about the biking there, but I am going to assume you will find free bikes there too, check a website for tourism in Constance. I think St Gallen is a lovely little town and worth a half day to see the old town, lovely baroque cathedral and the abbey library if it is open.

You could also go right to the Interlaken area and spend a few days down at lake level around Brienz and Oberried or even Thun, which are flat and where you could bike along the lake taking in the utterly sublime views of the snowy Alps, while passing little towns with wooden houses all with the de rigueur window boxes overflowing with geraniums (and take ferry rides too). Again, you should be able to get free bikes, or find bikes for rent.

Thanks everyone. I will look into the above suggestions/websites. Sounds good.