Leisurely Cycling in Switzerland
 

I saw Rick Steves segment on Berner Oberland and there was a scene where he rented a bike in Murren and rode downhill and took the lift back up. I would like to do that, but was wondering if there were other or maybe even more beautiful locations since I will be there a few days. Do other cities nearby have the same setup? I am not sure where to stay. We will be renting a car. Looking for somewhere I can look out the window and recall the Sound of Music type scene.

You can also do it fromKleine Scheidegg to Wengen - wide track that I saw lots of bikes on. A wonderful ride as you can see the Lauterbrunnen Valley the whole way down. Can take the gondola Wengen to Mannlichen (rave views over Interlaken far below wedged between its two lakes and a 360 panorama that is highly touted - ride the bikes on the wide flat ride Trail to Kleine Scheidegg - going gently uphill or from Wengen you can take the train to Kl Scheidegg.

You can also cycle down on paved tracks from Grosse Scheidegg on the other end of the Grindelwald amphitheatre.

PalenQ Thank you! I just googled Mannlichen and Kleine Scheidegg and the pictures were spectacular! Thank you! Where would you recommend home base?

I am partial to Grindelwald but many prefer Wengen as it has no cars at all - you must take the train or a gondodla to it and it is smaller and more quiet and well located for day trips to either the Lauterbrunnen Valley or the Grindelwald amphitheatre.

I like Grindelwald better because it is IME much more lively (and crowded) - with gangs of hikers in summer coming and going, etc. - a much bigger but not big town but there are some tour buses and cars are allowed to reach the end of town where they have to be parked.

I think younger folks would like Grindelwald more because of its more active apres-hike or apres-ski scene - older folks and families may love the solitude of Wengen more (it does have restaurants and pubs too just not nearly so many as Grindelwald, geared to a younger clientele (which does not include me).

Murren would be nice for its views but is more isolated - always have to go down to Lauterbrunnen to get anywhere but don't miss Gimmelwald - the Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp-Murren-Schilthorn-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg-Lauterbrunnen Loop to me is the finest excursion in the area (completely covered by a Swiss Pass save the Murren-Schilthorn cable is 50% off).

Those are really the only really viable four bases, along with Lauterbrunnen, which being in at the bottom of a gorge hs different views but not the stunning ones from the other three - you cannot go wrong in any of those towns, all eyeball to eyeball with glacier-girdled soaring peaks easily seen from your hotel balcony.

Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are the easiest and quickest to get to from Interlaken.

for lots on this region's trains, gondolas, and general ideas etc check out www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

For all mountainbike itineraries, you may have a look at a map
http://map.mountainbikeland.ch/?lang=de&route=all
or check just the Bernese Oberland leg
http://www.mountainbikeland.ch/de/ro...appe-0858.html

Of course mountain bike rentals are easily available in Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald and maybe Wengen - the paths can be a bit rough - check your brakes to be sure they are in great working condition before barreling downhill and watch out for hikers who I think take priority on the regular hiking trails - many of which cannot be traversed easily by mountain bike - just the wider ones built for 4-wheel drive access I believe. Like Murren down to Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen - a track for access vehicles - not private cars of course.

That sounds pretty amazing. How long will you be staying there and how long are you planning on spending on a bike? Will your holiday be centred around cycling or will it just be an activity for you?