This large-format, illustrated bike guide describes 100 tours and descents in the Swiss Alps as well as some in the foothills of the Alps and the Jura. The book impresses with its rich and mostly successful illustrations, especially because the photos reveal the character of the respective tours.
All tours are provided on an information page with details of the technical riding challenge and the required fitness level, a map sketch including elevation profile and a brief route description. The GPS data for the tours can be downloaded from the Internet.
The tours and some special features and sights of the respective areas and regions are described in a concise, easy-to-read introductory text. These texts are kept concise throughout and convey interesting information in a journalistically skillful conversational tone. You can tell from the linguistic aplomb of these texts that almost all of them were written by the well-known Swiss outdoor journalist and editor of Outdoor-Guide magazine, Jürg Buschor. For my taste, however, there could be a little more precise information, which would further increase the value of this book, which is actually very interesting for bikers.
The price of € 44.90 is particularly steep for non-Swiss readers, but this is probably also partly due to the current (fall 2011) economic and currency turbulence.
The fact that some members of the PG editorial team were also involved in the creation of this book should not be concealed here. However, this does not change the fact that the book just misses out on top marks. Nevertheless, the book makes a great Christmas present or gift for yourself.