Most countries in fewest miles

[batman1425]

Originally Posted by bigbill

I've been to the North Pole a few times where every direction is south. You can circle the earth in a few dozen steps.

Legitimate question... navigating back from the north pole will require ground or celestial landmarks in the absence of GPS right? So you would know which south tract to follow?

[christian]

This is the route in discussion - Lindau Germany to Splugen Pass. ~7 hours South to North, maybe 9 North to South? I think we need a Paceline Forum 5 Countries Century ride!

[AngryScientist]

Splugen pass looks like an incredible climb also. Anyone ridden it?

I'll be in spitting distance with a bike in a few weeks and was considering giving it a go.

[Gsinill]

Interesting thread.
i did a 5 country roundtrip in one day on my motorcycle when I still lived in Bavaria.
450km, which took me about 12 hours, as far as I remember.
If you make it one-way and stop at the Reschenpass on the Italian side, it's 274km.
If you start from Lindau it would be 208km.
You could shave off a few kilometers with some side roads, I guess.
As a flatlander for over twenty years, this would kill me, but it would be an incredible ride for someone in good shape and used to climbing.

[verticaldoug]

Originally Posted by Talrand

I've been playing with Google maps for a bit and found some short ones, a bit 'spicy' though

Lebanon > Syria > Jordan > Palestine > Israel should be under 100km for 5 countries

I've found a similar distance in Africa:
Tanzania > Burundi > Rwanda > Uganda > DR Kongo is ~100

There are some similar distances with some micro nations or territories but there are no clear roads in a lot of those areas.

I doubt you can finish either of these routes without being killed or held for ransome.

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by christian

This is the route in discussion - Lindau Germany to Splugen Pass. ~7 hours South to North, maybe 9 North to South? I think we need a Paceline Forum 5 Countries Century ride!

How much elevation?

[vav]

Montenegro - Serbia - Kosovo?? - North Macedonia - Albania: Google maps gives me about 340 km