We’re heading towards the Alps and Tyrol, with a great group of six riders taking on the roads of France, Belgium and beyond to Austria and Italy.

What a glorious morning! We awoke to the ducks quacking on the lake and streaming sunshine. It looked like we'd been handed another perfect day of European motorcycle touring. We headed up into the Vosges Mountains in glorious dry weather, enjoying the winding roads and beautiful scenery. Then, almost without warning, everything changed.

The going was all good as we climbed, enjoying the views and the increasingly dramatic road. That was until a Volvo decided to stop mid-turn, with me directly behind it and nowhere else to go. So I did what I could and stepped off the bike, leaving it to gently rest on its side at turn 6. Thankfully, it was nothing serious. Just a scratch, and the bike was sitting there with its wheels in the air! It could have been a lot worse.

All was going smoothly, until we got stuck behind a flatbed that had managed to get itself stuck on a hairpin! What followed was highly entertaining. The crew had to unload a tarmac remover machine, somehow negotiate the awkward corner, and then reload the machine again. It wasn't exactly the smoothest way to tackle a mountain hairpin, but it provided plenty of amusement for those of us waiting behind.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is one of the great motorcycle roads in the Austrian Alps, climbing to 2,571 metres at the Edelweiss Spitze viewpoint. As we climbed higher, the scenery became utterly breathtaking. This is exactly the sort of road you come to the Alps to ride. Huge mountain landscapes, sweeping bends and spectacular views at every turn. And with the morning sun shining, the conditions couldn't have been much better.

“This is What Biking Is All About” At one point, someone commented over the bike-to-bike comms: “If anyone asks why, this is what biking is all about.” I've been grinning from ear to ear since then.

We’re heading towards the Alps and Tyrol, with a great group of six riders taking on the roads of France, Belgium and beyond to Austria and Italy.

Embarking on a motorbike tour through Europe offers an exhilarating experience like no other. Picture yourself riding along winding...

317km France. We’re already all a little achy from yesterday’s ride, but today is a biggie! After missing the junction off the motorway...

310km Switzerland and Germany. And then there were 4. We set off from Col du Rangiers in Switzerland. This little nugget of French...

320km (but not for all of us) France and Switzerland. The day started fantastically with all the band back together, but that was all to...

495 km and 312km France. One route on plan, the other catching up. So last night, I called a couple of garages and mechanics who were...

Ride report. 67km and 261km France. A day of two journeys. A lazy start this morning we were on the road by 10 am after having breakfast...

335km France. Today was 7 1/2 hours in the saddle, but really working it. What a laugh! After a disappointing breakfast due to there...

410km. Belgium and France. We woke up to find our bikes had been joined by three Dutch guys on blacked out BMW GS’s, who are pretty much...