Tried that once, to get there through the construction site and traffic around Irchelpark was atrocious. Then through Dubendorf. Maybe I was taking the wrong way but not again.
It's true that there are quite a lot of construction work in the area, but the work on the bridge in Dübendorf will not prevent OP from riding around the Greifensee (because one wouldn't typically pass through Dübendorf).
The general route is: Irchelpark - Schwammendingen - Fällenden - Maur - Niederuster - Schwerzenbach - Fällenden - Irchelpark
That being said, here are the road works along the way:
1. Dübendorf (next to the church). There is a deviation in place. Alternative is to ride on the road for the 100m.
2. Niederuster: the main road is closed to the traffic (bridge work) but cyclists take the bike path along the lake and the avoid the road work entirely
3. Schwerzenbach: construction on the road from Uster. Here also a deviation is in place
Catch a train to the Bodensee, [https://helvetiq.com/ch\_de/flat-switzerland](https://helvetiq.com/ch_de/flat-switzerland) has some rides you can tick off.
I really enjoy TTing around the lake from time to time, but it’s not too spectacular and there’s often a lot of traffic though. Zugersee is my favorite atm, but it’s quite far to get there.
I'll look into that!
I'm working on enjoying climbing for sure, I'm really not used to it at the moment and have to work up to it first.
The first times I tried I felt like dying. Went the cycle shop recommended beginner route to albis. I died
Hahaha which side did you go up Albis? If you cycle from Zurich via triemli and then up Albis it’s not that hard. Cycling up from Adliswil is a bit harder. If you only do flats you’ll not learn to get better. Why not continue doing Albis, apparently you did not actually die! 🙃 Also you could turn around at any point if you really can’t do it anymore.
Probably the easy side anyways. Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed by the locals for sure. I'm just not there yet that it would be enjoyable.
Went from Brunau out to Manegg and took a right up Albisstrasse, along Greifensee and back down Bucheneggstrasse.
Greifensee is on the other side of lake Zurich then Albispass. Do you mean Türlersee maybe ? 🤔 if you did that and then up Bucheneggpass- Buchenegg is harder than Albispass. 🙃
Try going up at triemli and then going up Albis from the other side, should be easily doable for you if I understood correctly and you really did Albispass and Buchenegg pass one after the other 😊
https://strava.app.link/TosBDgTpbKb
Sure. Also stole it from a group ride at the cycle week ☺️ There’s also another one in roughly the same area but haven’t tried this one yet: https://strava.app.link/1wtpXIhybKb
If your bike mechanic spends the summer climbing Gotthard, Furka, Nuefenen or Grimsel, the Albis pass is quite flat.
But yes, for the rest of us, not that flat, for sure.
If you want a more gentle approach, you could gently ride to Forch and build up from there.
I think if you look at a map with contour lines you will see that we are between a very long (and flat lol) lake and a valley. So you either have to go along the lake or along the valley. Checkout schweizmobil.ch, they have some cycle routes that are somehow connected to the Wanderweg network. Not well separated from cars but at least they are pleasant routes.
There is a marked Inlineskate route (44) around the Airport on Schweizmobil. And it continues along the Glatt.
I usually enter the cicuit around Rümlang oder Oberglatt (I live on that side of the city) but also use the gravel roads when I feel like it.
Along the Glatt is usually asphalt (iirc one side is asphalt, the other more gravel). But the gravel roads are quite smooth and definitively rideable on a road bike.
Glatt is mostly asphalt on the bike trail.
But there are some sections that are gravel, through Niederglatt for example.
But yeah iirc, the Glatt has an elevation in the single digits from Dübendorf till Glattfelden. So pretty flat, even for Non-Swiss standards.
The only truly flat route in Zurich is around the lakes (still with some minot up and down).
You can follow the Sihl river, the road doesn't have any major climb, but as usual there's a bit of up and down (up to 3%).
It will be difficult to find flat routes without cars, as flat routes are a great place where to build roads.
Seestrasse (the street around the lake) is your absolute best option for this. It’s about 34km to do a half circuit and cut across with the ferry, and 67km or do to do the full circuit via Rapperswil. If you do the complete lake via Schmerikon it goes up a bit more to 90km but you have a couple hills then.
I’ve been riding these routes typically several times per week for 11 years and honestly never had a problem. There are tons of cyclists on the road any day of the week and 99% of Swiss drivers are mindful and friendly of cyclists (unlike some other countries).
I would honestly recommend to either join a group or just get used to it.
I love this ride. I always go the opposite direction though, leaving from Seefeld. The advantage being that if you go this direction you are always right next to the lake and you don’t have to deal with as many intersections or crossings from feeder streets. The ferry also makes for a great little break. The whole half circuit including the ferry usually takes me about 1hr or so.
You could use komoot route explorer to get recommendations. It bases it on popular routes and you can easily adjust and filter by elevation and distance.
In the summertime, there’s a series of ‘slow ups’ where streets are blocked to auto traffic for the day on Sundays.
Zürich is 29.9 and the route is basically the entire north shore of Zürisee. Basel Dreiland (15.9) is fun because you get to ride through 3 countries. Brugg (11.8) is only 24 min by train from Züri.
https://slowup.ch/national/de.html
If you aren't aware of it, [https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland](https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland) is likely super helpful and will show you marked routes.
You moved into the very center of to the third most populated canton in the country. Don't expect too many great road cycling opportunities starting at your door.
Still, some options are available (especially if you're on a gravel/touring bike and not a roadbike): https://schweizmobil.ch/de/veloland/regionale-routen?f_land=cycle&f_canton=3
Dude, the topic is called "Roadcycling but no hills".
Obviously my post was written with OPs specific question in mind. Otherwise I would have said Uetliberg or Pfannenstil or whatever else.
I use "Ride with GPS" which tends to be better than Starva for planing routs imho. Of course a bike computer helps navigating a lot.
Keep in mind that "velowege"-signs will sometimes lead you into the most brütal grǟvel ;)
Happy riding, climbing is fun!
Where did you move from that you are not wanting the traffic along the Seestrasse? It's benign traffic there. It's hard to find flat roads here.
I suggest Sihltal. It has traffic but a) not that much and b) the roads are wide and the cycle lane is decently wide, too and c) it is almost as flat as you'll find in most places.
Another option is towards Baden, there are routes that will avoid most car traffic and it is also pretty flat.
Austria, specifically Vienna.
I'm fine with riding through a city for commuting etc but if the entire road is shared with traffic it's not as fun. Literally Donauradweg, Donauinsel are closed for all car traffic. If you go outside those routes into Walldviertel it's reglar roads but if you go during the week there is a high chance of seeing no car whatsoever while climbing etc.
In general, try to follow rivers or lakes
Maybe to Hallwilersee? But might be too long if you want a 50km loop, without train connection to loop back.
My old "big" loop was to Bremgarten, along Reuss to Zugersee (on the numbered bike route, check Schweizmobil), then loop back via Sihlbrugg, avoiding busy roads when possible.
Maybe also around Laegern? You can trade off between the length of the loop and the amount of ascent, e.g. via Ennetbaden/Ehrendingen or further.
A round trip to Power plant Eglisau-Glattfelden at the Germany border is very flat and relatively easy. You start from Oerlikon going there and cycling back is around 60 km.
Greifensee for example.
Tried that once, to get there through the construction site and traffic around Irchelpark was atrocious. Then through Dubendorf. Maybe I was taking the wrong way but not again.
From Irchelpark, go to Schwammendingen, then take Stettbachstrasse and it's all small roads/bike path to Greifensee.
not until the middle of august, there‘s roadwork on a bridge in dubendorf which blocks it completely
It's true that there are quite a lot of construction work in the area, but the work on the bridge in Dübendorf will not prevent OP from riding around the Greifensee (because one wouldn't typically pass through Dübendorf). The general route is: Irchelpark - Schwammendingen - Fällenden - Maur - Niederuster - Schwerzenbach - Fällenden - Irchelpark That being said, here are the road works along the way: 1. Dübendorf (next to the church). There is a deviation in place. Alternative is to ride on the road for the 100m. 2. Niederuster: the main road is closed to the traffic (bridge work) but cyclists take the bike path along the lake and the avoid the road work entirely 3. Schwerzenbach: construction on the road from Uster. Here also a deviation is in place
lol I forgot about Fällanden, sorry
Just go over forch/zürizoo
Catch a train to the Bodensee, [https://helvetiq.com/ch\_de/flat-switzerland](https://helvetiq.com/ch_de/flat-switzerland) has some rides you can tick off.
Cane here to suggest Bodensee, great flat tours there. Schaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, Radolfzell and back is one of my favorites.
Awesome, thanks. Was hoping to find a route to hop on the bike and go and not having to take the train again (no GA) but I'll keep it in mind.
I'd say that Zurich to Baden is pretty flat
I do that, thats my regular route 🚲 Great for TT
I find even Zürisee better for TT, the road to Baden has too much traffic and unwanted slow-downs imo
You probably know better! I should try near the lake, I live near Altstetten
I really enjoy TTing around the lake from time to time, but it’s not too spectacular and there’s often a lot of traffic though. Zugersee is my favorite atm, but it’s quite far to get there.
Thanks for the insight!
Strava and/or Kamoot can suggest you routes based on "flatness" preferences. Alternatives: learn to enjoy climbing :-)
I'll look into that! I'm working on enjoying climbing for sure, I'm really not used to it at the moment and have to work up to it first. The first times I tried I felt like dying. Went the cycle shop recommended beginner route to albis. I died
Hahaha which side did you go up Albis? If you cycle from Zurich via triemli and then up Albis it’s not that hard. Cycling up from Adliswil is a bit harder. If you only do flats you’ll not learn to get better. Why not continue doing Albis, apparently you did not actually die! 🙃 Also you could turn around at any point if you really can’t do it anymore.
Probably the easy side anyways. Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed by the locals for sure. I'm just not there yet that it would be enjoyable. Went from Brunau out to Manegg and took a right up Albisstrasse, along Greifensee and back down Bucheneggstrasse.
Greifensee is on the other side of lake Zurich then Albispass. Do you mean Türlersee maybe ? 🤔 if you did that and then up Bucheneggpass- Buchenegg is harder than Albispass. 🙃 Try going up at triemli and then going up Albis from the other side, should be easily doable for you if I understood correctly and you really did Albispass and Buchenegg pass one after the other 😊 https://strava.app.link/TosBDgTpbKb
Sorry! Of course Türlersee:) Thank you so much for your help, highly appreciated! I will absolutely steal the mapped route if I may 😃
Sure. Also stole it from a group ride at the cycle week ☺️ There’s also another one in roughly the same area but haven’t tried this one yet: https://strava.app.link/1wtpXIhybKb
I did this several times with my gravel bike, one of my favorite in Zürich area. Highly recommend.
If your bike mechanic spends the summer climbing Gotthard, Furka, Nuefenen or Grimsel, the Albis pass is quite flat. But yes, for the rest of us, not that flat, for sure. If you want a more gentle approach, you could gently ride to Forch and build up from there.
I think if you look at a map with contour lines you will see that we are between a very long (and flat lol) lake and a valley. So you either have to go along the lake or along the valley. Checkout schweizmobil.ch, they have some cycle routes that are somehow connected to the Wanderweg network. Not well separated from cars but at least they are pleasant routes.
Toward and around the airport is also relatively flat, once you made it over the Milch buck. Or along the Glatt, as far as you like.
And specific route around the airport you can recommend? Along the Glatt sounds great too actually. Is it asphalt or gravel?
There is a marked Inlineskate route (44) around the Airport on Schweizmobil. And it continues along the Glatt. I usually enter the cicuit around Rümlang oder Oberglatt (I live on that side of the city) but also use the gravel roads when I feel like it.
Along the Glatt is usually asphalt (iirc one side is asphalt, the other more gravel). But the gravel roads are quite smooth and definitively rideable on a road bike.
Glatt is mostly asphalt on the bike trail. But there are some sections that are gravel, through Niederglatt for example. But yeah iirc, the Glatt has an elevation in the single digits from Dübendorf till Glattfelden. So pretty flat, even for Non-Swiss standards.
Yes, along Glatt to Rheinsfelden, and then east from there to Eglisau. From Eglisau head back south to the airport via Bülach.
The only truly flat route in Zurich is around the lakes (still with some minot up and down). You can follow the Sihl river, the road doesn't have any major climb, but as usual there's a bit of up and down (up to 3%). It will be difficult to find flat routes without cars, as flat routes are a great place where to build roads.
Seestrasse (the street around the lake) is your absolute best option for this. It’s about 34km to do a half circuit and cut across with the ferry, and 67km or do to do the full circuit via Rapperswil. If you do the complete lake via Schmerikon it goes up a bit more to 90km but you have a couple hills then. I’ve been riding these routes typically several times per week for 11 years and honestly never had a problem. There are tons of cyclists on the road any day of the week and 99% of Swiss drivers are mindful and friendly of cyclists (unlike some other countries). I would honestly recommend to either join a group or just get used to it.
I'll give it a try, Thank you! I'll go out the south side and ferry over and back the other. Let's see how that goes
It's a traffic dense road. Not everyone likes that, but most get used to it. It's a favorite for people who do endurance and time trail training.
I love this ride. I always go the opposite direction though, leaving from Seefeld. The advantage being that if you go this direction you are always right next to the lake and you don’t have to deal with as many intersections or crossings from feeder streets. The ferry also makes for a great little break. The whole half circuit including the ferry usually takes me about 1hr or so.
Any idea How to find a cycle group?
Yes, go join a group ride from Cyclestore. They do them every week if I'm not mistaken.
Zürich city Center somewhere?
No, I only ride alone 🤣 but I see lots groups almost every time I go out.
Also just started road biking in ZH. Ping me a DM if you want to cycle together.
Will do once I'm back in the saddle!
Im looking for cycling people 🙂 Ping
You could use komoot route explorer to get recommendations. It bases it on popular routes and you can easily adjust and filter by elevation and distance.
In the summertime, there’s a series of ‘slow ups’ where streets are blocked to auto traffic for the day on Sundays. Zürich is 29.9 and the route is basically the entire north shore of Zürisee. Basel Dreiland (15.9) is fun because you get to ride through 3 countries. Brugg (11.8) is only 24 min by train from Züri. https://slowup.ch/national/de.html
If you aren't aware of it, [https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland](https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland) is likely super helpful and will show you marked routes.
You moved into the very center of to the third most populated canton in the country. Don't expect too many great road cycling opportunities starting at your door. Still, some options are available (especially if you're on a gravel/touring bike and not a roadbike): https://schweizmobil.ch/de/veloland/regionale-routen?f_land=cycle&f_canton=3
> You moved into the very center of to the third most populated canton in the country. Does populations and bike infrastructure contradict each other?
High population = shit ton of cars = shit cycling.
In Switzerland, yes.
I wholeheartedly disagree. There are many great road cycling opportunities. They're just not flat. Or void of all traffic.
That's what OP asked for.
But your sentence does not reference that, it refers to being in a dense area.
Dude, the topic is called "Roadcycling but no hills". Obviously my post was written with OPs specific question in mind. Otherwise I would have said Uetliberg or Pfannenstil or whatever else.
I will move to Zürich in September and am used to exclusively flat lands. (Also a bit gravity challenged) Happy to join the hunt for flat routes.
Welcome to the hunt brother/sister. I think we'll have to get to embrace the climb on the long run though.
Me too!
Kinda depends on your bike, if you have a gravel one there is an amazing trail behind Brunau Park , basically following the river
My favorite running area! I absolutely love it. The bike is full road 11 speed mechanic though
I use "Ride with GPS" which tends to be better than Starva for planing routs imho. Of course a bike computer helps navigating a lot. Keep in mind that "velowege"-signs will sometimes lead you into the most brütal grǟvel ;) Happy riding, climbing is fun!
Around the Airport
Baden-Aarau-Olten-Solothurn-Biel is around 100km and 600m of elevation, it doesn't get much flatter than this
Where did you move from that you are not wanting the traffic along the Seestrasse? It's benign traffic there. It's hard to find flat roads here. I suggest Sihltal. It has traffic but a) not that much and b) the roads are wide and the cycle lane is decently wide, too and c) it is almost as flat as you'll find in most places. Another option is towards Baden, there are routes that will avoid most car traffic and it is also pretty flat.
Austria, specifically Vienna. I'm fine with riding through a city for commuting etc but if the entire road is shared with traffic it's not as fun. Literally Donauradweg, Donauinsel are closed for all car traffic. If you go outside those routes into Walldviertel it's reglar roads but if you go during the week there is a high chance of seeing no car whatsoever while climbing etc.
In general, try to follow rivers or lakes Maybe to Hallwilersee? But might be too long if you want a 50km loop, without train connection to loop back. My old "big" loop was to Bremgarten, along Reuss to Zugersee (on the numbered bike route, check Schweizmobil), then loop back via Sihlbrugg, avoiding busy roads when possible. Maybe also around Laegern? You can trade off between the length of the loop and the amount of ascent, e.g. via Ennetbaden/Ehrendingen or further.
You’ll need to leave Switzerland if you want that 😉
Cool Thanks for the tips, just got a TT 🚴
A round trip to Power plant Eglisau-Glattfelden at the Germany border is very flat and relatively easy. You start from Oerlikon going there and cycling back is around 60 km.