Thanks, dakman and ChrisW, for your descriptions of the Gross Scheidegg route on the Road Cycling Routes thread. They were posted when we were already gone so I didn't get to read them before we did it a few days ago, but they describe the experience very well and helped me to re-live the fun memories as I read them

We started at Meiringen (same direction as dakman) and I would suggest that direction as well since, as ChrisW said, going the other direction means a pretty dangerous descent with such a narrow road and blind corners where meeting a car head-on is definitely a risk. Plus, if you start and end in Meiringen, you get the main climb completed at the beginning of the ride and have a (generally) descending or flat ride the rest of the way.

The climb was steep at times but beaUtiful. After the reeeeeally fun descent down to Grindelwald and continuing on toward Interlaken, we also took the road bike route, which turned into gravel (it is one of my pet-peeves too, dakman). But luckily that section was not very long so it was ok, and nice to avoid the busy road.

After Interlaken we started following the bike path up along the ridge but didn't feel like doing so much climbing anymore (I know, it is a first for the hillseekers! but we'd had a lot of climbing the day before), so we descended to the main road that goes around Lake Brienz on the north side, and that was fine, as long as you are experienced with riding on roads with cars and remain far to the right side.

Here's the GPS details from our ride in case anyone is interested in seeing the map, or elevation profile... Don't pay attention to our slow time though - like I mentioned, we'd had a big climbing day the day before! whew Plus just enjoying the views - It was really amazing!!

Now we're headed to Italy and the Dolomites this weekend to check out some routes from the Maratona - I'll try to take notes to share later. Ciao!