My secondary objective of posting this thread was to highlight a nice route that is so close to Zurich and lots of people can try it without spending a bomb.

Organised bike tours along Bike Route 9, for a similar duration, would cost 1000 Fr for budget option (where you carry your luggage and stay in budget hotels), and 2500 for normal option. I stayed in Youth Hostels at all stopovers, ate well and rested well, and hardly spent 300-400 fr.

Route Zurich-Lucerne: Forgot to mention: for this, one need not worry about Bike Route 9 at all. Just follow the road toward Lucerne from Bahnhof Enge, and it takes you up the beautiful AlbisPass and then straight to Lucerne, bypassing Cham/Baar.

Route Berne-Zurich: This was one leg which was very easy to navigate, but proved to be very risky and I wouldn't attempt it again. Especially toward the end, the road becomes narrow, and trucks are a big hazard. They do drive carefully, but their dimensions leave very little space between the cycle and their trailers.

Route Lucerne-Interlaken-Chateau is called the Golden Pass route by train, and is supposed to be among the most beautiful sights outside the Swiss Alps. Die Post also runs tourist buses/hotels along this route. Cycling along this route leaves you with more beautiful sights than you can assimilate, and left me overwhelmed