Lake Zurich & the Gold Coast
Quiet lakeside lanes east and west of Zurich — flat to rolling, with views across the lake and good coffee stops. Easy to keep short or extend into a full day on the road.
Zurich · Switzerland · Road & Gravel
Private Road & Gravel Cycling Guide in Zurich, Switzerland
In Zurich for a few days? Hire a road & gravel cycling guide in Switzerland and get an early ride in before the family wakes up, or take a longer day out with friends — real road or gravel bikes, sporty pace, with someone who actually lives and rides here. Not a GPX file downloaded the night before, and not a sightseeing or e-bike tour.
Why ride with a local
Guided road & gravel rides local riders would actually choose
Zurich has excellent riding within a short pedal of the city — if you know where to point the bike. Whether it's an early loop before the family's day starts, a longer ride out with friends, or you're planning a cycling holiday in Switzerland and want a few guided days on real roads, this is guided road cycling (or road biking) Switzerland-wide for riders who want to work — not a sightseeing spin. See the sample routes, simple pricing, or skip to book a ride.
The alternative: a GPX file, alone
You could load a route onto your bike computer and ride it solo. No connection, no coffee-stop recommendations, no local insight if the road's closed or the weather turns.
Routes built around what you want
Tell me what you're after — climbs, gravel, coffee stops, distance — and I'll come up with route suggestions to match, not a fixed itinerary.
Roads locals actually ride
The quiet lakeside lanes, the right side of the Albis, the gravel cut-throughs — skip the routes every rental-bike tourist takes.
Early rides, family-friendly timing
Out the door early and back before the day starts, so the ride doesn't cost time with the people you're travelling with.
Safety on Swiss roads
Local traffic patterns, road etiquette, and the safest way through town and back out again.
Small group, real attention
Max 3 riders per guide. Not a tour bus — a ride built around you and whoever you're travelling with.
Rider reviews
What riders say after the ride
Three great days of curated riding, epic views, and local recommendations!
“Gert-Jan was a fantastic guide for my extended stay in Zürich! He organized 3 separate highly curated rides in the area tailored to my requests and fitness level. He was knowledgeable and an absolute pleasure to spend 3 days of cycling with. I would highly recommend him to any cyclists visiting Zürich in the future! I would also recommend renting from Cycle Store Zürich as they rent high level carbon road bikes and offer a very premium bike shop experience.”
Sample routes
Ride as a local: Quiet road - and epic gravel rides around Zurich
Road and gravel need different bikes, so the routes are split by terrain. Most guests travel with — or rent — one bike, so pick the side that fits what you'll be riding. Not sure? Tell me your plans and I'll recommend the bike and the route.
Road bike riding around Zurich
Zurich and its surroundings are ideal for road cycling (or road biking) — plenty of quiet roads, smooth tarmac, and rolling hills. Within 5–10 minutes you're out of the urban traffic and into nature, with beautiful views, climbs and descents. Whether it's the Üetliberg cycling route on the doorstep, the Albis pass cycling route south of the city, or a longer road cycling day trip from Zurich, every ride below is built around your fitness, available time, and how much climbing you want.
Zurich's Climbs & Ridges
The climbs and ridge roads locals ride straight from the city: Üetliberg, Albis, Zürichberg, Forch and Pfannenstiel. Smooth tarmac, switchbacks, and some of the best views of Zurich and the Alps on a clear day.
Alpine Pass Days
Further from Zurich but worth the trip: Klausenpass, Sustenpass, Grimselpass and Furkapass — the Susten-Furka-Grimsel pass cycling trifecta — hairpins, glaciers, and some of Switzerland's most iconic climbs. One of the signature day outs is the Furka Pass cycling route, a 105km loop from Andermatt over the Furka, Nufenen and Gotthard passes — three summits above 2'400m, one unforgettable day.
Gravel riding around Zurich
Forest tracks and lakeside gravel that most visiting riders never find, from the Greifensee gravel route to the tracks under the Pfannenstiel. Slower going per kilometre, so expect half-day to full-day loops rather than epic distances — and bring or rent a gravel bike. Small group gravel cycling Switzerland-style: max three riders per guide, pace set by the group.
Greifensee & Sihltal Gravel
For less elevation gain, there's plenty of relatively flat gravel riding around the Greifensee and the Sihltal, super scenic rides — terrain most visiting riders never find on their own.
Zürich Gravel Eldorado
Roll straight out of Zürich city into the gravel playground of the surrounding county. Head west toward the Üetliberg, Fälletschen or Felsenegg, or east toward the Züriberg, Zollikerberg or Pfannenstiel.
Wine Country, Rheinfall & the Jura
Further out, with a short transfer to the start: gravel through Zurich's wine country toward Schaffhausen and the Rheinfall, or into the Jura Regional Nature Park. Big, varied days for riders who want more than the city's doorstep gravel.
About your guide
Your cycling guide for rides around Zurich — and further afield in Switzerland
Born in Amsterdam, I've been riding pretty much my whole life — and wherever I travel, the bike (or two) comes with me. I ride three times a week, staying fit while discovering new places. Some of the most memorable: the western fjords of Iceland, the Klausenpass loop, the classic passes of the Berner Oberland, the Dolomites including the Stelvio, and the coastal roads around Cape Town — among plenty of others I've lost count of.
I live in the old town of Zurich and ride these roads and trails year-round, on both road and gravel. Before guiding here, I led groups for Rapha and a small road cycling tour operator — so this isn't my first season showing people around on two wheels.
Off the bike, I work as a strategy consultant supporting start-ups and growth-phase companies. I also have a weakness for great coffee and early mornings — which, conveniently, is usually when the best riding happens anyway.
Conditions
How it works
- Minimum booking
- 3 hours
- Group size
- Up to 3 riders per guide (larger groups on request)
- Start location
- Zurich by default; rides starting elsewhere available on request
- Bike
- Bring your own or rent locally — see rental section below
- Fitness
- The rides are sporty and the climbs can be tough — to enjoy it, a good fitness level is a must
- Your gear
- Helmet (mandatory). Dress for the weather, and always carry a long-sleeve rain/wind-stopper layer for alpine descents and sudden changes. A bike computer, 2 bottles and a repair kit are recommended.
Pricing
Simple hourly rates
CHF 79/hour
First 10 hours — 3-hour minimum, up to 3 riders.
CHF 59/hour
Each additional hour beyond 10 — applies only to hours after the first 10, not the whole booking.
A 12-hour multi-day booking is 10 hours at CHF 79 plus 2 hours at CHF 59 — CHF 908 total.
Need a bike guide Zurich airport transfer? Ask and I'll arrange the ride from ZRH so you can start pedalling the day you land.
Additional services on request: bike transport, groups of 3+, and rides not starting in Zurich. Get in touch with what you have in mind and I'll quote it.
Payment: once we've agreed the ride terms, a 10% deposit confirms the booking (refundable up to 30 days before your first ride). The remaining 90% is due one week before your first ride. PayPal or bank transfer preferred.
Bike rental
Not bringing your own bike?
If you prefer to rent your road or gravel bike locally, here are a few solid local options for road or gravel rentals in Zurich. You book and pay the shop directly — I'm a guide only and take no part in the rental:
- Premium road bikes — Cycle Store Zurich
- Premium gravel bikes & packs — Batticuore
- Rent your gravel or road bike from a local — ListNRide road bikes or gravel bike
Bike rental questions
No. I'm a guide only and I'm not involved in the rental — no commission, no booking on your behalf, and no part in the rental contract. You rent directly from the shop, and any deposit, damage or insurance terms are between you and them.
In peak season (June–September) good road and gravel bikes in the right size go quickly, so reserve 2–4 weeks ahead. Outside those months a week is usually fine. Book the bike as soon as your ride dates are confirmed.
It depends on the shop. Some include basic cover or offer an optional insurance pack, others hold a deposit or a credit-card guarantee and charge for damage. Check the excess, what counts as normal wear, and whether theft is covered before you sign.
Usually yes — most shops rent helmets, bottle cages, bottles, saddle bags and repair kits, and will fit your own pedals and saddle if you bring them. Ask when you reserve, since accessories run out faster than bikes.
Choose the bike that matches the terrain you want to ride. A road bike is the right choice for the lake, the climbs and the alpine passes; a gravel bike for the Greifensee, Sihltal and wine-country routes. The ride is built around the bike you bring or rent.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Many guests rent a road or gravel bike locally in Zurich. I don't rent out bikes and I'm not involved in the rental — you book directly with the shop. The bike rental section lists solid local road and gravel rental options, and I'm happy to point you toward the bike type that suits the ride.
The rides are sporty and the climbs can be tough — to enjoy it, a good fitness level is a must. Within that, routes are built around your fitness and goals, from lakeside rides to full climbs like the Albis or Forch.
A helmet is mandatory. A bike computer, 2 drinking bottles and a repair kit are recommended. Bring cycling apparel suited to the day's weather — for alpine terrain, always pack a long-sleeve rain/wind-stopper layer for descents and sudden weather changes. If you're renting a bike locally, ask about adding these.
CHF 79 per hour, 3-hour minimum, for up to 3 riders. For bookings over 10 hours, each additional hour beyond the first 10 is CHF 59 — not the whole booking.
Yes, larger groups can be arranged on request, typically with an additional guide — including a corporate road cycling event Zurich style: a proper fit group ride on real road bikes, split into pace groups if needed. It's a sporty day out, not a leisure team-building outing.
Rides go ahead in most Swiss weather — the route is adjusted on the day based on conditions, swapping exposed climbs for sheltered lakeside lanes or forest gravel. That's part of what a local guide is for. If conditions are genuinely unsafe, we reschedule.
Road season runs roughly April through October, with June to September the most reliable for weather. Lower-elevation gravel routes are rideable most of the year, conditions permitting. September and early autumn are excellent — cooler temperatures, clear light, and passes still open.
Yes. Many guests ride early — say 7 to 11am — and have the rest of the day free for the city, family time, or sightseeing. Routes can also be built to pass through or near places worth stopping at.
A few days' notice is usually enough for a standard ride, but for peak season (June–September) or multi-day and larger-group bookings, 2–4 weeks ahead gives more flexibility on dates and routes.
If you've only got a day or two in Zurich and want to actually ride — not spend half of it figuring out where to go — yes. A guide turns a short window into a road or gravel route matched to your fitness and time, with none of the trial and error.
No: routes and pacing are built around road and gravel bikes. If there's demand, this may be added in future; ask when you get in touch.
No: this is guided road and gravel cycling on your own two legs, built for riders who want a real, sporty ride, not a leisurely sightseeing pace. If you're after a casual e-bike city tour, a general tour operator is a better fit; if you want climbs, distance, and terrain that matches your fitness, that's what this is for.
Once we've agreed the ride terms, a 10% deposit confirms the booking (refundable up to 30 days before your first ride). The remaining 90% is due one week before your first ride. PayPal or bank transfer preferred.
How booking works
Three steps, then we ride
01
Tell me what you're after
Send dates, group size, road or gravel preference, and any must-see spots or goals. I'll come back with questions and one or two route ideas.
02
Get a plan and quote
I'll suggest a route and meeting point, confirm the timing, and quote the hours at CHF 79/hour (or CHF 59/hour for anything over 10 hours).
03
Confirm with a small deposit
A 10% deposit holds the date. The remaining 90% is due one week before we ride. Then we just show up and ride.
Get in touch
Plan your days in Zurich
Planning a cycling holiday in Switzerland or a trip to Zurich and want a road or gravel day (or a few) built around your dates? Send the details — dates, group size, road or gravel — and I'll get back to you with a plan and a quote.
Privacy-first
We use cookies only when necessary, and always ask before loading analytics.