Exploring Switzerland by gravel bike is not something new
Long before the word gravel became a trend, Switzerland’s roads were already welcoming the first cycling adventurers. In the 1890s, as the bicycle became accessible to more people, young travellers set off on journeys, often along unpaved paths, through valleys, mountain passes, and villages.
In 1896, Switzerland was still a land of gravel tracks, alpine trails, and hastily paved roads. The bicycles of the time, simple yet sturdy, carried their owners into landscapes still untouched by mass tourism. Travelling by bike was not just a leisure activity: it was a true adventure, marked by long climbs, bumpy descents, and unexpected encounters.
These pioneers of cycle touring already embodied the spirit that fuels today’s gravel rides: curiosity, a taste for effort, and a desire to explore in complete freedom. Stories and illustrations from that era reflect an undiminished enthusiasm for slow discovery, at the rhythm of the pedals, in a majestic setting.
The first cycling associations in Switzerland
With the rise of the bicycle at the end of the 19th century, two-wheel enthusiasts quickly felt the need to come together. In Switzerland, as early as the 1890s, local cycling clubs flourished across the country, organizing rides, friendly competitions, and advocating for better road infrastructure.
In 1896, in Geneva, the Touring Club Suisse (TCS) was founded. At the time, its members were not focused on automobiles but on bicycles. The association’s mission was to promote cycle touring, defend the interests of cyclists, and facilitate travel across the country. The TCS quickly began publishing maps and guides for bicycle travellers, helping to structure the practice and make it more accessible.
These initiatives show how deeply cycling culture was already rooted in Switzerland. Long before the golden age of the automobile, the bicycle symbolized freedom, exploration, and a new way of travelling across the land. Clubs and associations played a central role in spreading this passion, creating a true network of solidarity among cyclists.
Anecdote: The first cycling maps of the TCS
From its very beginnings, the Touring Club Suisse understood that travelling by bike required more than robustness and endurance: good navigation tools were also essential. In 1897, barely a year after its foundation, the TCS published its first maps designed especially for cyclists.
Unlike the military or railway maps of the time, these highlighted the actual condition of the roads: cobbled paths, gravel tracks, carriageable roads… The goal was clear: to help travellers choose their route according to their bicycle and their abilities. These maps quickly became an indispensable companion for the first Swiss “gravel riders”, allowing them to plan rides beyond their home regions.
These publications bear witness not only to the dynamism of the TCS, but also to a pioneering desire to democratize cycle touring. They already foreshadowed the spirit of adventure and freedom that lives on today in gravel journeys.
Today, by riding Swiss trails on our modern bikes, we reconnect with this heritage. Every gravel ride is not only a sporting challenge: it is also a nod to those first travellers who, more than a century ago, already understood that in Switzerland, adventure begins where the road ends.
Vivid stories
Discover the fascinating history of the first bikepacking enthusiasts across Switzerland.
A window into the past
While taking a bike and setting off on an adventure may seem simple today, this was not necessarily the case when cycling first appeared.
