West of Munich, the city fades into a belt of comfortable suburbs, Germering, Planegg, Gräfelfing, set among fields and patches of forest on the flat gravel plain that stretches towards the Alps. The ride ends among them, near the forest of the Kreuzlinger Forst, and it is a convenient finish for rides that have gone south to the Grossglockner and the Allgäu.
It is not a dramatic place, but it is a peaceful one. The Würm, a small river flowing out of Lake Starnberg, winds through Planegg and Gräfelfing, with meadows and paths along its banks. To the west, Fürstenfeldbruck has one of the most magnificent Baroque churches in Bavaria, the abbey church of Fürstenfeld, with a lavishly decorated interior. To the south-west, the Ammersee and Lake Starnberg are popular with Munich people for sailing, swimming and beer gardens.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, the goal of the overnight ride, is one of the most spectacular mountain roads in Europe, climbing to more than 2,500 metres at the Hochtor tunnel, with views of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain, and the Pasterze glacier. It was built in the 1930s, and it is a toll road, typically open from May to October. The Allgäu, to the south-west, is a landscape of green hills, lakes and mountains, with excellent riding on quiet roads.
Coming back to Munich after a long weekend, the motorways can be congested, especially the A8 from Salzburg and the A96 from Lindau, so it is worth timing your return carefully. Once in the western suburbs, the roads are calmer, though Germering's streets are busy with commuters. There are fuel stations, supermarkets and restaurants in Germering and the neighbouring towns, and Munich's beer gardens are close enough for an evening celebration. Order a Mass, sit under the chestnuts and let the hum of the motorway fade out of your ears.