Mountain Biking In the Italian Alps

Skill Level

Novice

•You have some experience (less than one year) of riding a bike off-road

•You occasionally bike on canal paths, forest roads and other double track

•You may be a road biker who has seen the light and wants to do some more mountain biking

Intermediate

•You have reasonable bike handling skills, and are confident riding non-technical double track and singletrack

•You are competent at riding undulating trails with moderate climbs and descents, but tend to get off and walk technical sections

•You ride at least two times per month throughout the biking season

Intermediate+

•You are generally comfortable riding most types of terrain in different conditions: singletrack, double track, muddy, dry, loose…

•You’ll have a go on smaller technical features, such as roots, rock gardens and small drops, but may get off and walk sections

•You have good bike handling skills and can brake, use your gears and corner confidently

•You ride at least once a week throughout the biking season

Advanced

•You are very confident handling most types of riding and obstacles, including drops (up to 1 foot), rocks, logs, switchbacks

•You have excellent bike handling skills and can lift front and rear wheels, do small jumps, corner, climb and descend well

•You have considerable experience of riding on a wide variety of technical terrains including: rocky, rooty, muddy, loose, fast singletrack, exposed trails

•You ride at least twice a week and rarely get off and walk sections

•You can climb and descend comfortably on technical singletrack for as long as required

Advanced+

•You were born on a bike!

•You can tackle anything the trail throws at you and have experience of riding all types of trail and obstacles (large, loose rocks, roots, drop-offs, logs, north shore)

•You take every opportunity you can to get out on your bike, in all weathers, and you’re happy to ride all day long

Fitness Level

Level 1


•You are a reluctant athlete

•Cycling on flat ground for an hour or so is more than enough for you and you walk any small climbs

Level 2

•You exercise once a week for 30 minutes or more

•You can ride at a relaxed pace for up to three hours a day, for three consecutive days

•You can tackle one or two climbs of up to 200m per day

Level 3

•You have a reasonable level of fitness, exercising at least twice a week for 45 minutes or more, throughout the whole year

•You can ride for up to five hours per day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for three consecutive days

•You are capable of tackling one or two moderate climbs per day, of up to 400 metres

Level 4

•You have a good level of fitness, exercising three or four times every week throughout the year, for up to an hour at a time

•You are comfortable mountain biking up to six hours a day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops

•You can tackle two or three fairly serious climbs a day, up to 800 metres at a time

Level 5

•You are super-fit and often train for enduro or other mountain bike events

•You are comfortable mountain biking eight hours or more per day, at a moderate pace, for four or five consecutive days

•You can tackle sustained climbs of up to 1,500 metres, two or three per day

• Technical equipment: mountain bike (contact us for rental options).
• Personal equipment: backpack, water bottle or hydration reservoir, provisions (energy bars, chocolate, dried fruit, sandwiches), comfortable bike clothes and shoes, gore-tex jacket, helmet, eye protection, gloves, knee pads