MTB around Lago di
Garda
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Lago di Garda is a true
MTB-paradise.
There are plenty of trails, altitude differences can be close to 2000
metres
on some runs. Most of the riding leans towards downhill. There are
plenty
of heavy downhill rigs with lots of suspension travel that can hardly
be
pedalled up the mountain. At times we felt completely out of place with
our lean hard tails. We preferred to cycle up too.
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Many
bikers take a
shuttle to
the top of Tremalzo in the morning and then coast down. There are
several
excellent bike shops. Almost every conceivable component is available.
Half decent full suspension bikes can be rented. These shops run the
shuttles,
and also have some excellent mechanics.
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Riva and Torbole sul
Garda are
two small towns at the Garda Lake’s
northern shore that are geared towards mountainbiking and windsurfing.
The windsurfers form their own community and they are so important
locally
that sun bathers are instructed not to be in their way on the beach.
When
there is no wind the lake is empty. Then, when the wind comes, there
can
be hundreds of sails within ten minutes.
Our camping place had a
special
section for wind surfers and mountainbikers.
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There are several areas
around
Laga di Garda that offer splendid mountainbiking. The trails are well
described,
though most descriptions are apparently in German or Italian. There is
also a number of www-sites dedicated to MTB around Riva and Torbole: Garda
2002 (in Swedish, splendid photos) Tremalzo
Classic, Tremalzo
Traum
(in German), Oliver Hankes
Radlhomepage (German), Tremalzo
Tagestourbeschreibung (German), Garda
Trails (German). Sites with general MTB-info are Paola Pezzo‘s Moutainbike
in Trentino, and Mondo
Alpino 100% MTB, both offer route descriptions. Mondo Alpino has a
clickable map. A Google search will yield countless other sites. There
is a two volume MTB-guide, Moser Bike Guide, Vol., 1 & 2.,
which
details most routes. However, it is in German.
Classsic Tremalzo
Tremalzo
is the most frequently
biked trail. Most of it is biking on ancient military roads with rough
lose gravel. The lower section of it has some fine singletrack, winding
on a traverse to Passo Notta and Passo Rochetta before it descends some
splendid switchbacks. The last bits goes on ancient partly collapsed
roads
through an area which is officially closed with fences etc. As everyone
seems to bike there it seems the closure seems to denote that you bike
on your own risk there and can not hold the local government (or anyone
else) responsible for any accidents. The closed area has to be passed.
There is no way to bike either up or down on Tremalzo from Riva without
crossing it.
| We revisited Torbole in June
2005 and there had been a lot of change. There are no more signs that
say it is forbidden to bike along the ancient road and one does not
have to lift the bike through or around fences anymore. Instead the
road has been improved and there are boards with mountain bike ethics
posted. Clearly a friendly change! There is travelouge from June 2005 here. |
Molina — Segala hut
A shorter version,
with more single track and less
fire road, is to ascend steep fire road from Lago di Ledro and join the
route from Tremalzo between the Bandera hut and the Segala hut. It is a
steep ascent, so steep that on some sections one has to make a point of
keeping the front wheel on the ground. Once one has reached the ridge
line
one has long sections of fine single track heading back to Riva.
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Bocca di Trat
The
finest route we did was
by
a traverse following the ridge line on fine, though partly exposed,
singletrack
from Bocca di Trat to Cima d´Oro, consistently maintaining a
respectable
altitude with marvellous views, till we reached an extremely rutted
fire
road that brought us down on switchbacks to Campi.
Bike Xtreme
The
scariest trail we did was
an
extreme variation of Tremalzo, known as Bike Xtreme. We biked up first
via Lago di Ledro. Then, close to the Segala hut, we turned right along
a barely bike able path down to Limone. The upper section goes in
sharp,
rutted switchbacks full of foot ball sized lose rocks, roots, drops,
ledges,
etc. And, it is pretty steep. With a full suspension rig and plenty of
armoury for protection it might be fun. We were just plain scared.
Approximately
half way down one joins another path which is paved with small stones.
Then one brakes, so the rims glow, down to Limone.
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Campi — Riva route
One
frequently ridden route goes from the small village
of Campi in
the mountains above Riva. One goes through the village and finds a
highly
rutted trail that leads down to Riva. There are plenty of lose stones
and
rocks the first kilometres. Later one comes down on a narrow winding
steep
cobbled road to Riva.
Dossa
Spirano
Dossa
Spirano is a trail on the easter slopes of the lake. One climbs up from
Torbole towards M Altissimo di Negro. The route climgs steeply till one
reaches a radio transmission station. Thus far it is mostly paved road.
From then on one follows a fire road till one gets to a turn where a
trail
turns off down the valley. The trail is a mule track from the first
world
war. It goes in rutted technically demanding switchbacks down to
Malcèsine.
To sum up Torbole was splendid. We did some really fine rides. Would we go back? Yes, but preferably with full suspension bikes and some body armoury. To really enjoy Garda which is so down hill oriented one needs more protection than just a helmet. So one can let go without exceptional risks. On the other hand the ice cream is so fantastic that we would go back to Torbole any day just for the ice cream.
