The European Chronicles 2022.6. The Alps Riding Academy

August 05, 2022

The European Chronicles 2022.6. The Alps Riding Academy

Everything Is Situational

A "truism" if there ever was one. Riding is "dynamic," ever changing and the Alps present a unique set of circumstances, aka, "problems." Dealing with barely one lane wide two way roads, constant hairpin turns, up and down, traffic, cars, bicycles, motos, trucks, farm equipment, all sharing these goat path roads simultaneously is challenging. As they say, some training couldn't hurt.

The picture above is from Passo Sella, in the Dolomites. The road up looks like this:

And this is only one of hundreds of passes, and one of the larger ones at that.

A google maps street view, as an example:

We start the first morning with some classroom theory, but quickly adjourn to the Bolzano Safety Park, a dedicated car/moto/police/fire training facility.

There are multiple areas for training; tight, twisty, low traction surfaces to test braking and acceleration, a small road course and even a restaurant.

We go through an entire day of skill exercises and road course work. Very entertaining, fun and a great place to learn. But HOT, effing hot, 96 degrees in the baking sun in full gear, working hard. Did I mention it was hot??

A cold shower, a spritz and civilization back at the Bemelmans Post

Everybody gets to relax after a hard day...

A good first day...the rest of the week will be on challenging roads throughout the Dolomites, practicing and dealing with the ever changing landscape/road/traffic situations.

Dawn...

First coffee...

First strudel...

We make only three stops each day...morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee. Leave at 8:30 each day, back at the hotel around 6-6:30. No photo stops...these days are pretty intense.

As are the Dolomites themselves...Passo Sella

E-bike battery charging station right at the top of the pass.

Each day is similar, with Christian taking us on ever smaller, more challenging roads. Steep uphill and downhill hairpins, construction zones, vehicles backing up in the turns because they are so tight. Unlit, pitch black tunnels with switchbacks inside them.

Just another coffee stop.

Lunch with a view.

Wednesday evening, back at the hotel, there's this:

Christian says, "Wait, they will come back in 'on mode.'" And they did. Turn on the sound!

This is apparently a weekly event.

Thursday, we head to Lago di Garda, the largest lake in Italy, the the deepest in Europe at over 400 meters.

Some company at coffee.

JAH...Just Another Hairpin

Looking down from where the bikes are parked.

The view over the edge.

Lago di Garda

A yellow Vespa in the Alto Adige...Forza Italia!

The Poiano Resort, our stop for the night.

Fantastic pizza and Beira Rossa

Friday Is Ferry Day!!

Here she comes...

Arrivederci!

Waiting on cappuccino.

The Strada della Forra, aka the "James Bond Road" on Lago di Garda.

It was a little less dramatic for us...that said, just before we turned onto this road, I managed to have a small tip over at, of all places, a stop light. Someone stopped short in front of me on a downhill curve, with the road steeply tilted to the left. I didn't see it soon enough, stopped short and literally just fell over. No real damage, other than to my pride, and I wrenched my back a bit. So stupid. In fact, we've had 3 "incidents" on this ride, and all 3 were in the most mundane situations possible: in the hotel garage, on some gravel and at a stop light. All "no speed." When you consider the genuinely difficult training drills and rides we did this week, it is incredible that they all were in the simplest situations possible. Shows how a moment's inattention can really catch you out. Shit happens.

The local friendly pharmacist fixed me right up.

Perhaps this should be standard issue along with the shirt???

Unfortunately, one rider had to cut the training short because the gravel drop twisted his ankle to the point he could not ride (or really even get the boot on). I'm very familiar with that particular shade of ankle purple.