TransNapoli – Urban Bike Adventure
A 5-day urban adventure in Italy - from the Amalfi Coast via Pompeii, Vesuvio Volcano, Napoli and Ischia Island on MTB and eMTB
By Hans Rey Photos: Martin Bissig About 2000 years ago there was a gigantic explosion releasing 100,000 times the thermal energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted and spew its lava and ashes over 20 miles into the air; several Roman settlements were obliterated and buried underneath massive pyroclastic surges and ashfall deposits, the best known being Pompeii and Herculaneum. Napoli, as the Italians call the city of Naples, was my most recent destination for yet another ‘urban adventure’. The idea was to traverse this historical city and surrounding area on bikes in 5 days. From the breathtaking Amalfi coast, via Pompeii to the crater of the Vesuvio, into the urban jungle, history, culture, traffic and chaos of the 3000-years old streets of Napoli to the beautiful island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples. There is no better way explore and experience such a place then by bicycle. I was joined by different friends for different stages of this tour and it was really cool to meet many of the local riders who showed me their best spots, trails and restaurants in their hometown. Finding the ideal route, best trails and most interesting sights, is a lot harder than one would imagine. I’ve been spending months researching online with the help of google earth as well as some local contacts.TransAngeles
The idea of this trip was to traverse one of the biggest cities in the world on bikes in 5 days, not only showing the incredible nature and mountains surrounding this city but also its diverse neighbor hoods, suburbs and famous landmarks. When this city was founded its full name was “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de los Angeles sobre el Rio Porciuncula.” (If your Spanish is rusty, that translates to “The town of our lady queen of the angels on the Porciuncula River.”) a.k.a. L.A. or Los Angeles.
Tutti Frutti Epic
The “Tutti Frutti Epic” MTB Tour is a one day bucket-list ride that includes most of the new and existing trails at the Carosello 3000 Mountain Park in the resort town Livigno, Italy.
Starting from 2017 this will be a permanently marked tour that everybody can ride at their own pace*. The 45km long tour, includes only a few hundred meters of uphill pedaling, since all the trails can be accessed by gondolas and chairlifts. Riders don’t have to be as qualified as my partner for this maiden tour, Brian Lopes. All of the trails are either red or blue (intermediate or beginner), suitable for most skill levels and perfect for Cross Country, All Mountain and Enduro bikes.
