I'd like suggestions for something in a beautiful place on either the second weekend (13-14) or the third (20-21). And suitable for a beginner as perhaps I bit off a little more than I could chew with the SSDT. I'm an incurable optimist and am sure I'm going to have the most awesome time!

There are a lot of nice places to ride in the Alpes. You will see spectacular views, climbs and downhills on trails which are demanding and sometimes scary when the route is just one meter wide and on one side it's going down really deep, and these "sections" sometimes seems never to end too...

I'am a great fan of riding there, in own experience do it the first time with some people which know the terrain and please don't do it alone. You really have to get used to it, the routes shown on maps doesn't tell you anything about the difficulty.

As a starter I would recommend:

Trial Area Alberto il Castellino in Brecia, Italy,

www.albergoilcastellino.it

Oasis Verde, in Prestine, Italy,

www.hoteloasisverde.it

Scuola Internazionale di Trial e Mountain Bike, in Valsesia, Italy

www.scuolatrialmtbvalsesia.net

I personal have planned a trip to the Alpes in Piemont near the French border in September / October, which is a good time because most flocks of cows and goats that uses the mountains during summer time are then already guarded down, so there is no conflict with the farmers.

Then you have to know were it's allowed to ride and were not, it can be extremly costly if you meet the Policia Forrestale on the wrong ground.

If you still want to ride by your own and not use any professional guiding, have the bike road registered and insured (international green insurance card should be on hand, the police might ask), lights fitter, a working brake light, numberplate, speedo and mirror attached, ( this is for some of the trips provided by the ressources named above not necessary, look them and their offers up for more details).

Edited May 29, 201412 yr by pschrauber