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History

Journal

AMBASSADORS

FROM HOME TO THE DOLOMITAS

FROM HOME TO
THE DOLOMITAS.


Adrià Noguera and his Megamo Pulse Elite
 
7/21                        DOLOMITAS             ADRIÀ NOGUERA
THIS IS HOW IT ALL STARTED

For a long time, I've been wondering how far we could go if all the kilometres we ride in a week in a circular way were done in a straight line. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who makes this kind of reflections... It all started one Sunday afternoon, when I was told that my brother-in-law Andreu Simón was going to compete in a trail race in the middle of the Italian Alps, the DOLOMITAS.
My desire to know how far I could go with a bike, to see my brother-in-law compete in an international race and the terrible desire to make a bike packing adventure, made me take a decision not too long. I only needed to see how many kilometres we were talking about and to know how many days of vacation I needed to go ahead with the plan.
PREPARATIONS AND THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

In less than a week I started my adventure, I had just enough time to draw the route in Koomot and visualize the wonderful roads and mountain passes I was going to ride. It would be a total of 1350km and 13,500 meters of elevation gain.

The route consisted of crossing the Pyrenees and the French Alps to reach the end of my goal, the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, where I could see the famous and impressive Dolomitas. There I would end my trip to return home by plane.
Knowing the distance, I had to travel and taking into account the days I had available, I decided to take the route by road and improvise. The idea was to sleep in hostels as I needed... All very much on the fly! For such a trip I needed a fast and comfortable bike that would allow me to ride for hours without any problems: the Megamo Pulse Elite AXS 02 was my best choice. In addition to the features, I was looking for, I was able to carry the bags without rubbing the cables due to its internal wiring.

I also carried tools and spare parts that finally did not help me at all, not a single puncture in the whole route and all the mechanical part worked perfectly!
I chose waterproof bags, and the truth is that I went out quite light. I didn't want to carry too much weight, so I started the first day of a total of eight intense days pedaling and enjoying this adventure.
THE GOOD PART BEGINS, 1350KM AHEAD.

During the first kilometers I felt a mixture of emotions, a part of me felt happy and free, but the other felt fear and uncertainty for everything that was to come. I looked at the horizon and didn't know what this trip would bring, I just kept pedaling without stopping.

I think my desire and my adventurous spirit made me arrive in France almost without realizing it. I crossed the Pyrenees and a few kilometers of plain when I began to visualize the signs in a new language, the landscapes and the culture that characterizes and distinguishes our neighboring country Et voilà! First day passed with a total of 220 km in the legs.

 
The second and third day were more up and down, I passed near mythical passes of the Tour de France and also did many kilometers on bike paths. They were two really hot days, the rise in temperatures could not only be noticed in the thermometers. Luckily I made it to Embrun, a beautiful village with a blue lake where I could cool off and recharge my batteries.
 
AU REVOIR LA FRANCE, CIAO ITALIA

On the fourth, fifth and sixth day I crossed the French Alps through Briançon and the Montgenevre pass towards Italy. The villages that I found along the way transported me to the Middle Ages, each one of them hid behind its walls and fortresses years of history that turned the landscape into a beautiful bucolic postcard.
It was in the course of those days that I stopped seeing Boulangeries to glimpse Pizza and Pasta signs everywhere. In Italy I took the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Torino and continued cycling several kilometers on flat secondary roads, following most of the route along the Po River to Riva del Garda.

On the seventh day I was able to enjoy early in the morning a breathtaking view of Lake Garda. I continued on my way with the objective of reaching Canazei and I saw how the landscape changed again, little by little I got closer to the high and steep mountains that would define from then on the landscape that would accompany me during the last kilometers of my adventure.
At that moment I could see the high white stone walls very close, green meadows and rivers of crystalline water that gave a true spectacle to my sight.
THIS WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT ADVENTURE

Finally, on my eighth and last day I allowed myself the luxury of doing fewer kilometers, even though I had to gain a lot of positive elevation gain, doing the most mythical passes of the Giro d'Italia (Passo sella, Pordoi and Giau) to my destination, Cortina d'Ampezzo. I remember thinking at the time that everything was spectacular: the scenery, the roads, the charming villages... I felt good, and I was glad I had made the decision to undertake this trip alone. Although I felt fear and uncertainty in the first few kilometers, I realized that this had been a great experience.
LAST HOURS IN ITALY

I followed for two days the race in first person, met Andreu and other acquaintances and enjoyed for two more days one of the best places in Europe. Although we almost missed the plane, the return trip was very short, I woke up and we were already flying over the city of Barcelona, my adventure was over.
Texto / fotografía: Adrià Noguera Normality and routine are back, but I assure you that I'm already thinking about what my next adventure will be.... I hope to be able to tell you all about it very soon!