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    Completing My Dream Ride – Was It Worth The 10 Year Wait?



    Cycling Italy’s most beautiful lake, but was it worth the wait? Back in 2013, Alex visited Lake Garda and immediately put an epic ride around its shores on his bucket list. Now, ten years later, he has returned for what will be his longest ride since retiring as a pro. His route is a full loop of the lake and includes a stretch along the hanging Lake Garda cycle path.

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    View 49 Comments

    49 Comments

    2. Deadly Nightshade on

      What a coincidence, being in Italy for the first time, and having completed an epic ride in the Dolomites on a great cervélo bike, I take a moment to relax and watch Andy ride basically next door 😅

    3. Mister Pitkins English on

      I rode the east coast from riva del Garda to peschiera del garda in August 2020 with wife and two kids (9 and 7years old). Absolutely great and not too much traffic (probably due to covid). However, I can't recommend it enough and would like to try the west coast one day. We are lucky to live in Bergamo and have a number of lakes on our doorstep in this splendid part of Italy. Thanks for the video and I hope it inspires some people to come and give it a try.

    12. Russell Scott on

      I’ve done lake Como but like other comments, while the lake is nice the best bit was cycling on the roads away from the lake which were lovely and quiet. Roads around the lake were too busy with traffic and narrow. If you want great cycling, go to Majorca!

    13. Andrew McAlister on

      1:48 Should have been a Campy groupset on the Pinarello to make it a truly Italian experience. 🇮🇹 Thanks Alex for the awesome views and a great ride. I think my bucket list just got a little bit longer.

    14. NJM on

      Pity the sun wasn't out in its full Italian glory. Did a ride on the eastern side a few years ago and a foray into the adjacent mountains. Too much traffic in July. One of the most scenic places in Europe.

    17. militaryminded on

      Great filming…capturing this beautiful part of Italy! I remember completing a Granfondo in 2009 (GF Lazise) around Garda back when I lived in Veneto. Most traffic was redirected away for a few hours which allowed the ride to be that much more enjoyable.

    20. Jan Stegmann on

      Great video – congrats on completing the ride 💪🏻
      I’ve done a lot of riding around Garda Lake, and completing the full circle I agree is absolutely a bucket list ride 😎
      I find local drivers to be very accomodating, both in and out of season, so I definitely recommend getting out and riding while in the area – it’s amazing 🤩

    21. Patrick van der Velden on

      @gcn NO WAY! I just did the very same ride last week on May 4th when on family holiday at the lake!
      My starting point was Tignale, at the west side. I skipped the bike path though, I thought it was for pedestrians only.. 😀
      If anyone wants to try this amazing ride, a tail light is a must have for the dark tunnels. Without one you are quite hard to see for drivers.

    24. Michael O on

      Fantastic video! I'm at Lake Garda several times a year and do the tour around the lake quite often. After Gargnano, I recommend taking the climb to Tignale and the descent to Limone. It's very beautiful and you avoid the narrowest tunnels. A fantastic variant is also to include the "Via della Forra". A fantastic variant is also to include the "Via della Forra". The traffic in summer is really heavy, so spring and autumn are better. In good weather, however, you can also do the tour during the wintermonths.

    25. Martin Soelby on

      Lago di Garda. An absolutely fantastic place to ride your bike. Epic climbs in the north part and flat to the south. Valpolicella with rolling hills to the east.
      Monte Baldo is a grerat climb or a ride up the stunning road Via Benaco to Pieve to view the lake from an elevated point.

    26. BicycleJoy on

      Awesome landscapes.
      You should come also to Lake Maggiore. Full cycle around the lake is 160km with very exciting views.
      On my next ride I'm gonna film it.

    27. Katarzyna Ewa Lewińska on

      I cycled around Lago di Garda, Maggiore, Como. Fair rides to tick them from a bucket list, but not something I would recommend during the season. Especially west part of Garda with tunnels is dangerous with heavy traffic. Uber scenic but not at all relaxing.

    33. Iain Goodman on

      I go to Lake Garda every year and rode around it at least 5 times. Some tips, if you fancy doing it (I think it it's worth it). Pick your time of year – try and avoid late spring – late Autumn if you can, it's very full of tourists making the cycle / footpaths unridable and the roads busy. I normally ride it in late Spring but leave at 6am, which gives me a few hours before it gets too busy. Pick your direction – the reason Lake Garda is a kite surfing heaven is that there is always wind (northerly in the morning then southerly in the afternoon, if memory serves). If you get it wrong you will have head wind almost all day! Make sure you have great lights on your bike – the tunnels are really dangerous and very scary. Oh and learn some German so you can shout at German tourists getting in your way 😀

    34. Christian Svendsen on

      One thing to keep in mind, during the summer months, the cycle path is transformed into a combined walk and cycle path, full of tourists, small kids and baby strollers.
      So during that period, stay on the road unless you want to average 20 km/h or possible crash into someone.

    36. twowheels222 on

      Favorite part: reminding me of the bucket-list rides I just did in Italy [actually not in the north, but on the southern coast and also in Chianti … on a Pinarello Prince rental]. Was seeing lots of clouds and even some drizzle, but hugely enjoyed the roads, the views, the food, and the riding regardless.

    39. Nicholas Sharman on

      Did I miss you answering the question from the title?
      WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT? 😀

      I rode there recently and the tunels were terrible. Close passes non stop.
      Anyway, hope you had fun!

    47. SA on

      Epic fail – complaining about the length of the route, complaining about the weather, plugging the "sports nutrition" AND missing the Tremosine sul Garda.
      Harden the f… up Alex!

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