RSF - The Off Road Cycling Club

The campsite at Valmalene is north of the town of Pieve Tesino in the Italian Dolomites. The loop described here takes you through a very rugged part of the mountains, all mtb-grades are there. On the whole the higher parts are severe, i.e. technical trails, severe climbs and descents,loose and rocky surfaces, steps and drop-offs, etc. So be well prepared in every respect, use a suitable MTB and take lots of water with you. This loop took me most of the day to complete, some climbs are too steep to keep in the saddle so a fair amount of carrying the bike on your shoulder is involved. But you will get something worthwhile in return: an often overwhelmingly impressive mountainscape, HIGHLY representative of the Italian Dolomites. An area called Bualon de la Forzela resembles an opera in the sense that the curved mountain range (comprising Mount Passetto) in one way or the other amplifies sounds made, among others, by cow-bells. The Valmalene campsite is an ideal spot to start from for various rides, from 'easy' to the severe one here described.