Our little group since 2011 has done the Alps twice, Spain with Switchbacks, Italian Riviera, and just got back from our second trip to Andorra.

So we’re thinking about 2018 and what to do and who to guide us. I’m pressing for the Dolomites so was wondering who has been and was it worth it?

Have a look and talk to Maurizio Deflorian… rides all the italian alps, all year as a guide. You can find him on Facebook. Done some amazing stuff and is a really nice chap.

Did a Roadie holiday last year and probably saw more MTBs than road bikes around in town/village centre.

Have a search for Sella Ronda, a bit like their version of Passeport de Soleil so should give a feel for what’s available.

Also have a look at Igor Favella (Cycling Dolomites or similar?), Ex pro CXer who runs a hotel outside Bormio. We stayed there and he did gpx routes for guests, may well cover MTB too.

Various bits of the Dolomites and Sued Tirol (South Tirol) are popular with German MTBers. Vinschgau area and I think around Bruneck/Brunico (everywhere there has at least a German and an Italian name).

Kronplatz (not far from Sella Ronda) has an ace trail. Same ski pass as Sella Ronda in winter if you get the area pass, but not sure what the deal is for summer.

Dolomites are my favourite ski destination, but never MTBed there. It’s high on our to do list though.

I just came back from a family holiday to the Dolomites. I didn’t bike(gutted) but saw plenty of groups of folk on various types of bikes(xc to full downhill rigs and full face helmets). The town I stayed in was Welschnofen where there was lift assisted trails. The main trail is:

http://www.carezza.it/en/summer/carezza-bike-trail.html

There was a bike shop in town with a bike school listed here(dolomiti bike school)

http://www.bikehotels.it/en/regions-infos/dolomites/bike-schools.html

The area is stunning and there seemed to be trails all over the place. You’d need to be fit though if you weren’t doing lift assisted. The town itself was fairly sleepy though which was fine for us but might not suit a group of lads wanting a drink at night. I went to the Ortisei area last year which was very lively and full of cafes/restaurants. You can access the Sella Ronda from there. You could also easily drive to the Welschnofen area from Ortisei.

You could even attempt a decent of the Marmolada:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQCJAdSVRqM

I’ll have to go back when my kids are bigger.

There was a Youtube vid the other day, by someone doing the Marmolada descent, who really needed to shut up and stop commentating 😉 (might be the one above? might not be – I won’t use Youtube at work). Some of the (hiking) trail looked stunning, but other bits you’d need to be mad. Like err carrying your bike down via ferrata.

Also on Youtube… search for Downhill Rangers (I think that’s it, will check tonight). There’s a full descent of Kronplatz. Mix of bike parky and trails. Probably in German but might have subtitles.

Yeah that’s the one 🙂 I haven’t watched the whole video as I got a bit bored of listening so probably missed the scary bits further down.

just got back on Monday from the dolomites. I only had 1 day off, but did the sella ronda, lift assisted. I never done that kind of riding before, but frankly it was amazing. If you go, find a guide, the guy I know was working at the time I had off, but there are hundreds of trails of all sorts and the scenery is astounding. really. go, you won’t regret it…

If I figure out how to do it I’ll try and post a picture or two later on.

Thanks for the input. We would be looking at shuttle/ uplift plus the odd day or two at a bike park. Nothing crazy DH, but not all day gravel roads either.

I did it all on a cotic soul and it was just fine. if that helps.

We’ve been on biking holidays over there a few times and love it. We started going to get away from the boozy Brits in the French resorts. Been to various locations in the Dollies, but my favourite for biking is the Pustertal Valley. It’s handy for the ‘freeride’/DH trails on Kronplatz, but those trails are just the tip of the iceberg. Loads of natural singletrack trails in the area. It’s also close enough to drive over to do the Sella Ronda MTB.

Wherever you go in the Dolomites, I’d strongly recommend staying at a ‘bike hotel’ that specialises in mountain biking. Reason for this is that they employ bike guides – and you really need them to get onto the good trails (& lunch stops!). If you don’t want to ride in a group, most of the hotels will download routes onto your gps lor free, or nominal charge. You can try and bodge routes together with Strava, but if your not familiar with local conditions like forestry work etc., it can be hugely frustrating.

I stayed overnight in Selva to do the Sella Ronda, and hired a guide through the hotel. The guide only worked out 15 euros dearer than getting the lift tickets and doing self guided (registered mtb guides get heavily discounted lift tickets for clients, to encourage riders to use local guides). I was really glad I hired the guide, as we met up the previous evening to check what bike I had and discuss route options. The guide put together a tailored gravity-Enduro route that was great. We did about 850m uphill pedalling, and something like 4250m descending! Where is was good having a guide, was when we came to a section of trail that a farmer had unexpectedly closed off to move his cattle. On my own, I’d have been stuffed, but the guide thought for a minute, and then we headed off on an off piste diversion that dropped us onto a purpose built bermed trail.

I’ve always taken my 140mm travel 29er and that’s been perfectly adequate for 95% of the trails. Only time I’ve felt like I needed a bigger bike was on some sections of the Hernsteig DH trail on Kronplatz, and some of the wild off piste trails that the guide showed me. DH bikes are available to hire at Kronplatz lift base station, if you really want to fly on the purpose built trails there. Something to be aware of is that their definition of freeride can be quite loose, covering anything from typical Scottish red trail centre stuff, right through to fairly big drops off the ends of woodwork. Most of the stuff has chicken runs, but it’s something to be aware of.

If you want a slightly quirky accomodation option, I can recommend the Hotel Innerhofer in Gais. Good food, reasonable VFM and excellent guides.

andytherocketeer – Member
There was a Youtube vid the other day, by someone doing the Marmolada descent, who really needed to shut up and stop commentating

That’s the legend that is Richie Schley! You can’t tell him to shut up.

Then you have the equally excellent Johannes Pistrol

I’m a fan of the central Dolomites especially around Cortina – some fantastic walking trails on the local topo maps but never had any negative comments from hikers. Falzarego Pass area is excellent too, but you really need a car to get around. For a dedicated holiday I’d certainly get a guide as I found a couple of trails were total duds and a waste of a day…

Just spent a week in Selva mountain biking. Had a great time, lots of good trails, a bikepark within easy reach, the sella ronda route for a good day out. Enjoyed it verg much and think there is another weeks worth of trails to be done. We went on a package with Thompson, breakfast an evening maels included, hotels quiet in the summer, most other guests walkers.

Loved our trip to the Dolomites I rode my mtb and the wife her road bike took turns with the uplift (our van) did do a circular tour of the region of the dolomites using all the lifts and it was great!
We moved on to Lake Garda 3 hours away which was awesome
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MPbPhz]Untitled[/url] by Richard Munro, on Flickr
Lake Garda
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LZhm7v]Untitled[/url] by Richard Munro, on Flickr

Tick!
Try this for inspiration

After quite a bit of research, some other threads on here and constant plugging on GCN, I went ahead and booked 9 days accommodation in Corvara on the Sella Ronda. I’ll then move over to the Stelvio/Bormio/Livingo area for a few more days.
Having quite worked out exactly what I’ll be doing yet

bunch of small clips on Red Bull TV https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1RMCD7PWS2111/mine-tailing?playlist=AP-1RMCD7PWS2111