Monday Morning Debrief 23

It’s been a busy week and an interesting one too. Half spent in Italy at Lake Garda then straight back into magazine deadline.

So after a week in Garda, getting a taste of what riding the place has to offer and also spending a week on 1×11 and 650b there’s quite a bit to ponder.

We spent a lot of time in the saddle climbing out of the valley and hunting out singletrack with just a tourist walking map and a sense of adventure. Trails are always better when you’ve got that sense of discovery. We seemed to do okay too tracking down the legendary 601 trail, part of the SuperEnduro course and few other sweet nuggets too.

The riding was predominately gullies of loose limestone fist sized rocks alternating with faster sections and drop offs. After rain it got interesting in a sheet ice sort of style.

The ride at home at the weekend showed us how our attitude had been adjusted. What previously seemed like a long climb now felt short and downhill the challenges seemed somehow diminished. Wet gritstone is easier to commit to than limestone even when it’s greasy, there’s still a hint of grip there. Technical sections we’re attacked with speed and confidence.

We’ve come home fitter but more importantly with skills progressed.

Holidays in mountains are a good thing, they reset your expectations, they recalibrate your sense of scale and they change you for the better.

How was your weekend? Tell us here: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/monday-morning-debrief-no-23-what-did-you-do

Dave Anderson

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