hi all so we were looking at going to finale in October but atlas don't have enough availability for my group they have suggested molini any one been and care to share your thoughts ?
Look up some of Jack Moir’s videos from Molini. It looks brilliant.
Molini is brilliant, lots of fun, rocky switchbacky fast trails and tech stuff - the best parts of lean a bit more towards the big days out - like doing a 1600m descent in the afternoon, instead of the shorter finale trails - One of the best days I've had there was crossing three peaks over the course of a day and finishing up all the way down at the coast in San Remo for a beer and a swim, with a fantastic restaurant stop for lunch
It's a very small village - a hotel, a cafe, a bar, a pizza place, a grocery shop and a bike shop - that's pretty much it. Not like the much bigger, busier Finale - you're not going for the night life - that may or may not appeal to you.
Short answer: YES. Longer answer: ABSOLUTELY YES 🙂
It's my fav place to ride anywhere. Very different to Finale. Endless singletrack in a stunning landscape with loads of variety and as much tech as you want. If you get the chance to ride from Molini to the sea at San Remo, the do it. A brilliant day out.
If you go with Atipico (Luca and Sylvie) you'll have a brilliant time. The village is lovely and I have very happy memories of the main bar. Been three times and I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Vids from multi day trips in these playlists:
- average riding but hopefully shows the kind of riding you can expect.
Alex has given basically the same answer as me, I'd just echo that Luca and Sylvia who run Atipico are great, and I'd fully recommend them
Molini night life? Sometimes you only need one bar.
We spent a week around there with rivierabike, absolutely stunning riding- some of the best I've done anywhere. I couldn't find any of it again, mind you. Lovely town, too.Not a huge amount going on, it's small and not very touristy but there was enough for us.
As per everyone else above, it's great, but a different style of riding to most of finale. Quite technical rather than flow I thought.
We went with riviera bike, and they were good.
Molini is fantastic. Also worth checking out NAVA area. The guys that run the uplift are great and the trails are ace. Good wet weather alternative to Finale
Not rider finale so can’t comment on a comparison. Molini though is a superb place to ride bikes on brilliant trails away from the crowds in a proper Italian village. The ride from molini to the coast is an absolute joy
Not rider finale so can’t comment on a comparison. Molini though is a superb place to ride bikes on brilliant trails away from the crowds in a proper Italian village. The ride from molini to the coast is an absolute joy
Rode out there about 15 years ago. It was utterly brilliant. Will second the comment about the ride down to the coast. We did a day down at finale as well.
Just beware that the inland maritime alps are technically rainforest and so it chucks it down every so often. The thunderstorms are truly amazing.
Is Riviera still a thing? Went with them about 6 years or so ago but thought the floods in the valley wiped out their unit. It was brilliant though. A fantastic mix of terrain, with some huge descents. And always a nice cafe/bar for lunch stops. Some fine alpine trails, and not as steep as Finale, although I’m sure there’s some steep stuff if that’s your thing.
Only criticism, and it’s all across the Alps, particularly the less touristy areas is that hunting seems to take priority and it’s mainly by drunken old guys in Fiat Pandas. Just make sure your paths don’t cross!
Is Riviera still a thing? Went with them about 6 years or so ago but thought the floods in the valley wiped out their unit
They were still going after the floods, we went just a few months after they were flooded.
Presume they're still going now, but haven't checked.
Don't think they are, I think they relocated themselves to wales maybe? I've a feeling one of the Atipico guides was guiding for them when we were there, not 100% on that though.
Have done both and they’re both quite different. In fact I’ve done both twice now, the beauty of it is you can find enough to keep yourself busy for the whole week so if you’re like my husband and I who don’t like people and therefore avoid guided weeks because it means we have to make an effort to be normal, it’s great. We stayed outside of ‘the town’ both times and on the second because we were alone we cooked for ourselves and kept to our own company. On our last trip we decided to drive to finale and booked a guided day (I’ve also been solo for a week because despite probably being autistic I can fake it for a week and just about pass for being normal because I’ve faked it my entire life). My husband commented how much he enjoyed the riding there and if it weren’t for the fact it was a package thing we’d probably go back again for a full week. It’s more natural which is what we both prefer and the village is very quiet and so you avoid that party ‘bros’ atmosphere which finale naturally attracts. Although once riding you can’t tell it’s busy in finale, it is A LOT busier if that makes sense.
Parked up on the crest above Molini a few years back. Some nice, long, earthy trails with a 800m asphalt climb back to the van.
If you're looking for alternatives to Finale and/or want a setup off in your way there, have a look at both St Greè and Mont Alpet bike parks. ~€25 ticket.
Only criticism, and it’s all across the Alps, particularly the less touristy areas is that hunting seems to take priority and it’s mainly by drunken old guys in Fiat Pandas. Just make sure your paths don’t cross!
Find the local bar and ask. Generally the hunters don't want to shoot you and the locals know what's going on and where
I am booked with Atlas who have sub contracted to ATIPICO for the week. There are two of us going and just been told that the trip now has enough numbers and limited spaces left for the 17.10.26 departure. Done Finale and most other gnarly techy places in Europe so looking forward to this following the above comments. Now just need to get fit. Thanks Alan
