Last week, while it was hitting 26 degrees at home, I was in Italy for the launch of the Bosch MY26 products. And while I was there, I thought it would be a great opportunity to visit the Riva Bike Festival just down the road.
Surrounded by the gorgeous landscape of Lake Garda and plenty of gelato, I was armed with a full phone battery and an appetite for bikes. And while the festival was jam-packed with lots of bikes, it was definitely geared more towards the off-road side. So instead of a big round-up of all the incredible road cycling products I saw, here’s a summary of my experience visiting an Italian bike festival.
The Italians know how to organise a bike festival
The first thing that struck me about the festival was how laid back it was. And, there were so many different types of people there. Families, men, women, old, young, everyone was there. And the whole area seemed to be buzzing about there being a bike festival. Or maybe people are just generally happier when it’s 25 degrees and they have gelato available on every corner.
Of course, there was still the occasional grumble from within the road traffic outside the venue – there were a few closed roads for drivers to contend with. But overall, the mood was positive and it was really nice to see such a mix of people.
Road riders, mountain bikers, gravel, e-bikers, and even BMX riders adorned the man-made streets of the expo. And perhaps most importantly – not one of the brand workers asked me if I “knew much about bikes.”
Test rides and free waffles
Surrounding Riva Garda there is plenty of cycling to be had. It’s a little busy on the roads around the towns, but with cycle lanes (although some are just painted lines) and dedicated trails nearby it’s a great place to visit by bike.
Throughout the event there were stands upon stands of bike brands offering various test ride experiences. There were guided rides for mountain bikers, for example. And I encountered a fair few of the test riders heading up the Ponale Path while I was on my jollies going for a run one morning.
This is essentially a long-standing gravel track that heads up the side the lake and into the surrounding mountains. It’s not technical, but does offer some excellent views – if you can squeeze through the hikers and riders, that is.
After I attended the Bosch launch earlier in the week and rather gracefully went over the bars, I decided it was probably unwise to risk test riding another electric mountain bike in a foreign country. And with a gravel event coming up at the weekend, I wanted to be on full form for the suffering ahead of me.
Foil gilets and chamois pad replacements
Instead, I used the time to wander around the expo, find some interesting people and some interesting products, and locate the brands who had the best coffee machines (FSA, if you’re wondering.)
For instance, I stumbled upon a company that offers a chamois pad replacement service – simply send them your old bib shorts and pad and €20 and they’ll replace it like for like. And, they accept orders from the UK.
We all know visibility is important on the road, but have you considered wrapping yourself in tin foil? That appears to be the inspiration behind the Tofit gilet. Perhaps it’s got really good insulating properties…
I also saw this really interesting gravel bike from Urwahn, called the Waldwiesel. Which Google Translate tells me means ‘wood weasel’. What makes it so intriguing is the use of the Gates belt drive system instead of a traditional chain, and a Pinion gearbox (or SRAM AXS Rival drivetrain).
10/10 no notes
Beyond the usual bikes, products and cups of coffee, there was also a main stage and a pump track – and most importantly, food stalls. I settled for a somewhat passable pizza, which is a generous use of the word because it looked like someone had put cheese on some soft bread. But I digress.
Would I recommend the Riva Bike Fest? Sure. But not if you’re looking for any new, exciting launches. And if you’re a consumer, you could just as easily go to the National Cycle Show or the like. Although you wouldn’t have Lake Garda-esque views, and you certainly won’t have 100 different flavours of gelato to choose from.
1 thought on “Going to a bike festival… and not riding any bikes. Travel tales from Lake Garda”
Ahh yes, cycling “pads.” As
Ahh yes, cycling “pads.” As long as I’m on a Brooks B-17 and it’s been broken into my rear end, no pads necessary. Another positive vote for the great, glorious and perpetual B-17.