In our search for the best Alpine bike, we came up with something very special. We invited four readers to test five bikes from different categories with one of our editors. For the comparison, we selected a trail hardtail, a race bike, a trail bike, an all-mountain bike and an enduro bike. Here are the explanations of the bike categories and the respective representatives in the test:
It goes without saying that not just any test tour could be considered for this test, as it had to include everything that ambitious touring bikers can expect in the Alps - including an overnight stay in a mountain hut as a highlight. The Rifugio Rosetta trail loop over the Pale di San Martino is one of the most beautiful hut tours in the Dolomites because it is so close to the bright white rocks. But the tour is not only an absolute dream in terms of scenery. It also has all kinds of technical features: a long climb, crisp ramps, in between and at the end a challenging downhill trail with jagged changes of direction - perfect for our reader bike test.
TOUR DATA
- Rifugio Rosetta trail loop
- 52.7 km / 1225 m elevation gain / 2920 metres / 2 stages
- Trail share: 28 per cent
STAGE 1 Starting point: Canale d'Agordo. From the town's piazza, the route follows a slightly uphill gravel road for seven kilometres to Falcade. There you take the new lift and save yourself 900 metres in altitude on the asphalt ascent to Passo Valles. This pass is also descended on the other side on tarmac, but only as far as the entrance to Val Venegia, where the panoramic cinema of the tour begins.
A white ribbon of gravel winds its way up the valley at the foot of the Pale di San Martino. Bend after bend, always with a pleasant gradient - the imposing rock towers form a guard of honour. At the top of the Baita Segantini: is there enough time for a cappuccino, or would you prefer to quickly take the trail to Passo Rolle and continue down to San Martino di Castrozza? The last cable car leaves there at 16:15 and is the only way for bikers to reach the high plateau and the Rifugio Rosetta. At the top of the Altopiano, rub your eyes: a path carved into the rock leads over to the Rifugio, the view: sensational.
STAGE 2 From the hut, the rocky path winds downhill for the most part, but there are also three nasty ramps before the final downhill trail begins. The path now zigzags its way down a rocky arena to Malga di Prai. The loose scree requires maximum concentration, especially in the upper section. Then roll down the idyllic valley to Canale on gravel.
INFO Rifugio Rosetta, open 16.6.-24.9.18, overnight stay with half board 53 euros, tel. 0039/3495331742, www.rifugiorosetta.it
Falcade Le Buse cable car: 1 July - 2 September, ascent: 6 euros. Colverde-Rosetta cable car in San Martino di Castrozza: 16 June-23 September daily, later at weekends. Last ascent at 16:15! Ascent 15 euros, www.colverderosetta.it
Would you like to ride the tour? In the BIKE 9/2018 issue you will find the GPS data for the tour via the Pale di San Martino - and of course the result of our reader test.
BIKE 9/2018 is currently on sale. You can buy the print issue at newsagents until 3 September or order it in our online shop after the sales period. You can find the digital editions in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play). The most convenient way to read BIKE is as a subscriber.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
