This land rich in nature and culture, a Unesco site, is perfect for an escape from the metropolitan chaos. In the saddle of an e-bike, a short tour of the Dolomites takes us to discover farm stays, trails, spas and gourmet stops.
There is something magical about discovering the mountains. The crisp air. The silence. And that sense of contact with nature that engages the senses and pulls you away from everyday life, especially for those escaping the city. For some time now, there has been an alternative way to discover the Dolomites, perhaps the most majestic and fascinating of our mountains, a Unesco natural heritage site. A way that complements classic trekking. Or "traditional" mountain biking. We are talking about e-bikes, pedal-assisted bicycles, the new frontier of sustainable mobility and fun. In Val di Fassa, more and more people are choosing them. The reasons? They are suitable for everyone, even the least fit. They offer all the advantages of a traditional bike, but with less effort.
Sceptical? We went to find out. With one caveat: no specific training, average fitness, plenty of curiosity. Just plenty of curiosity and a desire to explore a form of mobility that for many is becoming a way of life — the "democratic" cycling holiday, which sees grandparents and grandchildren, fathers and sons returning to the saddle without having to worry about competition, performance, or indeed age. Free to enjoy the trail that leads to a mountain farm stay. Free, too, to "tackle" routes that without e-bike technology would have remained the preserve of a few.
And so here we are, amid the wonders of the Dolomites, in that Val di Fassa which, surrounded by peaks the world envies us for — such as the Sella, the Sassolungo, the Marmolada — has found in "pedal assistance" a new means of exploration. We are here to discover whether, truly, with no training whatsoever, we can wind our way through valleys and trails without fear of not making it. Where to go? There is no shortage of options: 2,240 kilometres of trails are included in the Dolomiti Panorama Trek, all accessible by bike and e-bike. From the Sellaronda (the summer version of the wonderful winter circuit done on skis), to the Pista ciclabile delle Dolomiti, within everyone's reach even without "a little help" thanks to the Bike Express Fassa e Fiemme service, which uses a shuttle fitted with a bike trailer to serve the route with several runs a day.
And so we set off. The goal? To visit farm stays, discover a Val di Fassa in total relaxation, without rushing, with a few gourmet stops, a few hours of wellness at the terme Dolomiti. A weekend balanced between good food, sport, relaxation, immersed in nature. A trip that is easy to plan thanks to the Bike Hotel Guide portal, where it is possible to plan a tailor-made journey for those who choose the e-bike, with access to accommodation, service and maintenance centres, battery charging stations and numerous hire points. But also experienced guides who help plan the right itinerary; even if the beauty of the e-bike is precisely discovering that thanks to pedal assistance, anyone — absolutely anyone — can tackle trails that until recently were the preserve of expert bikers.
In the saddle of our e-bikes, you immediately feel like seasoned cycle tourers. A few tips from the guides don't go amiss either: how to adjust the saddle, how to make the most of the four levels of electric assistance offered by the Bosch eBike system (the last one, Turbo, is truly an experience to try — like having someone push you from behind, letting you tackle even the steepest incline without effort). For those who are not accustomed to mountain biking and trails, you also need to learn how to handle descents, which are trickier than you might think. And if the battery runs out? Ours lasted us an entire day, but should it happen, in many locations in Val di Fassa it is possible to recharge your e-bike free of charge, including thanks to the Bosch Experience power station network.
Pera di Fassa, Soraga, Vigo di Fassa. Our quiet journey in the shadow of the Dolomites was a unique experience. Because of the places, of course. But above all because of that new way of travelling — backpack on your shoulders and a light heart, with just enough exertion to work up an appetite, with the ability to modulate the intensity of the effort, never letting fatigue take the edge off the pleasure of discovery. That is the magic of the e-bike: discovery without sacrifice, without breathlessness. And never mind performance and competitiveness; for those who love that sort of thing, Val di Fassa has plenty to offer: the Sellaronda Bike Day, scheduled for 23 June, for instance. Or the Sellaronda Hero – Südtirol Dolomites (18 June), the Superenduro Mtb (24 June) or the Maratona des Dolomites (1 July). Anyone who feels up to it is welcome to take the plunge — the Dolomites can be very, very tough. Not for us, though. We chose relaxation, the passionate account of a beekeeper, a stop in a barn where every animal has a name, space to live and fresh air to breathe. Not for us, who chose to alternate pedalling with indulgent snacks, steep trails with green valleys. And without an e-bike, believe us, the experience would not have been the same…