Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Ride to go far, to look around you, to have a story to tell. This is the philosophy that brings together BAM!’s bike travelers, the European meeting of bike travelers, and the third edition is back at the evocative Rocca di Noale, Venice, from the 19th to the 21st of May.
BAM! includes workshops dedicated to mechanics, bikepacking, self-building, photography from the saddle, and recipes from the road. Then book presentations, movies, concerts and shows. There’s also a fun competition dedicated to Brompton (the famous foldable English bicycles), to see who can fold it fastest. And a bike-polo tournament as well as a night ride with breakfast at dawn.
The large expo area will be devoted to famous brands, with their products dedicated to traveling, as well as small producers, bike craftsmen, and associations who work in this field. It’s a chance to see what’s new and meet small but wonderful companies.
There is also space for music, both on Friday and Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, the stage will be open to a colorful jam session for bike riders who bring their musical instruments.
There are four group rides. Two to explore the dirt roads and the less known areas in Veneto (100 and 150 kilometers) from Noale, Bassano, Marostica and Piazzola sul Brenta, and an easier 50 kilometer= ride, with gastronomic stops and typical products of the territory. This year’s new 180km rig will be the most demanding going uphill to Cima Grappa as a tribute to Mike Hall, a bicycle legend who unfortunately passed away recently.
Not worry about time and performance. Each ride is a group ride and the bike is a passion, not a tool to put yourself to the test. It’s rather a way to get to know yourself, and to meet others like us.
At night, after the concerts, all off to sleep in the camp inside Noale Castle, which has an the added charm of being a former cemetery! Or try the Pop Up Hotel, set up along the moat backing onto the castle walls: lots of shiny white tents, fully furnished with all the comfort of a hotel room, ideal to enjoy some “wow-factor” relaxation after an intense day of sport.
What matters most of all is being there, with the eyes on the horizon and with the desire to share our passion. Many groups are organizing travel sharing from all over Italy and Slovenia. BAM! Is the first event in Italy and one of the few in Europe which aims to intercept fast-growing phenomena such as bikepacking, the gravel bike and the adventure bike, as well journeys both large and small.
