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ALESSANDRO SALVAGGIO

A JOURNEY OF ENDURANCE AND BEAUTY,
with Alessandro Salvaggio

I like to describe myself as an explorer driven by curiosity

Alessandro Salvaggio is not an ordinary cyclist.
He is a certified cycling guide and a professional sports photographer with experience in creative design.

Life has taken him to places he never imagined when he was a child. He lived abroad for 10 years, spending time in England, the Netherlands, and Argentina, always returning to Italy, where he is originally from. He now resides in Tuscany, where he founded the company Asimismo.

With a deeply rooted passion for exploration and a strong connection to nature, he has embarked on countless bikepacking trips across Europe. However, his recent gravel adventure in the Dolomites was one of his most remarkable journeys, combining stunning landscapes with the challenge of navigating the rugged and unpredictable terrain of these majestic mountains.

The Dolomites are a unique backdrop for adventure, with their dramatic cliffs, lush valleys, and winding mountain passes. For cyclists like Alessandro, this area represents both a playground and a challenge.

“The journey began just outside Bolzano. Logistically speaking, it is nice to be able to start from a big city where you have all the shops and you can find everything you possibly need at the last minute before embarking on such a trip. We needed to be closer to civilization, at least at that point.”

For this trip, Alessandro chose the BH GravelX R, a bike designed to excel in the demanding conditions of gravel riding, providing him with the speed, stability and the reliability he needed to tackle this route.

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The first leg of his journey took him up Selva di Val Gardena.Unlike the traditional road cyclists who tackle these passes on asphalt, Alessandro veered off onto gravel trails, allowing for a deeper connection with nature and the mountains.

The off-road sections tested my technical skills and bike’s capabilities

"Especially during the first day, when we did a lot of climbing with over 2000m of vertical gained in less than 60 km.”

Alessandro describes his adventure as epic and emphasizes the importance of choosing the right bike for the entire journey: “It was breathtaking to get so close to the peak of those mountains. Every gravel section had its challenges. Sometimes there were loose rocks, or forest trails with sudden elevation changes, and some paths required precision and control."

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The bike handled these challenges with ease, providing me with a stable and responsive ride even on the most difficult sections

The 20% gradients, along with the heavily loaded bike and the harsh weather, didn’t stop Alessandro from completing his planned route each day and fully enjoying his adventure in the Dolomites: “When you ride in places like the Dolomites you always have to keep an eye on the weather and being able to read the map in order to find an alternative route or short cut in case things don’t go as planned or a sudden storm arrives."

Once again, I was surprised how closer you can get to the nature and how all of sudden you can discover some hidden spots with fantastic views just with your bike

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“During this trip I had the confirmation that mountains often offer a very dramatic weather with cloudy stormy sky or fog coming up from the valleys that can augment a lot the perception of the place where you are.”

For Alessandro Salvaggio, one of the most important features of gravel bikes is their ability to use wide tires, which is essential for gravel rides in the Dolomites. “The wider tires provided me with extra traction on steep, loose climbs and confidence during technical descents, also in moment where a sudden sandy patch is on our way.”

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When planning his bikepacking trip, Alessandro knew that carrying enough supplies was essential. The GravelX R, his bike of choice, offers clever storage options, including room for multiple water bottles and compatibility with bikepacking bags.

Thanks to its design, Alessandro was able to attach several bags to his bike: a frame bag, a seat bag, a large one between the handlebars, another on the stem, and two more on the fork. He managed all of this without sacrificing the bike’s balance or performance, allowing him to fully enjoy his adventure.

GRAVELX R

“During my bikepacking trips, especially on those I am taking a client of a guided tour, I always make sure to always carry also all the repairing essentials plus the first aid kit. A multitool, a good pump, plugs if you ride tubeless or spare inner tubes, an extra chain link and a chain tool are always useful to have with. And whenever the bikepacking destination is a bit remote I always opt for an extra level of safety. I would bring an extra pair of cleats, spare stem bolts, surely some spare braking pads and ultimately some purification water tablet in case I have to refill my bidons from a river. "

In summary, a bikepacking trip in the Dolomites is both a physical challenge and an unforgettable experience of immersion in nature.

And you, would you take on this adventure?