There are two kinds of rider: those who enjoy the scenery, and those who prefer staring at their stems. If I’ve taken the trouble to fly to a stunning part of the world, I want to be looking around, not glaring at my Garmin. Thankfully, at the Sellaronda Bike Day in in the Dolomites in Northern Italy, there’s no temptation to fixate on numbers – because the normal metrics of bike riding don’t apply.
Twice a year, cyclists get the chance to ride arguably the most beautiful route in the world on traffic-free roads. There are no medals awarded at the end. There’s not even a finish line. Speed, distance and suffering count for nothing. Instead, it’s all about smiles, sights and pleasure – as well as beer, bacon sandwiches and apple strudel.
