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.
The weight of the bike you come with doesn’t matter if you will sleep in tents, sharing with others a roof of stars, or if you choose a more comfortable accommodation. What really matters is too meet, once a year, and to share projects and stories.
There will be many appointments on two wheels: workshops dedicated to mechanics, bikepacking, self-building, photography from the saddle and the recipes to do on the road. Then book presentations, movies, concerts and shows.
But also a fun competition dedicated to Brompton (the famous foldable English bicycles), to see who can fold it faster, a bikepolo tournament and a night ride with breakfast at dawn.
The large expo area will be devoted to the most famous brands, with their products dedicated to traveling, but also to small producers, bike craftsmen, associations and territorial realities who work in this field: 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, and then on Sunday morning, on stage in a colorful jam session, there will be the bike riders who will bring their musical instruments with them.
And then we cycle: 4 proposals. Two rides to explore the dirt roads and the less known areas in Veneto, of 100 and 150 kilometers, from Noale, Bassano, Marostica and Piazzola sul Brenta, and an easier one of 50 kilometers, with gastronomic stops, with typical products of the territory.
This years news is also the most extreme proposal, of 180km, going uphill to Cima Grappa: it will be a tribute to Mike Hall, the bicycle legend who unfortunately passed away recently.
Everything without having to worry about time and performance: 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.
But most of all, what matters is being there, with the eyes on the horizon and with the desire to share our passion: many groups are organizing small travel groups 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 bike-packing, the gravel bike and the adventure bike, as well as the one of small and big journeys.
