You’ve got a gravel bike, you’re motivated right down to your toes and you finally want to give it the holiday it deserves? Then it’s time for a few honest tips – so the start of the season becomes a pleasure, not a punishment. And since South Tyrol, with its forest roads, vineyards and alpine tracks, is one of the most exciting gravel regions in the Alps, we’ll use it as our stage.

Start realistically: fitness before ambition
Let’s be honest: unless you spent the winter cross-country skiing or ski touring, your base fitness is probably not yet at its peak. That’s completely normal – and nothing to worry about. Start slowly, choose shorter rides and build up week by week. The hosts and experts at the South Tyrolean BikeHotels know the region inside out and will advise you individually: they pick you up exactly where you are – not where you wish you were.

Gravel is not MTB – and not road cycling either
A gravel bike is a category of its own. The demands in terms of distance, elevation gain and especially surface differ fundamentally from what you may know from mountain biking or road cycling. South Tyrol offers unique variety: from gentle gravel roads through the vineyards of the Adige Valley to challenging forest roads. Understanding this helps you ride more relaxed – and smarter. Your hosts know these differences precisely and recommend routes that perfectly match your bike and your level.

Your backside doesn’t lie
You don’t need to buy the most honest fitness indicator: it’s your saddle – or rather what’s sitting on it. If you’re still reasonably comfortable after two hours in the saddle, you’re ready for longer rides. Until then: ride shorter distances and enjoy them more intensely. More time for a relaxed aperitivo with South Tyrolean wine, a wellness session or simply doing nothing while gazing at the Dolomites – that’s part of the perfect gravel holiday too.

Cornering technique: getting to know gravel grip
Coming from mountain biking and now riding gravel? Then pay attention: gravel tyres offer significantly more grip than narrow road tyres, but nowhere near as much traction as wide MTB tyres – not least because you ride with higher tyre pressure. This becomes noticeable especially in corners and on loose surfaces – and South Tyrol has plenty of those, from fine pebbles to coarse gravel.
The most important rule: brake before the corner, not in the corner. Clean cornering technique is key in gravel riding. If you feel unsure, we recommend a riding skills training at the start of the season – many BikeHotels in South Tyrol offer this or arrange qualified guides. It refreshes your muscle memory, builds confidence and simply makes riding more fun.

When spring slows you down: frozen ground on forest roads
You keep pedalling – and still hardly make progress? Don’t worry, it’s not your fitness. In spring, the ground in shaded forest areas thaws very slowly – in South Tyrol especially on higher forest roads, for example in the Vinschgau, Puster Valley or the Merano region, where frost lingers long in the soil. What looks dry on the surface may still be frozen or muddy underneath. Making progress requires a lot of energy.

The consolation: your legs will become incredibly strong. And by the way, the hosts at the BikeHotels know exactly which forest roads can be problematic in spring – just ask beforehand and you’ll save yourself an unexpected hike-a-bike section.

Into the saddle – South Tyrol is waiting
Spring in South Tyrol is one of the most beautiful seasons for gravel riding: the air is fresh, the slopes are in bloom – and the roads and forest tracks are still almost yours alone. With the right expectations, a bit of patience at the beginning and a BikeHotel as your base that knows and supports you, the start of the season will soon become the highlight of the year.