6AA2408 - Riding Academy Alps
The first day starts with perfect theory weather: pouring rain. We start with the basics of riding physics, discuss when and how to use the front or rear brake, what cornering styles there are and - most importantly - what the perfect line for road traffic looks like. Just in time for lunchtime, the sky clears abruptly, as if Peter had known that we would soon be heading to the practice area. Once there, the asphalt has already dried out and we can train in the sunshine with maximum grip. The whole thing is accompanied by the magnificent mountain panorama of Bolzano. We practise fast turns, "pushing" the bike and braking in curves - all these exercises are designed to improve us not only in the coming days, but for our entire motorcycling career. Finally, we have a bit of fun on the closed-off circuit. A great opportunity to test our limits without being exposed to the typical dangers of road traffic. An exhausting but instructive first day - we are excited to see what it has brought us. We'll see tomorrow!
The second day of riding began with a hearty breakfast and sunshine. We first drove along quiet, narrow roads through the Eisack Valley and then on into the Vilnöss Valley. During a coffee stop, we enjoyed the view of the mountains where Reinhold Messner grew up. Narrow roads, sometimes fast bends, sometimes hairpin bends - just the right terrain to practise yesterday's exercises. We continued over the Valparola and Giau Passes. Of course, a gelato was a must before heading back over the Gardena Pass. The Edelweiss Riding Academy taught us the basics of riding technique, but we had the carabinieri for the traffic rules. One of our roders gratefully accepted this service and got a little lesson. The most important tip from the friendly policemen: "Watch out for other cars belonging to the carabinieri!" An instructive day with great views and fantastic weather.
Today we once again explored the varied landscape around Bolzano. Thanks to the division into two groups, each led by Stefan and Christian, we were able to respond optimally to the individual needs and learning progress of our riders. The route initially took us along hidden roads with little traffic, which nevertheless offered plenty of riding fun and were ideal for targeted technique training. In the morning, we then tackled the Mendel Pass. The wide bends offered ideal conditions for further refining lean angles and cornering lines. We then reached the Penegal, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch with a breathtaking view of Bolzano and the Dolomites. Freshly refreshed, we continued on to Passo Lavazè in the afternoon. The winding sections through forests and alpine meadows offered perfect conditions to put what we had learned into practice and further improve our riding technique. Another challenging day, on which we took in lots of great impressions of nature on the one hand and constantly worked on our bike control on the other. That's why we agreed to take a slightly more direct route back to the hotel to avoid potential rain showers, relax and discuss what we had learned today over a beer.