What to Pack for a Mountain Bike Tour Around Lake Garda

Every week someone emails me asking what to bring. Here's the honest list — not a generic gear guide, but what I actually tell guests to pack for riding around Riva del Garda.

The non-negotiables

• Helmet — mandatory always. If you bring your own bike, bring your own helmet. If you rent from the local shop, a helmet is available for €4.
• Cycling gloves — blister prevention and crash protection. Full-finger gloves for anything technical.
• Hydration — minimum 1.5 L for half-day tours, 2.5 L for full-day. The climbs are real and the sun is hot.
• Sunglasses — non-negotiable at altitude. UV is strong above 1000 m and branches come at your face on singletrack.
• Small backpack — 6–12 L is perfect. You need space for layers, water, snacks, and a phone.
• Phone + charged battery — for emergencies and route photos. Signal is spotty on high routes but present on most summits.

Clothing I recommend

• Padded cycling shorts — 3–5 hours in the saddle without padding is not fun. Trust me.
• Short-sleeve jersey + lightweight windbreaker — mornings at 800 m can be 10°C even in July. Packable jacket is your best friend.
• Long cycling pants or knee pads — for technical descents on San Giovanni, Carone, or Tremalzo. Knee protection beats skin grafts.
• Sturdy shoes with flat or clipless pedals — if you rent, specify your pedal preference in advance. Most shops default to flats.

What you don't need

• Heavy rain gear — if it's raining hard, we cancel. A packable windbreaker handles light drizzle.
• Energy gels for a 3-hour tour — a banana and a cereal bar are plenty. Save the race nutrition for racing.
• Your own GPS — I know these trails. That's what you hired me for.

What's provided

When you book a guided tour, I bring a full first-aid kit, a bike multi-tool, spare tubes, a pump, and a charged power bank. You don't need to carry any of that.

One last thing

Bring a sense of humour. And sunscreen. The Italian alpine sun is sneaky — you won't feel it burning at 1500 m until it's too late. WhatsApp me if you're unsure: +39 388 571 8535.