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, the helmet is included in the rental price and they are required to give you one.
• **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.