Trail Book ➤ Rediscovering the original spirit of mountain biking along the Via del Sale
When I first took up mountain biking, I didn’t do it alone. I never saw it as a solitary sport.
For me, it has always been a way of sharing that sense of freedom you feel while riding down a ridge. The bike becomes a means of expressing that feeling, and somehow it only becomes truly real when someone else is there with you—someone who is probably experiencing exactly the same thing. It is about the energy created in that moment. An energy you can genuinely feel. That is why I decided to become a professional mountain bike guide.
Introducing people to unfamiliar places and sharing the joy of discovery with them—the thrill of sunlight filtering through the trees, or the wonder of seeing nature reveal a different face around every corner—is what continues to make me love my job, day after day.
What Technology Cannot Replace
Over the years, mountain biking has evolved enormously, as it naturally should.
The naive, pioneering spirit of the early days has gradually given way to greater rationality and efficiency. Technology has advanced to the point where, looking back at a mountain bike from the 1990s, you wonder how we ever managed to ride through the woods on those machines. And yet, the essence was already there.
Equipment certainly matters, but passion and the desire to give it a try matter far more. That, in my opinion, is the heart of it: you cannot buy that kind of energy. It does not simply evolve with technology, nor can it be switched on at will.
Learning to Ride, Learning to Smile
That is why, whenever I have some free time, I enjoy riding with beginners—people who are discovering the sport and starting from scratch. I like being part of their introduction to mountain biking. Not because I want to influence them—that would not be right—but because I want to show them my own way of seeing it.
There are no shortcuts to becoming a good rider: someone who has developed solid technique and understands how to look after their own bike. It is not about how many videos or tutorials you watch, or how much time you spend at your local bike shop. I would much rather ride with an inexperienced rider who is willing to challenge themselves and understands that progress takes time. Cycling demands patience and dedication.
I have ridden with self-proclaimed experts many times, only to reach the end of the day feeling that the real purpose had somehow been forgotten: simply smiling. For me, it is about finding happiness in a day spent outdoors with good people who respect one another’s pace. The true goal is sharing the journey, not focusing solely on performance or knowing exactly how many screws are hidden inside the latest electronic derailleur.
It is a little like picking up a ball and deciding to play football in a car park, using jackets as goalposts. That feeling is unbeatable—and who cares whether you are wearing the latest high-tech shoes?
I may sound like an old man when I say this, but it is the simplest thing I can tell young riders today: get whatever bike you can afford and just go.The wonder is out there, whether you are riding an old clunker or the latest carbon-fibre machine.
Beyond the Labels
Liguria is not naturally built for beginners. Those who are just starting out—especially adults—often seem to do so almost in secret. The way mountain biking is divided into increasingly narrow categories does not help. There are enduro riders, e-bikers, downhillers, freeriders and countless other labels. People rarely say simply, “I ride mountain bikes” anymore. They feel the need to define exactly which discipline they belong to.
It is understandable, but it can also be limiting.
Via del Sale Mountain Biking: A Road for Everyone
And yet, there is a route that works differently. With a little ingenuity, it allows us to bring the idea of sharing back to the centre of the ride. It is the Via del Sale—the Salt Road—which runs from Limone Piemonte towards the Ligurian coast, whether the final destination is Sanremo, Bordighera or Ventimiglia.
It is a route we probably never would have chosen for ourselves. After all, working in this world, we had placed ourselves into categories too. We were freeriders, enduro guides—the kind of hardcore riders who supposedly eat rocks for breakfast. The Via del Sale seemed like a route for novices.
It turns out we were wrong.
This itinerary allows everyone to ride together, with the bike becoming simply a means of travelling through the landscape—just as I described at the beginning. That is where the magic lies: being together again, each of us bringing our own background and level of experience, united by the same desire to explore and enjoy a carefree day outdoors.
We need more routes like the Via del Sale. Many more.
And when you begin looking for them, you realise they already exist. Speaking as a guide, this journey made me reflect on the approach I should take when scouting a new tour or searching for a destination to explore.
Sharing that moment—at least for me—is the key to building a tour.
A Place Where You Can Truly Breathe
The Via del Sale is an accessible route. It is undoubtedly physically demanding, but it is not as extreme as many other trails in this part of the Alps.
It is a place where you can truly breathe.
The bicycle gradually fades into the background among majestic mountains that rise so close to the sea that the very idea of distance begins to shift. The route feels like a journey through time, winding between karst basins and limestone peaks—a geological spaceship suspended between Liguria, Piedmont and the Côte d’Azur. Places like this remind me how important it is to slow down and look around.
It is a small piece of mountain biking magic: every speed offers a different sensation, and each one can be equally unique and rewarding. The Via del Sale may not have been the kind of route that usually appeared on my radar, but one thing is certain: it is the perfect setting for everyone to feel part of the same group.
From there, new opportunities emerge—to grow, to explore and to experience this magnificent sport in a different way.
The Spirit Is Still Alive
The essence of mountain biking—the same essence that captivated me when I first discovered it—is still alive after all these years, thanks in part to journeys like this one.It is the spirit of a time when the journey itself was the true destination and sharing it was what gave it meaning.
That spirit has never left me.
Knowing that even today a newcomer can be struck by the same feeling, and begin to shape their own relationship with mountain biking beyond performance or technical knowledge, still fascinates me.It opens up new horizons and reminds me of something I have always believed: mountain biking is not a sport for solo riders.
At least, not for me.
The trails are simply the excuse. The real journey is everything in between.
Continue the journey