Torino - Nice Rally

^ partly because the weather isn't more reliable in July-August, Late Aug into early Sept is more stable (or was in the past). Common to get afternoon thundercloud build up in July. August is holiday time, busier all round. The trails and roads are way quieter in Sept, less pressure on refuge / B+B spaces. Partly just because I like that time of year and it makes kit selection more interesting, it challenges the bivi types.
And it's a free event - why make it more popular by choosing a time that's in the main holiday season, the numbers the event can have w/o being unsustainable or creating problems I'm not prepared to deal with is fewer than the demand.
Slightly shorter days are no problem - most riders aren't putting in 12hr+ days on this sort of terrain, they're in a restaurant or bar most evenings.

Nice! All good reasons! Again, I wasn't criticizing, just pure interest.

Also, how many years/holidays/scouting trips did it take you to patch something like this together?

Are you working on something else?

Sure, no criticism read, it's a q that does come up. June or July seems more normal but Sept works. Works out well with Eurobike also. Took a few trips through the area on road and MTBs over the the years and a recce of the route to get to the route used for 1st event.
Nothing else in mind, no time!

Anyone else get a place?
(I did, am excited though also now in need of a new bike. Better sell some stuff).

I fly into Nice on the 30th June for around 3 weeks of cycling I was planning on doing the tnr in reverse, is this advisable? Is it just a case of flipping an original gpx file or are some alterations needed? I need to be in Cesenatico (an hour east of Bologna) by the 19th July, so will be looking for some other routes to ride in the region, any advice?

No reason why not, the climb out of Nice will be tough but not as tough as the first climb going south. The Finestre descent would be a highlight. I wouldn't advise climbing the Strada Cannoni section but alternative section there, the death road up to Elva, is a nice road climb.

If you're looking for other routes round that way, there's a lot of good cycling (on and offroad) in the Valle Argentina to the East of some of the TNR route. Have just spent a week there fitting in some rides around a family holiday and would really liked to have done more. Suppose it depends a bit on whether you're cycling the whole way to Bologna after or using public transport as well.

Agreed. Probably going down on Colombardo is also as tricky, depending on the setup. Agnello from the French side is much tougher/longer

Agnel/Agnello south side ... of all the roads I've ridden down that have given me the fear of ever climbing back up that way, that's probably top of the list.

That's because it's scary on the way down as well, especially the sudden crosswind gusts when not expected.

Yeah, just felt pretty steep for a while when descending. And it's a long one too. But we're risking spoiling inkleined's fun here!
The other one I had the fear of was the N side of the Glandon and damn, last summer I found out I was right.

@jameso @giofox @ad441
Thanks for the info guys. I'm trying to decide a route at the mo. Thinking of going north at Susa into Parc National de la Vanoise and then into Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso. But also got my heart set on Bormio - Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo and co which I could connect via train. Been doing some research on cycling-challenge.com and the routes look incredible, but trying to put them together to create a route is a challenge!

north at Susa into Parc National de la Vanoise and then into Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso

Good call!

I'd personally go through Switzerland at that point and tackle passes like the St. Gotthard, Furka, Nufenen, onto Albula, Fluela and then eventually Umbrail, Stelvio.. Ask @skinny how to combine them best, he's a resident there!

You'll end up with legs of steel!

Swiss passes are stunning - Furka, Gotthard and Sustenpass, also the Klausenpass. Worst Saturday motorbike and supercar traffic I've ever experience though, annoying af- that and the cost of everything becomes a negative compared to France and Italy.

I am considering this but I want to do this as cheaply as possible. I have never done 'camping' as such, what would I need to borrow? I have some bikepacking bags and most likely will do on the MTB.

what would be an advice to a n00b?

Don't forget your dangle mug

Also haven't we already been through "what amey needs to go camping" elsewhere?

Sorry for the thread hijack as it's not that related, but anyone know if the unpaved descent from the Col du Nivolet is ridable without an MTB (or even ridable at all)?

yeah but I need a list :P

Why do you need to camp? There's plenty of hotels to suit all budgets on most of the route. You might need a bit of planning ahead and break the route down into day long chunks based on where you think you can stay that night, but that's easy to do.

Dusk till dawn on the mountain innit.

Sleeping mat, sleeping bag, bivvy bag, small tarp is nice if it rains

You dont need to camp, loads of accomodation on the route, and late in the season so quiet and easy to just turn up. Hotels miss the best part though which is there are loads of stunning locations to camp. Depending on how adventurous feel these can be high alpine passes and abandoned forts or quiet valley fields and woodland. I only went into a hotel the one day it rained.

Dont need a stove. Plenty of places to find food and morning coffee. Just need a sleep mat, warm sleeping bag, and tarp. Bikepacking bags silly cheap at PlanetX now. Chunky tyres recommended such as 40mm. Warm clothes for evening. Otherwise keep it simple and dont overthink it.

Its a very inclusive event. Everyone is helpful and friendly.

Planning on riding the route early next summer. Anyone know what the Italian equivalent of OS maps are? I want to get paper maps for the less-road parts of the route to give me some options if something is blocked for some reason.

That would be the Italian Geographic Military Institute I'd say: https://www.igmi.org/en/Home?set_language=en and here is where you can browse the maps https://www.igmi.org/en/geoprodotti#b_start=0

Good luck navigating the website.

Personally I would use maps.me app, never let me down,

It's mostly in case my phone dies, gets lost etc I quite like to have a backup. I'd expect between the garmin track and the stuff on my phone I'd never need it but I'd rather have it and not need it than die, freezing 1km from a roaring fire :)