San Lucio - Monte Bar - Gola di Lago

Friday December 1, 2006.

I have the afternoon off to go biking. I have chosen to write the official end of the MTB season, although sunny days might still take me out there. This is the classic Val Colla Tour. 52 kms and close to 2000 meters of vertical.

12:00. View from the roof-top at the office. I will be there in about 3 hours

Off I go after a big slice of pizza and a power bar.

A couple of kilometers, and then I am away from the main traffic, ready for 5 hours of beautiful country

Far away on the foothills of Monte Tamaro (1800 m) is where I live. Beautiful bike rides there too.

I already have cold feet after riding the whole Val Colla in the shade and humidity. I'll soon be out of the narrow gorge.

I have reached the turn to Certara in 1h01. I am just 1 minute slower than usual although, unsure of my form, I am keeping my pedalling light. This is going to be a good day! Well above is the crest where I will be in a couple of hours.

Across the valley, the village of Signora. Above it is my favorite downhill in the evergreens.

I am already above Certara. The village of Signora is looking smaller and smaller.

Look straight up above my seat-post (almost touching the skyline): the mountain hut of Piandanazzo. I hope to reach there no later than 4pm. I'll have only 1 hour left to get home from there before night-time. Days are so short in December.

Hello to Aster at BaseBike. My bike mechanic and friend. The bike goes by itself today!

More shade, but I am sweating it this time. The going seems slow.

The mountain hut of San Lucio is just above my head. The challenge is to stay seated to the very top.

San Lucio. Swiss-Italian border. 1h59min from the office. I am just under 4 minutes off of my best time. Not bad for an end-of-the-season ride.

The fun starts now. I will be going up and down all the ridges across the mountain.

The bike knows the right direction.

The sign says Monte Bar (3 hours on foot). I should be there within 1 hour.

Can't miss the trail.

Got to stay ON the trail. I have already done one fall in that dark crevice on another ride.

I'm the only biker on the whole mountain.

Singletrail, to go.

A trail that keeps going up and up and away. I wish it were even twice as long. :-)

Who said I was lonely? I've got a buddy who does not leave me alone.

Alpe di Pietrarossa. I always love reaching this place. They're shutdown for the winter.

Going up and up. I am loving it.

I am now more than half-way.

What a reward to look back at the trails already passed.

I have reached and passed Piandanazzo. I am back in the shade and got to keep pedalling to stay warm.

15:58. I have reached the mountain hut of Monte Bar. Deserved that view, didn't I?

I am now putting long tights on. It's almost all downhill from here. And I have my last 10 minutes of sunshine.

Small and far away. The 4000+ meters of the Swiss Alps. The trained eye can see the Matterhorn.

Last minutes of sun. I have reached Motto della Croce. I will now plunge about 1000 meters to my home. And those of you who know the so-called "16%" street of Taverne will remember that I have to climb a small, narrow and steep street (16% in fact) before reaching my home.

I love Friday afternoons. Especially on December 1. I have had my Christmas gift today. Buon Natale anche a voi.

This classic loop above Lugano can also be extended by visiting another mountain hut (Capanna Pairolo) and then following the Bochetta San Bernardo to arrive at the San Lucio from the East. I'll be glad to guide you there while adding more photos to my collection. :-)

12:00. View from the roof-top at the office. I will be there in about 3 hours	Off I go after a big slice of pizza and a power bar.	A couple of kilometers, and then I am away from the main traffic, ready for 5 hours of beautiful country	Far away on the foothills of Monte Tamaro (1800 m) is where I live. Beautiful bike rides there too.	I already have cold feet after riding the whole Val Colla in the shade and humidity. I'll soon be out of the narrow gorge.
I have reached the turn to Certara in 1h01. I am just 1 minute slower than usual although, unsure of my form, I am keeping my pedalling light. This is going to be a good day! Well above is the crest where I will be in a couple of hours.	Across the valley, the village of Signora. Above it is my favorite downhill in the evergreens.	I am already above Certara. The village of Signora is looking smaller and smaller.	Look straight up above my seat-post (almost touching the skyline): the mountain hut of Piandanazzo. I hope to reach there no later than 4pm. I'll have only 1 hour left to get home from there before night-time. Days are so short in December.	Hello to Aster at BaseBike. My bike mechanic and friend. The bike goes by itself today!
More shade, but I am sweating it this time. The going seems slow.	The mountain hut of San Lucio is just above my head. The challenge is to stay seated to the very top.	San Lucio. Swiss-Italian border. 1h59min from the office. I am just under 4 minutes off of my best time. Not bad for an end-of-the-season ride.	The fun starts now. I will be going up and down all the ridges across the mountain.	The bike knows the right direction.
The sign says Monte Bar (3 hours on foot). I should be there within 1 hour.	Can't miss the trail.	Got to stay ON the trail. I have already done one fall in that dark crevice on another ride.	I'm the only biker on the whole mountain.	Singletrail, to go.
A trail that keeps going up and up and away. I wish it were even twice as long. :-)	Who said I was lonely? I've got a buddy who does not leave me alone.	Alpe di Pietrarossa. I always love reaching this place. They're shutdown for the winter.	Going up and up. I am loving it.	I am now more than half-way.
What a reward to look back at the trails already passed.	I have reached and passed Piandanazzo. I am back in the shade and got to keep pedalling to stay warm.
15:58. I have reached the mountain hut of Monte Bar. Deserved that view, didn't I?	I am now putting long tights on. It's almost all downhill from here. And I have my last 10 minutes of sunshine.	Small and far away. The 4000+ meters of the Swiss Alps. The trained eye can see the Matterhorn.	Last minutes of sun. I have reached Motto della Croce. I will now plunge about 1000 meters to my home. And those of you who know the so-called "16%" street of Taverne will remember that I have to climb a small, narrow and steep street (16% in fact) before reaching my home.	I love Friday afternoons. Especially on December 1. I have had my Christmas gift today. Buon Natale anche a voi.