The BIKE 99 A.S.D. proposes, for this occasion, three different day tours :

Tour 1 : Stiffe Cave - Fossa Necropolis - Monticchio

Difficulty: Easy
14.00 we start from L'Aquila by bus directed to the Stiffe village
14.45 Visit to Grotte Cave (http://www.grottestiffe.it/ in Italian)
16.00 Mountain bike allocation
16.30 Visit to the Sant'Eusanio Forconese village
17.15 Visit to Fossa Necropolis
19.00 Arrival to the Monticchio village
Total kilometers: 16 km

Costs: E. 40,00 all included (bus transfer, mountain bike rent, cave and museum visit).

Minimum number of attendees: 6 and multiple of 6

 

Description: Virtual tour through time by bike: from the geology of Stiffe Caves to the ancient Italic populations of Fossa Necropolis. The route is mainly on cycle-lanes along the Aterno stream surrounded by unique landscapes.

Tour 2 : Camarda - Assergi - San Pietro della Jenca - Camarda

Difficulty: Medium / Hard
14.00 we start from L'Aquila by bus directed to the Camarda village
14.30 Mountain bike allocation
15.00 we start biking
15.30 Museum visit
17.00 "amare" cave visit
18.00 San Pietro della Jenca village visit
19.00 Arrival to the Camarda village
19.20 Transfer to L'Aquila
Total kilometers: 17.5 km

This route winds up the valley called Vasto, at the foot of Gran Sasso, along the line linkingMonte Pizzo Cefalone to Pizzo di Camardat hrough Cresta delle Malecoste. The view of this stately range will always be with you, on the right, during the tour. On the left, it is possible to feel the presence of the stream called Raiale which can be seen on your way back. Vasto valley is rich in caves of various sizes. One of them is of great interest both geological and anthropological: Grotta Amare, 960 meters above sea level. At the end you arrive to S. Pietro della Jenca1150 meters above sea level, a rural conglomeration inhabited, in the past, by shepherds from Camarda, and now reappraised according to the new naturalistic and spiritual tendencies fostered by Pope Giovanni Paolo II's frequent visits.

Distance: 13,1 km
Difference in altitude: 435 m
Length: 1.50 h
Roadbed: dirt 93% - asphalt 6% - grass 1%
Cycling percentage: 99%
Recommended period: May - November
Difficulty: medium-hard
Cartography: IGM (1:25000), quadrante 140-III SW; Gran Sasso (1:25000) CAI section L'Aquila
Starting point: Square S.Maria Assunta, Assergi (AQ), 880 meters above sea level

Technical Information: the route is circular and medium-hard in difficulty. Dirt paths make up most of the track which is good for cycling, except for a stretch of a technical downhill slope towards the path leading to the village of Assergi.

Costs E. 30,00 all included (bus transfer, mountain bike rent, cave and museum visit).

Minimum number of attendees: 6 and multiple of 6

 

Description: Thematic Tour: naturalistic, historical, archaeological. Visit of typical villages of Parco del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga with their rural heritage. Visit of the Museum and caves showing traces of Paleolith, Iron Age and Bronze Age.

 

Tour 3 : Santo Spirito Monastery - Ocre Castle

Difficulty: Hard
15.00 we start from L'Aquila by bus directed to the S.Spirito Monastery
15.30 Mountain bike allocation
16.00 We start biking
17.00 Visit to the "doline carsiche"
17.45 Visit to the Ocre castle
18.30 Arrival to the Santo Spirito monastery
18.45 Visit to the Santo Spirito monastery
Total kilometers: 11 km

This cycling tour is important under an environmental-cultural point of view. The route is circular and starts from the village of Monticchio, reaching the dolina calledFossa Raganesca: which is the typical Karst formation, very regular and well preserved. The route goes on to the Ocre Castle, with its impressive ruins rising on the edge of the big dolina of Monte Circoloforming an amphitheatre over the village ofFossa. Following few kilometres of technical downhill the route reaches Santo Spirito Monastery. Moreover, the medieval village of Fossa is worth visiting.

Tour Theme: nature, history, religion,landscape
Distance: 14,10 km
Difference in altitude: 649 m
Length: 1:30 h
Roadbed: dirt 50,4 % - asphalt 28,3 % - grass 21,3 %
Cycling percentage: 100%
Recommended period: May - November
Difficulty: hard
Cartography: IGM (1:25000), quadrante146-IV NO. CAI Carta dei Sentieri Gran Sasso D'Italia, 1:25000;
Starting point: Monticchio (AQ), 566 meters above sea leve

Technical Information: the route winds through paths and cartways, with very steep uphill and downhill, ideal for cyclists athletically and technically prepared. With appropriate changes, the
 route ca be made easier.

Costs E. 30,00 all included (bus transfer, mountain bike rent, cave and museum visit).

Minimum number of attendees: 6 and multiple of 6

 

Tour 4 : CAMPO IMPERATORE

Difficulty: Easy
14.00 we start from L'Aquila by bus directed to Fonte Vetica - Altopiano del Gran Sasso (AQ)
15.00 Mountain bike allocation
15.20 We start biking
16.00 Visit to the "S.Egidio" ruins
17:00 Arrival

This route winds up the wide tableland called Campo Imperatore. This tableland is 27 km wide and reaches an height of 1800 m, it is surrounded by the highest peaks of the mountain range. It shows the traces of the glacial epoch, with suggestive morainic debris and the typical Karst environment.

Tour Theme: nature, landscape
Distance: 14,10 km
Difference in altitude: 200 m
Length: 1:30 h
Roadbed: dirt 40,1 % - asphalt 59,9%
Cycling percentage: 100%
Recommended period: May - November
Difficulty: easy
Cartography: IGM 140 III, IGM 140 III NE. Cartografia Gran Sasso Cai sezione dell'Aquila (1:50000).
Starting point: Campo Imperatore(AQ), ss 17 bis, fork for Fonte Vetecaand superior cableway station 1669 meters above sea level

Technical Information: the route is circular, with slight effort on the first part, and it is characterized by ups and downs going through the morainic debris of mount Prena and Brancastello.

Some changing can be made in order to have the suggestive view of Corno Grande and reach Vado di Cornosaddle. A steep uphill slope reaches S. Egidio ruins. The way back is asphalt. This tour is possible when the weather is fine.

Costs E. 30,00 all included (bus transfer, mountain bike rent, cave and museum visit).

Minimum number of attendees: 6 and multiple of 6

 

Tour 5: TRE LAGHETTI" TOUR (THREE TARNS TOUR)

Difficulty: Easy-Medium
14.00 we start from L'Aquila by bus directed to Fossa di Paganica - Altopiano del Gran Sasso (AQ)
15.00 Mountain bike allocation
15.20 We start biking
17:00 Arrival

Gran Sasso is the highest and most important mountain of the Apennines. Its great outdoors and its atmosphere of solitude have always attracted hermits and contemplative spirits: many traces of their presence can be found in the area. The track is chosen in order to bring you in contact with this reality: cycling through wide and solitary grassland it is easy to come across remains of old churches and monasteries. The route is called "Tre Laghetti Tour" (Three Tarns Tour):  the tarns are three small natural catchment basins which, in summertime, are watering places for herds and animals.

Distance: 15 km
Difference in altitude: 300 m
Length: 2.30 ore
Roadbed: asphalt 50% - dirt 50%
Cycling percentage: 90%
Recommended period:May - November
Difficulty: easy-medium
Cartography: IGM 140 SE (S.Stefano di Sessanio), Gran Sasso 1:50000 - CAI section L'Aquila
Starting point: Fossa di Paganica (1750 m)

Technical Information:the route is medium-easy in difficulty. Because of grassy and uneven paths, some difficulties can be encountered near the tarn of "Passaneta" and the pass overlooked by the ruins of "S.Maria del Monte di Paganica".

Should you like to lengthen the tour, it is possible to connect this route withroute 5 ("Campo Imperatore" ring) which is considered one of the widest and most suggestive Italian upland

Costs E. 30,00 all included (bus transfer, mountain bike rent, cave and museum visit).

Minimum number of attendees: 6 and multiple of 6

 

Tour 6 : CORNINO AND RASCINO LAKES 

Difficulty: Medium-Hard
15.00 we start from L'Aquila by bus directed to Sella di Corno (AQ)
15.30 Mountain bike allocation
15.50 We start biking
18.00 Arrival

This cycling tour reaches the two Karst tablelands of Cornino andRascino: the typical sinkholes can be noted in both valleys. The route is circular and starts from the village of Sella di Corno, runs through the uphill road leading to the saddle under Monte Torrecane, with a view of Cornino Lake, in front ofMonte Nuria. A grassy cartway runs around thetableland and the lake. Following another uphill cartway it reaches the view of Rascino Lake. The route goes on to a technical downhill slope and a series of hairpin bends, arriving to the village of Sella di Corno.

Tour Theme: nature, landscape
Distance: 15,5 km
Difference in altitude: 580 m
Length: 2:00 h
Roadbed: dirt 74,8 % - asphalt 5,8 % - grass 19,4 %
Cycling percentage: 100%
Recommended period: May - November
Difficulty: medium-hard
Cartography: IGM (1:25000), quadrante 139-III SE (Antrodoco).CAI section Monti Nuria, Monte Giano, Monti dell'alto Aterno, 1:25000;
Starting point: Sella di Corno (AQ), 990 meters above sea level

Technical Information: the route is circular, with a cycling uphill road anda technical downhill slope with a gradient of about 20%. Adding 4,8 km it is possible to reachRascino Lake. It is advisable to bring water with you before leaving.

Costs E. 30,00 all included (bus transfer, mountain bike rent, cave and museum visit).

Minimum number of attendees: 6 and multiple of 6

 

Reservation

For reservation and for further information, please contact : Info@bike99.it :