Electric Aosta

Except for one gondola lift in Pila, trails are accessed by shuttle and/or climbing and go from high alpine to treed valley bottom.

The singletrack trails we ride were built as hiking paths, and are linked by sections of gravel road and doubletrack. Riders can expect some technical and steep sections including fixed rock boulders and roots. There is also some exposure where walking is mandatory. There are short a hike-a-bike sections that might be climbable thanks to your eMTB, but if not, the bikes have a ‘walk mode’. Make sure that you have riding shoes that are comfortable for hiking.

27-55km, 4-6 hours

On the night in the rifugio without your luggage, you will need to carry all essential items in your riding pack: light cotton pants/underwear/t-shirt, toiletries, warm puffy jacket/beanie, fresh jersey and chamois for the following day, battery chargers/electrical adapter and anything else that you’d normally have for riding – plus the eMTB battery charger.

Walking your bike is encouraged when riding sections that have exposure. We recommend you ride well within your limits, and be conservative.

On this adventure, we spend one night at a rifugio, which is a rustic mountaintop hut. Slippers, food and bedding/towels are included. Otherwise, nights are spent at comfortable 3-star hotels with all the amenities.

All breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners.

The Aosta Valley is known for its hearty, flavorful cuisine, drawing from both Italian and French culinary traditions. Due to its mountainous location, the region’s dishes feature robust ingredients like cheese, polenta, cured meats, game, and seasonal vegetables.

Laundry is available for a fee at some hotels.

It is imperative when signing up for one of our trips that you are confident that your riding ability matches the required riding ability for the trip, regardless if it’s an eMTB or MTB trip. If you have the required ability level for the trip but little (or no) experience on an eMTB this is fine, our guides will give you tips to help you learn to ride these assist-bikes. They are intuitive and you will be a pro within a few days. Read more about the benefits of eMTBs in one of our Trail Tales.

eMTB’s generally come in two battery sizes, sub-400 Wh and 750 Wh (or above). On our trips we utilise the bigger battery bikes which allow riders to easily ride four to six hours in higher-assist modes. Riders will carry their chargers daily, if needed we will charge batteries over lunch to further ensure that riders do not run out of juice. Note that the bigger battery bikes have greater torque and make the bikes heavier.

As it is with any bike on any ride, a personal bike or rental bike, a short ride or long ride – mechanical issues can, and will, occur. As it has been for 20+ years of running our trips we are aware of this possibility and prepared to deal with issues if needed. We help riders to avoid mechanicals by performing bike checks and with general bike care. Note that mechanicals and breakdowns are at your cost (including potential itinerary interruptions or changes), on rental eMTB’s or personal MTB’s.

We source the best rental bikes available in each region through our partner bike shops. We ensure that rental bikes are inspected, well-maintained and have appropriate tires, brakes and extra parts. We know that quality bikes and components are paramount to a good experience. Note that a rental bike will never be as comfortable as one’s personal bike, riders must expect some adjustment and compromise when riding the rental bikes. For some destinations, there is the option to upgrade to a high-performance eMTB.

Upon registration for your trip you will be asked to input your height, weight (for suspension set up) and preferred frame size. We will then communicate the bike brand, model and specs to you. Flat pedals are included on bikes, if you ride clip pedals, you are required to bring your own pedals. Bikes also include a set of brake pads, tire levers, a multi-tool and tubes. It is suggested to bring your own pump and specific tools. It is also suggested to bring your own saddle for added comfort and related riding gear: helmet, globes, knee pads, eye protection, hydration bag, etc.

In the majority of countries that we run our trips protection insurance is not available. If it is available we will communicate this to you. Riders are 100% responsible for all damages to rental bikes – you must inspect your bike for existing damages (take photos) before the first ride. If damages occur while riding the rental bike we will communicate the details and cost to you upon completion of the trip. Once agreed upon your credit card on file will be used to cover cost of damages from the bike shop where bike was rented from.

eMTBs have four or five assist modes (from eco to turbo). On most days, we ride in the middle level to ensure that we are conserving battery. As on any bike, eMTBs perform best when pedalling at a consistent and relatively fast cadence (70-90 RPMs). They are heavier than regular bikes, which takes some adjustment, as the weight is often low on the bike, which adds stability in loose rocks and increased speeds. Riders must look further ahead when riding e-bikes and change gears well in advance (while light pedalling). With the pedal-assist, there is added stress on the drivetrain, and it is suggested to lower saddle height slightly and move weight forward more than usual on steeper climbing sections. For more information, check out one of our Trail Tales. 

With the exception of a few trips (Treasure Islands and Mediterranean Dreams) we try to avoid mixing e-bikes and acoustic mountain bikes on our trips. However, on private departures, we are able to host a mixed group to help groups ride together. Our policy with mixed groups is that the pace of the ride follows acoustic riders, and e-bikers will have a “cruisier” experience and must be patient and expect to wait at times.

In big mountains, weather can change quickly and drastically – it could be 30 degrees Celsius one day and then freezing on a mountaintop the next day. Summertime in the Alps is typically beautiful, however it can rain and sometimes even snow, so be prepared for all types of weather conditions.

We recommend that you purchase some Euros at home prior to departure. Each day you will need to purchase your own lunch and coffee, snacks, wine and beer if you choose. It’s best to have some cash in hand before departure for convenience, otherwise bank machines can easily be found in Aosta.

Gratuities for your Big Mountain guides may be given at your discretion in response to their professionalism and leadership throughout the week. We suggest 5-10% of the trip price per individual guest to be divided among your guiding team as a tipping standard.