From Munich to Lake Garda: Two Guys, Two Bikes, and a Midlife Crisis
When my old buddy Tunte and I decided to tackle an Alpencross from Munich to Lake Garda, we weren’t exactly venturing into uncharted territory. No, this is practically the official rite of passage for men in their midlife crisis from Munich. Forget sports cars or skydiving—we chose to spend days in the saddle, grinding up thousands of meters in elevation because... yeah why do we do this?!
Well, whatever: Here’s a breakdown of how we got ready for this slightly masochistic adventure
Which bike to take?
This was surprisingly the easiest decision. A road bike? Too ambitious—people would expect us to reach Lake Garda within a day. A mountain bike? Too slow - we wouldn't have enough time to enjoy the ride. So, Gravel Bikes it was. Fast enough to cover ground, rugged enough for off-road challenges, and perfectly middle-aged-man trendy.
AlpencroSS - Route PLanning
After weeks of “research” (aka scrolling through forums and watching YouTube videos), we narrowed it down to two options:
A shorter, less hilly route that was… fine (369km / 2.850 hm)
A longer, more brutal route, crossing Sölden and featuring the infamous Timmelsjoch pass (410km / 5.240 hm)
Somehow, we picked the harder route. Why? I would call it overexcitement.
Shorter Route
LONGER ROUTE
WHat to Pack four your ALpencross?
Packing for a 5,200m altitude adventure isn’t easy, especially when you’re trying to keep it light. Online, we found packing lists that included everything from espresso makers to inflatable loungers. Here just some smaller recommendations:
Bike essentials: basic tools, spare tubes, and tire levers. We didn’t have a mechanical, but you don’t want to be stuck in the Alps without a multitool.
Clothing: One outfit for cycling. That’s it. Forget the extra T-shirt—you’re going to stink no matter what.
Rain jacket: Non-negotiable. This can save your ass.
Chamois cream: Not just any chamois cream—luxury chamois cream. Keep your bum happy.
PLan your accommodation
Yes, there are people who take a tent and sleep next to the route. Nothing for us. We took our route and split it into 2-3 nights along the way (keeping it open if we decided to pull through the last day and sleep at the lake). We went on Booking.com, checked out what’s available in the small villages, and got ourselves a nice bed and warm shower each night. Priorities, right?
That's it, right?
Wait, how do you get back?
Well, we thought we just book a train the day before we head off – easy. Turns out there are limited spots for bikes on those trains and obviously they are all taken when you try to book last minute. So Benzino spent 3 hours on the phone trying to find a bus that will take us. We got lucky and got the last two seats on a bike shuttle bus. Puhhh but now – time to kick it off!
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