Mountain Biking the Baraggia from Candelo: What to Expect and What to Wear
To prepare for La Baraggia MTB, start with how the route is actually used and with equipment you can check.
Where to start
Open the starting point pin on Google Maps: Ricetto di Candelo (45.545179183, 8.114604698)
Route map
The line follows the GPX track published by the indicated source. Use it to orient yourself, but always check signage, conditions and notices before setting out.
We’ll send you links to this route’s official GPX track and its starting points.
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Highlights along the route
Route sheet
- Length: 16 km
- Elevation gain: 230 m
- Maximum elevation: 340 m (calculated from the GPX track)
- Loop route: yes
La Baraggia is a bike loop. It starts from the Ricetto di Candelo and enters the Baraggia nature reserve, one of the wildest and most distinctive areas of the Biella territory. Technical difficulty and physical effort are rated as easy. The indicated elevation gain is 230 metres. The few climbs are short and never too steep, and the same goes for the descents.
The ride is described as suitable for everyone. The check that matters most comes before loading the bike: how much rain fell in the previous days. The ground is clayey and, after heavy rain, the route should be avoided. Then there is clothing. The ride is indicated for winter, spring, late spring and summer, and autumn, so you may find it at very different temperatures.
In the cycling selection of Ski Sises there are jerseys, cycling shorts and cycling glasses. Further down you will find what makes sense on an easy loop. You will also find cases where a very technical garment gives you more than you need.
From the Ricetto to the Aula Verde: what the loop is like
You set off from the car park behind the Ricetto, in via Castellengo. The Ricetto di Candelo is considered one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy and is just a few steps away: if you want to visit it, do so on foot before or after the ride.
Along the loop you turn left into via Ysangarda. At a certain point the road becomes unpaved and leads to the Aula Verde, a equipped area with tables, benches and panels on local biodiversity. Tables and benches make it a comfortable place to stop, drink and sort out your layers.
The detail that matters most for how you dress is the change in landscape. Within a few kilometres you pass from arid steppe to woodland. In the open stretch you get sun and wind. Under the trees the light fades and, in spring and autumn, it feels cooler. In practice you open and close the zip several times, without having to take garments off or put them on.
Easy describes the route, not the day. With damp clay or a cold, windy morning you pedal differently, even though the climbs remain gentle.
What to check before you leave
No article can tell you what the route is like today. These checks must be done on the day you ride:
- the weather forecast for Candelo and the reserve area, wind included;
- the rain of the previous days: if it has been heavy, postpone or choose another ride;
- any updated official notices on access, works or restrictions in the reserve and on the roads of the route;
- the bike: tyre pressure, brakes and chain;
- the sunset time, because in winter the days are short and the return must be planned with a margin.
On clay one more word is needed. Wet, it sticks to tyres, drivetrain and shoes, and makes even a flat stretch slippery. A water-repellent fabric protects you from spray. The ground, however, remains heavy to pedal.
Layers for short climbs and frequent stops
With short climbs the intensity stays moderate, but it changes often. On the ramps you warm up, on the descents you cool down, and even more so when you stop at the Aula Verde. You do not need the warmest garment possible. You need thin layers, zips that really open, and a pocket for what you take off.
In the cold months: a breathable base layer
In winter, start from the first layer. It has to handle the sweat from the climbs and not leave you cold at the first stop. For her, the Women’s LS Half Zip T‑shirt White of Rewoolution is long-sleeved, in 100% Reda Active Merino wool, with natural thermoregulation and odour resistance. The half zip lets you ventilate when the climb heats you up; you close it again when you enter the woods. Over it, add a windproof layer suited to the day.
Products mentioned in the article
For him the same pattern applies: a merino base layer under the cycling jersey, a light jacket in the backpack. When you try the combination, stretch your arms as if your hands were on the handlebars. If the jersey comes out of the shorts or pulls across the shoulders, in the saddle it will leave the lower back exposed, exactly where you take in air.
In the heat: drying matters more than warming
From late spring the problem flips. On the steppe you are exposed to the sun, and a jersey that stays damp after the climbs becomes uncomfortable quickly. Look for a light fabric that dries fast and covers enough of your arms and legs.
MTB jersey: mesh for heat or light fabric
The T-shirt MTB Pure 3/4 Jersey Women Epidote Green of POC is in lightweight mesh, designed for the hottest conditions: it breathes and dries quickly. The 3/4 sleeves cover more forearm than a short sleeve, useful under the sun. The hidden zip pocket holds a card or a small valuable item. The cut is compatible with protectors: you will hardly use them here, but they will be useful if you move on to more technical trails.
Products mentioned in the article
For him there is the T-shirt Reform Enduro Men Turmaline Navy, also from POC. It is light, made from recycled materials and designed for freedom of movement and breathability. It also works as a casual garment, so it doesn't look out of place if you get off the bike to walk around the hamlet. The limit: on its own it is a jersey for mild seasons. In November you need a warmer base layer underneath and a windproof layer on top.
Products mentioned in the article
Shorts: pockets, reflectives and chamois
The Essential Enduro Men's Shorts Epidote Green of POC are in lightweight, durable nylon with an elastic component. They have pre-shaped knees, reflective elements, numerous pockets and water-repellent fabric. The reflectives matter when you head out early or return towards evening, which is common with short days. The water repellency stops splashes and wet grass, not a downpour.
Products mentioned in the article
For her, the Up Cyclist Women's Shorts Black of Montura are in stretch jersey with UV protection. The elasticated waist does not compress, the hem has anti-slip silicone and there is a front zip pocket. The 4-way stretch DWR nylon is water-repellent. The UV protection makes them sensible above all in summer, on the open stretches of steppe.
Products mentioned in the article
A compromise to be aware of: the descriptions of these two models do not mention a chamois. On a calm, occasional ride you may not notice. If instead you feel discomfort in the saddle after a short time, add a padded liner underneath and try it with the shorts, to avoid overlapping layers.
Glasses and helmet: try them together
Between steppe and woods you pass from full light to filtered light. The Fury Sunglasses Dark Grey/Orange Reactiv 0-3 of Julbo have a cylindrical lens with a wide field of view, good ventilation and a lightweight frame, designed to fit all helmets. The look is modern cycling: if you want glasses to wear in town too, this one is more distinctive than necessary.
Try them with the helmet you will actually use. The arms must pass under the shell without levering against it. The lens must not touch the front padding when you lower your head as on a climb.
Ride out with the CAI Biella MTB Group
Not everyone likes organising a ride alone, not even on an easy loop. CAI Biella has an MTB Group, and the section's website publishes its regulations, documents and programme. If you are interested in riding in a group, look at them before fixing a date.
How technical you really need to be on the Baraggia
On this loop you do not need a racing wardrobe. Three concrete things matter: garments you can adjust with a zip, fabrics that do not stay wet after a climb, and the choice not to go out after heavy rain. An enduro jersey or pair of shorts makes sense here if you will also use them on longer or more demanding rides.
If you want to try sizes with your helmet and the base layer you will actually wear, stop by the shop in Biella or browse the cycling collection.
FAQ
Is the La Baraggia bike route suitable for beginners?
Technical difficulty and physical effort are rated as easy, and the loop is described as suitable for everyone, with a few short climbs that are never too steep. Conditions on the day should still be checked before setting off, especially after rain.
Where do you start the La Baraggia bike loop?
From the Ricetto di Candelo, in the car park behind the ricetto on Via Castellengo. The loop is circular, so you return to the same point.
Can you do La Baraggia by MTB after it has rained?
After heavy rain the route should be avoided, because the ground is clay-rich. Before heading out, check the rainfall of the previous days, the weather and any up-to-date official warnings.
What is the elevation gain on the La Baraggia route?
The technical data gives the elevation gain as 230 metres, spread across short climbs that are never too steep.
What to wear for La Baraggia by bike in winter and summer?
The route is suitable in winter, spring, late spring, summer and autumn. In the cold months, a merino zip-neck base layer with a windproof layer on top works well. In the heat, light jerseys that dry quickly are needed, along with sun protection on the open stretches of steppe.
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