La Bessa MTB: Starting Point, Route and What to Wear
If you're thinking of riding La Bessa on an MTB, there are two questions: is the route within your reach, and how should you dress? In short, you start and finish in Sandigliano. Technical difficulty and physical effort are both listed as easy, with a stated elevation gain of 500 m. The seasons indicated run from winter to autumn, so the whole year.
Where to start
Open the starting-point pin on Google Maps: Sandigliano (45.516805000, 8.074569000)
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: 30 km
- Elevation gain: 500 m
- Maximum elevation: 495 m (calculated from the GPX track)
- Loop route: yes
An easy ride still needs preparation. Before setting out, check the weather, find out about trail conditions and look for any up-to-date official notices. Then choose your clothing for the month you'll be riding. In January and in July the same loop calls for two very different wardrobes.
The jerseys, shorts and glasses mentioned further on are part of our cycling selection. Here we consider which ones make sense for this ride, and which are more technical than necessary.
What to expect from the La Bessa ride
You ride inside the La Bessa nature reserve, a Biellese archaeological site and an ancient gold deposit. The route is simple. It's the setting that makes it different from any ride through the fields.
The itinerary reaches the hamlet of Vermogno in Zubiena, home of the Victimula Gold Seekers Association. From here a municipal road climbs to the centre of Zubiena, a viewpoint over the Serra and the Biellese. If you want to stop, this is the place.
The return runs along flat road to Sandigliano, where the itinerary began. You therefore complete a loop, without having to arrange a pickup at the finish.
Easy, but for whom?
The rating is easy both technically and physically. The 500 m of elevation gain, however, has to be pedalled. Those who ride often absorb it without noticing. If you're getting back in the saddle after months off, keep a light gear on the climbs and don't spend everything in the first kilometres.
On a route rated easy, it's tempting to head out in whatever is in your wardrobe. That works as long as the weather is stable and the ride is short. But when you're sweating on the climbs and coming back down on the flat with the wind on you, the wrong clothing makes itself felt: cotton soaked through on your back, trousers pulling at the knee, glasses slipping under the helmet.
If you prefer to ride in a group, CAI Biella has an MTB Group with its own rules, available on the section's website.
What to check before you leave
No article can tell you what the route is like today. Surface, weather and access change, and the information of the day is what counts. Before setting out, check at least these points:
- the updated weather forecast for the area, checking rain and temperature at the time you'll be returning;
- the trail conditions and any official notices, including those from the body that manages the reserve;
- the bike: brakes, tyre pressure, a spare inner tube and minimal tools;
- water, something to eat and a charged phone, without counting on refuelling points along the way.
Clothing does not make a trip safe. It keeps you comfortable and gives you a margin if the weather changes. Whether to set out is your decision, based on up-to-date information.
How to dress month by month
The seasons indicated for La Bessa are winter, spring, late spring/summer and autumn. To dress for them, three scenarios are enough: hot, mid-season, cold.
Late spring and summer: sweat on the climb
In the heat the problem is the humidity that stays on you after the climb. For him the T-shirt Reform Enduro Men Turmaline Navy of Poc is a lightweight jersey, in recycled materials, designed to breathe and allow freedom of movement on the bike.
For her the T-shirt MTB Pure 3/4 Jersey Women Epidote Green, also Poc, is in lightweight mesh with quick drying, designed for hot days. The 3/4 sleeves cover the arms a little more. The hidden zip pocket fits a key or a card. The cut is compatible with protectors: on this ride they are hardly needed, but they take nothing away.
Spring and autumn: free legs and pockets
In mid-season you set off in the cool and may find sun halfway through the ride. Here the shorts make more difference than the jersey. The Shorts Essential Enduro Men Sylvanite Grey are in lightweight, resistant nylon with an elastic component, elastic waistband, several pockets and water-repellent treatment. They are made for enduro, so they are compatible with knee pads. On an easy loop that feature is largely unused: if you only want a comfortable short, they are more technical than necessary. Pockets and adjustable waist remain practical here too.
For her, the Up Cyclist Women's Shorts Black of Montura are in stretch fabric with UV protection and an elasticated waist that does not compress. The hem with anti-slip silicone keeps the edge in place while you pedal. The 4-way stretch DWR nylon is water-repellent and there is a front zip pocket.
A limitation common to both: a water-repellent fabric lets a few drops slide off, but in a storm you get wet. With uncertain weather, carry a rain layer in your backpack.
Winter: layers that open up
In winter the difficulty is the transition between effort and flat ground. On the climb you warm up, on the flat return you cool down. Several thin layers work better than one heavy garment.
For her the Women’s LS Half Zip T‑shirt White of Rewoolution is long-sleeved, in 100% Merino wool Reda Active®, with natural thermoregulation and odour resistance. Look at the half zip: you open it on the climb, close it on the return, without stopping to change. Over it you need a windproof jacket.
For him the scheme is the same: a base layer against the skin that manages sweat, a light mid layer and a jacket that stops the wind. Start from what you already have, but keep cotton away from the skin.
Glasses: you notice them at the end of the ride
Between the reserve and the country road the light changes often, and glasses protect your eyes from sun and wind. The Fury Sunglasses Dark Grey/Orange Reactiv 0-3 of Julbo have a cylindrical lens with a wide field of view and well-designed ventilation. They are light, designed to fit all helmets, with REACTIV lenses. They suit men and women.
The Fury is built for speed, and on a relaxed ride it may seem excessive. The wide field of view and the seal with the helmet, however, serve any pace.
Before buying: the fit checks that matter
Cycling clothing should be tried on in position, not standing straight in front of the mirror. When you wear a garment, bend forward as if you had your hands on the handlebars.
On the jersey check the back: in the saddle it must not leave skin exposed above the shorts. Stretch your arms forward and feel whether the sleeves pull. On the shorts check the waist while seated and the knee bent: if the fabric presses on the kneecap, you feel it after an hour. Glasses should be tried with your helmet. The arms must not touch the straps, and the frame must stay still when you look down.
If you are between two sizes, think about what you will wear underneath. In summer you can be closer to the body. In winter leave room for one extra layer, without folds that rub in the saddle.
If you want to compare the garments in person or get advice on sizing, visit the Biella store or browse the Cycling collection online Cycling collection before your next ride at La Bessa.
FAQ
Is the La Bessa bike ride suitable for those who don't ride much?
The route is listed as easy both in technical difficulty and physical effort. The declared elevation gain is still 500 m: if you're back in the saddle after a long break, tackle the climbs in an easy gear and without rushing. Before setting off, check the weather, trail conditions and up-to-date official notices.
Where does the La Bessa bike route start?
The route starts in Sandigliano, in the Biellese area, and returns to the same point. The final stretch is on flat road, so you complete a loop without having to arrange a pickup.
In which season can you do La Bessa by mountain bike?
The seasons listed are winter, spring, late spring/summer and autumn, meaning all year round. Conditions can change from one day to the next, however: check the weather and up-to-date notices before heading out and adjust your layers to the actual temperature.
What can you see along the La Bessa route?
The ride passes through the La Bessa nature reserve, an archaeological site in the Biellese area and a very ancient gold deposit. It reaches the hamlet of Vermogno in Zubiena, home of the Victimula Gold Seekers Association, and then the centre of Zubiena, a viewpoint over the Serra and the Biellese.
What should you wear to cycle at La Bessa in winter?
It's better to wear several thin layers rather than one heavy garment: a base layer that manages sweat, a light mid layer and a windproof jacket. A half-zip top, such as the LS Half Zip Women's White T-shirt in Merino wool, lets you adjust ventilation between climbing and the return without stopping.
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