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Tours On the road with «Ride La Val»
Nicci Tschenett
Like Canada - only much closer
Nicci loves the view of Val Mora. «The valley is beautiful, so pristine and very different from what we are used to. That's why we call it 'Little Canada». She used to milk cows down here and run the alpine tavern, but today she prefers to guide mountain bikers through and around the valley. Local bikers founded the Ride La Val trail school in 2018. Nicci was enthusiastic about it and can now live her dream: She is a bike guide in summer and a ski instructor in winter.
Curvy to Italy
Cruising leisurely through Val Mora is a scenic dream, but Nicci prefers trails with more action. «Most of the guests do too»" she says with a smile and takes the turnoff towards Passo del Gallo. «There we are already in Italy and a cool descent with many hairpin bends begins. But these are not as difficult as you might think when you look at the map,» explains the 30-year-old and drives ahead at a good pace.
The art of staying on the bike
Suddenly there is another tight hairpin bend! Nicci masters it with an elegant hop over the front wheel. Her tip: «Always choose the inside line. And don't look into the abyss or at Lago di Livigno, but look ahead towards the trail». She likes to conduct riding technique training sessions with her guests. For example, she shows them how to get off the bike in steep terrain, how to read the terrain correctly or how to steer smoothly around bends.
Taking a breath for the eternally long descent
We return to Switzerland via the Passo Val Mora. Now strength is required, either in the legs or in the battery of the e-bike. The ride through the long Val Mora is a long one. Finally a break at the legendary «Mumma Veglia» stone. Take a deep breath for Nicci's favourite part: the long descent to Sta. Maria. «This is where the fun really begins. If you know your stuff, you ride it all on single trails, 750 metres of altitude downhill.»
«In Val Müstair I find endless trails».
Chin over the handlebars, elbows out - and let it rip! Nicci flies over the legendary trail «Hom dal chapè». She loves her home valley because she finds real nature, good people and endless bike trails here. «You can do a different tour every day for a week. And the good thing: thanks to the natural forest floor, the trails still offer grip even in wet weather.»
Biking and mushrooming - why not?!
When Nicci feels the flow, she can hardly be stopped - unless she sees a boletus or chanterelle flash in the corner of her eye. And this is not uncommon in the Biosfera Val Müstair. «I love mushrooms. When I'm biking alone, I can suddenly spend hours in the forest and forget about time.» Her tip for cleaning mushrooms: «The best way is with a bike tool.»
The main thing is to laugh
Next to biking, cooking is her favourite hobby. And Nicci does it in the same way she rides her bike: spontaneously, eager to experiment and always with a hearty laugh. «I never cook by recipe, I always create my own version.» What she particularly likes to prepare are Grisons specialities such as capuns. She can collect the chard leaves for them in her mother's garden in Müstair.
