
DAYTRIPS
Route of the week
Guzzi and gone
Italy
There's great riding around Lake Como – though I prefer the quieter eastern side, north of Lecco, to the chaos that reigns on the busier western shore.
That eastern shore is also home to the iconic Italian marque Moto Guzzi – which famously would dim the lights in Mandello del Lario whenever it ran its wind tunnel.
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The wind tunnel is still there, along with a museum at the factory – but this route from Mandello is all about the amazing riding in the high valleys and passes that provide the town with its dramatic backdrop, before returning to the lake for the scenic run along the shore.
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This isn't a high-mile route but it's still a fairly full day: with one or two narrow roads, a heap of hairpins and the kind of spectacular views that will take your breath away (or stop to take a picture) it's a ride that's as much of an Italian classic as the Moto Guzzis made in Mandello.
Daytrip GPX files
Downloadable GPX files for daytrip rides in Western Europe, including routes from Bikers' Europe and Bikers' Europe: Hidden Gems. For European tours, click here