Some places feel like home before you even realize why. For me, that place was Bardolino, on the south-east shore of Lake Garda. I spent every weekend and summer there as a child — riding my bike between towns, on the lake with my grandpa’s sailboat, stopping for ice cream, falling on dusty trails, and quietly telling myself that someday, I want to live here.

Back then, I wasn’t a cyclist yet — at least not in the way I am today — but those early rides were the beginning of a connection that only grew stronger with time.

A childhood between Varese and Bardolino

I grew up near Varese in northern Italy, not far from Milan. My German grandparents had a holiday home in Bardolino, and from as early as I can remember, we spent every weekend and every summer there. It’s hard to say when I fell in love with the area — because I honestly don’t remember a time when I didn’t.

As a child, I wasn’t a cyclist yet — at least not in the “jersey and helmet” sense — but I did have a bike. And I used it constantly (when we were not on the boat, where the picture above was shot). I’d ride from Bardolino to Garda or Lazise almost daily with my parents, or just my grandpa, sometimes to get ice cream, sometimes just to sit by the lake and watch the ducks. Or sometimes we would stop at the little supermarket of the Garda camping site to get fruit, or some candy (which my grandpa would buy without telling my mom – hi mom if you are reading, now you know!).

The cycling path between Bardolino and Lazise was different back then — it was all stones and dirt, not the smooth lakefront it is today. I can still picture the bumpy section near Cisano and the many times I fell on that soft ground. (Ask my mom — she remembers the tears just before the Lazise camping area!)

The region has changed a lot since those days. The towns are more polished, the paths are safer and more connected, and you can now ride along the lake all the way to Peschiera. But the feeling? That’s stayed the same. It still feels like home — just with better bike lanes.

Discovering cycling (and climbing)

I only truly got into cycling in 2015, while I was living in Hamburg, Germany and studying at university. Hamburg is famously flat, so when I brought my first aluminum road bike to Bardolino for summer, the hills hit me hard. I still remember the struggle of climbing up to Lumini for the first time. But I also remember thinking: This is what I want more of. I want to live near the hills. I want to live here.

It wasn’t a direct route. I moved from Hamburg to Regensburg, then later to Bolzano, where I finally had the Dolomites in my backyard. But no matter where I lived, Lake Garda was my constant — weekend trips, every vacation, every holiday. I used my remote job to spend as much time here as I could, exploring every road and hidden gravel path I could find.

In those years, my riding also grew. I started clocking 11,000–12,000 km per year, climbed more than I ever thought I could, and in late 2023, I finally added gravel biking to the mix.

Living the dream — Finally

At the start of 2024, I made the move I had dreamed of since childhood: I relocated to Verona. While waiting for my apartment to be ready, I spent months living in Bardolino full-time — riding daily, exploring by gravel, and seeing the lake in every light, every season.

Now I’m based in Verona, but I still spend my weekends and spare time in Bardolino. I’ve found a balance between the city and the lake — between training and exploring — and it feels just right.

This region isn’t just where I live. It’s where I feel most myself. Every time I roll out for a ride — whether on quiet white roads through vineyards or on my favorite climb into Lessinia — I feel grateful to be here. I spent years dreaming of living in this exact place. Now I get to share it with others.

Why I created ciaocycling

ciaocycling. was born from that desire to share. I created it to connect people — to help other cyclists discover the hidden beauty of this region, whether it’s on a guided ride, a gravel camp, or a custom itinerary made just for them.

This isn’t just a job. It’s personal. And I can’t wait to ride with you here.

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👉 Want to ride with me? Get in touch — I’d love to help you discover my favorite roads, trails, cafés, and views.