The topic of bikepacking is ubiquitous and excites cycling fans from various fields. André Horak, the founder of the freeride clothing company Platzangst, is actually at home on the enduro bike, but in the fall he embarked on an adventure and explored Italy in bikepacking style. We asked him for an interview.
INTERVIEW WITH ANDRÉ HORAK
Hey André, what were your general motivations for this trip? Have you tried something like this before?
Hey guys, the decisive point was actually the setup of my Bombtrack Beyond Rades. I realized a custom setup according to my wishes and of course, I've already done some tours with it. However, these were mostly short 3-day trips in Germany. During the season, I was mainly on the enduro bike, but I didn't want to settle for the end of the season in October. And since the Bombtrack is so much fun and I had somewhat neglected it during the season, I just had to add another tour in the south to the season.
André's bike was a Bombtrack Beyond with some Blackburn bags
And why did you go alone?
That wasn't the original plan. I planned the trip and then started finding people who wanted to join. But as it quickly turned out, none of the colleagues I asked had any vacation left, and so I was increasingly looking forward to tackling the trip alone with each rejection. The plan was promising. I wanted to ride through ancient cities, explore the gravel roads along the coasts, and travel the small paths through endless olive groves. Of course, the culinary delights that Apulia has to offer were also on the agenda.
Why did you choose Italy?
First, I considered where it was still summer in terms of temperature and where there was great potential for such a tour - good food and wine were a must (laughs). Ultimately, it became Apulia, because the south, Salento - the so-called heel of the boot, perfectly combines these three things.
On empty roads between olive trees, the feeling of adventure quickly grabs you - you just don't know what's coming!
You saw many exciting places. What was your highlight of the tour?
Definitely Lecce and the old town of Taranto! And not to forget - the southern Adriatic coastal section near Otranto. Just amazing for cycling!
You meticulously planned the bikepacking trip in advance, but then at some point, you switched to discovering Italy without a map and plan. Why?
I plan the trips in advance to adjust to the country and the history, as well as the road conditions, to get a feel for it and to be able to assess the stages correctly. On the one hand, you naturally want to see many exciting things in a week, but also have a high fun factor on transfer routes. Up to Lecce, it went through countless olive groves, and I was actually traveling alone. Here, changing road surfaces provided a real experience. Then it went towards the sea, and shortly after, I turned off my Komoot app. My route should now exclusively lead me along the sea. From the Adriatic over the heel of the boot to the Ionian Sea. These dream views were magnificent, and time stood still. A failure of the tour was no longer possible from now on, and it continued along the coast!
Did you scout out accommodation options in advance, or did you just set off?
The accommodation situation is more than comfortable in the off-season and can be described as extremely inexpensive. I was also equipped with a mosquito net, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag and could have spent the night on a terrace at one of these empty beach cafes at any time. But the hospitality and sociability of the southern Italians were often more exciting for me and led me to inviting overnight locales.
Of course, a stop or two at the beach was also made...
Did you have specific expectations for this tour?
I had certain expectations for this tour because the Salento should be deserted at this time of year. Fortunately, these expectations were fully exceeded. On my connecting tours, I was sometimes so alone that I could ride in the middle of the road with my arms wide open. However, I did not expect this tour to be so great overall!
What would you definitely not do the same way again, and what turned out to be perfect in hindsight?
I had planned to travel without self-catering, which saves a lot of luggage and effort. This variant is highly recommended for the peninsula because, despite the off-season, you can get a good coffee and croissants everywhere. From noon, the restaurants open, where you can enjoy the most amazing dishes alone with a maximum of one or two locals. On the tour, I had a Tubus rack mounted on the back, which had to be stowed in the Evoc bike bag during the flight to Bari. I did not protect it enough, so it rubbed against the frame during transport. In the future, I would better protect all metal parts for transport with bubble wrap. The bubble wrap can then be well stowed in the bike bag and used again on the return trip.
As one imagines Italian cities...
...and how one imagines Italian food.
Did you fall in love with a bikepacking utensil on the trip?
My triangle frame bag from Blackburn is amazing and absolutely perfect for a balanced bike balance. I always tried to store small and heavy equipment in it to distribute the weight centrally. This proved to be perfect on the tour and was more than beneficial to the riding characteristics. Excellent handling over downhills and uphills - just very comfortable. In addition, I could store my phone and muesli bars perfectly and quickly. Equally important to me were the Quad Lock smartphone holder and the "Lighthouse Mini" lamp from Goal Zero, which can also be used as a battery for the smartphone.
Where would you like to do such a tour next?
There is still a lot on the agenda, but maybe as a contrast, a tour on the North Sea Coast Cycle Route!
Thank you very much, André, and have fun on further tours!
The Bombtrack Beyond served André perfectly on the tour.
ANDRÉ'S BIKEPACKING EQUIPMENT
And for those who are eager to know which parts André attached to his bike, it's best to check out the parts list here:
Bicycle: Bombtrack Beyond Gravel Bike
- Handlebar: Easton EA70 Gravel Road
- Stem: Thomson Elite x4
- Seatpost: Thomson Elite
- Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13
- Crank: Sram NX
- Hubs: Hope Pro 4 HR & Hope Pro 4 VR
- Rims: DT Swiss XM 401
- Pedals: Nukeproof Neutron Evo
- Brake levers: Sram Force 22
- Bottle cage: Blackburn Outpost Cage
- Frame bag: Blackburn Outpost
- Drybags: Restrap Dry Bag 8 Liter & Restrap Dry Bag 14 Liter
- Rack: Tubus Logo
- Luggage straps: G3 Utility Straps
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