The topic of bikepacking is ubiquitous and excites cycling enthusiasts 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 have already taken several tours with it. However, these were mostly short 3-day trips in Germany. During the season, I was mainly on the enduro bike a lot, but in October I didn't want to settle for the end of the season. And since the Bombtrack is so much fun and I had somewhat neglected it over the season, I simply 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 to find people who wanted to join. However, it quickly turned out that none of the colleagues I asked had any vacation left, and so I became more excited with each rejection to tackle the trip alone. The plan was promising. I wanted to ride through ancient cities, check out the gravel roads along the coasts, and ride 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 temperature-wise and where there was good potential for such a tour - good food and wine were a must (laughs). So ultimately it became Apulia, because the south, Salento – the so-called heel of the boot, combines these three things perfectly.
On empty roads between olive trees, you quickly get the feeling of adventure - you just don't know what's coming!
You saw many exciting places. What was your highlight on the tour?
Definitely Lecce and the old town of Taranto! And not to forget – the southern Adriatic coastal section near Otranto. Just incredible 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, the history, and also the road conditions, to get a feel and assess the stages correctly. On the one hand, you naturally want to see many exciting things in one 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. From now on, my route should lead me exclusively 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. Failing the tour was no longer possible, 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 and extremely inexpensive in the off-season. 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 was also made on the beach...
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 arms wide open. However, I did not expect this tour to become so fantastic 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 option is excellent 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 wonderful dishes alone with a maximum of one or two locals. On the tour, I had a Tubus carrier mounted on the back, which had to be stowed in the Evoc bike bag for the flight to Bari. I hadn't protected it enough, so it rubbed against the frame during transport. In the future, I would protect all metal parts better with bubble wrap for transport. You can then store the bubble wrap well in the bike bag and use it again on the return trip.
As you imagine Italian cities...
...and how you imagine Italian food.
Did you fall in love with a bikepacking utensil on the trip?
My triangle frame bag from Blackburn is awesome and absolutely perfect for a balanced bike balance. I always tried to stow 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. I could also easily and quickly store my phone and muesli bars. Equally important for 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 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
- Crankset: 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 holder: Blackburn Outpost Cage
- Frame bag: Blackburn Outpost
- Drybags: Restrap Dry Bag 8 Liter & Restrap Dry Bag 14 Liter
- Luggage rack: Tubus Logo
- Luggage straps: G3 Utility Straps
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