Thousands of people on bicycles pedaling, from all over Europe, to find themselves in the same place: it’s the BAM!, the great European gathering of bicycle travellers, which is back in Mantua from 7 to 9 June. The acronym means Bicycle Adventure Meetingand is preparing to experience the tenth edition between Mantua and its lakes, after having been to Livigno, Noale and the Lausen Refuge. The philosophy of the event is simple: get there by bicycle starting from home. An invitation that year after year has brought thousands of people into the saddle, even leaving a week earlier, from Sicily, Germany or even further afield. After 10 years, the soul of BAM is therefore that of a unique event, to which enthusiasts and novices come by sharing the road with friends, putting themselves to the test or simply looking for the shortest route. What matters is experiencing the journey and sharing it with someone. Year after year, the gathering has become an international reference and with each edition not only have the participants increased, but also the kilometers traveled to reach the festival: experiences that become stories, meetings and fuel passion. The program of the event, which begins on Friday afternoon and continues until Sunday, includes music, meetings, workshops, ridesbut above all an informal approach that leaves each participant the possibility of interpreting the gathering in their own way, always along the common thread of the desire to meet others, have fun and take home some stories, some teachings and many memories.
SPACE FOR EVERYONE
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It’s a big party, but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in a world where there is a lot to learn: from mechanics to photographyfrom writing to illustration, from nutrition to planning winter trips, up to sustainability and cartography, to give just a few examples. For the tenth edition there will be a particularly rich program, but what will be worked on will be the experiences of travellers: “We would like those who arrive at BAM! would take the opportunity to take a real bike trip, moving away from the shortest route, getting involved, going to explore, and then telling it to Mantua during the festival. This is for us the most beautiful way to celebrate the philosophy of travel BAM! represents” he says Eleonora Bujatti, among the organizers of the event. Bikepacking, classic cycle tourism, long journeys, gravel, bicycle exploration, ultracycling and family trips: for all the souls of travel on two wheels, there is space at BAM.
