Fat biking is definitely the least known of the mountain biking disciplines, but it is also the most modern and fastest-growing.
In Ossola Valley, this discipline, thanks to the splendid routes you can take through fairy-tale landscapes, is attracting more and more fans. Riding these mountain bikes with “oversized” tires, you can even ride on snowy slopes or on particularly uneven terrain.
The most sought-after destination is the upper Formazza Valley: here the natural scenery and the formation of the mountains make a day on a fat bike truly unforgettable.
The large size of the wheels makes fat bikes particularly easy to control and their large supporting surface on the ground guarantees extreme stability. This does not mean that they’re right for everyone, though… Trying out fat biking on a well-beaten track with wonderful views such as the climb from Riale (last outpost of the Formazza Valley that can be reached by car) to the Maria Luisa refuge can be an exhilarating experience. The route is about 12 km (7 1/2 miles) long with a difference in height of 500 metres (1640 ft) and is almost always beaten by snow groomers.