It is easy: from late spring to summer. The travel window for these high mountains is very narrow, just before June and until the beginning of September.

Towards the extremities, the weather is less stable. So we use to organize our trips inside the 'safe' window, as the weather is more stable. Facing bad weather on a mountain ride is not pleasant: it means a drop in temperature of several degrees, and if you are on the Piccolo San Bernardo at about 2200 metres when it happens... well, let's put it this way: it's no fun.

Some days with rain can happen in the core of the good season, but if you go towards the beginning or end of the season, the possibility of a long bad weather increases dramatically, making, not just a single day, but the whole trip an epic experience, but one that you would never want to make.

Valle d'Aosta is the smallest and least populated region in Italy. As the name suggests, it develops along a valley where also the most populated places are. That's the valley of the Dora Baleta river, which starts in the highest part of Valle d'Aosta, near the Swiss border and runs to Piedmont.

There are many ways - and therefore many places -  to enjoy the Aosta Valley by bike: one is to stay in a nice place in the valley - for example Chatillon, where we have our office - and climb the mountains to the east or west. Another is much less demanding: the Aosta Valley has countless castles along the valley and there are beautiful country road cycling trails that make it easy to discover the area.

In both cases, there's plenty of nice roads and the traffic is never a problem.

The dirt roads are also great: there are some of the best dirt roads around, some of which will take you around the majestic Mont Blanc, 4,807 metres high, the highest mountain in the Alps.

That's not all: if you love gravity, there are two of the best bike parks in Europe, in Pila or La Thuile. There is a bit of everything, even in a small region. 

Depending on the trip, we suggest either Milan MXP or Bergamo BY.

Alternatively, Turin Caselle, in Piedmont.

Asphalt is as good as mountain asphalt can be. The frost of winter slowly damages the asphalt. There is nothing critical. Repaving takes place quite often.

Traffic must be taken into account, especially when travelling up some iconic climbs like the Piccolo San Bernardo or to Cervinia. But it's nothing too critical, especially compared to the most renowned locations in the Italian, Swiss or French Alps.