Our journey began in Monte Penna, in the Apennine Mountains, a place that feels untouched, raw, and endlessly peaceful. The air there is sharp with pine, the silence broken only by the wind through the trees. The trails weave among moss-covered rocks and tall forests that open up suddenly to sweeping ridgelines where you can see for miles. We spent two days, guided by Martino, who knows the place like the back of his hand, discovering its secrets, riding from crest to crest, from Monte Aiona to Monte Chiodo, passing below the famous Monte Penna, stopping for wild mushrooms, and soaking up the profound calm of the mountains. There’s a kind of grounding that happens up there, the kind that reminds you why you ride in the first place.

Our SCOTT Lumen E-Bikes changed the whole dynamic in the best possible way. They didn’t remove the effort – you still felt like you’d earned every viewpoint – but they made the experience more balanced. Mirko could still sprint and jump and play, but Martino and I were right there with him. The bikes evened out the fitness gaps so we could all ride at the same tempo and share the same flow. The climbs became conversations, not competitions. We laughed our way up the steep sections, stopped for photos, and arrived at the top as a united front, ready for the next descent. That feeling of moving as a group, no matter your experience or fitness, was something truly special.

Evenings were filled with simple pleasures: muddy shoes off at the refugio door, cold beers in hand, bikes charging in the shed. The fire crackled, and the mountains outside faded into darkness. We swapped stories, Mirko about his fastest lines, Martino about the latest harvest, and me about old races that felt like a lifetime ago. No pressure, no schedule, just friendship, bikes, and the feeling that everything was exactly as it should be.

Leaving Monte Penna was tough. At 1400 meters, it feels like another world, still and calm, far removed from the bustling coastal city of Sestri Levante. But the sea was calling.
After a 1.5-hour drive to reach the crowded Ligurian coast, we spent the night in our Airbnb. We woke before sunrise, marveling at the glow sweeping over the coastline. The town was quiet, the first light painting the water in gold. Pedaling up the hill, watching the sun lift above the horizon, it felt like the start of another special day. The trails above Sestri are wild and demanding. They can be loose, fast and rocky as they plunge towards the sea.

The Manierta trail is a perfect showcase. I led the way, carving through some technical trails with Martino and Mirko following my wheel, laughing, shouting, and breathing hard. Every descent ended with a flash of blue in the distance – the promise of the sea waiting below.
With the first trail of the day under our belts, we headed to the beach for a coffee, a late breakfast and a bracing swim in the October sea, to really awaken the senses.

After this refreshing break, we rolled on to explore the upper part of the trail network, which features the famous Mimosa, Sant’Anna and Capenardo trails. As soon as you start pedaling up the hillside above Sestri Levante, the noise of the town fades away. Up here it’s quiet – just the hum of tires on dirt and the soft rustle of the Mediterranean pines, while the sea glimmers below. The trails wind through olive groves and rocky outcrops, sometimes opening up to sweeping views of the coastline, before plunging into shaded singletrack. The trail network offers incredible variety, from smooth, flowing lines to steep, technical descents, and every turn offers a new perspective. You can easily ride all day and never take the same trail twice.

The day finished as it should, sat on the beach, salty-skinned, bikes parked nearby and an aperitivo on order. The sea breeze mingled with the scent of lemons and olives, and we toasted to the ride, to the climbs, to the laughs, and to the perfect balance of effort and enjoyment that only a day like this can bring.
It wasn’t about how far we went or how fast we rode. It was about three friends with three very different lives, sharing the moment and united by one simple thing: the love of riding. Powered by the SCOTT Lumen and its TQ HPR60 drive system, it all came together effortlessly.

Because in the end, that’s what the best rides are about: good trails, good friends, and memories that linger long after the dust and salt have washed away.

Words by Marco Fontana