Used to riding in Indonesia, Natasha Capirossi found herself in the Alps with a completely different setting: long ascents, constant weather changes, and a cycling culture very different from that of her country. An experience that allowed her to discover Europe from a unique perspective: by bike.
Natasha works in the food industry as a kitchen manager and nutrition consultant. Cycling came into her life during the pandemic and, since then, it has become something much deeper than a hobby: “it is my refuge and my source of happiness”.
From Bandung to the Alps: the origin of the challenge
The starting point of this adventure was unexpected. Through Instagram, she discovered the Monaco di Baviera Lite event from Ultracycling Challenges, an event that started and finished in Munich, the city where part of her family lives. Without thinking too much about it, she decided to sign up.
The route crossed Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria, linking some of Europe’s most iconic mountain passes. For someone who lives in a country where long-distance cycling is still developing, the leap was huge. “Isn’t it everyone’s dream? I had always dreamed of seeing the Alps from the bike”.
The first impact with the Alps
The first contact with the Alpine mountains was exactly as she imagined it... and even better.
“WOW. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I already knew these roads by car, but experiencing them on the bike is completely different”.
During the days on route, Natasha experienced moments when she had to stop simply to take in what was happening. At times, she even forced herself to keep pedaling so as not to disrupt her schedule. But the emotion was unavoidable: “I even burst into tears of happiness on several occasions. I felt like I was living the best moment of my life”.
Mountain passes, cold, and unreal landscapes
Among the many moments of the crossing, one of the most memorable was the climb to Passo delle Erbe at the end of the day. Exhausted, she had to push the bike to save energy, while in the distance the silhouette of Passo Giau appeared, a place she had already visited the year before.
“Seeing Passo Giau from another perspective, at sunset, was incredible”.
The contrast between riding in Indonesia and doing it in Europe was another major lesson from the trip: weather, traffic, landscapes, and cycling culture completely change the experience.
“It is practically all different”.
Cycling culture in Europe
One of the aspects that surprised her most was the naturalness with which bikepacking is experienced in Europe.
“It is something common, safe, and accessible to everyone: men, women, young and old. In Indonesia, it is still seen as something strange or even unsafe”.
During the route, she also discovered a very open and welcoming cycling community. “Everyone was kind. I greeted and smiled hundreds of times along the way”.
Hard moments and lessons learned
The biggest challenge of the trip was the cold. Used to a warm climate all year round, the alpine conditions tested her physical and mental endurance. But the final takeaway is clear: the reward was enormous. “I discovered that my body and my mind can do much more than I imagined”. In addition, she completed the challenge with a special feeling: the pride of having been the first Indonesian female cyclist to finish the challenge.
Encounters that shape the journey
Beyond the route, the experience was marked by the people. Among them, Jeffry, her McDonald’s companion on the first day, who although he could not finish the challenge, waited for her at the finish line. Also Sonja, a mother of two in Germany, with whom she shared several moments on the toughest climbs, pushing the bike toward the Grossglockner. And Nacho, the event photographer, who captured some of the most demanding moments of the route.
“In cycling, encounters are very natural. You share effort, and that breaks down any cultural barrier”.
Gobik in the Alps
During the adventure, choosing the equipment was key to facing the changing mountain conditions. Natasha especially highlights the combination of the merino base layer with the Envy 2.0 jacket for the cold early hours, the CX Pro jersey in the warmest moments, and accessories such as thermal overshoes and the Bora 2.0 Polartec jacket for rainy days.
“On routes like this, versatility is everything. Clothing is not just comfort, it is safety”.
An experience that changes perspective
If she had to describe the Alps to someone from her hometown, Natasha is clear:
“They are majestic mountains, like in the movies. But experiencing them by bike makes you feel small… and at the same time very alive. It is exciting and terrifying at once”.
Her advice for those dreaming of their first bikepacking trip is direct:
“Don’t overthink it. Prepare well, but dare to do it. The first trip is always the hardest… the rest come on their own”.
And although her next destination is not yet defined, one idea is already on the horizon: the Taiwan round-the-island route.
