We meet Valentina Re in front of her shop, Riviera del Brenta Bike, in Oriago di Mira. She is busy explaining to a small group of French tourists which road they need to take to reach their destination. They follow her hand as she points to a small road parallel to the Naviglio canal. They get on their bikes, say goodbye and set off. Looking at the working environment Valentina has created around her, you can immediately sense her passion for cycling, that “slow” means of transport so in tune with her lifestyle. ‘Five years ago, I revolutionised my life: working on cruise ships, travelling the world, no longer gave me the same thrill, so I decided to return to my hometown and combine my great passion for cycling with my beloved region. I founded Riviera del Brenta Bike to allow those staying on the Riviera to discover different landscapes and new views, while staying in touch with nature, because cycling offers a sense of satisfaction that no other means of transport can give you, in total freedom and without worrying about time.
The cycling routes that I usually suggest to my clients are varied and suited to different needs: the most popular is undoubtedly the classic route along the Riviera, which starts in Fusina and follows the Naviglio canal to Stra, covering 25 kilometres and passing by the villas. For those who wish, it is possible to continue on to Padua.
The most scenic route, which goes from Oriago to the lagoon, is more suitable for children, while the route that runs alongside the Serraglio, a small stream, leads from Mira to Villa Pisani. If you choose to go towards the lagoon, you can either head towards the WWF oasis of Valle Averto or towards Fusina, alongside the same small river that was used by the Venetians as an aqueduct for 300 years, the Seriola.
