It's Never Just About the Ride.

If you had told me a few years ago that I would leave Sardinia, move to Switzerland and help build a mountain bike community in Basel, I probably would have laughed.

When my partner and I decided to start a new chapter together in Basel, I was genuinely excited about the adventure—but if I'm honest, I wasn't entirely convinced about Switzerland itself.

Coming from Sardinia, I had plenty of stereotypes in mind: cold weather, endless mountains, warm beer, fondue and a lifestyle that felt very different from the Mediterranean life I had always known.

Then, in 2022, we made the move.

What I discovered was something completely different.

It wasn't Basel that captured me first—it was everything around it.

Within a short drive, I found endless forests, breathtaking mountains and an incredible network of trails. Every weekend became an opportunity to discover somewhere new, and every ride turned into a different adventure. Mountain biking became my way of exploring Switzerland, one trail at a time.

Long before Trail Snails, I had already experienced what a strong riding community could become.

Back home in Sardinia, I'm one of the founders of CapoTrail, a local mountain bike community where, together with many passionate volunteers, we've built and maintained dozens of trails over the years. More importantly, we've created a place where riders meet, friendships grow and the trails become an excuse to spend time together.

CapoTrail taught me something that has stayed with me ever since:

Building trails is rewarding. Building a community is even more rewarding.

When I opened Bicicletta Café inside Jobfactory in early 2025, my friend Jan was already working in the bike store next door. Unsurprisingly, bikes quickly became part of our daily conversations.

We were already riding with different cycling communities around Basel, but we both felt that something was missing.

Not because those communities weren't great—they absolutely are—but because we dreamed of something built around a different core value.

A place where nobody feels pressured to be the fastest.

Where beginners are just as important as experienced riders.

Where nobody gets left behind.

Where an e-bike rider, an enduro rider, someone riding their very first trail and someone racing every weekend all belong in the same group.

Because we believe the best rides aren't remembered for their average speed.

They're remembered for the people you shared them with.

That's how Trail Snails was born.

After our very first Thursday Social Rides, Adina joined us and helped connect all the dots. She brought incredible energy, ideas and organization, helping transform a simple concept into the welcoming community we're proud to be part of today.

Today, Trail Snails is much more than a weekly ride.

It's where people who were strangers become friends.

Where beginners discover confidence.

Where experienced riders remember why they fell in love with mountain biking in the first place.

And once every year, my two worlds come together.

We organize a trip to Sardinia where the Trail Snails crew meets the CapoTrail family. Together we spend several days riding some of the island's most spectacular trails, sharing local food, discovering hidden places and creating memories that last far beyond the rides themselves.

For me, that's what mountain biking has always been about.

Not racing.

Not comparing performances.

But discovering places, sharing experiences and meeting amazing people along the way.

Looking back, it's funny how wrong my first impression of Switzerland was.

I found mountains that never stop surprising me, trails that seem endless and friends that have become family.

I still haven't become a huge fondue fan...

But I definitely fell in love with Switzerland.

And as for the warm beer?

Don't worry.

At Bicicletta Café, it's always served ice cold. 🍻 Francesco Meloni