04/08/2024

How My Passion for Cycling Became My Life and Career.

Since I was a child, I have had a huge passion for cycling and the mountains. After studying and gaining some experience abroad, I started working in the hospitality industry and later in the world of event organization. Despite this, I was never fully satisfied at the end of the day. Too many hours spent addressing others' needs, first in various hotels, then with artists, producers, and technicians. Always busy solving others' problems, without ever focusing on my own life. So, I began thinking about my future and jokingly asked, "Why not quit everything and dedicate myself to my passion?" Well, guess what... that's exactly what I did! I developed a business plan and searched for a suitable location. After many evenings in front of the computer, I found a place in my second city that seemed perfect for my needs. It also allowed me to renovate it and provide it to the community with services aligned with the mobility idea I had in mind. To cut a long story short: this was the right place for developing the project, and I immediately fell in love with the prospect of its development.

I sold everything I had from my previous business, founded my new venture, and rented the station where I transferred my new adventure. And when did this happen? At the age of 50.

Italy wouldn’t be Italy if everything went according to plan. First, I had issues with permits, found that the station was not fit for use, and had to bring it up to code. Then there was the recruitment and training of staff for a type of tourism that didn’t exist locally, and finally, dealing with those who were supposed to provide services, mainly restaurants and hotels that weren’t ready for this type of tourism. I had to revise some initial beliefs to adapt to local realities and try to start and then have others follow in the future. Meanwhile, working with the first clients, including foreigners, helped shape my organizational approach for an exploratory vacation through the Abruzzo region. Initially, I was heavily focused on advanced off-road cycling but later realized I needed to broaden the base to include more accessible and less extreme bike tourism. After making the necessary adjustments and finding and losing valuable collaborators along the way, I managed to shape the agency according to the business model I had envisioned from the start, despite resistance from collaborators and suppliers without whom I couldn't have done anything. This was the most challenging moment: making those who worked with me understand the need for teamwork, where everyone would provide crucial support for the client’s vacation, not for me, but for the guest’s satisfaction. A concept so simple it seemed like climbing a mountain!

Today, I am satisfied with the success of the project, collaborating with friends who share this development vision and letting go of those who proved negative during the growth process. My project is called Bikelife, an idea that aligns with the passion I've always had since the beginning of cycling and the magic that comes from moving it with the pedals. Today, I develop and market projects with my team within the Tour Operator, using the Trabocchi Cycling Station in Francavilla al Mare, the Adriatic Cycling Station in Pescara, which includes a shop and rental service, and with the vision of a new experiential project. This includes an open marketplace for external collaborations, capable of capturing demand and directing it toward niche, specialized, unique, and authentic providers, giving users the magic of a real and sustainable vacation, in contact with local communities, for a new world of vacations and travel. What’s it called? Isy Travel Escape & Explore!

Never stop searching and reaching your goals or realizing your dreams!