In gamba: Capable, sharp, on-the-ball, switched-on, reliable, great at what you do
Giorgio Valvassori is striding down a small side road in the bustling city of Siena, sharing centuries of history as he walks, pausing to point in shop windows, but he has a destination in mind. A tiny storefront, an even tinier interior, the smell of shoe leather nearly palpable through the window. Inside, shoes. Simple lace-ups, but at a glance, the craftsmanship is obvious. This isn’t a big operation, there isn’t a secret storeroom in the back. This is just Alessandro Stella, who has been making shoes for over half a century, at home in his element. His handcrafted leather is some of the most sought-after in Siena, and he painstakingly creates these masterpieces in his workshop in Lecchi—right near inGamba’s home base. He’s become a good friend of João Correia—inGamba’s founder—over the years, and over many glasses of wine and espresso. He’ll tell you that he loves to ride, but it’s obvious that his real passion is found in shoe leather. You start to wonder if you, in fact, need a new pair of shoes. Or if Stella could be convinced to create a cycling shoe that would revolutionize the industry. Either way, when you leave his shop, waving and saying goodbye as though he’s a long-lost friend, you start to realize that this is the magic of inGamba.
Giorgio’s insider knowledge doesn’t stop there. His storytelling may be legendary, but his exceptional recall of every single road for miles around Lecchi, ranging from the larger expressways to the narrowest of alleys or steepest gravel climb, is what makes him an incredible guide. In short, he exemplifies the idea of being inGamba.
The loose translation of inGamba is ‘in the know’ or ‘well-informed.’ For those who wonder why Joao made that naming decision, look no further than Alessandro. You want the best shoes, the kind that only a lucky few know about? Go to Alessandro’s shop. You want the best wine? Castillo de Ama is just up the road, and because João knows the owners, you might even be able to go home with that special vintage they don’t advertise as up for sale. It’s not just that inGamba demands the best of everything—bikes, food, drink, people—it’s that like Joao, the guides, soigneurs, cooks and mechanics pride themselves in finding the best of everything that you could never find on your own. Yes, the ride will stop at the well-known cafe where l’Eroica starts in Tuscany. But that almost impossible to spot cafe that’s halfway up a long climb and looks more like someone’s house than a business, or that secret gravel cut through offering a thrilling descent that pushes the Pinarello Dogma F to a limit that would make Tom Pidcock proud? That’s what sets inGamba apart.
The indirect translation of the Italian idiom ‘essere in gamba’ means that you are someone who is exceptionally skilled, competent, or capable. At inGamba, that is directly reflected in the people. Our ride guides, soigneurs and mechanics are among the best in the world, and many have tested their mettle against the best in the world. From former World Champions and Olympic gold medalists who lead our rides—like Eros Poli and Adrie Van der Poel—to guides who’ve been building routes and searching for perfect roads for over 20 years to mechanics and soigneurs who come to inGamba after decades of working with top WorldTour teams, there isn’t a single person working with inGamba who doesn’t meet the definition.
Sono ragazzi in gamba: They’re good people
That’s the way that João planned it from day one. If you have never heard the inGamba origin story, picture it now: A young pro cyclist, trying to find a way to bring joy to his training. He books a trip to Tuscany, burned out on racing and wanting to actually enjoy the places he’s pedaling, enjoy the food on offer. He sent out an invite to a few friends, and a group of them spent a week exploring Tuscany.
The week was spectacular, and after it, the friends he invited all wanted to know the answer to one question: What was next? João hadn’t planned on starting a business, but trip number two happened. And then number three. And it grew from there—all based on the idea of providing experiences outside of the norm. The experience, João decided, needed to be one that allowed people to experience the pro life, but also the kind of life João himself had been dreaming of.
“The people who love bikes want to ride really good bikes,” João says. “Traditionally, on bike tours, they might have good bikes, but they’re not the best bikes. We got the best bikes, the ones the top teams are riding. Other tours have people who can check over the bikes, but I wanted to have mechanics that wash the bikes every day, like we did on the teams I raced on. I wanted to have soigneurs like we did on teams. Ultimately, I wanted to give people the experience of what it was like to be on a WorldTour team, but without the speed factor or the racing factor. I wanted to make every trip the kind that I dreamed about, with that level of riding, but with food and wine and culture wrapped up in it as well.”
Other bike touring companies may have great routes. But they don’t know the cut through in the medieval village that lets you fly down a cobbled slide to get a perfect view of the cathedral on the hill. They may know the Michelin star spot in the city. We’ll go there too. But on other tours, you won’t go to the best local restaurants, the ones where sauce is simmered for hours and the main table feels like you’re sitting in someone’s living room as you’re served the best carbonara you’ve ever had, washed down with the driest Chianti Classico you’ve ever sipped. It’s perfection, from the moment you wake up until the last sip of wine before bed—and it comes from years of exploration and discovery in the places we ride.
