Day 15 - Bolsena to Rome

WE MADE IT! 

I will write a proper post in next 24 hours but just to say we are all here in Rome. Arrived safely and intact. 

More news with photos Tomorrow.....

Day 14 - Monticiano to Bolsena

Sadly for personal reasons, Jane isn’t writing the blog herself today and the task has been taken over by Guest bloggers Chris and Jeff.  So today this won’t meet the literary standard Jane has been setting and which has been so complimented by her readers.

Today Jane was told that her loved friend and constant and adorable companion Beanz had to be put to sleep.  It was very sad for all of us to see Jane upset.  Beanz was well known to many, and will be sadly missed.  Tomorrow we will ride to Rome to commemorate the memory of the Beanz.

  

It was a tough day out for the peleton today, which had a number of us reduced to walking the bikes up a short but very grippy section of Etruscan countryside.  Over 3.000 feet of climbing in one hit after a couple of early warm up climbs was challenging but by lunchtime the task was accomplished – a testament to how we have all got stronger over the last couple of weeks.  The compensation was some sublime countryside with views straight out of a “this is the best of Italy” guide.  The compensation for the hills was a number of coffee stops, which gave us sufficient energy to move on to the next coffee stop and the next one.

And at the highest point of the day when the grey mist of exhaustion was blanking out the views our wonderful support crew of Elizabeth and Angela had laid out a fantastic picnic which restored our spirits and set us off on the final stretch of the day.

One final coffee stop with added  ice cream was sufficient for us to glide the final few miles to a lovely campsite by a lake.  When we have forgotten the hills we will all remember a fantastic day.

The only other incident worth noting was Matt’s effort to knock an Italian car off the road.  Good try and probably honours even but we’ re giving the win to Matt on the basis of the weight discrepancy.

Day 13 - Lucca to Monticiano

Today's ride was through Tuscany and we were all looking forward to some amazing Tuscan scenery. It didn't disappoint. 

The peloton was the biggest of the trip today. After the arrival of Denise and Massimo yesterday their friends Giorgio and Susie also joined us today. Giorgio has a clear pedigree in cycling as I am told his father was the trainer for Fausto Coppi. I rode behind him for a short while and noticed he wore a helmet with gold decorations and world champion stripes on it. I assumed a connection to Paolo Bettini the italian ex world champion and Olympic gold medalist in Bejing and asked if he was a fan. Yes he said "He lives near here". then Massimo told me that he also had dinner with him a few weeks ago and proceeded to show me photos of them together. I was in awe!! 

We also were joined by Mark Hudson who many years ago (in fact 2008 he reminded me) came with us to ride Vatternrundan in Sweden which is a 186 miles around a lake and ridden in one day. He met us at the hotel with Laura his wife and children and they became a second support car for the day. 

Leaving The hotel in Lucca after breakfast there was a beautiful view of the sun coming up. which felt like a taster of the incredible scenery to come. 

I took up the back rider position and we hadn't even gone beyond the city walls of Lucca before we had a puncture to fix but 10 mins later we were on the road again weaving between the city traffic. Somehow a peloton of 15 had more gravitas with the traffic than one of 11 or 10. It's amazing how at a roundabout holding up a hand on an outstretched arm to command the traffic will do. They really are somehow willing to accept its your right of way and not theirs. 

The first 40 miles we were a disciplined road train even though we had never ridden altogether before. We rode mostly in a line and our average speed went up considerably. It made the miles tick by quickly and on several occasions I had to admire the view from the back end as a snaking peloton weaves around the corners with wheel rims glinting in the sunshine. We looked for all the world like a well oiled team after a few days on the road the novices had learnt a lot and it showed. We looked good and it was exciting to he a part of the team. 

Riding through one town the route took us straight through the market. I am surprised no one came out the other side with clothes hanging from their handlebars we were so close to the stalls.

Then we started to climb the tuscan hills which was hard in the heat of the day but not impossible. The views were spectacular. 

There were only a few things as the back to deal with but mostly we moved on and came to a lovely lunch spot from our fine support crew. I wasn't hungry though and tried to force some food down. Today wasn't my day and my legs weren't as full of energy as I would have liked. 

The hotel had a pool so I handed my responsibility over to Chris for the tail end position and Jeff, JP and Matt joined me on the express train to the hotel. 33 miles  until we could swim. 

The motivation was high to get to the finish and we worked hard between the 4 of us to get there. The last three miles were on busy dual carriageway which we have subsequently discovered bikes are banned from. It didn't stop us though and the speed we were doing almost equated that with most trucks. We quickly adapted the usual changeover routine of pulling out onto the carriageway to allow the rest of the team to come through. With cars and trucks passing so close and so frequently (don't read that bit please dad!) we made use of the lay-bys every mile or so. The lead rider pulled off into the lay by while the other riders came past. Then the previous lead rider pulled back onto the carriageway at the end of the train. It was fun and we all four of us enjoyed the last 30 miles immensely. I felt like I didn't have the legs today though and was holding the others back. We made it to the end though without incident and hopefully I didn't most of my share of work on the front. 

We made it to the hotel before the forecast thunderstorms (which have still not arrived). Our reward a quick dip in the pool before everyone else arrived. 

Just as I was walking to the pool the Landy arrived and I felt terribly guilty at the thought of the bags to be unloaded and the rooms to be sorted so after a micro dip in the pool went to help the support crew. It's not their Job to wait on us hand and foot and I see no reason for  them to be carting our bags in and out. For anyone who has been a support driver I say it's more exhausting than actually riding an event. So the more help they can have the better. I had the ultimate pleasure of serving them Prosecco while they took a quick dip in the pool. 

THANK YOU SUPPORT! You have been amazing and I hope you realise how valued all your efforts are. 

I am afraid between my duties at the back and constantly racing to catch up or racing off the front with the fast boys I took very few photos today. Having no energy I wasn't up for stopping for pics then knowing the inevitable chase to catch back on would be coming. Matt has given me a couple of his to add in so hopefully it won't be too dull today! 

Day 12 Borghetto Di Vara to Lucca

Today was meant to be an easy day! Only 53 miles of mostly flat roads to cover we tired to set off early from the lovely hotel Sonno D'Autore. They were so lovely and helpful we heartily recommend them if you happen to he cycling through with 10 other mates! 

My front derailleur delimiter must have loosened with all the vibration from the road as my chain started  to drop over the big chain ring yesterday so a small amount of facing got it back to normal and then Jeff had a similar issue with his headset and Chris had some other minor mechanical. So after a hearty breakfast and good bike faff we set off. Then I remembered my sunglasses were on top of the car bonnet. Oops! So I headed back to grab them. As its only a 53 mile day it wasn't going to be hard to be self sufficient and let the support team take some rest so I didn't want to bother them with giving my glasses back once we were on the road. 

I then spent the next few miles catching up with the others and I loved that ride. It's just so special sometimes to be out on your bike in the early hours of the day when the light seems so fragile and there is just you and your bike working together. The Tarmac was great quality, the road wide and the clouds were creeping up the valley between the trees as was I. I rode along with fresh legs and felt not a care in the world. 

After a few miles I turned across a river and at some temporary traffic lights met Jeff and John, the rest of the peloton had gone through the lights already. Then we discovered Chris was behind them but I hadn't seen him and had just come along the route. He didn't appear after about 5 mins so we called him and sure enough he was lost. He got back on track and was close by from the land,arks he was seeing so we waited again. Still no Chris and another phone call revealed he was now lost again. Chris has been using a Garmin 800 to navigate with and loaded the same routes that we all have but those with open source maps do seem to have a harder time following them (except it has to be said, for Matt who is clearly a talented Navigator and never seems to have problems finding his way.) 

So with Chris still last we agreed for him to wait at a particular spot and we would come and find him. Except in the interim the Land Rover happened across him and got him to follow them, so now we were off course looking for a moving target and struggling to find it. Then with a few more phone calls we found somewhere we all knew to meet at and the Land Rover handed Chris over to us. So then we were a group of 4 and had a good ride working together to make up for lost time. We stopped for the obligatory morning coffee and then continued along flat rods through industrial and built up areas. The road surface was poor and to be honest it was hard work riding in formation and watching at every minute for a crazy Italian driver to pull out in front of us. 

Chris's cleats on his shoes have taken a hammering with all the walking/ploughed fields etc and he wanted to call in to a small bike shop we passed. They didn't have any cleats for him but they did have an amazing array of old bike paraphernalia which I am sure the owner would have told many storied about had our Italian been up to scratch. 

Shortly after the bike shop we mad the last and only real climb of the day a relatively short one before dropping down into the plane where Lucca sits. Our Hotel tonight is in an old Monastery slightly up on a hill overlooking Lucca and the olive groves. It's a fabulous spot. 

Despite the extra mileage (6 extra) we finished mid afternoon and a few minutes after the others then a quick shower and change and we all took a taxi to town to do some sightseeing in Lucca which is a beautiful walled city. The main square is an oval apparently! I was under the assumption that a square was a square and an oval was oval but seemingly not it my travelling companions are to be believed. 

 

A spot of lunch and an ice cream before a wander around the town and we were ready to head back to the hotel for some R&R. Waiting for the taxi we looked around a bike shop only to see this world champions jersey hanging up. It belonged to Cipollini whose home town was Lucca. In two more weeks the UCI road world championships will start here in Lucca and ride to Florence so we shall all be looking out on the TV for places we recall I am sure. 

Alex's father Massimo and mother Denise have joined us today and will ride to the finish with us. Massimo is Italian so we have plenty of local knowledge with us. With two more Italian linguists to help with the ice cream and coffee stops we should be sorted. I am sure Alex will be happy to have them around too. 

Massimo has already triumphed by finding us a beautiful hilltop restaurant for our dinner tonight. :-)

Lastly some of you will be aware of my love for all things turquoise or 'celeste' as Bianchi call it. I did see one bike in town to rival the colour of mine but I am not sure it would cope so well on the climbs....

Day 11 - Gavi to Borghetto di Vara

Today was a day I have been dreading. I hadn't revealed my fear to anyone really other than Jeff as there wasn't much they could do about it but ridemygps.com suggested that today's 82 miles would be interspersed every few miles with gradient of up to 28% even if for short periods. This had previously caused me a sleepless night and consultation with Jeff had led us to believe that it must be some sort of data anomaly. We just hoped we were right. The only way to tell was to ride it....

The day started badly. We left the hotel before 09.00hrs and descended pleasingly the steep gradients we worked hard to ascend the day before. Within seconds we were back down in Gavi admiring the view if the fort in town and then realised we were missing a member of the team. 

There was no phone signal available to any other riders or support car that we knew was sat at the hotel. All the riders had been seen at least half way down the descent so there was nothing for it, after a couple of minutes wait JP, Chris and I rode most of the way back up the steep hill in case there had been an accident. Calling out on the way up in case they had gone over the edge. We became more nervous as we climbed and saw no sign. Just as we were about 100 metres from the turnoff to the hotel they appeared around the corner. They would have cycled right by too had we not called out.  A minor mechanical had been the issue but with no harm done we all descended again and then moved on up a stormy and grey looking valley. 

The first real climb of the day John and Alex and I rode up together. The weather was cool and cloudy and it made for an easier ascent through the wooded landscape. Alex even had enough breath to teach us some Italian on the way up. At the top we found we were on a cycle route dedicated to the great Fausto Coppi.

With the main peloton ahead Chris, John, Alex and I rode along together notching up some miles on easy roads. There was a net gain in altitude but barely noticeable. As we passed through one small town the lure of coffee was too much and we stopped for a quick expresso shot. Chris catching up on the cycling in the Gazzetta Dello Sport.

How cool to open a newspaper and find plenty of coverage of pro cycling and not just football. This pink news paper is the reason the Italian version of the Tour De France (The Giro d'Italia) has a leader in. Pink jersey and not a yellow one. 

We rode on working together along the narrow valley still covered mainly with trees but quite populated with small villages. When the hills come and there are fewer roads to choose from the level of traffic increases and at times it wasn't a pleasant ride with cars and vans and trucks passing. 

Finally we reached the end of the valley and rode more steeply up to the top where we caught the rest of the team having a well timed coffee. It was well timed as it poured with rain while we sat congratulating ourselves on the timing of our arrival under shelter. 

Having crested the end of the valley we could enjoy the fun part, about 15 miles of mostly downhill to the coast. The temperature rose dramatically with our descent and the sun burnt off the remaining clouds and by the time we hit the coast the temperature had gone up by at least 10 degrees. I saw a neon sign on a shop by the road advertising the temperature at 30 degrees. It's a strange feeling to drop down a mountain and feel the air temperature rise. There are often distinct bands that you literally hit where suddenly you feel it getting warmer. 

We all looked for the land rover who we were expecting to see for lunch but with no sign we moved on along the coast. We were just south of Portofino and the sea looked very inviting to some now quite hot cyclists. 

Then when we arrived at the final climb of the day and still there was no sign of lunch we called and after a short delay managed to locate them. In the meantime we found a place next to the sea and Chris Scott and I took the only other opportunity to cool down that was available. 

After a delicious lunch we had a 10 mile up and a 10 mile down left before the end of the day. As we all ascend and descend at different rates some of us left the post lunch faffing and headed up the hill to get the climb done. It was beautiful with stunning views of the coastline as we climbed and with each twist of the road they became more spectacular. 

Jeff was not feeling his best after lunch so didn't want to stop to take photos or admire the view. Climbing on a bike is a mental game and you each have to have a strategy to get you to the top of a long climb. Jeffs bad day on a bike equates to my good day so we all climbed together (John, Jeff and I) then with a line in the road marking the top I tried to get the surprise attack on JP and sprinted for the line while he was chatting. He soon caught on and came after me with a lunge to the line from both of us it was a photo finish. Sadly there wasn't anyone to take the photo. I think I had him by a tyres width but he will tell you otherwise. 

A quick refresh at the top and a chat with Angela Liz and Ella and we were on our way down the 10 mile descent to the hotel. It was a pocket road surface and not too steep and I had fun trying to improve my rubbish descending skills with tips from JP. Jeff followed with the go Pro camera running (or so we thought). With plenty of bends it wasn't an easy descent to enjoy the view but it was an enjoyable sweeping ride. The Bianchi needs to be let loose sometimes like all thoroughbreds so I feel I owe it to my bike to try to ride it properly. 

It wasn't long before we arrived at the hotel and waited for the others to appear. The hotel served jugs of Prosecco on tap which was surprisingly drinkable so we enjoyed a little spell in the late afternoon sun and toasted a safe ascent and descent and distinct lack of any scary gradients that the route data suggested might appear. My worries subsided and now the days remaining to Rome are shorter at least so the hard long days are done. 

We have a couple of small mechanical issues to fix today so are heading off early to Lucca with only 53 miles to ride we all relaxed a bit yesterday and enjoyed the hotels hospitality a little more than usual. 

Some of us stayed up having a game of cards with a game Angela taught us before staggering up the stairs to bed. 

We did have to chuckle at Jills thoroughness. She has matched her dress and outfit to her cyclist stripey tan lines. Check out the dress and the facial tab lines, a perfect match! 

Day 10 - Pont st Martin to Gavi

Well today seems to have lasted a week! We started off our day in the shadow of the alpine foothills and were pleased to emerge into the Po valley and be able to remove our armwarmers as the sunshine finally cast its spell upon us. A puncture was the only disruption to some steady miles and an organised road train working together to knock off the miles. We stopped at Strombino rail station for coffee sitting amongst what looked to be Strombinos octogenarian society founding members. Some members of the peloton were feeling somewhat jaded after a night of frequent visits to the bathroom and some opted out altogether to recuperate in the car. 

The sun was out and the weather fine and after many miles straight in the main road we turned off to rural country roads with corn growing on either side to at least 7 ft tall. It's actually proved very useful for the odd person needing to dash off at short notice into the bushes! 

We then after many miles of the Po valley started to see some more gentle hills and road for a while crossing back and forth across a valley bottom and river before starting to climb more regularly to little hilltop villages visible from miles away with their churches and castles silhouetted against the bright sunshine. 

On many occasions we saw these Villages from a distance before winding our ways between the fields and along the rural 'strada' to them. They were all quite beautiful and charming with their rustic architecture, quiet cobbled streets and terracotta hued colours. The riding became exactly what I expected of this part of Italy, stunning hilly arable land with hill top villages plucked straight from a picture postcard. 

The gradients kicked up and showed us the meaning of >10% and our legs started to complain regularly. At least there were some sweeping downhills too but sadly the road surface doesn't generally permit the hands to relax from the brake levers to really enjoy the descent. Just as we were getting into our stride atop the hilly ridges between villages we found the road was closed for repair. After 80 odd miles no one was very happy to take a long detour around so we all pushed or carried our bikes 'cyclocross' style around the ploughed and muddy field to the end of the road works. 

There were a few near misses after that as shoes an cleats were full of mud and release mechanisms were a little slower. A few wobbles at traffic lights made it clear we all had a shoe and cleat cleaning session to come at the hotel. Mud and pedal systems aren't a good mix.

Everyone survived the long day well. Alex suffered a bit more than others but both him and Nick Beven are showing what young people are capable of when you have youth on your side. Their strength is improving day by day and although they both suffer silently at times we all know they are finding things tough. Their perseverance and determination seem to win through each day and they come back for more. Nick is turning into quite a climber I think, his willowy figure ideal for power to weight ratio's. 

The land rover with Liz and Angela aboard followed us and met at various points along the way either for a picnic lunch or to just restock supplies and drinks. The sun was hot and we valued their support. 

Then at 92 miles into our day we arrived to meet them at a cafe where Liz had texted us to say we could get an ice cream. When we turned up the patron had left and would not return for 15 minutes. The peloton weren't happy. The thought of that ice cream is what kept us alive for the previous 15 miles ( well that's what it felt like anyway!). Mutiny was almost afoot when the cafe owner returned and opened up offering very generous portions of 'Gelati' . Jeff and I both enjoy our first Italian pistachio ice cream.

By the time we had munched our ice creams and found out the village was adorned with ribbons for a reason then wind was up and the clouds were gathering fast. We all stuck a raincoat in our pockets and soon stopped to put them on. 

The rain was heavy and lightening lit the way occasionally. The pace line of weary wet riders broke up as people became bored of 'spray in the face' from the rider in front. The we were down to almost 5 miles to go. The rain eased off from the thunderous downpours to ease into a blue sky dotted with rain clouds and the town of Gavi came into view, we were all happy with the impending end to the day but with one last climb to navigate up to the hotel our stamina was truly tested. A 1mile plus steep uphill led to the hotel with gradients hitting 12% then eventually we found our drivers and other support car and settled in for the night at a beautiful old Italian villa set on the side of the hill. the sun was setting between the stormclouds as we started the evening routine. A washing machine in the room meant a quick wash of our soggy cycle gear was in order and some shoe cleaning to remove the dirt from earlier then we were set to eat.

The hotel being as remote as it is up on the hill had no restaurant due to a power cut earlier in the week so Scott went to town in his car and ordered 20 pizzas. (All were demolished) .

Some of us stayed up to sample some local Gavi wine while the younger team members went to bed at 20.30! 

Tomorrow is a day I fear, much more than the alps. If the data is to be believed we have a day of 82 miles mostly perpetual climbing up and down at gradients into double figures. It's one I asked Jeff to review for me such was my fear. His opinion was the data must be wrong. Lets hope he was right. If he wasnt I think we may need to ride ahead to drown out the complaints from the peloton. I shall be glad to get to Borghetto di Vara tomorrow I know that much.. 

Day 9 - Seez to Pont St Martin

Today was another big day on the bike starting immediately as we left the hotel with a climb of the Petit St Bernard. It's a 26km climb with an average gradient of about 5 %. The hotel for our rest day had been brilliant and sat conveniently a few kilometres up the climb already. when the morning rain was easing we left the hotel and quickly fell into different pace groups. It was possible to set a nice steady tempo and ride all the way to the top without stopping. I rode up with Chris and Jeff and we found rather than spotting every borne on the way up we often missed them with our chatter and distractions of the view. The climb was less of a mental challenge and involved a lot of hairpin bends and switch backs. The sat nav looked more like Millie Cleminson had been doing her best colouring in. 

We passed the ski resort of La Rosiere and I recalled motorbike shots of the 2009 Tour de France as we climbed past the landmarks. 

Soon we were above the treeline and the views were stunning. Reaching the top a nice German motorbiker took our photo but failed spectacularly to get the col sign in the photo somehow..! 

It was between 6-7000ft anyway. Long enough... 

Thankfully there was a warm cafe for us to wait for the support car in and so we sat and enjoyed hot chocolate with Rum in to warm us up. 

The weather was a lot cooler at the top and It wasn't long before Matt Beven joined us for chocolate. Once the land rover arrived and we all donned more layers for the descent and left to head for warmer air and sunshine in Italy. The col summit marks the border between France and Italy and this was apparently where Hannibal crossed the alps. It's hard to imagine elephants up there. They must need large ear muffs to keep warm.

The Bianchi was actually coming home to  Italy. :-) 

The descent was freezing and even the layers weren't enough to stop the shivers on the way down. A change in jurisdiction and perhaps funding was obvious at the border.The road surface in Italy were crap. Nightmare!! 

It was hard to not watch the spectacular views whizzing past. 

With lots of stops for photos and chocolate and to cheer on Ella as she climbed the whole way up ..! Chapeau .. Xx 

At the bottom it was mostly brilliant riding down slopes along the valley bottom and watching the appearance of Italy and a different culture and architecture. 

The day ended with another 35 mile ride along the valley after a late lunch.

John Jeff and I powered on to the hotel just wanting to get the days cycling done. We made it and I had a few mins before Jill arrived to do the usual routine of washing out waste bottles and washing out kit ready did for the next days cycling

There is a bit of D & V going around the peloton so today could be tough for a few people.