Get off the Couch!

Real Tuscan BBQ

After a short ride day we head to Sandro's house for a real Tuscan BBQ.  The meal and the hospitality was like no other.  We has bread, beans, salad, pasta, meat and biscoti dipped in a homemade strawberry liquor.  The weather was perfect and we were all able to relax and enjoy.

My favorite was the BBQ bread then rub it with fresh Garlic, drip olive oil on it and then a little salt, oh boy I think I could have eaten until I died. 

Our host Sandro (standing next to Greg) and a couple of his friends.  They were fun and kept the laughs going.  It was sad to say goodbye to these guys, they made us feel very much at home.  We look forward to seeing them again.  I am running out of pics from the trip until I get them organized.  I am now home and ready to get back to work.  As soon as I get the pics together I will post more.  It was great being able to show the trip.  I head back again in April and will show another round. Ciao for now.

Do a climb to show us a climb so we don't have to do the climb.

This is the road to our villa at the Loppiano property.  Lined with olive groves, it was very scenic to wake up to every morning.  We headed out for an easy ride day, or so we thought, and ended up riding 100k and doing 6000 feet of climbing some of which we did a climb to get to a climb that our Italian guide Sandro wanted to show us that was long and almost 30% gradient.  No one wanted to do it but it made for a lot of laughs ie doing a climb to get to a climb that no one wanted to climb.

This was the top of one of the toughest climbs of the whole trip, well worth the effort to see it.
Our longest ride, 100 miles with 9300 feet of climbing, took us into Siena.  I loved the entrance with the tall buildings and narrow pave roads.  One of the classics ends on these roads and does a couple laps around the piazza in the center of the city. 

Italian mountains, olive oil and wine in Toscano

One of my favorite days for the view in Lago D'iseo

Now in the Tuscany valley this has amazing scenery, lots of hills and fast turns.  One more pic for now to show the hills, we average 6000feet of climbing per day and have done at least 60miles per day.  The last hard climb was 25% gradient.  We have also had some really really fast windy downhill runs.

I wish I could post all of the pics but it takes to much time.  I will have an album put together for everyone to see when I get back.  Ciao

The infamous Ghisalla

Of course the morning tradition before the big ride is to stop for a cup of espresso.

We head out to do a hot lap out and back on lake Como, very hilly and very fast.  After we finished the first 58 miles we head to the Ghisallo where the real climbing starts.
It is impossible to relate to you how hard this climb is but it is never less than 10% gradient and most of the 11k climb is above 15% gradient.  For those of you at home it is like climbing summer hills 6 or 7 times in a row.  
I finally make the summit we grab lunch at the top and then descend down the other side ending the day doing 70 miles with a total climbing of 6346 feet.  I will do more pics of the bike church and museum at the top later. Ciao 

Colnago dream come true and an amazing ride in Lago D'iseo

The Colnago Museum

Ernesto Colnago posing with us just after personally signing and giving each one of us a Colnago Jersey.  Once in a lifetime experience.   A true testiment to Greg's relationship with the Italian famiglia.

One of many pics I took on our tour guided by a local rider of a 30 mile spin through grape vineyards that are used for champagne.  Domani we head to the Ghisallo climb that made Andy Hampstead famous for winning the Giro in 1988.  130k ride with and 11k climb that is sure to wreak havoc on jet lagged legs.  I will post some pics of the ride when we return safe and sound.

Arriviamo l'Italia

Bikes a plenty, I think is was a little much for the baggage guy.

Flying over the Swiss Alps just before landing in Milano

Now in Italy waiting for the bikes to come out.  Then We head to Colnago for a private tour by Ernesto Colnago of his museum

New Jersey arrival Home to Liberty Cycle

Greg picking me up from the Airport in New Jersey.  It's always good to see his smiling face.

Up till midnight packing at Liberty Cyclehttp://www.libertycycleinc.com/liberty/  with Greg and Jeff Lamb.  We leave for Italy domani. 

Arrivederci!

Arrivaderci!  Goodbye for now.  Finally at the Airport with bike and gear.  I am looking forward to being able to relax after the frenzy of getting ready to go.  I will miss my famiglia dearly but will no doubt enjoy the trip.  See you in Jersey:)

Blog posting tool--Packing or Pack Rat

8.9" laptop, small, cheap but works great to be able to download Garmin workouts and do blog posts.

I tend to over pack especially when it comes to socks and shirts.  Talking to my wife my comment of whether I had enough stuff she said know you, you have enough for everyone else as well.  See you at the Airport.

Spring may not be in the air but it is coming!

OH my it's not hard to tell what time of year it is, you might need sunglasses to see this picture but not because of the sun.  I will be heading to Italy for a training camp--100 kilometers per day for 8 days.  As you can see I have had to spend quite a bit of time on the turbo to get ready for the trip.  It can be tough to keep going when the weather is bad, we woke up to snow again this morning, but sometimes you just have to put your head down and go.  I look forward to warm days and rides with friends this spring.  I will keep posting pics and video from the trip....stay tuned.....Ciao