Beautiful second with Keith and Jodi - Impruneta, Tavernuzze, Luiano, Montefiridolfi, San Casciano

We started our ride around 9:45, and went out the bike path by the Viale until we crossed the Arno, then rode the Viale up to Piazzale Michaelangelo, where we stopped for a break and to take in the incredible view.  We set off from there and went up to Poggio Imperiale, then over and down to Galluzzo.  We took the main road up toward Impruneta, and turned off just before Impruneta to take the tiny, funky, road down through Baruffi to the outskirts of Tavernuzze.  This is one of my favorite roads and both Keith and Jodi really liked it.  It is good to have clients that enjoy the small roads that I truly enjoy riding here.  From Tavernuzze, we went out the valley road toward Greve, turning off between Falciano and Ferrone to climb past Luiano to very close to Mercatale.  At the junction there, we took a quick right, then a quick left and descended a steep hill on the rarely used road over to Montefiridolfi.  After the descent, there is a fairly steep hill that starts relatively mellow and gets steeper as it gets closer to Montefiridolfi.

We stopped at the Piazza in Montefiridolfi, and had some water and gorp and other snacks that had been brought on the ride.  We took a good long break, and I decided to have a cafe machiato at the tiny bar there.  We left Montefiridolfi and took the road on the ridge to the nice switch back filled descent to the valley floor close to Sambuca and took the right turn and climbed to San Casciano.  We took a good break in San Casciano then returned home through Chiesa Nuova, Galluzzo and Cinque Vie.  All in all, a very fun ride and great tour.  Both Keith and Jodi got stronger as the day went on, and really were enthusiastic about how much they enjoyed the small, funky roads.  It was a really great day, and we will do it again tomorrow.

The link is below, but the summary is:  47 miles in around 3:40 rolling time for an average speed of around 12 mph with 3600 vertical feet climbed at an average temperature of 74.  This is more of a guess than usual, as I forgot to start the Garmin until around 5 kilometers into the ride.  Oh well.

Day 2 with Keith and Jodi - Luiano, Montefiridolfi, San Casciano by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Keith and Jodi at Piazzale Michelangelo on the way out of town

with the Duomo and Firenze in the background.

An over the head shot of Keith and Jodi on the way to Monte Oriolo.

Jodi and Keith on the final little climb to Baruffi.

Jodi and Keith at the vineyards with the Luiano fattoria 

on the hill in the background.

Jodi at the end of the climb to Montefiridolfi.