Candeli raduno with the team.

Up quite early this morning to meet the team for a raduno.  We only had 4 of us plus a friend of Domenico's, which is plenty for a great ride.  We rode to the start point, signed up, and got started.  It was an interesting course with lots of up and down.  We rode back into town, up past Piazzale Michaelangleo, then down to Galluzzo.  We rode out of Galluzzo, up the switchbacks on Via Volterrana, then over through Chiesa Nuova to the turn off for San Andrea in Percussina, just before Spedellato.  A really nice descent to Scopeti, then back toward Tavernuzze, turning off to climb to Impruneta through Bagnolo.  I had never climbed this road before, although I had descended it many times.  On the start, Luca, Domenico's friend dropped his chain, or so I thought, and I continued to do the climb with Alessandro.  We waited at the top for everyone, and when Domenico and Luigi arrived, they said Luca had broken the chain.  I felt bad, as I do bring a chain tool with me, and probably could have repaired his chain.  Luca took a cab back to town, and we continued.  I did not try to explain this in Italian, as the decisions had already been made.

From Impruneta, we descended to Ferrone, then rode out the road toward Greve, turning off to do the climb through Le Bolle and Chiocchio where we gave the officials our controllo cards.  We continued over to Strada, and at the second roundabout, I spaced out and made a wrong turn and started a descent to Ferrone.  Domenico realized this, and we stopped and climbed back up then on the correct route, we rode down to Grassina, then turned up to Antella, and completed our last real climb to Osteria Nuova.  We regrouped and headed down to Bagno a Ripoli, then back over to Candeli.  Some nice snacks, a bottle of wine for each participant and a 5th place trophy for the team.  Great ride fellas.  Summary is:  57.2 miles in 3:37 rolling time for an average speed of 15.8 mph with 3500 vertical feet climbed at a perfect temperature of 72.  Sweet.

Raduno Candeli con squadra by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Domenico, Alessandro, and Luigi at the finish.