Early morning ride with Jeff - Thanks for the business, Jeff.

I was up early this morning to take Jeff, the client I met yesterday on a fast morning ride.  Jeff needed to be back around 9, as he and his family had a tour guide for the city and museums set to pick them up at 10.  I had a couple of plans, and we ended up doing the longest plan.  Jeff was stronger climbing today, which allowed us to put in an extra climb on a beautiful road.

We started from the Westin Excelsior and went out of town through Porta Romana.  We picked up the nice, curvy climb from there, then jogged over to the final climb to Poggio Imperiale.  We descended to Galluzzo, then started the climb toward Impruneta.  Jeff was strong on the climb, and when we arrived at the top of the climb around Monteoriolo, we stopped and discussed options.  We could either keep going pretty hard and not have a cafe / pastry stop and get in another climb, or do a more casual pace, have a pastry and return.  Jeff picked the going harder / one more climb option, and we were off.  We turned off the Impruneta road and descended toward Tavernuzze through Baruffi on the super fun, tiny road I like there.  We made it through traffic and into Tavernuzze, and kept moving pretty good to the turn off for the day's hardest climb.

Jeff stayed strong on the climb through San Andrea in Percussina to the San Casciano / Chiesa Nuova road.  We kept it moving and stopped in Chiesa Nuova for some water at the most popular fontana around.  Nice, cold water.  Even early in the morning on a Tuesday there were 2 other cyclists there.  From Chiesa Nuova, we booked back into town enjoying the descent to Scandicci, then into Firenze.  Jeff was a confident city rider and stayed pretty much on my tail into town.  He asked about going to the shop instead of his hotel, which we did.  Good ride, and thanks Jeff for "riding with Cosimo".  Ride summary is:  27.4 miles in 2:07 rolling time for an average speed of 12.9 mph with 1940 vertical feet climbed at a wonderful average temperature of 74.  Maybe I should get up at 5:30 more often when it is hot.  Ciao.

Early morning ride with Jeff- Had him back in town on time. by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Jeff on the road to Baruffi with Chianti in the background.

Jeff at the bike shop after our return.