A couple of hours wandering in the Chianti hills.

I had a lovely 2 hour plus ride today between errands this morning and high tea with Kate and Viola this afternoon.  The tea, which will be at the 4 seasons was Emily and my birthday present to Viola.  It should be fun.  Emily is staying with Torrio while we go to tea, but she had 3 high teas with her lady friends around Christmas, so I do not feel too guilty.

I decided to do some riding toward Chianti and picked this route without knowing how long it would take, but it ended up just perfect.  I started by going over to Ponte a Ema, then up Via Carota, and wonderful climb on a tiny road with basically no traffic.  After hooking up with the main road, I continued to climb to Osteria Nuova, then turned off and descended to Antella.  You wander around Antella a little and hook up with another little road to climb up and over a small hill to just below Capanuccia.  This starts a bigger climb to a little pass before descending to San Polo in Chianti.  I rode up through the town to find a really nice little bar for a cafe.  It has a great little outdoor seating area which I will keep in mind for clients in the future.

From San Polo, I descended toward Strada, but turned off at the bottom of the descent to climb to the little pass around Castello Ruggero.  This is a beautiful road and climb and although it is a little steep, around 10%, it is short with only around 75 meters of climbing.  A very nice descent back to Capanuccia awaits, and is a fun ride.  From Capanuccia, you book into Grassina, then hook up with the Cinque Vie road then up and over Pian de Giuliari to the Viales then power on back home.  The weather was quite warm and it felt great to be out.  30.5 miles in 2:09 rolling time for an average speed of 13.9 mph with 2208 vertical feet of climbing at a lovely average temperature of 58.  Ciao.

Via Carota, Osteria Nuova, Capanuccia, San Polo, Ruggero, Grassina, Fi by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Not very good light, but another attempt at an iconic

Tuscan view.  

What a beautiful little road on the way to Castello Ruggero.

You have to love climbing roads like this to love the riding here.

On the top of the little hill where Castello Ruggero is located.

Nice two hour morning ride through Monteloro.

I committed to babysitting at 12:30 for Kate, so I only had a couple of hours for riding.  I decided to go out the main road, which I rarely do to the Le Falle turn off for Monteloro.  The main road is really fine, and gives you a good chance to warm up.  The Monteloro climb was fun as always, but today there were 3 different layers of fog to ride through both below and above Monteloro.  At the top, the fog was definitely below, and on my descent through Fiesole, I never hit it again.  From the views it appeared to be layered only in the valleys.  I took the main way down from Fiesole and enjoyed the speed that you can happily and safely take now with the roads newly paved in the last year for the Championships.  A really nice, lasting benefit of the races here last September.  25.1 miles in 1:43 rolling time for an average speed of 14.7 mph with 1847 vertical feet climbed at an average temperature of 48.

Firenze, Le Falle, Monteloro, Fiesole, Firenze by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

I liked the view through the trees after coming out of the first 

layer of fog on the way to Monteloro.

The cypress trees presented this iconic Tuscan view as 

I re-entered the fog above Monteloro.

From the top of the little pass above Monteloro, you can see the 

top layer of clouds / fog below.

Short, warm afternoon ride.

After a busy morning of errands, shopping the sales, etc., I had time for a nice hour ride in the hills north of home.  One of my normal routes up Via Bolognese then over to Cercina with option number 4 for the descent.  It is really warm here now, I think it must have been almost 60 while I was riding at times.  Perhaps this is the Firenze version of the January thaw, which does not seem to be hitting Colorado or the US right now.  I think that Crested Butte is not one of the coldest places in the US now for a change, as I read about the major cold snap for most of the country.  I am enjoying the nice weather here right now, although a couple of days ago it was still raining.  You just have to enjoy whatever weather you are presented with.  By tomorrow I will probably have a new guitar, as this was Emily's Christmas present to me.  I haven't really played in around 40 years, so it will be interesting to see how I do.  It does seem to me to be a time of life when I can explore some things I used to enjoy but have left behind.  Maybe I will even have enough confidence to sing with the new guitar.  I would hope so.  The ride summary is:  13.7 miles in 1:01 rolling time for an average speed of 13.4 mph with 1312 vertical feet climbed at an average sun effected temperature of 58.  Nice afternoon!

Pian de San Bartolo, Cercina, Careggi, Firenze by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

The road from Via Bolognese to Cercina is one of my favorites.

I loved the sky combined with a favorite view of the church above Cercina.

Giro de Mugello on a perfect weather day.

I decided last night not to get up to meet the team, as we had dinner with Kate and Nicco, and I was not in bed ready to sleep until after 1.  So, a slow start this morning with clear skies and warming temperatures.  I had to be back at a certain time to go to Nicco's parents for "Buffana" which is kind of like American Christmas stockings, only at Epiphany, and the stocking is filled with candy.  Nicco's parents were having a family "tea" with stockings for 4 of the 6 grandchildren.  So, time constraints were present.  I still had 5 hours, and I had a route in mind which I thought would be around 4 hours, which it ended up being.  

I basically did a simple Giro de Mugello, with a number of added climbs and took some back roads instead of the main roads.  I started by climbing from Le Cure to San Domenico, then up to the descent to Maiano, then over to the Vincigliata climb.  As I climbed, the temperatures climbed with me as I left the cold inversion in the valley in Florence behind.  I took off some clothes and did some adjustments, then enjoyed the amazing weather today.  After the Vincigliata climb, I descended to Compiobbi, then went out the main road to Sieci, only around 5 kilometers, where I turned off to climb to the Windmill.  This is a very scenic valley and climb and it is one of my favorites.  On the way there is a little descent, and I hit a small hole and had a flat on the front tire.  I stopped and changed tubes, and was a little cautious as I only carry one spare tube, and I had 60 kilometers to ride.  I checked the tire pretty good, and got it pumped up and continued.  

After the climb to the windmill, I descended to Rufina, where I joined the main road to Dicomano.  It is only around 10 kilometers on the main road, and after Dicomano, I cross the river and there is a wonderful little road that goes almost all the way to the Via Faentina climb.  Around 10 k into this road, I noticed the front tire going flat again.  I figured it was a slow leak and just pumped it up.  Well, after a couple of kilometers it was going flat again, so I stopped.  I was pretty sure I had a patch kit, and did find it.  It took a little time and my remaining water to find the location of the hole, but the patch worked fine.  I checked the tire really well, and there was a little piece of glass embedded in the tire that did not poke through unless you hit a bump.  I believe this was the culprit.  I was able to get the little piece of glass out, the patch held, and I was back on the road.  

I enjoyed the remainder of the ride to the climb, then enjoyed the climb to Croce alle Vetta.  From there, it was a wonderful descent back to town.  As you descended, you could definitely feel the location of the temperature inversion, as the temperature fell.  Even with the hour plus of dealing with the 3 flats, it was a wonderful ride.  The skies were crystal clear and it was pretty warm most of the way.  52.2 miles in 3:46 rolling time for an average speed of 13.8 mph with 4623 vertical feet climbed at an average temperature (sun effected) of 54.  

Vincigliata, Compiobbi, Sieci, Windmill, Rufina, Dicomano, Croce Vetta, Fi by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

What a day!  This is on the way from Sieci to the Windmill.

The beautiful back road from Dicomano to the start of the Via Faentina climb.

A ride as the sun returns.

I worked on one of my resolutions today, as this morning it was pretty much pouring rain.  I did not go to the team meeting place, as I was supposed to be going to a pool with the grandkids.  Torrio had a fever, so that did not happen.  My resolution was to go to the Uffizzi on gray, rainy days, and slowly take in one room or group of paintings.  Today, I spent about an hour in the first room with 3 masterpieces of late Medieval painting which perhaps make the beginning of the renaissance.  All 3 are Maesta's by Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto.  I get a little overwhelmed after touring a huge museum like the Uffizzi, and this approach works well.  I learned that the Duccio was painted for Santa Trinita, which was a Vallombrosan church.  I looked it up upon my return home, and around 1030 the monastery at Vallombrosa, where I often ride when looking for a good climb, was set up and founded.  It eventually expanded to around 60 churches and "orders" before shrinking to it's present size after many different foreign powers conquered the area then were driven out.  I had no idea of the story or the importance of the monastery at Vallombrosa was, and enjoyed learning about it.

When I left the museum, the sun was actually trying to come out, and the roads were drying up!  On the way home, I had a cafe at Cafe Liberta, a great place very close, and asked about another of my New Year's resolutions.  I am newly determined to find a good, reasonably priced Cosmopolitan in Firenze.  Cafe Liberta does make them and they cost 6 euro, which is very reasonably priced.  I will return another time with Emily to try them out.  I even communicated the question and understood the answer in Italian.  Yeah!  After cafe, I suited up for a ride, and went out Via Faentina to Pian de Mugnone then climbed to Fiesole.  I really enjoyed this route the last time I did it, and wanted to do it again.  From Fiesole, up the main road to the crossroads just below the pass, then over to Bivigliano.

From Bivigliano, I went down, then up to Casellina, with more traffic on the road than normal.  A portion of the road to Bivigliano has washed away, so the traffic is re-routed there.  From Casellina, down to Pratolino, then over on the cut off toward Monte Morello, but then left and down Via Bolognese to the Cercina cut off.  Down, then up this road and then descending on option #1 to the new normal route around Careggi and home.  Really nice to see the sun again.  27.7 miles in 2:10 rolling time for an average speed of 12.8 mph with 2641 vertical feet climbed at an average temperature of 55.  Sweet!

Pian de Mugnone, Fiesole, Bivigliano, Pratolino, Cercina, Careggi, Firenze by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

The sun was really out on the mellow climb above Fiesole toward Croce alle Vetta.

On the way over to Bivigliano from Croce alle Vetta.

I stopped to put on my shell, as it was mostly downhill from here, and

saw this view and thought the incredible green and sky made it 

worth a photo.  From the descent to Viliano from Bivigliano.

Rain, return, second ride attempt successful on a warm day.

I was up for a ride today, no matter what.  For me, a couple of days off the bike is a long time, and for some reason, my happiness seems to be linked to getting out on the bike.  This means that Emily encourages me to get out as well.  I had a couple of good, long walks the last two days, though, and it keeps me feeling fine, but a ride is what I want.  So, I was at the meeting point for the team ride this morning 5 minutes early, but after 15 minutes of waiting, it was apparent that I was the team today.  I took my first selfie, see below, to post of the team facebook page.  I started a ride anyway, but around 300 meters into it, it started to rain, and I decided it would be best to return home and see if it cleared.

Back home, I spent some time reading a book I am totally into right now, then at a break I checked the skies, and they looked as good as it was going to get.  No rain basically since I returned this morning, so back out for attempt number 2.  I actually had a very nice ride, and linked some different routes in ways that were new to me.  The temperatures were quite warm, and I did not get rained on at all, just rode in very threatening skies.  I had a number of decision points where I could extend the ride or return home, and I extended on all choices but the last one.  I was really enjoying my ride, and started for the extension to San Polo from Strada, but as I hit the final turn off, it started to sprinkle and the skies did not look good.  I turned around and headed home at that point.  The sprinkles at the last decision point were the only moisture I hit on my second attempt at a ride.  I really enjoyed the ride and getting out.  Fun to be here and to have the Chianti hills to ride in as my backyard.  41.6 miles in 3:02 rolling time for an average speed of 13.7 mph with 2825 vertical feet climbed at a warm average temperature of 58.

Vacciano, Impruneta, Luiano, Gabbiano, Ferrone, Strada, Firenze by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

A selfie of the entire team present for this morning's ride.  Perhaps

everyone else was smarter, it started to rain 300 meters after I

started, and I turned around and went home.

A typical winter view in Chianti.  Cloudy, vineyards are bare, but 

still beautiful.  Actually it is not cloudy more than 50% of the time.

At the little pass between Quattro Strade and Gabbiano, I took

these two views of the stormy skies.  In person, the first looked 

very threatening, but the second looked brighter.  Here, they both 

look stormy.  At the next decision point, I decided not to extend after

starting the extension, but getting some light sprinkles.

Super ride in perfect weather to start the new year.

A late start today, but it was New Year's last night, and I actually stayed up till 12;45 with Emily, which is very unusual for me.  There are fireworks everywhere in Florence on New Year's, and I don't think any of it is organized by groups, simply individuals and friends all over the city shooting off fireworks, some of them quite large.  From our apartment we have views of around 250 degrees, and we could see fireworks going off all over the place for over 1/2 hour.  It was pretty much done by the time I went to bed, but what a fun thing to watch.  I had never really seen anything like it.  We had dinner at a friend's house before, and went to a modern interpretation of the Nutcracker in the afternoon, so a full day yesterday.  So, perhaps the late start is understandable.

I enjoyed a big "American" breakfast, then waited for it to warm up.  It was around 45 when I started around 10:45, and it warmed up pretty quickly and felt warm in the sun almost immediately.  I rode out the Cascine to the back way to Signa, then Lastra a Signa, then out the river road to Montelupo.  I knew this road would be a little cold and mostly in the shade, so I waited until Montelupo to take off my shell, change to lighter gloves, and remove the neck gaiter.  I then did a first climb up the road to Bottinaccio.  I had descended this road probably 10 times or so in the last 6 years, but had never climbed it.  It was a nice climb, and the weather was truly perfect.  After you reach the ridge, which basically takes you over to Montespertoli, there are 3 really steep pieces of both up and down on the road.  One warning sign said 20%, and I believe it.  Still a really beautiful ride and basically no traffic.

I looked for an open bar in Montespertoli, but everything in the countryside is closed today, which is really great.  So, no cafe for me, but I am happier that people take time off for themselves on a holiday than stay open so someone like me can get a cafe.  I descended to Boccaicio, then climbed to Montagnana.  Just past the top, I turned off to climb to San Pancrazio, the first time in probably 10 months, as the road was washed away in one place last spring.  One of my favorite roads, I enjoyed being back on it.  A truly sweet descent from San Pancrazio to Ponterotto, then over to the main road and a nice climb to San Casciano.  No bars open there either, so I continued over, then down to Falciani, then down the main road to Tavernuzze.  Pretty soon after getting on the road in the valley, a group of 3 passed me, so I dug a little and hung on easily.  A group can really help you go faster.  I am sure I was using less energy, but going a fair amount faster than on my own.  They gradually dropped one of their guys, and in a few kilometers, I passed them with a wave of thanks, and they waited for the dropped rider.

I just powered in from there, and took the direct route into the Centro, then home.  I was quite surprised by the number of people in the Centro.  It was totally packed like at the height of tourist season.  The ride was 56.6 miles in 3:46 rolling time for an average speed of 15.0 mph with 3353 vertical feet climbed at an average sun effected temperature of 52.  Happy New Year!

Cascine, Montelupo, Bottinaccio, Montespertoli, San Pancrazio, San Casciano by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Wow, what a perfect day to be out.  Happy 2014.

What a beautiful ridge between Bottinaccio and Montespertoli.

Looking over toward San Casciano, an hour plus away on my route.