Trittico del Serra

I have been preparing for yesterday's ride for a week or so, and it was hard, but fun.  It was a super fun Italian cycling scene, and I think I was the only American there.  We had one other person on our team from England, but everyone else was Italian.  There was even a pro rider with Team Sky who rode.  I saw him a couple of times, and thought that does not look like the kit you can buy at a store, then looked at his bike and thought he must have something to do with the team.  At the end someone told me he rode with Team Sky and was in the Giro d'Italia.  I thought that was pretty cool.  350 people participated, and most started around 8.  Maybe 200 meters or gradual slope, then the climbing, which is what the day was started in earnest.

The first climb began with a 12 to 15% section, but then mellowed out to 8% or so.  That is pretty much the way the day was.  I switched to my easiest gear early on to preserve strength for the difficult day, but kept a reasonable spin, and before I knew it, I had dropped most of the team.  Gerrad, the guy from England, caught me, and I let him go ahead, but then caught him again, and we pretty much rode the whole event together.  It is a pretty hard climb of around 800 meters to the first control point, where they stamp a card you are given at registration.  Then a big descent, probably around 850 meters to a town called San Andrea.  Another stop for a stamp, then the hardest climb of the day.

Coming down the hill, knowing I had to climb back up, I was thinking this is going to be tough.  Well, it was, but not too bad.  Around 3 kilometers in the middle third of the climb was a pretty steady 12 to 15%, but you knew it was coming.  Around 2/3 the way up, there was an excellent fountain pouring cold water from the hillside.  A head dousing, water fill, drink, and refill, left me refreshed and ready to continue.  At the same checkpoint at the top, we got the card stamped again, then descended to Buti, another little town.  This is the longest of the descents, which meant the least steep on the return.  Another stamp in Buti, water, and a bite of shot block with caffeine and we were on our way back up.  Somewhere around 1/2 the way up, I dropped Gerrad, and did not realize it until I could not see him again.

Back up to the top, but this time you continue all the way up to the very summit where there are a number of radio towers.  Then you return to the control point, hand in your card and get a little diploma / certificate saying you did it.  Fun.  I ended up being the quickest on our team, in around 3 hours 15 minutes.  Gerrad was only around 5 minutes behind me, and Luca and Davide were another 10 minutes behind him.  We did wait around an hour for Lorenzo, Margerita, and Marco.  We all hung out together at the top a little, then rode down to the cars close to the start, changed clothes and drove around 1/2 the way back up to a restaurant for an amazing feast.

For an extra 20 euros, the event is free, you get this great meal.  Around 70 riders of the 350 were there, and it was a blast.  Lots and lots of excellent food, presented in the Italian way with multiple courses, made it a 2-1/2 hour meal.  A drive home, and a quick shower, then out with Emily and a friend for a small meal.  Super fun day and great to have a group to do something like this with.  Lorenzo organized the drivers, meeting points, etc. and it all was very smooth.  Thanks Lorenzo.  Ciao.

Trittico del Serra - 3 ascents of the same mountain by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

The scene at the check in before the start.  350 people participated.

Here is most of the team, 8, riding together at the start.

The first climb has really just started here with an over the

head, behind me photo.

The scene at the finish waiting for everyone from the team

to finish their day.

6 of 8 waited at the finish and we had a bystander take this photo.

Grande Squadra!

Monteriggioni with Vayable clients, Kit and Laura.

I had an interesting day today, and a good tour with clients through Vayable, a guide service online.  Kit and I had a little trouble communicating, and had to reschedule a couple of times, but we were both flexible and it worked out well in the end.  I took the bus to Siena, with my bike, which was really pretty simple.  The return trip was simple as well.  Siena is a very confusing town, and I needed help finding the hotel outside the town, even with my google map.  A very nice person helped, and I was pretty much on time showing up.  We got everyone on their bikes, and set out to Monteriggioni, our destination.

We navigated through the outskirts of Siena, basically going about 1/2 way around the town to be on SR2, and we stayed on it for a while, even with a fair amount of traffic.  We turned off to take the road to Badese, and the traffic stopped.  In Badese, we accessed a smaller road and it was as beautiful as I wanted it to be.  We rode that road back to SR2, then up to Monteriggioni.  It is a beautiful little walled medieval town, and we enjoyed a cafe and a bite to eat, before starting our return trip.  We rode back on SR2 all the way to make it a little loop.  I was feeling pretty good about navigating at this point, so we took a branch on the way into Siena, that I thought would take us more directly to the hotel.  Well, I was really wrong.  Siena is a hill town, but many branches of the town and the old centro are separated by ravines, which all look very similar when riding.  I eventually realized we were not where we wanted to be, and asked directions.

We started up to where the bus driver suggested, then I asked for more directions.  Eventually, a super kind woman who spoke a little English, but basically understood my Italian, led us the way back to the right road on her scooter, stopping when the girls fell behind.  Wow, just really nice to help in that way.  We were back on the right road, and it did really look like the other wrong road we had been on.  Well, live and learn.  I got them back to their hotel in time to get ready for the wedding they were here to attend, then I was back up to the centro to catch the bus home.  Good day, but long, and I am tired now.

Day with Kit and Laura - Siena, Monteriggioni, and return. by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Kit and Laura at the garden at the hotel, right before we left.

Finally out of the Siena area.

Over the head, behind me shot of the ladies riding.

On the beautiful back road to Monteriggioni from Badese.

Kit and Laura in the bar in Monteriggioni, our destination and 

spot for cafe and a bite to eat before returning to Siena.

Last training ride for Trittico del Serra.

I wanted another training ride, but not as hard today, still close to home.  I came up with another alternative, by going up the main road to Fiesole, which I rarely do.  It was fun.  From there, I continued up to the turn off for Montebeni, then turned off to descend to Compiobbi.  I climbed Monteloro, which is the piece I had in mind when I first thought of the ride, then decided to turn off and include the climb to Montefanna from the east side.  From there, a smoking descent through Fiesole home.  First really hot ride of the year, which meant a few bottles of water at the refill spots over my head.  It felt good.  Tomorrow, a client ride in the Siena area.  Hope it is fun!

Last training for Sunday - Fiesole, Compiobbi, Monteloro, Montefanna, Fi by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

Cypress trees lining a drive above Monteloro.

Just a shot of the road to Monteloro.

The iconic cypress trees on the road above Monteloro.

I liked this little peek a view to a vineyard on the last climb

of the day, up Montefanna.

Another training ride, less climbing but steeper!

Another short training ride today, and I wanted climbing and difficulty, and a different route, so I came up with something interesting.  I left town through Le Cure, then up Via Faentina to Pian de Mugnone, where I turned to climb to Fiesole.  This is a nice, kind of difficult climb, max grade is around 13%, and the average is around 8%.  I continued up from Fiesole, then rode over to the Vincigliata road and descended this for a change.  Fun descent.  At the bottom, you can turn left and climb a tiny back road to Montebeni, above Settignano.  I have descended this road a few times, but today was my first attempt at climbing it.  It was fun, but quite tough.  Strava had the average at 12.5% and the steepest pieces above 30%.  It sure felt like it.

After you get to Montebeni, it is very mellow, and I continued up the road toward Fiesole, then turned right and climbed to Olmo.  A great descent down Via Faentina all the way to Le Cure, then home.  I felt pretty good, so I am believing I am ready for Sunday.  Ciao.

Check out Climbing - Pian de Mugnone, Fiesole, Vincigliata, Settignano wall, Olmo, Firenze on Strava.com! It's a 41.7 km ride I did on Thursday, June 5, 2014.

Not the best photo, but through the trees you can see the belltower

in Settignano, but this road bypasses the town.

This beautiful little road is the start of the super difficult climb

on what I call the Settignano wall - steepest part is 32%!

Training ride for Sunday - lots of climbing in the shortest distance possible.

I did a relatively short ride today, but included as much quick climbing as I could, as I need to do climbing to be ready for the sufferfest that will be the granfondo event with the team this Sunday.  This Sunday's ride with have 2600 meters of climbing in 61 kilometers (including the descents), and today's  ride had 1200 meters of climbing in 50 kilometers or so.  I guess Sunday will be a little steeper and relentless.  I did not have that much time today, as Viola had her school show this afternoon, which was really fun.  A bunch of 5 year olds dressed up and singing for parents and grandparents. 

I was on my older Lightspeed, and it was really pretty nice to ride it.  My new bike was in the shop for needed maintenance.  I ride so many kilometers that I need to change things, like the chain, more often than I am used to.  Also, the drop out has been bent a couple of times and needed replacement.  All done now and ready to go. 

Training - San Domenico, Vincigliata, Montefanna, Montesenario, Firenze by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

A beautiful villa on the steep climb to Montefanna.

My objective for today on the top of the hill, Montesenario.

I never get tired of this road or this view up the road on 

the way to Vincigliata.

The water source and my #2 bike at Montesenario.  My new 

bike was in the shop today for maintenance.

A view to the South, the Florence basin from the water source

at Montesenario.

Holiday morning ride with the team.

After being so busy for a couple of months that I could rarely join in team rides, I find myself with only three days booked in June and July.  Emily and I have booked a week in Ortesei again in late July, which is exciting.  Anyway, I will be doing a fair amount of solo riding for the next couple of months, so I decided to rally and get up early again this morning to ride with the team.  Good decision.  We were 7 to start, and kept 6 for the whole ride.  Moreno, the second oldest person on the team, after me, only did the ride to Montelupo, but last early winter he had a crash breaking ribs, cracking the femur close to the hip and a concussion.  So, it was great to see him out riding with the team today.  He has been out to meet us a few times on a town bike, then a couple of times to ride, but said he was going alone, slowly, so congratulations on today, Moreno.  He is about as nice a guy as you could know, and as he does not speak any English, we have done lots of riding together, but not a lot of talking.  On the way to Montelupo, there were a few teams riding, and a few of us put the metal down to stay with the fastest group.  Moreno stayed with two of us that hung with the very fast group all the way to Montelupo.

The rest of us decided on a nice, mellow tour and went from Montelupo through Samontanna, Villanuova, and Ortimino to Montespertoli.  We had a cafe in Montespertoli, then descended to Bacciano, then climbed to Montagnana, descended to Cerbia, then climbed to Chiesanuova.  From Chiesanuova, it was pretty much down to Scandicci, then we split up with 3 going toward Casellina and 3 of us back to the Centro.  Fun ride, team.  It is really fun to be a part of such a nice, welcoming, fun group.  All share the passion for cycling, which is what bonds us all together.  Ciao, ragazzi!

Montelupo, Ortimino, Montespertoli, Chiesanuova, Firenze con squadra by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

A couple of pictures of the team and a few others we were

passing on the way to Villanuova.  A beautiful little road

here in Tuscany, on one of the few areas that is relatively flat.

Some of the agricultural flatlands looking toward Empoli from

the road to Villanuova.

Raduno Casellina - great route and super fun ride.

Early morning, and about 10 kilometers to the meeting point for both the team and the raduno.  I wasn't expecting many people, as I know a number of people were participating in a granfondo in Chianti today.  We  ended up with 4, which was fine.  We started out around 8, rode out to Signa, then up and over the little pass to Ginestra.  From the start it was apparent that David and I would go relatively fast, and spend some time waiting for Rebecca and John-Luc.  It is all part of riding with a group, so it is fine.  I have also been the person being waited for in the past, so it is no problem.  I was feeling energetic on the way up this little pass, and passed almost everyone who had started.  Most passed me as we waited at the top.

We enjoyed the descent to Ginestra, then we hooked back up with the large group on the way to Cerbia.  David and I stayed with the big group most the way up to Chiesanuova, and I left both David and the group on the last 1/4 of the climb to Chiesanuova.  I felt really good, and I know the group made me go faster.  We regrouped at the top, then rode mostly together over to San Casciano, then over through Mercatale to Quattro Strade.  David and I decided to wait in Greve, and we really flew down the hill from Quattro Strade then David set a very fast pace to Greve.  He decided he was like Cancellara and I was like Quintana.  We waited a bit in Greve, then had a cafe, and set off up Passo de Sugame.  The granfondo Chianti was going through Greve, as well as a junior race, as well as our raduno.  Quite the cycling scene.

We started with a mellow pace up Passo de Sugame, but a racing participant in the granfondo came up to me, and we rode together all the way to the top pushing each other pretty hard.  A definite personal best for me.  Regrouped again, then over to La Panca, where we refilled water, then down to Strada and Ferrone.  Down the main road to Falciani, then back up to San Casciano on the last real climb of the day.  From San Casciano back over to Chiesanuova, then over and down to Scandicci.  David led us back to the starting point and we enjoyed some snacks, water, picked up our free bottles of wine, then hit the last 10 k back home.  Really fun morning ride.  I love doing the big group rides. 

Raduno Casellina - great, long tour with 4 team participating. by ridingwithcosimo at Garmin Connect - Details

A view across the road from the top of the last climb of the day.

A small part of the group on the way to Cerbia.  Really a blast

to ride with a large group for part of the day.

 A view on the last climb of the day, back to San Casciano.