- This topic has 14 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 2 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
aka ‘Dolomites Dreaming’
Well time has come to leave sunny (?) Melbourne and head to Italy. I am penning (typing actually) this in the Singapore airport killing time before the 11pm flight to Milan.
As many of you are aware a number of us have been in training for our Italy Dolomites and Alps tour. Preparation commenced last year after we engaged Italy Bike Tours as our tour provider and signed up for their Dolomites and Alps tour; 10 days (~8 days riding) covering some ~700km and ~17,000m. Since then it’s been pedal to the metal (or steel, aluminium, carbon…) on the bike and a training diet of Italian food and wine to acclimatise!
After numerous planning (?) sessions of Deed’s brews and morning coffees it’s all getting real. 4 of our group are already in Europe; Richard D, Brad & Helen. Glenn S. I am in transit and the rest of the crew (Matt, Liz and Archie, Ken, Stephen G, James and Libby, Perry, Richard H) are arriving in Verona over the next week. (Barb and Frank have revised their plans and are taking in ‘Lakes and Vineyards’ in Italy in early July – very appealing)
After a few days in Verona to get over jetlag we get picked up by IBT on Fri 16th June and head to Canazei in the Dolomites (inc Sella Ronda, Passo Giau etc) for 5 days before heading onto the Bormio in the Alps (inc Stelvio, Mortirolo, Gavia etc) , for 4 days.
We finish up in Milan on the 25th June whereupon everyone embarks on their own European odyssey. Promises to be lots of fun, if not somewhat (?) challenging.
No doubt you’ll see lots of Strava posts and photos. I’ll endeavour to drop some notes and pics here too!
Have fun in Melbourne. We’ll be thinking of you (sort of…)
Rusty
Best wishes to the whole peloton for a great trip and spectacular cycling (and non-cycling activities).
Thanks Rusty for the great updates and photos on various platforms. I’m enjoying viewing those whilst relaxing on the Agean island, currently Ikaria. Have a great riding and holiday experience everyone.
JustinThanks Rusty for the great updates and photos on various platforms. I’m enjoying viewing those whilst relaxing on the Agean island, currently Ikaria. Have a great riding and holiday experience everyone.
JustinThanks all. We have arrived in Canazei! Lots of photos on Insta, Facebook and Strava.
Day #1 Fri. Transit. Bike fit; Colnago V3’s (except for JJ who has brought has own), nice ride – DI2, disc brakes. Followed by a 30 min test ride through the valley and back up the bike path along the river. Dinner and team briefing. And of course trialling a few of local wines! Hotel is pretty good. Scenery spectacular.
Day #2 Sat. Sella Ronda! We are all having breakfast at present, discussing the day’s route. Lots of excited (!?) anticipation. Going to be a fun day!
R
Day #2 Sella Ronda was spectacular! Initial climb out to Pass Sella, then round the Mt Sella to Arraba for lunch then final climb up to Passo Pordoi. Lots of photos on the various strava feeds, insta nad facebook. I have posted the Relive ride trace on Facebook for those who are interested.
Day #3 is the Marmolada. We go back up the Passo Pordoi on the side we descended yesterday, round Marmolada then up Passo Fedaia which is quite a steep ‘ramp’.
Weather looks fantastic for today. Ciao
Bit weary…
Day #3 Fedaia; a bit of a challenge (!), great to get it done. The steep ramp was … steep. And then there were more of them – steep ramps.
Day #4 (today) covered Passo San Pellegrino, plus an optional extra to Passo Rollo. Didn’t realise that would push the ride to 100km – supposed to be an easier day… All was going well until then 18% (ish) on San Pellegrino…
Had a bit of rain in the afternoon, but fortunately mostly while we were at lunch! Bit harder than expected, overall a good day out.Day #5 we head to Arabba and Passo Giau – recent Giro finish. Should be interesting!
Day #5 (Tue) Passo Giau. Hard work (10km @ 10%) but the view from the top was spectacular. We had a lunch a little further on; good food, spectacular view. The Dolomites are simply amazing – worth a trip without the bikes!
Day #6 (Wed) – we depart Canazei in the morning for Bormio and the Alps, getting dropped off at the foot of the Stelvio! Looking forward to it although the legs are getting weary!! Cruisy (?!) Day #7 before Day #8 Gavia & Mortirolo.
Ciao
Bit distracted in Bormio… bit of catching u to do.
Day #6 Stelvio. We departed Canazei, dropped off not far from Merano for a quick coffee and refuel. 48 switchbacks later … the top of Stelvio!! Excellent bratwurst & sauerkraut roll, a short hail storm, blown away the rescued helmet and caps before descending to Bormio.
Day #7 Bormio and surrounds. Cruisy recovery day, couple of easy climbs, bike path along the river, and an hidden cafe. Early finish meant time to explore the old town – very charming.
Day #8 Lago di Cancano+. Was planned for Mortirolo but weather forecast not so good so swapped days. More switchbacks climbing up to Lago di Cancano. Descent back into Bormio for the Bormio 2000 – the top of the 2000m chairlift via, yes, more switchbacks.
Last riding day tomorrow. Saving the biggest to last; Mortirolo & Gavia. Then the pack up and decamp to Milano for everyone’s various departures.
Ciao!
Wow! Can’t believe it’s nearly over. Thanks for all the posts and photos on Strava. Riding those mountains vicariously from Melbourne is so much easier than the real thingðŸ¤.
Ride safe and enjoy your final day.
ElaineGood luck with today’s ride folks. Kudos to those who do both climbs. Mortirolo is a killer if you’re coming up from the Mazzo side.
Thx Elaine & Phil, ‘twas indeed a †ough day!
Day #9 Mortirolo & Gavia. We split into groups; Gavia only (sensible) and Mort&Gav (crazy). General consensus was that Mort was not as challenging as Fedaia early in the week. I suspect that it was due to Fedaia being the 2nd HC climb of the day and was in the heat of the day. Mort was first climb, cooler and generally in the shade. That’s not to say it wasn’t hard, just less hard… Great climb but tough. Gavia was long, steady, and somewhat painful due to being the 2nd HC of day. Another beautiful climb with amazing scenery. The photos do not do justice to either or, in fact, any of the scenery across the week – truly amazing.
The Bormio story goes that Stelvio is the KING @ ~2700m, Gavia is the QUEEN @ ~2600m, Lago Cancano the PRINCESS @ 1900m and Mortirolo the BASTARD @ 1800m. (I have the t-shirt to prove it). If you mix the bastard and the queen … ouch!
Well that’s a wrap; 575km, 15,500m, and 32hrs riding on the tour proper (i squeezed another 200km around Verona, Sirmione, and Valpolicella)
We head to Milano, Lago di Como and other places tomorrow morning.
Absolutely brilliant trip. Italy Bike Tours were excellent; great guides (rider & non-riders), super support team, accom was v good – overall highly recommended if you are looking at a supported tour. (Vineyard crew you’ll love it!)For me; off to Italy (opera, wine & food), France (more food), UK/Scotland (shows, food, scotch, sailing) !! See you in a month or so!
Ciao
R
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.