Big Day Sunday...

Sunday was a long fun day. We woke early, raced all day then finished it off with a BBQ and review of the days TdF thrills. All in all a great day...except for the Sangria...which I paid for later.

Anyway, photos are piling up around here like half worn bike tires in the garage so I thought I'd get a few more up for your viewing pleasure. Between racing and cooking I was able to take a few shots of the Master's 123 race and the Women's 123 race. They're mostly EMC and Metromint. I guess focus on people I know. Follow the sidebar link to see the photos.

More Italy travel photos coming soon.

Midwestern Minty Mafia

The posting has been slow (read nonexistent) lately as both Mike and I try to find some sort of routine to our post-Italian dreamy vacation. It just seems that there are so many unfinished projects around the house which all need tending to.

But in the meantime...

Amanda took 3rd at the first race of Superweek with the stellar team of her, Sarah and Jane. And in other news, the woman who took 5th, from Kenda, was on the group ride which I did when in Chicago last week. She was a bad ass, even on the group ride.

Runners' High

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both...

If asked what was the best part of our trip to Italy, I think I just might respond, "The roads."

My reply would now be the same if asked some of the things I love about living in northern California.

I'm here in Chicago, Evanston, to be specific, visiting family and have just realized how spoiled we are to have the endless bike-able roads on varied terrain that we have back 'home.' The other day I went for a long walk along the lagoon which parallels Lake Michigan out by Northwestern University. I watched the sunrise over the lake. It was beautiful and I spent several solitary moments blissfully sitting on the rocks watching daybreak. As beautiful as it was, I wondered where I would walk the following day, since the path along the lake is really the only quiet place for walking.

Today, I went for a 30 mile spin on a bike path which spans at least 15 miles, through a lovely wooded forest between Chicago and its northern suburbs. It was lovely. But I wonder where I will ride tomorrow.

I now see why close to 30,000 people do the Chicago marathon and a tiny fraction of that number race their bikes. It's all about the roads.

Mike, though, would argue that this has something to do with it too:

Hmmm....

Just noticed that according to www.climbbybike.com the route we took Monday (right, the easy day) is one of the hardest 20 climbs they've rated.

20 most difficult climbs in Europe
1. Scanuppia - Malga Palazzo
2. Pico Ariero
3. Weisssee
4. Nebelhorn
5. Alp Rionda
6. Edelweiss
7. Roque de los Muchachos
8. Alpe Fuori
9. San Genesio - Edelweiss
10. Grosser Oscheniksee
11. Grosser Speikkogel
12. Las Canadas
13. Diga di Finstertal
14. Kitzbüheler Horn
15. Monte Zoncolan
16. Lammersdorfer Berg
17. Grossgl. - Edelweissspitze
18. Hochsteinhütte
19. Prato Maslino
20. Monte Grappa
powered by climbbybike.com

No wonder Paul likes it so much.

24 Hours Later...

I'm finally home. Woke up at 3:30 this morning in Italy and arrived in Berkeley at 7:00 pm. I'm tired and wired at the same time...ahhh, the joys of jet lag. Ali stopped to see family on the way home but I'm sure she'll be adding her stories here soon.

In short I'll say that the trip was Incredible!!!! Our last few days of riding were epic.

Saturday we did our 3rd and final UDACE race. I raced hard and had a lot of fun. I tried to limit my efforts to the attacks that looked promising but the well represented teams just kept throwing stuff out there until one finally stuck and then protected the escapees to perfection. Some women showed up to race with Ali, including the Women's UDACE Champion. Ali did great but I'll let her share the details.


Sunday we drove into the Dolomites and ended up climbing the Passo Fedaia, Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo. The climb up the Marmalada over Passo Fedaia was brutal (rumor has it one of our group had to get off their bike.) What an epic day of riding!!! (Unfortunately the day ended on a sour note when we found the van had been burgled while we were riding.)

Monday was our last day on the bike in Italy and what was supposed to be a mellow day turned into another assault of Monte Grappa. Zipping down to Bassano for some nice sipping grappa dulled the pain a little but after this day we were cooked.

Stats for the trip:
Ride Days: 13 (of 14)
Ride Time: 39 Hours
Ride Distance: ~620 Miles!

Thanks again to Pat and the other riders at Velo Veneto, good people and good fun!


Happy July 4!!

More photos soon!

PS Links fixed