Post ride

Back in the US now, did my first ride since the trip. It was an easy hour before work. The hills around here seem pretty small now! The legs feel very strong.

Took a few days to get over jet lag and being so tired.

Here are a few YouTube videos of the trip.

Giro Dolomiti 2014 - a very big Italian Job

Stelvio to Bormio

Day 7 - Ponte di Legno to Riva del Garda

Ponte di Legno to Riva del Garda
132 kilometers, 2169 meters vertical

Two small climbs start out the day. Very wet on road



and I am feeling good climbing, then a flat. Chris stops and helps and we press to get back on the group. We ascend through the clouds, then start a great easy turned descent. We regroup at the bottom and I get a shot of a local filling up his water bottles with fresh water



We do next climb together and encounter an alpine traffic jam



We have lunch at top - a Gorgonzola  and ham pizza for me. Descend and work our way along a ridge, going in and out of some slot canyons. Finally we do the last of the bonus climbs, and stop for a quick picture



View of Lake Garda on the descent



We stop in town for a gelato and macchiato then go a little up the road to our hotel - nice view



What a trip! Spectacular riders, views,  and climbs. Some of the vistas are just indescribable.

Giro Dolomiti by the numbers

22,220 calories burned
19,435 meters climbed
785 kilometers ridden
39 hours 35 minutes in the saddle
1 tired me

Day 6 - Schlanders – Ponte di Legno via Passi Stevlio e Gavia

Schlanders – Ponte di Legno via Passi Stevlio e Gavia

109 kilometers, 3480 meters climbing 

Two big climbs today, first Stelvio Pass, highest road in Italy, 5th highest in Europe. It is cloudy so we cannot see the top. I leave 30 minutes ahead of the mountain goats and Strava KOM hunters. There are 48 toranti to navigate

Steady climbing through the clouds is very meditative and relaxing. As I get higher up the Tim, Robin, Chris, and an interloper pass me

After a while the treeline ends and the clouds are starting to thin

The top is in sight and here we are wow

A shot at the top with my rain jacket halfway up my body after I had to get my phone out of back pocket

We have lunch I have some zuppa di verdura and brot. After putting on all my clothing layers possible, we have a lovely decent, where we shed our layers at the bottom for the next ascent up Gavia. 

It is another grind through the clouds. Miriam and I stick together for the most of the climb. We get above the tree line and it then proceeds to dump rain on us. My hope to get above the clouds and rain does not happen. It is pretty grim. 

We all regroup at the top and have a quick drink at the refuge. This is the pass where Andy Hampsten rode through in the snow to win the stage in the 1988 Tour of Italy 

The descent starts with narrow bad wet roads with spectacular views.

I shoot through a non illuminated tunnel with a bend inside it and literally do not see the light at the end of the tunnel for a good 5 seconds. It finally appears and I just keep going hoping the road is clear under my wheels. Eventually the center paint line reflects the light which I follow to safety. More twisty single file roads, very few motorists, desolation. Then the heavens really open up. A quick regroup before town and everyone is wet as a dog, aside from a few prudent van riders who wisely sat the descent out.

Felt good today, especially Stelvio, kept heart rate well in control. Gavia the rain was yuck. Looking forward to the ride to top of Lake Garda tomorrow the last day.

Day 5 - Canazei to Silandro

Canazei to Silandro
150 kilometers, 2000 meters vertical

After our breakfast we said goodbye to the resident taxidermy in the dining room (guess which one is the marmot)





Today was a transition day, where we basically made our way to the base of Stelvio Pass to the town of Silandro. We first had two moderate climbs, the first one involved some wet roads.



And more bicycle sculpture



We are down in the valley and after a quick lunch we wander off into a maze of Äpfel fields.

German is the dominant language here, first on the road signs, with Italian underneath. We then make our way up to a great bike path along a river and fly into town on it.

Great ride today. We were together all day. The kilometers flew by.

Two huge mountains tomorrow -Stelvio and Gavia.

Day 4 - Loop out of Alba Canazei

Loop out of Alba-Canazei over Passi Sella, Gardena, Compolongo, and Pordoi
62 kilometers, 1800 meters climbing

Today was the official 'rest day'. We all started out together, with an agreement to re-group at the tops of several climbs, and to have lunch in downtown Canazei after the ride. As we started out, we saw a parachutist hang glider way above us, floating in amongst the clouds. The first climb was up Passo Sella, around nine kilometers. It was a nice way to start the day; I enjoyed the leisurely switch backs, beautiful towering cliffs, panoramic views of the town below. Always time for a selfie



More goats at the top



We do another relatively easy climb up to Gardena and Compolingo which has some spectacular rock faces to our right



We then descend into the town of Corvara, another ski town in the large Sella Ronda ski circuit that is spread out over this area. You can ski the whole circuit in one day, and it comprises of many different towns, chairlifts, gondolas, and slopes. John from Australia tells me he motorcycled through these parts 30 years ago in the summer and there was very little and you would never see any cyclists. Times have changed, they are everywhere now!

An obligatory shot in Corvara




Next ascent up Podoi we are greeted by sheep and their herders



We descend happily back to town for lunch. Some Southern Tyrol architecture



Our longest mileage day is tomorrow as we snake our way over to the base of Stelvio Pass.

Felt good today and took a good nap after lunch.

Day 3 - Misurina to Alba Canazei

Misurina to Alba Canazei, via Tre Cime, Passo di Gaiu, and Passo Fediai
90 kilometers, 3000 meters vertical

While checking out we are greeted by a big mountain dog in the hotel lobby.  He was quite disinterested in us until his owner came out; he also barked at a couple of other leaving guests.



The first climb of three of the day is up Tre Cime, a famous hilltop finish used often in the Tour of Italy. John warned us it would be nasty, off the charts (hors Categorie or HC in bike geek speak). We have a group that gets a 12 minutes head start. We are immediately going up a 16% grade. Finally it stops and we level off and actually descend for a bit. We pass through a parking barrier where fees are collected from visitors of the top. There is no road to the other side, the only people going to the top are hikers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists like ourselves. The climb was brutal, the scenery spectacular. I was zig zagging across the road to make the climb less steep, I will shamelessly admit - it actually helped me because the easier effort gave me a rest. Here is the cloud shrouded top  - Google 'Tre Clime' for non cloud version.



We descend then our next climb up Passo di Giao, where we'll have lunch. Nice sculpture at the top



After a Tostone sandwich (grilled ham and cheese), we descend to our last climb of the day, Passo Fedaia. One stretch of the climb I learn later is called the Graveyard of Champions, or Valley of Death. It was a straight shot up this road at an unforgiving pitch. Finally near the top then a 15% grade sign. Ugh. We regroup then descend to see goats!



We buzz by them then it starts to dump rain on us. The rain combined with tunnels, limited braking power, hairpin turns, oncoming traffic, cold fingers, and dim lighting make for an interesting descent. We pull into the hotel where of course it is not raining.



Felt much better today, my average heart rate was again lower than yesterday. We stay here for two nights, we have a short 60 kilometers with 1800 meter climbing ride on the Sella Ronda circuit tomorrow.

Day 2 - Fiera to Misurina via Passo Rollo

Fiera to Misurina via Passo Rollo, Passo Valles, and Passo Falzarego
130 kilometers, 3700 meters vertical

I started out 15 minutes early with a group of four, to get a head start on the mountain goats. The plan was to meet as a group at the top of the first climb up Passo Rollo. This was a better climb for me, averaging around 6%. View near the top.



We all met up, I had a quick Coke, then we start a long descent. We go through Cortina at one point, John from Australia mentions that it is the Aspen of Italy. We pull into a small village and have a sit down pasta fest.

We roll out along a valley towards our next epic climb, Passo Falzarego. This is a long grind. At some point, there is a '27 toranti' sign, meaning that many hairpin turns to the top. I start counting, and to my dismay, many what I would certainly consider to be hairpin turns, do not make the countdown list. All of the sudden arched roadways, and numerous swings in the road are in front of us



Look closely near the center of this picture in the clouds and you can see a cable car. Finally I get to the top, and we have a nice groupetto (the pack not in the lead) - we have Steve, John, James, Chris, and myself. We have another big climb up to 1700 meters where we are staying in Misurina. The climb lived up to its name, lots of misery and 12% grades. We pass by a cool lake




John said this was the biggest amount of vertical climbing he has ever had on a tour, and was quite pleased everyone did so well. I also noticed my average heart rate was noticeably lower today. I think jet lag affected me on the first day.

Another set of big climbs tomorrow.

Day 1 - Bassano del Grappa to Fiera

Bassano del Grappa to Fiera, 103 kilometers, 2900 meters vertical

We start the day out with a quick tour of the town, then right onto a 19 kilometer climb up Mont Grappa. I am squarely off the back, with my heart rate pegged. There are 27 switch backs to cover and I start counting them. Finally we are done, yet the top of the mountain is still above me, not fair. 

I ascend some more, then look down at the road and clouds below (switchback #27 is long gone)

Lots of cyclists, motorcycles, cars, vans, etc. They all give me adequate space and respect, something always appreciated! I get to the top, admire the scenery, get a picture of my knackered self

The others are waiting around with empty coffee cups. I get a hot chocolate and Coke with a few other stragglers. Put on my 'gilet' (what they call a vest here), and arm warmers, and start the descent into lunch. We fuel up with Campagnolo sandwiches - ham, cheese, mayo, lettuce, and pickles on a warm bun (no Shimano or SRAM sandwiches on the menu). 

Feeling much better for the next climb, I manage to hang with a 'B' group that forms. We make it to the top and John and Chris goof around with a memorial for Tullio Campagnolo, supposedly where he has his inspiration to make bicycle parts. 

We start our next descent, snaking through switchbacks and several single lane alpine villages

There is amazing scenery all around. We drop into a valley, with a beautiful milky green stream to our right. We go through about five different tunnels as well, as my Garmin protests about lost signal.

We pull into the hotel together. A nice view before dinner.

Another tough day tomorrow.

Day 0 - before we start

We are a group of 10 riders with two guides and a driver. I am the sole American, mostly British, a Canadian, and two Aussies.

I'll send a short writeup and a few pictures at the end of each day of this seven day, 750 kilometer, 18,000 meters of climbing tour.

We are starting about an hour outside of Venice, at Bassano del Grappa, at the base of the Dolomites. 

Here is a link to the Facebook page, there should be daily pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alpine-Cadence-Cycling/167868076559955

Outside hotel. Big day tomorrow.

Signed up for Giro Dolomiti 2014

I signed up for the Giro Dolomiti run by Alpine Cadence about a month ago. I read about them in an a Guardian article article. Seven days, 750 kilometers, 18,000 meters of climbing, replete with super steep hills in the Italian Alps. My flights are booked and deposit has been made with the organizer.

My training goals are as follows:

• Get weight down to around 175 pounds. This is my optimal cycling weight. It is going to take some time, as I had horrible 2013/14 winter training due to work travel and bad weather at home. My 2013 season was also largely spent getting situated with my new hip hardware due to my broken acetabulum late 2012. 
• Specific cycling goals before the ride
• Three days in a row up Bear Mtn
• Seven days in a row of cycling 
• Do a 200K and 300K brevet
• Race as much as possible, with goal for a 50+ mile road race late in season

The past two months of March and April have been pretty good months, I've done a handful of Bear Mountain summits, and I am starting to feel better on the bicycle. The first few races this year I was woefully out of shape and got dropped more than once. I hope to try for some top ten finishes at more races. 

I will post when appropriate, probably after a good race or longish ride.