Start of the France chapter of this adventure

Saint Bernard at the top of the Grand St Bernard Pass

So I decided that yesterday's plan was rubbish and so changed everything after "get to the top of Grand St Bernard". I had a great day because of it, although got on the wrong train in the morning, had to go an extra 20kms as Google thought the address for my booked accommodation was different to where it actually was, and the Spot Tracker ran out of batteries. However, I did miss the rain by about 2 minutes so all is well that ends well. And I am now in France!!

Paying homage to the Patron Saint of cycling

La Madonna del Ghisallo - spiritual home of cycling

A quieter day today with only two small climbs, but also a visit to the Patron Saint of Cycling, a cycling museum and grinding up a 25% climb. It was just nice and relaxing cruising around the picturesque Lake Como.

Down from the cold to the warmth of Italy

Met a friend along the way

What a cool day! Started with some downhill, then some uphill, then some horrific headwind past some stunning lakes on the plateau by Saint Moritz, then more downhill, then less headwind into Colico Piano by a lake to take (purely by chance) the last available room in the town. Would have been nicer to finish up a bit earlier but that is the reality of cycling, some days the wind is behind you and some days it is in front of you.

Mentally a tough day today

A lake at the top of Fluela Pass

Today was tough, mentally. It started with a lot of faffing and a late start, a lot of talking to myself to keep going and a lot of reminders to look at thee views. And with that I managed to ticked off the Fuorn and Fluela Passes, my goal for today. I passed into a new country, saw the scenery change from lush green to brown rugged, and took off and put on my warm clothes a million times or so.

I touched the snow!

I'm in the snow!

Well today was a bit different. I saw lots of snow, I think my fingers almost fell off from cold, I got yelled at by an artist, I got confused as to which language I was supposed to speak, and saw a bell tower just sticking out of a lake. All of it very cool!

Almost touching snow!

Almost at the top of the Gavia

One day I’m worried about the heat, not too many days later and am worried about the snow. My how things change! Short day today, just up and over the Passo Gavia into Bormio. Along the way I took too long taking photos, was hot and cold at the same time, and saw a pink bike. Didn’t do as much as I wanted today, but as this was due to just wanting to take in all of the Gavia it was well worth the shorter distance covered.

Rose shedding kilos

Switchback 11 on Mortirolo and the Pantani Memorial

Two monsters tamed, what an awesome day! The lesser known Monte Padrio followed by infamous Mortirolo, one of the greats. Along the way I said hello to Marco Pantani, got chased by a peloton of flies, and was thankful when the gradient come down to 12% as it meant I could have a rest. Today was a day I would repeat.

Passo del Tonale in rain, thunder and lightening!

This is my "I'm freezing" pose

Well didn’t get quite as far as I expected today due to some heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightening but still got over the Passo del Tonale and have moved back into ski village country.

Monte Grappa

Solemn place at the top of Monte Grappa

Well that was a day of two halves! Rose got the all clear from the doctor, Monte Grappa was amazing for the climb and the memorial, but my route from there on was a bit rubbish and more struggles with accommodation. Not complaining, was still more fond memories than forgettable ones.

To the flat lands!

Cruising around Bassano del Grappa

From sharp, rugged peaks to lush green flat (ish) lands gret day! I heard Italian cyclists singing to themselves, have a new best climb, and couldn't find accommodation again. Was still a great day even if the end was a bit frustrating.

Some more Giro classic passes

Well a bit of an easier day, but still three of the Giro classic passes done and am still taken by the scenery. These passes have been around since climbs started in the Giro, unlike ones like Zoncolon which are relatively new to the scene. Today, I also got mistaken for being Italian, Rose developed a knocking sound, and I had to drown myself in a fountain in a town square as I was so hot.

3 Passes 1 Day

Top of Passo Giau

Another great day of sunshine and hills in the Dolomites. Three passes done, all over 2,000m, and 3,000m in total ascended again for the third day on the trot. It seems I never left the ski fields though, or the overbearing rocky peaks, but am positive I saw Alberto Contador so that was a little different.

Big sky riding in the Dolomites

Big mountains and a Rifugio

Wow, another big climbing day for me today but I saw up close and personal the Dolomites, which are very much worth going out of your way for if you like that sort of thing.

Monte Zoncolan, Monte Crostis double.

Zoncolan and Crostis done. At the top of Moonte Crostis (the road anyway) just under 2,000m up

What a day! Two big climbs done in a mixture of rain, mist, wind and sun. Monte Zoncolan lived up to its hype and was a constant 12%+ gradient, but Monte Crostis was a little wolf in sheep's clothes. Still, they were both worth the ride, even with the not so perfect weather.

Finding Italy

Well first time in this country, and it is overdue. Today was a bit different in that my purpose was to relocate near Mont Zoncolan and Crostis which involved some uphills, some downhills, some proper pasta for the first time,  and a lot of trouble finding accommodation which meant going further away and farther down hill than I wanted. But still, there were some great moments of course and an all round superb day again.

Grossglockner Hochalpinstrasse

Looking down on on the road up to the top of the Grossglockner Pass

What a day! Skirting up a valley through small towns, seeing the World Champs for Grass Skiing, watching Austrians go about their business on a sunny Saturday, finally seeing other people wearing helmets, climbing to over 2,500m and being surrounded by behemoth mountains where ever the eye looks. Unforgettable!

Apparently all you need for two months away cycling?

Only two days to go! "Finalised" the kit I am taking now....finalised is in quotation marks as to be honest there are still things I am questioning that are not in there but could be, and things that made the cut but shouldn't have. There is more about what I am taking on The Rig page.