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!

Kitzbuheler Horn....done!

The view from the top of Ketzbuheler Horn

Boom, one down! Certainly didn't start out easy on this trip going from New Zealand straight into a Category 1 climb off the bat, but may as well jump in the deep end and see what happens...and I did it! So happy.

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.