Every few years I visit southern Italy. My wife grew up there and has inherited a home a block from the beach in Amantea , CZ. I keep a bike there, nothing fancy: it’s a Trek Dual Sport. This rigid hybrid isn’t the fastest bike, but it has a comfortable fit and plenty of gears, it’s actually a good performer for the price.

The local roads here are epic cycling. Imagine the California coast on steroids and you get the picture.

The climbs are 10 miles or more, they average 7% but a significant portion is in the 9-15% range. The scenery is stunning. I ride from the beach to more 3500 feet in about 12 miles, it’s a legitimate Cat 1 climb.

Most years the climb requires 100% effort and can be painful. This year, I spent the winter on the trainer with the goal of doing long climbs while keeping the heart-rate in the 125-140bpm range.

I achieved my goal. The ride was moderately difficult and I never felt exhausted. I’m a Midwesterner, so I feel good about my Italian cycling experience.

I’ll post more recent pictures as soon as I get a strong internet connection.

For now, I’ll repost pictures from a prior post;

Yesterday's ride was an almost continuous 4400 ft climb to an alpine land of cow-bells, cattle and goats. The ride started at sea level among palm trees and cactus. It reached it's turn-around point in foggy alpine air and scrubby mountain growth.

Amantea to Cozzo Aurulo in Amantea, CA | MapMyRide