indyfabz

boy are my legs tired.

Spent some time at the Italian Cycling Center in Borso del Grappa, a small hill town northwest of Venice near Monte Grappa. Incredibly popular region for cycling. One Sunday, the big club ride day, we must have seen at least 700 cyclists during a 45 mile ride.

Highlights included seeing the start of the final stage of the Giro, climbing up and riding through the Asiago Plateau, (No. I did not stop for cheese.), a day trip by train to Venice, the prosecco vineyards and rolling our own 75 mile ride that took us through mountainous countryside dotted with little villages and down the craziest road I have ever ridden. And, of course, there was a good amount of prosecco and grappa drinking.

Here are some images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davez20...7633982080965/

The ICC, business run by an 80 y.o. guy who lives near me in Philly, is a great value. You pay a per diem rate that includes your lodging with private bathroom and three meals a day, assuming you finish the day's ride by about 1:30 p.m., which we usually did. All the table wine you can drink during lunch and dinner is also included. The meals were, for the most part, extremely tasty. Each night you may choose the antipasto as your main course to go with your first course, which comes from a list of three items. The antipasto is all-you-can eat. While some items were staples, its makeup varies widely from night to night. There are always at least two dozen preparations to choose from. Fish, meat and vegetables are always equally represented. A few main course highlights were rabbit, pork shoulder, swordfish carpacchio and even horse steak, which I had to try.

I now have to find the motivation to ride the same old roads here at home.

curbtender

I thought you were going to say "and my arms are tired". Great photo's.

indyfabz

Thanks. For the flight home I upgraded us to first class. If you ever get the chance to fly first class on an A330, don't pass it up. The seat turned into a bed. Pretty handy for a 9 hr. flight.

Chitown_Mike

Pffft.....rich Fred's and their world travels.


I kid, I kid. It is a goal of mine to ride some of the areas the Pros do, as well as attend a cycling race/training class in Hawaii that runs about $15k without airfare. Great photos as well!

Actually it is a goal of mine to compete in one of the big 3 races on a 30 year old bike.....not actually competitive but for laughs and to say I can do it.

indyfabz

We paid a little more than 1/10th that much for 12 nights, not including airfare and ground transportation. That part of Italy is relatively expensive, and the weak dollar doesn't help. One time we bought lunch on the road we paid about $22/person for nothing fancy and no wine. So about $140 U.S./day/person for full room and board and wine is a pretty good deal. Last year we did Cycle Oregon. That was about $135/day for the week without drinks, airfare, ground transportation or the hotel rooms we had to get the day before and the day after the trip. You sleep in a tent (there was ice on the fly three mornings), and the food was not anywhere close to the quality of that in Italy.

Other than the upgrades, the airfare was a gift from my GF's dad, which was nice. He owns a business here in town and has more Amex rewards points than he will ever use at his age.

I prefer camping to indoor accomodations, and not for financial reasons. I like to camp. I also like to carry my own gear. But sometimes you have to make compromises. I have already done a 3-day self-contained trip this year. Hoping to do a longer one before the fall. Got my eye set on PGH to PHL via the GAP so I can see what all the ado is about.

vesteroid

awesome trip indy, glad you had fun.