Take yesterday, substitute more Tuscan hills for the Apeninne mountains, add in lots of roadies out on their Sunday rides, and you pretty much have today.
Another one of those 'why we love cycle touring' days.
Did we have sweat pouring off our noses? Sure.
Were our thighs burning after yet another 150 m vertical 15% climb? Oh yes.
Are we were continually awed with the beautiful countryside? In spades.
Are we we amazed at the 900 year old 'village' turned winery / fratorria that we are staying at? How could you not be!
A short, but also physically demanding day to Cinciano, an old hamlet sitting on a hill (surprised) that is now a winery/ hotel / restaurant. We've been buying their wines for a number of years and met one of the family / owners when they were passing through Calgary a few years back promoting their wines. That's when we found out about the hotel/ villas/ restaurant that is here also. We set this as one of the firm 'destination' points for this tour. We are more than happy that we did.
There are probably scores of places like this throughout Tuscany, but we are so glad we have made it here. It is in an (overused) word ... beautiful. We're taking a day off here to really rest, read, update this blog, plan the next few legs of this trip, have a leisurely breakfast lunch and dinner in the simple but excellent restaurant, and simply just enjoy being here.
So why "Fine on a Fixie"?? - 'cause just like yesterday you only need one gear, a very low one. You are in this one when you are climbing and then you are almost immediately on your brakes when you crest the hill. Probably should be titled 'Fine on a Single Speed' but that doesn't have a nice alliteration ... I'll take the wrath of the bike nerds.
Song of the Day, Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. Going back, way back, to 1969 ... almost as old as Cincinano!
'When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm going to go to the place that's the best'
And that could be here!
The 'wall' near the end is when we decided to go a little 'cross-country' through the vineyards to get to Cinciano. We missed the pushing yesterday!
A coffee break in Montespertoli after about 30 minutes of riding. It was Sunday so the whole town was out in the square doing the same thing we were ... drinking coffee, eating sweet pastries and chatting with friends. We were here 16 years ago with our kids, rented a villa on the edge of town and used it as a base for touring Tuscany for a week. Still recognise a lot of it!
Screenshot of a section of our route today. See where the road goes? Right over the top of the hill! Welcome to Tuscany ... get ready to do this countless times in a day
John Travolta's great-great-great-great-great grandfather Francesco Barbarino - in the eponymous town! beautiful contrast with the blue sky! Stopped here for a drink and a refreshing apple .. it was starting to get hot! Haven't felt this way for several weeks now
after our little interlude in Barbarino, we had a nice long downhill run towards Poggibonsi. Our end point for the day is Cinciano, the buildings on the hill on the opposite side of the valley! We could have ~5 km of more down hill and then about 200 m of climbing on asphalt to get there .... or about 1.5 km of a little down hill and a full frontal assault on dirt roads through the vineyards... what do you think we chose!
we love showing up hot & sweaty to these lovely places. The reactions we get cover the full spectrum from shock & horror to a full hearted welcome ... we got the latter today!
We have Camera della Nonna ... grandmothers room ... with a beautiful balcony looking west over the terrace ... the village / hamlet has been here since 1126 and is in amazing shape
Today's ride: 30 km (19 miles) Total: 2,385 km (1,481 miles)
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Scott AndersonWe’re enjoying following along here, and are considering coming this way ourselves late next fall. It looks like a beautiful time to be here. Reply to this comment 4 years ago
Mike AylingFixie - The British purists hate this North American word.
You either have a fixed wheel or ride fixed.
I reconditioned my fixed wheel bike in the shed during our lockdown and am riding it quite a bit on the flat around my home.
Interestingly it is easier to ride up hill fixed than on a freewheel of the same gear!
