GF Nutterz

[Simon C Izoard]

Ciao Corridori!

Comin all the way from the boot, seems like I've lost my ties after so long. Just wondering if anyones got any GF's planned this season here in Italia? Thought I'd post a little message to say hello and that its still going strong in Veneto. Seasons well underway here and would be good to see some ACCers getting some european experience in the mountains...GF Nove colle, diece colle, campag, pinnarello and cunego are all on the list!
Let me know, I'll keep an eye out for ya'll when you pass me on the the passo's ; )
Simoni

[Maria David]

Ciao Simoni Come Stai ?

Sounds like you're enjoying your racing.

I have only really planned my racing for the first half of this year. In terms of Italy I'm definitely doing GF Pinarello in mid July. I am also toying with doing something on the Amalfi coast in mid-April, diary permitting.

Can't commit to anything after August, though I will definitely be doing something late season - possibly the Tour of Lombardy, or a cyclosportive giro like I did last year. It all depends what state I'm in after the racing action in blighty ! So many races, so little time.

Will keep you posted - Buon Gare !

[Toks]

Ciao Simon, it'll be the GF FELICE GIMONDI for me on the 13th of May. Come on down dude and we'll share some beer and pasta

[Simon C Izoard]

Ciao bella, si.. tutto bene grazie Maria,

No plans to do the GF Dolomiti stars again this year?...sounded really 'brutto'..I doubt I'll be ready for that this year. I missed the Pinarrello last year too, Huw made it, but it was really too much for me (6 GF's and 12 crits) as well as all that necessary training in between, was incinerated in the heat.

http://www.girodolomiti.com/

I like the sound of the Almafi giro , nice touch ; ) , weather here now is touching 20 degs, its ridiculous. Which club are you riding for now?

http://www.felicegimondi.it/

Toks my man...are you on that second cat upgrade this year? : )
GF FG looks a good one , just down the road from me too...I'll let you know if I subscribe...have 10 colli on May 1st, I'll check out the altrimetria first.

Buoca a Lupo Raggazi, (good luck) keep in touch!

S

[Maria David]

I'm still riding for Pearson Cycles, and hoping to not embarrass them too much this season !

I'm off to Naples in a few weeks so will definitely be doing the Tour of the Sorrento and Amalfi coast cyclosportive.

http://www.circuitodelsole.it/schede200 ... ntina.html

It's not that long, but I imagine it'll be fast in true Italian style...... will just have to cling on ! I'm just looking forward to being able to ride my bike in the sunshine more than 2 days in a row !

Haven't decided about the Giro delle dolomiti - the start of it clashes with one of the women's series races.

By the way I get my Italian cyclosportive dates off this site :

http://www.bicimilano.it/

(Scroll down and click on "calendario gran fondo". Scroll down again and it lists everything.)
There's loads of stuff going on - Now I see why your calendar's so busy.

ciao bello !

[Kevin Rynne]

Simon great to hear from you, have you done any races there? what’s the score? how do they compare to us, any chance of a trip back to the U.K. to join in the fun in Surrey league, Hillingdon, C palace etc? wow that seems like a lot of questions even from me! don,t you think?

[Simon C Izoard]

Good link Maria thanks...nice to have them sorted by region...well needed. You could in fact attend a GF every weekend from now on if you had the inclination or strength..not so sure about the latter for myself.

Funnily enough..my first Gf will be Lessinia Legend next week , on mtb ...how bizzare..but find it a great (active) rest from road stuff.

Its probably summeresque down in Napoli about now..but I'm more than happy enough to wait before it heats up too much. Enjoy it anyhow...looks like its been a bit vicious on the weather front for you guys recently.

Kevin... its just innundated with events here..mostly road racing like surrey league stuff which you may have to travel to sometimes..no off road circuits..but marshalling is good, unless you're off the back...usually. One thing is, there's no handicapping....basically races are elite, u23, cadets...then juniors and seniors together..then gents/super gents... and its all extremely fast because its mostly flat racing here, with possibly a single climb bang in the middle of the circuit..if you want hilly then the dolomites are only an hour away. but these races are really enough/ too much because its mostly expros/dilentanti riding in them....

This is my race link, you can only plan a week ahead of schedule where you'll be.
http://www.udace.it/~prossimegare/prossimegare.html

Will be back at easter, but no racing due to family commitments, he says..I'm planning on buying a new bike here first any criticisms on the following? was thinking/really would like the pinarello f4:13 , or have been offered a Wilier Izoard 2006 for a similar price....and still deliberating on the Colnago C50..mmmm decisions

Enjoy

[Maria David]

Hello Simon C,

How did the GF Lessinia go ? Have you ditched the road stuff to become a mountain biker then ? Or have you rolling on to do Dieci Colli ?

I did the tour of the amalfi coast cyclosportive. It was a good little race, though quite a hilly course. Beautiful scenery and good weather to go with it though. Generous prizes too.

The winner got a week's holiday in Sorrento, a Viner bikes frame, plus a great big trophy.
The first woman got great big leg of prosciutto and a nice apron (to match her smaller trophy and her weekend away vouchers) !
I got some pasta, a box of wine, some limoncella and an alarm clock. I'm glad I came 8th !

More details of my Amalfi adventure are on my new blog
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/
I hope to log other cycling experiences as and when I get on my bike.

On the cyclosportive front I've got Fred Whitton this weekend (110miles through the Lake District). Then I'll get out and do some road and track races.
Not 100% sure when I will next be in Italy, but it will be either in July (for the Pinarello event) or in September, probably in the Veneto region. Who knows, I might even try a road race ! Will let you know.

Ci vediamo !

[Toks]

Just read your excellent race report Maria! I gotta say nothing seems to faze you at all. You're a truely international racing/cyclosportivist. It just made crit racing in London sound really boring... I get the feeling it was more of a psychological battle than a physical battle well done. What have you done with all that wine then? ... Hey Simon if your out there I'm doing the Felice Gimonde Grand Fondo this Sunday

[Simon C Izoard]

Amazing, since I've been here I always thought that the Italians were more hardcore/obsessive than us lot, then I remind myself of the pain some of you guys put yourselves through when I read the posts on the forum and think again........I believe the only differences are that things are more convenient (training itinerary is so varied and limitless) and events/races are well organised, no traffic etc.
That said...I miss the handicap races..still struggling to hold on to the bunch on these flat circuits still, least its only May still..thank god.
Lessinia went as expected...dropped out after two hours...no probs with fitness...just plain scared for my life..was the most brutal biking event ever witnessed....I couldnt do another descent,,I was shaken @$&tless so I decided to go and sample the delights of VinItaly later in the afternoon instead, with skeleton intact thank you very much (it WAS madness). Mountain bike was rapidly stowed away, and have since acquired a spanking new Wilier Izoard full carbon to consolidate my passion for roads with proper surfaces. That said, I missed my iscrizione for Dieci colli, thought GF Wilier would be rained off....but wasn't. So Toks, ...looks like I'm too lazy to make it to Bergamo for Gimonde, been focusing on these shorter distance races, so not feeling to guilty...who knows, may well just turn up if I feel like I have some energy to spend.
Yeah they definitely go over board with prizes, you dont even have to place to get something, just for entrance fee I got given a kilo of rissotto rice and a bottle of rosso....now that was a handicap.
Definite events for me are:
GF Avesani, GF Cunego, GF Campag,
Chronoscalametria Peri-Fosse, and Notturna Toricelle.
Youve made me jealous with your Amalfi experience..I knew this would happen, becoming lazy with my new environement already, not taking fulla dvantage, but I'm glad someone else is..brava
Anyone coming to see some of the Giro?

alla prox

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]I are over next week for the GF Nove Colli

[Andrew G]

Great blog Maria.

[Maria David]

Simon, is that Chronoscalata Notturna happening in Verona ? - that sounds a very romantic way to do a hill climb !

Good Luck at Felice Gimondi, Toks - sounds like a great event. Also to Sean, Andrew, David, Adrian et al, have fun riding your nine hills - remember it's only nove colli if you do the whole 200km - go on, get as many km's as you can for your euros !

Glad you like the blog - hope to keep it going a while. Toks, you'll be a hard act to follow !

[Simon C Izoard]

Yes, 14th Sept...two days before the GF Avesani....I should in theory be in for a good time (only problem is limited spaces).....being that its two minutes from my flat..I know I'm lucky. Your blog was great..any more pics...I'm off to Napoli in August, without the bike...just walking in that heat then is a struggle to stay hydrated.
June 23rd is the real one..Peri-Fosse 1000m in 9km, with some 16% ramps : ).
Whats your next project on the bike? I'm sure it will involve Italy..is your Italian improving? I think mine is getting worse..except when I'm on the bike..strange
Buon divertimento

[Andrew G]

[quote="Maria David"]...Also to Sean, Andrew, David, Adrian et al, have fun riding your nine hills - remember it's only nove colli if you do the whole 200km...