Montelonga MTB

l rode up through the tunnels to Barcis, across the dam, continuing until just before the turn off for Piancavallo.  Turn left on paved road  for Montelonga.  This is deadly steep but I made it up without stopping.  At end of pavement you can continue without stopping but today I soon reached the first of many impassable treefalls which I climbed over, under and through.  This was a small sampling of the damage from the hurricane force winds that swept through northern Italy last November.  Eventually I took   the road eastward where less trees were knocked down and descended.  I ended up  meeting the behind-the-lake road again back almost at the dam.  Very fun ride.

The climb

The killer at the start

Il Cansiglio from Sarone

Busy week and the only time for a ride is afternoon on the hottest day in years.  I warmed up on Via Pedemontane Occidentale and turned upward at Sarone.  The climb is unrelenting and the heat reflecting off the cliffs was baking me alive.  I persisted until Maloria where a tree provided some shade.  After ten minutes or so I returned to the world of the living and got back on the saddle.  After awhile I reached the shady Cansiglio forest and continued climbing until my drop dead time, just short of La Crosetta.

The descent quite relaxing and wonderfully smooth below the junction at Sarone.  Easy ride home.

Venezia delle Nevi MTB

I’ve  been wanting to see how this bike path restoration has been coming along and today finally got a chance.  The climb up past San Tome was wonderful as always, and then came a welcome surprise. The new road is almost finished, with chip and seal pavement on the upper stretches and pea gravel lower down.  I’m guessing they are in the process of chip sealing the whole thing eventually.  In addition to the lovely grading work they’ve done, the previously unprotected vertical drop offs now have sturdy wooden fencing.  The work has been done to a high level.  Hopefully word will spread and more visitors will come here to ride.

Dramatic scenery above the bikepath

Castello di Maniago

Kind of a last minute ride in late afternoon.  This climb has some tough gradients followed by a twisty descent.  Fun workout.

Arba Loop

Another flat loop, this time to Campagna, Arba, Tesis, the long bridge across the Magredi and Torrente Cellina, San Foca, Sedrano, San Martino and home.  Very fun.

Partidor Loop

Similar profile to yesterday but a different route.  I rode to Montereale then on a straight, slightly downhill road to San Foca.  From there to San Leonardo, Malnisio and home.  Wonderful ride

Tesis Loop

Finally when the sky had parted and I readied to ride I caught the flu and was useless for another  week and a half.  Today I could stand it no and more went for a spin.  It’s an excellent training ride down to Vivaro, across to Tesis and up to Maniago Zona Industriale.  I’ll try again tomorrow.