New brake cables

Needed to check out my new brake cables so headed across Stemley bridge and turned south.  After a few miles of rolling hills you turn west On Renfro.  Slightlyl less hilly in this direction.  Now I turned   South  on Plant Road and resumed ridge after ridge.  I finally gave up at  Plantersville Road and turned around.    Missed a turn and went to Talladega Federal Prison.  Finally got back on track and rode into headwind with rolling ridges.  Bought some water and struggled home.

Lakeside Marina

Down highway 231 to Lakeside Landing Marina.  Traffic-full but nice weather.  Good workout.

Stemley Bridge

Started on Church Road but I ended up at the back of the airport.  Then I tried heading toward the lake like yesterday but this variant ended in a rail yard.  So I headed back near Lakeside Park and turned onto Stemley Bridge Road.  This takes you over the Coosa River/Lake Logan Martin  bridge.  After returning over the bridge turn right on Cedar Lane and head home.  Good workout.

Saint Clair County International Airport

A longer ride today to the airport, golf course, lakeside neighborhoods and pretty countryside.  The temperature was in the low 60’s; felt like Italy.

Crimson Clover

Revisiting Walker’s Crossing Road today,this time along the pastureland .  Gorgeous

Lakeside Park

Another ride on the Schwinn, this time to Pell City’s Lakeside Park.
Lovely trails with native plants, ducks, geese, and cranes.  Very relaxing.

The Lakeside Flagstaff

Walker’s Crossing Road

Another bike check ride.  This time a  Schwinn Aluminum Comp.  Much lighter bike and better handling as well.  Today I rode a bit further to Walker’s Crossing Road.  A lovely old log cabin here with large guard dog which only barked, no bites

Iris

Schwinn Aluminum Comp

Pioneer era log cabin 

May’s Bend Road

A change of pace today: I’m in Pell City Alabama near Birmingham.  My niece saw I was bikeless and loaned me her bike.  Today I cruised on the hills of May’s Bend Road, situated in the archipelago of Lake Logan Martin.  Beautiful Alabama spring flowers and trees.

1987 Lotus Explorer
40 pounds of CroMoly love 

Villa Varda

Villa Varda is another beautiful spot along Fiume Livenza.  Cold and sunny day perfect for winter training.

Solarium

Church

Codroipo

Long flat ride, sunny and cold across Ponte Delizia to Codroipo.  Good workout.

Meduna-Livenza Confluenza

Beautiful spot where the Livenza and Meduna meet.

Via Partidor

Another flat frigid ride, this time to Crous de Clap to see the restoration work, then to Via Partidor, across Fiume Cellina and the old road below Vivaro. Fun!

Crous de Clap restoration

Solimbergo loop

Clear cold weather perfect for a training ride through the morainic hills near Sequals.  Beautiful!

i Fanghi via Mezzomonte

My favorite local climb.  It's got it all: wildness, beautiful views, length, challenging gradient.

The climb

The stats

Piancavallo

The local climb, surprisingly deserted today, only one other rider.
Looking forward to the Giro stage next year.  Should be fun.

Snow higher up on the mountain

Climb stats

Torrente Colvera, Muie', Meduna

We’ve had a couple of weeks of rain and all the rivers are full.  Today I checked them out.  After Maniago I climbed up through Bus di Colvera and on to Poffabro. There I turned right down Val Muie’ to Navarons.  Dip down to the Meduna river and climbed out at Meduno the town.  Home through a bit of rain. Fun!

Bus di Colvera

Muro del Monte Ragogna

A respite from torrential rains so I rode to Pinzano and Forgaria, then Lago Cornino and across the Tagliamento.  From there slight climb Muris and turn upward to Monte Ragogna, steep but luckily not too long.  Great views here.  The ride home had a slight tailwind so I was happy.   Friulian classic ride.

Pianezza e Rifugio Mariech

Pianezza is the western end of the string of climbs from Vittorio Veneto to the Piave River.  It starts near the piazza in Valdobbiadene and continues steeply to the Pianezza ski area.  From there it starts climbing again steep as ever onto the bald near the summit of Monte Cesen.  Very cold up here on the descent, I was a bit hyperthermic on the way down.  Wonderful climb!

Views from the top

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Madean - Posa Puner

An autumn classic along the strada del prosecco near Combai.  I warmed up from Cison Valmarino  through Follina and after Combai turned onto the road to Madean.  Very shady and chilly but the exertion kept me warm.   Eventually you exit the forest and continue grappling up the mountainous  grassy bald.  After Casera Budui turn onto the gravel road up to Posa Puner.  Beautiful views up here.  Cold descent.  Wonderful climb.

Via delle Malghe Dorsale Cansiglio-Piancavallo MTB

This climb is a variation of the ride starting at Via Ruals at Coultura.
http://dolomiti-friulane.blogspot.com/2019/07/blog-post_24.html. Instead of going straight at  Malga Brusada take a right turn at the road toward Piancavallo.  This is nicknamed Via delle Malghe, one of the most spectacular rides in Friuli, especially in Autumn colors. Eventually it joins the dorsale Cansiglio-Piancavallo and the descent home.  Glorious!