Monte San Simeone

After riding from home through Pinzano to Forgaria, I passed Lago Cornino and the grifoni nesting cliffs.  Continue north to Lago Cavazzo, then turn right for Bordano.  When the road levels off turn left for Monte San Simeone.  This climb just keeps going and going.  At the top is a restored 13th century church.  Along the route are wildflowers and butterflies.  A must ride!  

Lago Cornino

Carstic boulders at 1200 meters

The Tagliamento

Monte Palantarins 1049 meters

The switchbacks

The stats

Monte Dolada

 I try to visit this climb every year to see what kind of shape I'm in.  After a long ride down to Vittorio Veneto then up to Passo Fadalto, you ride along the beautiful shoreline of Lago di Santa Croce.  Shortly afterward you start climbing up through Pieve d'Alpago and Plois.  Now starts the mountain road to Dolada.  It's very steep and seems like it will never end.  By the end at 1500 meters I was reduced to a quivering bowl of jello.  It's odd because I normally struggle on this climb but finish ok.  I usually follow it with the ride to Tambre, Il Cansiglio and descent to Sarone.  Today I had to take the easy road back through Vittorio Veneto and Cordignano.  But it's good to know the truth and not be deluded.  Now I can adjust my goals accordingly.

Peaks along northeast rim of Alpago

Gorgeous conch-shaped valley

Lago di Santa Croce flanked by Monte Pizzoc and Col Visentin

Climb stats

Brake Pad Contamination

The other day coming home from Valle di Preone I noticed my fourth bottle of gatorade was  nearly empty so I stopped at the fontana in Pinzano for a refill.  I was very tired and clumsy so when I opened the lid a few tablespoons of artificial orange sugary liquid splashed on my rear wheel.  I refilled the bottle and shoved off home.   An hour later when I rolled into the cortile I hit the rear brake and it honked like an angry goose.  I laughed and went inside to recover.

Next day I wiped down the rotor with alcohol and it looked clean but when I test rode it, same honk.  A second cleaning didn't help either.  So this morning I took off the rear wheel and the pads were not only sticky, they were worn down to the limit.  Luckily I had some new pads and after  cleaning the area around the rear forcellina I changed them: honk fixed.  I've had brake pads contaminated by brake fluid (or mineral oil) before but this is the first time with sports drinks.  It's a jungle out there.

Worn pad left, new pad right

New pads installed

      

Monte Rest - Valle di Preone

Woke up early and headed out toward Meduno, then north to Monte Rest.  After a break I rode down the north side of Monte Rest, crossed the Tagliamento and climbed over the hills to Mediis on SS52.  After a brief ride east cross the river again and go to Preone.  Follow the signs for Valle di Preone upward through the forest, then steeply down to river crossing of the Seazza.

Here starts a seriously steep climb up from the river to the high valley.  Then it moderates some and before long the valley opens up into one of the most beautiful altopiano around here.  Past the Cascade of the Arzino  and finally joining the road descending from Sella Chianzutan.  Before long I went through some road paving work around San Francesco, prepping for the Giro in a couple of weeks.  After Anduins the ride was an endurance test:  would I have enough energy to make it home?I did, but just barely.

Climb to Passo di Monte Rest

Climb from Torrente Seazza to Valle di Preone

Pian dei Grassi

A brief intermission from the rain so I took off toward Vittorio Veneto.  Just after you turn onto the road to Valdobbiadene you pass a little town called Longhere.  Turn at the sign for Fais and head steeply upward.  This continues high above Vittorio Veneto to a junction at 1219 meters.  If you're in shape you can continue to Monte Cor at 1300 meters or to the end of pavement toward Col Visentin at 1400 meters ( or on the gravel road to 1700 meters, preferably on a MTB).  I was exhausted so headed back down.         

Ride home was tough, no energy. I don't think I've been eating enough lately. But I made it home just as the rain started in Giais.  Only got damp, it wasn't too heavy.  Great climb!

End of the road for me today

The route to Monte Cor

The climb continues to Col Visentin if you can

The climb stats

Barcis - Cansiglio

A new ride for me, starting with the classic climb from Barcis to Piancavallo, then continuing on the newly-paved panoramica to Il Cansiglio.  Cold and cloudy but still wonderful.  At the Cansiglio boundary I rode on gravel to Casa Forestale (on Monte Candaglia) then the beautiful gravel forest road to La Crosseta.  From there the normal descent to Sarone and then home.  Must repeat soon (when it's warmer).

From near panoramica high point looking east

If you look closely you can see heaven between the cloud layers

Gorgeous winding forest road in Il Cansiglio

The ride, with climb highlighted in purple

Climb stats

Lignano

Long flat ride today, slightly damp.  I've biked to other local seashores previously but never Lignano.  The route is identical to Brussa until Lugugnana, where today I continued eastward until the main road south to Bibione.  Just before reaching Bibione you turn east again, cross the Tagliamento and arrive in Lignano.  The section I arrived at wasn't the beach however.  It was more an area of golf course retirement homes.  Still very pretty with all the pine trees and coastal flora.  Another beautiful place is a horse ranch north of Bibione, full of mares and their beautiful foals.  Like to come back and take some pictures there.

Very tired when I got home.  I think I will take it easy the rest of the day.

Il Tagliamento, almost ready to join the sea 

Forchia Piccola - Monte Valinis

I rode through Fora del Colvera to Poffabro then down through Val del Muie to Navarons.  Down across the Meduna and along Lago dei Tramontini to the road to Campone.  Just before Campone I turned right and ascended steeply to Forchia Piccola.  This is a beautiful road traversing steep slopes covered with large faggio or beech trees.  Nothing but birdsong in the mist this first day of May.  Eventually it joins the road climbing up to Monte Valinis.  This continues in similar steepness onward to the parapendio launch site.  Quite busy today: my neighbor later mentioned they are prepping for the European parapendio championships this summer.

The descent was fun with quite a few bikers enjoying the holiday.  Lovely morning for a perfect climb.

Torrente Chiarzo swollen with rain 

Parapendi atop Monte Valinis

View to south of Torrente Meduna 

Monte Raut in distance

The descent toward Meduno

The climb

Hangliders' eye view