San Francisco Again!!! Sunny weather this time!

Riding in San Francisco is a unique experience. The uphill are tiring, but the feeling of a steep downhill in the middle of a city with square geometry is a very unique experience for a European.

From the Alps to Mont Ventoux (1st Edition)

Salita al Monte Ventoso


Oggi, spinto dal solo desiderio di vedere un luogo celebre per la sua altezza, sono salito sul più alto monte di questa regione, chiamato giustamente Ventoso. 

...

La mole del monte, infatti, tutta sassi, è assai scoscesa e quasi inaccessibile, ma ben disse il poeta che «l’ostinata fatica vince ogni cosa»

[F. Petrarca] 

Overall Tour

Day 1: Cuneo - La Roure (102 Km)
Day 2: La Roure - Castellane (105 Km)
Day 3: Castellane - Greoux Les Bains (77 Km)
Day 4: Greoux Les Bains - Arles (135 Km)
Day 5: Arles - Carpentras (70 Km)
Day 6: Carpentras - Nyons (84 Km)
Day 7: Nyons - Gap (108 Km)
Day 8: Gap - Barcellonnette (68 Km)
Day 9: Barcellonnette - Cuneo (110 Km)

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Day 1

Cuneo - La Roure (102 Km)

Highlights

Col De La Lombarde:  (2.350 m s.l.m.) is amountain pass at the border between France and Italy in the Maritime Alps.
The uphill is one of the most impressive in the Alps. The uphill is 21.7 Km long with an average inclination of 6.8% and a maximum of 14%. On the Italian side you can see on your way the San Anna Sanctuary, the highest in Europe. On the French side you will find on your way the ski resort area of Isola 2000. The Tour de France passed here in the 2008 in the Cuneo - Jausiersstage which was won by Stefan Schumacher.

On your path the road will pass across the Parc National Du Mercantour that is located on the extrem south-east part of France just close by Piedmont, it is one of the 9 national parc in France. The Parc National Du Mercantour includes the following valleys which some of them will be crossed in the following days:

• Roya Valley
• Roya-Bevera Valley
• Vésubie Valley
• Tinée Valley
• Cians Valley
• Var Valley
• Ubaye Valley
• Verdon valley

Gorges de la Valabres: Road characterized by red rocks with tunnels in the rocks.

La Roure: it is a small town in the Maritime alps in the region of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence with 219 people, from here the view is wonderful, it is recommended to stay at the Auberge Le Robur (Booking).

Route

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Altitude Profile

Hotel info
Name: Auberge Le Robur
Website: http://www.aubergelerobur.fr/index_083.htm
Address: Rue Centrale, Roure, 06420, France
Phone: +33493020357
Email: lerobur@free.fr

Day 2

La Roure - Castellane (105 Km)

Highlights

Roubion It is a sall town which dominate the Vionène valley and laying on the rock.

The first uphill of the day is the Col de la Cuillole (m 1678). During the uphill is possible to see the typical middle age village of Roubion.

 

Gorges du Cians: The cians is a small river confluent to the Var, but is famous because crossing the spectacular Gorges.

Today additional highlights:
Col de Toutes Aures
Lac de Castillon
Castellane

Route

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Altitude Profile

Day 3

Castellane - Greoux Les Bains (77 Km)

Highlights

Gorges du Verdon: it is the canyon formed by Verdon river, it is considered one of the best of Europe. The canyon is 25 Km long and 700 meters height.
The river name derive by its colour. The most canyon interesting part is starting after the Castellane villageup to the Saint Croix Lake.

Lac de Saint Croix: The artificial lake formed by means of a dam build from 1971 to 1974 called Saint Croix barrage. The basin has a capacity of 761 million of water square meters and it is able to produce 142 million of KWh of electric energy per year.

Route (77 Km)

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Altitude Profile

Adviced Hotel
Name: La Cheneraie
Website: http://www.la-cheneraie.com/
Address: Chemin Des Collines Bp32, Greoux Les Bains, 04800, France
Phone: +33492780323
Email: contact@la-cheneraie.com


Day 4

Greoux Les Bains - Arles (135 Km)

Highlights

Vinon Sur Verdon
Gorges de L'Infernet
Aix en Provence
Arles

Route

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Altitude Profile

Hotel info
Name: Hôtel Résidence de la Transhumance
Website: http://www.hotel-transhumance.fr/
Address: 11, rue de la Transhumance, Saint Martin de Crau, 13310, France
Phone: +33490182970
Email: hotel-transhumance@orange.fr

Day 5

Arles - Carpentras (70 Km)

Route

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Adviced Hotel info
Name: Les Demeures Du Ventoux
Website: http://www.lesdemeuresduventoux.com/
Address: Avenue Majoral Jouve Quartier De La Rodde, Aubignan, 84810, France
Phone: +33490361083
Email: AccDemeuresDuVentoux@village-center.fr

Day 6 (Thursday 29/09/2011) Mont Ventoux
Carpentras - Nyons (84 Km)

Il Mont Ventoux is a massif which peak can reach 1912 meters. It is called by the French "The Giant of the Provence", it is located airline 20 Km south from Carpentras and it is quite far away from other peak in the region.

The Mount Ventoux is classified "Biosphere Reserve" from the UNESCO inthe context of "MAB" (Man and Biosphere) project. The Mount Ventoux presents a specific flora and a rich fauna. The surranding hills are famous for the well-known table wine (Côtes du Ventoux).

Route

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Altitude Profile

Hotel info
Name: La Picholine
Website: http://www.picholine26.com/
Address: Promenade de la Perriere Nyons, 26110, France
Phone: +33475260621
Email: picholine26@wanadoo.fr
Location: Latitude 44.36472, Longitude 5.13545 (N 044° 21.883, E 05° 8.127)

Links
http://www.salite.ch/ventoux2.asp
http://www.suipedali.it/
http://www.lemontventoux.net/  
http://www.climbbybike.com/

Day 7

Nyons - Gap (108 Km)

Highlights
Col De La Sauce

Route

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Hotel info
Name: Hotel Pre Vert
Website: http://www.hotel-prevert-gap.federal-hotel.com/

Address: Belle Aureille - Micropolis Gap, 05000, France
Phone: +33492524584, +33492520691 (Fax)
E-mail: hotel-prevert@orange.fr

Day 8
Gap - Barcellonnette (68 Km)

Route (68 Km)

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Altitude Profile

Hotel info
Name: Chalet Pra Loup
Website: http://www.chaletpraloup.fr/
Address: Les Molanes
Pra Loup 1500, 04400
France
Phone: +33676638440, +33492322226 (fax)
E-Mail: chaletpraloup.resa@yahoo.fr

Day 9

Barcellonnette - Cuneo (110 Km)

Route

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40th-issimo Cup (Colle Fauniera) The Program

I cannot see a best way to celebrate my 40th birthday. The tour is not too long but the uphill is quite tough and famous because here Pantani won and a statue is dedicated to him at the top. There is everything to be a wonderful day, friends and family, we hope only in the good weather.

The Fauniera Col (also called "The death Col " due to a tremendous battle between Spain and Piedmont armies in the 17th century) connect the Valle Grana with the Vallone dell'Arma (a north side valley of Stura di Demonte that start from Cuneo).

Day 1
Dronero - Marmora (80 Km)

Program
Starting from Dronero
Road from Caraglio to Demonte
Uphill to olle Fauniera
Very technical downhill to the Esischie Col;
Dinner and Accomodation in Baita a Marmora

Route (Altimeter Profile)

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Day 2
Marmora - Dronero (58 Km)

Program
Departure from Marmora
Way back to Colle Fauniera
Panoramic downhill toward Caraglio
Lunch in Agriturismo

Route (Altimetria)

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Hotel Info
http://www.lamarmu.com/

Links
http://dangerousroads.org/
http://nessunotocchipantani.splinder.com/
http://napobike.interfree.it/fauniera.htm
http://cycloclimbing.com/alpspass1700paved/13morti.html

The DoloMythic challenge

Today I had the right feeling. The D-Day (Dolomite Day), one of the best challenges of my life, one of them I will to remember for the life. Incredible but true I was able to complete the tour with 6 Passes in the Italian Dolomite (Rolle, Valles, Fedaia, Pellegrino, Valles, Rolle) !

Impressionante e suggestivo il passaggio dai Serrai di Sottocuda, quest'anno c'è passato anche il giro d'italia. Si può passare anche dalla strada per le auto, ma si perde l'emozione di passare tra queste gole (grazie Luigi per il suggerimento).

The Fedaia Pass is really impressive, it is a ramp that never give a moment of relax.

The lunch at the Fedaia Refuge is the right compensation for the big effort.

Very panoramic view in the downhill up to Canazei.

Route

Altimetric Profile

Photo Gallery

2011-07-09 I 6 passi dolomitici

Extrawheel Bike configuration

Which is the best bike configuration for travelling independently with luggages? Good question! It depends I would say. I always thought about travelling with bike with the typical configuration with bags attached on the rear rack and, maybe if necessary even on the front side with the special rack attached to the fork. 

I always dreamed about more days bike travels, without forcing anyone else to follow me by car in order to bring my luggages. At the same time if I have to choose which is the bike I prefer riding I would say, with no any doubt the the road bike. The road bike in my view is the more comfortable one, with the best riding position and the only one I can ride for many hours with no pain. Additionally from my point of view riding the road bike gives more fun than any other kind of bike.  How could I get a solution for the following?

• attaching a rack for bags on a carbon frame that normally does not provide any predisposition
• preserving the pleasure to ride a road bike without introducing the typical unbalancing due to bags weight

The best solution to fulfil these requirements I could find out is the Extraweel system, you can see pictures applied to my road bike or direct refer to this link.

These pictures show about my personal experience with extrawheel trailer, please for more detailed information visit the web site www.extrawheel.com
My customized Extrawheel system does not include the mud guards and the flag additionally the wheel has been replaced with a road wheel the same type as the front wheel.

Attaching the Extrawheel is pretty simple, the only modification necessary is to change the quick release. Being all the system attached to the centre of the rear wheel there are no unbalancing introduced to the bike, personally I reached the 70 Km/h in the downhill without any problem. I would even say that the bike is more stable due to the third wheel.

In the following video there is a clear description on how to initially set the Extra-wheel trailer.