The Green Ring (La Corona Verde)

A Spring Sunday and the Borgaro-Lanzo bike-way

Today in my usual Sunday bike ride I met this bike-way that starts in Borgaro Torinese and arrives in Lanzo Torinese. I met the first sign indicating the cycling path in Villanova Canavese, while arriving from Cafasse and I tried to follow them.

Colle della Dieta (Col of Diet)

It is not really clear the name of this mountain pass. The Road that connect Mezzenile with Viù in the Lanzo Valleys is apparently called "Colle della Dieta" (that literally means the "Diet Col") at least there is a sign just before the peak that in the small town called Monti. The local people here tell that the road has been paved within the latest 2 years.

The Hilly area south of Chivasso

This area at Torino doorstep (precisely in the East Part of Torino) offers many possibilities for bikers in both long and short distance ride.

The area is totally hilly and we have to expect continuous uphills and downhills. The vegetation sometimes does not allow to see the landscapes, but when you are at the top of the hills you can enjoy very beautiful landscapes.
Play attention the uphill toward Castagneto Po it is very hard there are some stretches at 14 % inclination.

It is recommended for a lunch break to stop in a nice country side restaurant handled by a family. The place is called Il Tavernone that is located in Vernone as the name leave easily guess.

TRATTORIA BAR IL TAVERNONE
55, Strada Maestra Fr. Vernone 10020 Marentino, Torino. Tel: (011) 943-5091

For another lunch break stopping in Tonengo on the way toward Cocconato it is recommended a trattoria called trattoria Moia, typical Piemontese "Piola" with interesting assortment of starters. The food quantity is also abundant and prices are really reasonable, many people on the web define it as a traditional ancient time place.

RISTORANTE MOIA
Via Cocconato, 12 - 14023 - Tonengo (AT)
tel: 0141.908132

Itinerario Proposta 1

This is just one proposal but many combinations are possible, please consider the GPS Tracking section.

GPS Tracking

Distance: 62 Km
Total Ascent: 1368 m

Distance: 70.54 Km
Total Ascent: 1213 m

Distance: 78.73 Km
Total Ascent: 1458 m

Distance: 50 Km
Total Ascent: 849 m

Torino Hills Routes (From San Mauro T.se)

San Mauro T.se is in a strategic position, it is at the base of Torino hill park (The Parco Naturale della Collina Torinese) from here there are several bike rides possible. It is at the junction of the Po river with the Stura Lanzo river thanks to this position a good bike paths along riversides are available.

Route 1: 54.6 Km - Vertical climb: ca 1160 m

Route 2: 63.3 Km -Vertical climb: ca 1280 m
Route 3: 71.9 Km - Vertical climb: ca 1420 m


Route 1
San Mauro, Castiglione Torinese, Cordova, Baldissero Torinese, Valle Ceppi, Pino Torinese, Pecetto Torinese, Revigliasco, Colle Della Maddalena, Eremo, Panoramica di Superga, Rivodora, San Mauro Torinese.

• Distance: 54.6 km
• Total vertical climb: ca. 1160 m
• Inclination: Hilly
• Surface: Paved

Route

View Route: Torino Hill (From San Mauro) Training 1 in a larger map

Altimetric Profile

GPS Tracking
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/vNJv-Dyf8Gw

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/qaUYKrERTW8


Route 2
San Mauro, Castiglione Torinese, Cordova,  Pavarolo, Tetti Berruto, Baldissero Torinese, Valle Ceppi, Pino Torinese, Pecetto Torinese, Revigliasco, Colle Della Maddalena, Eremo, Panoramica di Superga, Rivodora, San Mauro Torinese.

From SanMauro get the SS590 up to Castiglione Torinese, turn right direction Chieri in the roas called Strada della Rezza. After about 1 Km turn left in direction Cordova.After Cordova at the junction go straight toward Pavarolo continuing the uphill. After passing Pavarolo the road goes to connect again to Strada della Rezza, about 200 meters before this connection turn right, it is a small asphalt road that ends up in another bigger road coming from Chieri. At this juction turn right direction Baldissero Torinese.

• Distance: 63.3 km
• Total vertical climb: ca. 1280 m
• Inclination: Hilly
• Surface: Paved

Route

 

View Route: Torino Hill (From San Mauro) Training 2 in a larger map

Altimetric Profile

Tour 3

• Distance: 71.9 km
• Total vertical climb: ca. 1420 m
• Inclination: Hilly
• Surface: Paved

Take the SS590 up to Gassino at the roundabout get the first road on your right toward Cinzano, Sciolze Bussolino. In the area Molinasso turn left toward Rivalba and Castagneto Po. Once in Castagneto Po' follow the signs for Casalborgone. In Casalborgone take the SP458 direction Cocconato and Asti. At the top of the uphill you'll find the sign Aramengo but we don't have to turn left for the village and continue on SP458 up to the indication for Albugnano.

Route

View Route: Torino Hills (From San Mauro) Training 3 in a larger map

Altimetric Profile

GPS Tracking
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/kTk9cCH5GLk

Colle Del Lys Tour

This tour is very famous among bikers in Turin. It is one of the closer pass to Torino city. The best way to ride this tour is in the anticlockwise. From Torino getting toward Lanzo Valleys via the SP1 road along the east side of La Mandria Park.

Torino Tour completed

Today, finally I completed the Torino Tour, I got both alternative 1 and alternative 2. I had some problem in Settimo, it is a small city with a not square plant, where it is very easy to get lost and miss the right planned route. Of course I did not forget to have a break in the Panoramix Kiosk where I also met a friendly rider very keen to know about bike travelling and how to carry bags with race bike... extrawheel of course the best way!!  I take the occasion to greet him and hoping to stay in contact and why not? I do not exclude some travel experience together.

Torino Tour

The Tour: Torino P.za Massaua, Pianezza, San Gillio, La Cassa, Fiano, Robassomero, San Maurizio, Leini, Settimo, Castiglione, Rivodora, Parco Naturale Della Collina di Superga, Pino Torinese, Colle Della Maddalena, Moncalieri, Nichelino, Borgaretto, Beinasco, Orbassano, Grugliasco, Torino P.za Massaua

• Distance: 113.9 km
• Total vertical climb: ca. 1000 m
• Inclination: Partly hilly - partly flat
• Surface: Paved

The tour starts from west part of the city in Piazza Massaua, but it can begin wherever in the city depending on where you stay. The idea is to plan a long ride without moving too much from the city. the track is partially hilly and partially flat. I think this route it can be good for long distance training without being too far from the city.

Once you are in the Superga Park don't forget to take a break in the Panoramix kiosk. It is a peculiar place; very few kilometres away from the city centre anyway you have the feeling to be somewhere else, a very relaxing and quite place where have a drink and snack.The owner is very friendly and you can have occasion quite easily to socialize with many riders, who stop there for tha same reason.

There are of course several alternative slternatives, I just propose the following one:

Alternative 1: In starda borgaretto crossing Strada Torino is possible go straight and continue on the cycling path along Sangone river, instead of turning left to Strada Torino.

Alternative 2: On the way down from Colle della Maddalena instead going directly to Moncalieri take the way to Revigliasco and then go to Moncalieri where continue the tour. 

Overall Route

Show Route: Around Torino tour in a bigger map

Altitude Profile
 

Links
Parco Naturale Collina torinese

Happy Birthday Sister

After a huge lunch for celebrating my sister birthday, the day finishes with a nice as much as unplanned evening bike ride. Indeed, weather today was not good enough for a morning ride, anyway in the evening the sky was getting cleaner, so after Giro d'Italia the wish was strong and why not?. I had also occasion to discover a new cycling path along the Sangone River.

Route

 

The 2012 training is slowly starting

The itinerary initially chosen was even more difficult, but unfortunately I had to face to my actual training that currently does not allow me yet to enjoy such a long ride, so I had to cut it. It was foreseen after back to Superga to take Valle Ceppi and then from Colle Della Maddelena going back to Torino via San Vito. Anyway the plan was almost completed. Next time ... training is just at the beginning…

Route and Altimeter Profile
 

A quite winter ride

Today a quite and a relaxing winter ride. Starting from Pinerolo, not many kilometers just 50 Kms but after the lack of training of this long winter time is really nice anyway.

I noticed that the saddle needs to be set a little upper, my legs are not turning well. 5 mm at least.

Altimeter Profile

Pinarello Rokh testing

Today, despite the roads are still dirty of melting snow, especially in the hills close to Torino, I could not resist to test the new (at least for me) Pinarello Rokh. Extremely comfortable, this is the first feeling while I've been riding for my first time the Pinarello Rokh frame.