Preparing for our Italy Cycling Trip

Embarking on a two month bike trip isn't a simple matter. First, we must have the right equipment. Second, we need to plan our routes. Third, we need to get fit.

Equipment: 

A Santana Sovereign tandem bicycle with S & S fittings. This is a sporty aluminum bike which is very light, and fast. We can only ride it on paved roads. 

Since we will be camping, and fully self supported, we must carry all we need to be comfortable. Also, since we will be cycling in September, October, and possibly into November, we need to have extra clothing to keep us warm. That adds extra pounds. We decided on a three men tent so that we could sleep with our panniers inside the tent. We have four panniers, two in the front - convert to backpacks for those days when we might decide to hike somewhere. The rear ones are just that. All four panniers are rain proof. The front ones had to be modified since they hung too low, and each time we made a turn they hit the road. I ended up tearing the fabric, and moving the hooks down in order to raise the bags up higher. We have a rack on which we attach a tent, and the two sleeping bags we will use. The sleeping bags fit into water-tight bags to keep dry in wet weather. We have complete rain gear, plus layers of clothing to keep us warm in a wide range of temperatures. We also have a mess kit, and a stove (an alcohol stove was our choice since it is small and simple to use).

Planning our routes:

We first surfed the internet to find out what other cyclist have done in Italy. We then bought the Lonely Planet Cycling Guide to Italy. Also, we looked at tour operators' routes. We laid out the map of Italy and highlighted the roads others have done. Since most tours are only a week, or so, we had to connect from area to area, which we did by following similar secondary roads marked on the map. Some tours overlap, so we found out we had numerous options to connect the gaps. We also highlighted the campgrounds, and the towns, and areas of interest in order to plan our daily mileage. The itinerary then was transferred to a larger scale Michelin map where most secondary roads are marked. The Michelin map book will be our main reference on this trip. Of course we are yet to find out how all this will unravel...

Transport:

Our bike comes apart to fit in two boxes. Lengthy debates, and pieces of advise from many people who tried just about every method of packing got us a bit confused. We decided to rely on what felt good to us. We ended up buying two Dahon suitcases, called "Airporter" (See attached photo). These slightly oversized suitcases look just like ordinary luggage. Each has sturdy rollers, and they are made for Dahon folding bikes. After taking measurement of the different parts of our bike, we confirmed that two suitcases would be more than enough. We first bought one (on sale), and tested to see if we were right. Next we waited for another sale, and got the second one. I went to a local shipping company, and got scraps of foam to wrap around the pieces, so that we can transport the bike safely (we hope). When we get to Italy we will have to find a place to store our luggage until our trip ends. This could be interesting...

Training:

We started training months before our trip. First on the bike, then with two panniers, then with four, and finally fully loaded. We train on hills, and ride different distance each time. We also went on a few overnight trips to get our habits with the tent, cooking, and so on. The challenge is to pack as light as possible, but have all the necessary spare parts, and daily essentials. Living in Ventura offers a good opportunity to train on terrain similar to that we expect in the hill country of Tuscany and Umbria. Our longest circuit is the Lake Casitas loop which is 50 miles. Our panniers weigh between 55-60 lbs. However, Elaine lost 10 lbs on her Zone Diet, so our panniers really only weigh 45 - 50 lbs now...:). On steeper climbs we are as slow as 4-5 MPH. However, at lower grades we have been able to maintain 7-9 MPH. Of course with this bike, even fully loaded, with the right conditions on a flat surface, we have clocked well over 20 MPH. This isn't our intent, though, to fly at high speed. We are planning to enjoy the scenery, stop to talk to people, and soak the culture in. 

Departure, duration, itinerary:

We are scheduled to fly to Italy September 8, 2008, and return November 23, 2008. We will cycle from Venice along the Adriatic Coast, through Le Marche, and on up through Umbria, Tuscany, and up to Cinque Terre. This should put us at the end of October. For November, we are considering Morocco, Turkey, or Sicily. We will be updating our blog once there, every few days as internet cafes present themselves. Stay tuned.