Barrettscv 

Every few years I visit southern Italy. My wife grew up there and has inherited a home a block from the beach in Amantea , CZ. I keep a bike there, nothing fancy: it’s a Trek Dual Sport. This rigid hybrid isn’t the fastest bike, but it has a comfortable fit and plenty of gears, it’s actually a good performer for the price.

The local roads here are epic cycling. Imagine the California coast on steroids and you get the picture.

The climbs are 10 miles or more, they average 7% but a significant portion is in the 9-15% range. The scenery is stunning. I ride from the beach to more 3500 feet in about 12 miles, it’s a legitimate Cat 1 climb.

Most years the climb requires 100% effort and can be painful. This year, I spent the winter on the trainer with the goal of doing long climbs while keeping the heart-rate in the 125-140bpm range.

I achieved my goal. The ride was moderately difficult and I never felt exhausted. I’m a Midwesterner, so I feel good about my Italian cycling experience.

I’ll post more recent pictures as soon as I get a strong internet connection.

For now, I’ll repost pictures from a prior post;

Yesterday's ride was an almost continuous 4400 ft climb to an alpine land of cow-bells, cattle and goats. The ride started at sea level among palm trees and cactus. It reached it's turn-around point in foggy alpine air and scrubby mountain growth.

Amantea to Cozzo Aurulo in Amantea, CA | MapMyRide

dennis336

My grandparents were all born in Italy ... kind of wish they kept a house there that I could have inherited and visited . Thanks for the pics - cycling in Italy looks heavenly!

horatio 

Epic, for sure. I aspire to ride similar climbs, one day... hope I’ll have “it” by then.

Helderberg

Beautiful scenery and one heck of a ride. Congratulations and you should be proud of your achievement.
Frank.

berner

I guess walking up and down those hills is why Italians are so long lived.

Wildwood 

My wife loves Italy.
I'm looking to buy an apartment in Portugal.


Lovely pictures @Barrettscv - lucky man to have 2 countries to call home.

Flip Flop Rider

looks like you might run into Mikey Corleone and his body guards

Barrettscv 

There is an important truth to this. Italians in southern Italy are outdoors walking to one place or another more than other people I’ve seen.

I came across an older gentleman on a road bike while descending after reaching the summit. We rode together for about 10 miles. There was no way I could have kept with him if the route was flat. This roadie could climb like a man half his age and he was a fearless descender. We must have averaged 25-30mph.

Barrettscv 

I have a Strava link for the ride.

See: https://www.strava.com/activities/2353956114


..

Nachoman

Nice!

John E

Thanks for posting. Yes, you still have it -- I would have to work back up to that level of fitness (and really should). The climb reminds me of Tuna Canyon in the Malibu hills west of Los Angeles, my favorite challenge ride when I lived there and no longer available, since some dimwit decreed that it would be one-way down. :<

Biker395 

Mine too. Sadly, no dice for me either.

Tuna is a beast, we actually were going to descend Tuna last weekend, but it's so nasty, we decided on Las Flores for the descent instead.

The terrain indeed looks like the Santa Monica Mountains. There's nothing like coastal mountains in a Mediterranean climate. Tell me the food was awesome too.

John E

A very wise choice. I climbed Tuna 8 times, but always descended via Topanga. I did hear horror stories about people melting tubular tire cement, exploding tires, experiencing brake fade, or missing hairpin turns on Tuna, although modern technology would probably help on all counts.

I rode Rambla Pacifica and Las Flores many times, as well.

True on both counts. When I told one of my Greek friends that I liked Italian food, he said, "Of course -- they learned cooking from us." There is nothing like a Mediterranean climate or greater Mediterranean area food.

Oldguyonoldbike

I know that area well. My first wife's family is from Curinga, about halfway between Lamezia and Pizzo. We lived in Florence, but always spent most of August in Calabria.
Enjoy some nduja for me!

Barrettscv 

Pictures! I start and finish all my activities in Amentea;

Barrettscv 

Current pictures;

Barrettscv 

...mid point cappuccino and chocolate crescent stop...

Barrettscv 

Progress

Barrettscv 

Looking northwest from the upper half;

Barrettscv 

Looking down a Fumefreddo Bruzio and the sea;

Barrettscv 

The last km before the summit, 15% FOR 500 yards;

Barrettscv 

And afterwards, a beer at the beach;

Barrettscv 

Nice! We enjoy the sunny weather and beaches in Calabria. Below are pictures of Tropea and Capo Vaticano, I expect these look very familiar :-)

berner

This post may be considered somewhat off topic but since this sub-forum is the 50+ it will have relevance to our general interests. There is a German woman married, to an American soldier, who rides with our bike club. She told me her favorite place in Europe is Italy. An article read recently highlighted the fact that people with a social network are healthier and live longer. Italians are uncontrollably gregarious. In fact, a boyhood friend married a woman of Italian ancestry. I jokingly tell her Rome's success was only partly due to her Legions. Italian charm accounted for a good part of that success. She is a uncontrollably affable.

Barrettscv 

A 15 mile ride with 1500 ft of climbing. Most of the climbing was done in 2 miles, that’s not an exaggeration! Belmonte is one of two cliff-top hill towns in this area. Half derelict, the town exists in multiple centuries depending on where you walk.