So, road.cc is in Italy for the week. Yep, we’re running the whole shebang from out here on the Adriatic coast courtesy of our hosts at the Belvedere Hotel, Riccione.
Now we know what you’re thinking: “You lot have just swanned off for a holiday in the sun.”
Holiday? Us? As if!
Italy has the cycling culture, the weather, the hills and mountains, the coffee, the ice cream… so we’re here for a week to take it all in and share it with you. Since you can’t be here with us, it’s the least we can do. No, really, you don’t need to thank us.
We’ve sorted out a whole bunch of bikes to tell you about while we’re here, all but one of them from Italian brands. These are they:
• Wilier Zero 9
• De Rosa King XS
• Colnago V1-R
• Bianchi Infinito CV Disc
• Raleigh Revenio Carbon 4 (think of it as the Mini in the Italian Job plus it has an Italian sounding name)
The Wilier, the De Rosa and the Colnago are all built up with components from Italy’s Campagnolo. Oh yeah, we’ve not just come up with a shoddy justification for going on holiday, we’ve come up with a well thought through justification for going on holiday.
So, you can expect ride reports from us on all of these bikes over the course of the week, plus some stuff on where we’ve ridden, an Italian focus in the news (the route for the 2015 Giro d’Italia will be announced on Monday, for example), and anything else Italian that comes our way, ice creams frothy coffees that sort of thing.
If it makes you feel any better, it’s not all fun and games for us out here. Oh no, hang on. It is.
Anyway, ciao for now.
Add new comment
13 comments
It's been great to read your blogs about your time in Riccione. I grew up in Rimini and started cycling there years ago so familiar with all the routes. Glad to see somebody else thinks it's a great place for cycling, thought I was just biased!
Have a wonderful time. I've just returned from a week there at the Hotel Dory. Go test the bikes up the Barbotto climb then tell us all how you went.
Be sure to stuff yourselves with piadina, it's the done thing.
And take 3 arancini, one stuffed in each pocket, for every ride. Did you know arancini are made in that size and in batches of 3 specifically to fit in jersey pockets? It's true!
Really?!
No, not really.
Still might not be a bad idea though, I'm sure the rice and filling would keep the legs turning for a quite a while, especially if you prefer savoury over sweet foods, though I'd put them in a plastic bag first, they can be a bit oily.
That, and the fact they're Sicilian, Romagna mia!
But quite ubiquitous throughout Italy, I found. Unlike the delicious grilled, stuffed intestines that I only recall seeing in Sicily that you could buy from sellers at the roadside. The name of those escapes me...
We sure did last night, very very nice. Followed swiftly by dinner
So did no readers take you up on your offer then? If I was still single/childless I'd have been onto it pronto (not that I'm suggesting dating one of you lot, before you start! ).
If just one person had joined you, I'm sure an extra review bike could have been found...
After a hard month of looking at and reporting all things new and shiny at the trade shows, then taking off on your holiday do you think we are jealous at all? As Septembers missing rain attempts to fall from the sky all in one day you are missing out on being the first this winter with a comprehensive mudguard test. The words work and shy come to mind.
PS. if you find you do not think much of the Wilier Zero 9 I might be willing to offer it a home.
Hang in there, guys! Sure, you're suffering now, but you'll be back home enjoying the cold, grey weather and the pothole strewn roads soon.
Lucky Gits...
Enjoy