Our group assembles, post-Manchester airport’s currently infamous security checks, in Grainstore for breakfast. Old friends and new acquaintances, over breakfast we roll through the usual cyclist quips of failed weight loss and thwarted training plans. But later, as we move to the gate, the sleek toned calf muscles give it away: everyone has been training hard for this trip.
Today’s ride, a routine ~60 miler, starts from the hot tarmac carpark at Milan airport. The bikes are stacked next to the support van, and just need unpacking and reassembling. After a few minutes, a growing sea of bubble wrap gentle laps around our ankles. It is silent, I think there’s an urgency not to be last (and possibly a slight race to be first to assemble). Laps of the carpark follow as bike set-ups are tested, saddles adjusted, and tyres inflated. The circling swarm of riders builds, then we are off!
It is becoming a tradition, and this trip is no exception: No-one knows how to get out of the airport. In tribute to Top Gun’s Maverick, we buzz past Terminal 1 a couple of times before a shambolic ~2 miles of Strava airport spaghetti.
Once out on the road, it’s a happy, happy start to the ride. Pandemic postponed, I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t quite believe we’ve actually made it. The airport roads and roundabouts end as we turn off onto a gravel track alongside a canal. Kids are playing in the water, the sun is shining, and the air stuffed with the heavy scent of jasmine. Everything is Great.
Twenty miles later, we’re still on the gravel, and possibly less enthusiastic…The terrain is hard work, and our Garmin GPS devices are in conflict on the route. Strained diplomacy leads to the decision to break at a café for coke and ice creams.
Good humour restored, we continue, building speed as Julian, John and Brandon start up the ‘Jujobra train’ – basically they ride hard and fast. As it is more efficient to ‘hold a wheel’, I try to hang on as long as I can. With 17 miles to go, I’m spat out the back, but at least now able to restore my heart rate to an aerobic level. I join up with Steve T. and we take turns pulling along the dulling A road to Bergamo. The hotel, and spectacular mountain scenery are a welcome sight, but it’s 7:30pm and I am shattered. This was supposed to be a gentle breeze before tomorrow’s attempt at the biggest ride of my life so far, 218 km to Como. Daunted, but smiling.
We’re raising money for Bolton Lads & Girls Club (BLGC) a provider of targeted Youth Support services. As always, we pay for everything ourselves so you know that every penny you donate goes directly to BLGC. Our Just giving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/blgcitalianclassics
You support makes me smile more up the hills. Thank You 🙂