Nine weeks and counting

• Flights booked… check.
• Base miles done… check
• Obligatory crash and written off bike… check
• Sense of anticipation building… check
• Sense of trepidation at the prospect of climbing the Stelvio… check.

I guess we’re almost set to go then. What started out as an idea by one team member to go on a cycling holiday in Italy has turned into the cycling trip of a lifetime for half a dozen of us. Two weeks riding around the lakes and mountains of northern Italy, taking in the sights, sounds, food and drink (actually quite a lot of the food and drink) of a part of the world we usually only see late at night on TV screens in Australia during the Giro d’Italia.

Using our limited grasp of the English language, an even more tenuous grasp of the Italian language, and passable ability to take Instagramable photos we’ll endeavour to keep our two followers up to date with our tour.

Of course there will be competition along the way. Classifications of interest to our many (2) followers will include:

• General Classification – The least sought award. This is meant to be a holiday after all.
• King of the Mountains – Fair enough, we will be climbing some of the most famous climbs in Italy and it’s always nice to get to the top first… or second… or third.
• Lanterne Rouge of the Mountains – Might as well enjoy the scenery along the way. This is the value for money award.
• Ludicrous comment/act of the day – Sometimes even well-travelled people make stupid mistakes. Photographic evidence will be included where possible.
• Song of the day – This will undoubtedly be a contentious choice. Anything not by The Cure, The Smiths or Pulp need not apply.

Over the next few weeks the team will be introduced. With any luck we’ll maintain some level of fitness before leaving as Adelaide slips into late autumn and early winter.