WORDS: DAVE JOHNSON
VIDEO PRODUCER: THOMAS OPSTRUP
Cycling experience
The fact is that Sicily is a wonderful, rather undiscovered, somewhat unsophisticated jewel. A truly unforgettable cycling experience, with Etna etched into the memory for all time.
We came here as unassuming amateurs and will leave, as a team of fitter, faster, well-fed athletes. All in a week.
VC10 Sicily training camp Last Day
Along a bit, up a bit squared, and some reflections.
Words: Dave Johnson
Some splendid riding today, allowing us to truly appreciate the Eastern coast of Sicily, with a calm blue sea and beautiful warm sunshine followed by rocky outcroppings with castles and dramatic temperature change as the climbs bit. Blinding white snow on Etna blinked in and out of black storms, and our guide Thomas seemed, like a quantum particle, to blink in and out of my perception as he flitted, featherweight and fit, from front to back of the group.
The descents were enjoyable, too – sweeping and technical – with just enough overtaking of cars to keep us feeling pro. It turns out, though, that spaghetti bolognese reacts in an exactly similar way to the physics of descending and braking, as does slippery cheese.
James was feeling it towards the end, and pushed on while we waited. As the chaingang formed behind (without me in it – bolognese issues), yer man Baker collected and sheltered another, unrelated, rider, also feeling it, and grateful for a tow. The fast boys then thundered past, each man giving JB an encouraging pat on the bottom. His following rider was amazed and confused, and deeply hurt, as not one helpful tap was directed his way. As he didn’t know we were all related, he felt terribly left out. “Why had those riders only fondled Baker? Is there something wrong with me? Or my bottom?”
As I passed a little later, he was stationary on the roadside, bewildered and having a little cry.
Back home at the hotel and breaking bikes into boxes, we reflected on our week:
Sicily is a great place, underestimated by Italy and Europe as a whole, and, for many historical, cultural and political reasons.
The food is heavier here than the light meditterranean dishes we, perhaps, are used to. You do find this in mountainous regions everywhere. Freshness and quality are wonderful.
The fact is that Sicily is a wonderful, rather undiscovered, somewhat unsophisticated jewel. A truly unforgettable cycling experience, with Etna etched into the memory for all time.
We came here as unassuming amateurs and will leave, as a team of fitter, faster, well-fed athletes. All in a week.
A turd. Polished.
Grazi Sicilia, Ciao bella xxx
Dave Johnson VC10
Riding to the top of Etna with a group of Gentlemen and Ladies. The weather turns from cloudy to snowstorm. At the cafe on the top, I tell the group that there is to option to get down the mountain: 1. I call for 2 mini busses to pick us up. The con of this solution is that you have to wait several hours for your rescue. Option 2: we descent down this will mean that you will freeze for around 25 min. more than you have ever frozen in your life. What are you going to do?
WORDS: THOMAS OPSTRUP PHOTOGRAPHY RETOUCHING: THOMAS OPSTRUP #more racing bikes of 2021 - part 2 In this article 'More racing bikes of 2021' I present some of the bikes you were missing from the first part of 'Best bikes of 2021' I collected all your comments and from here selected 12 of your chosen bikes. [...]
THE CREATION OF A PHOTO AT GIRO D'ITALIA IN CATANIA WORDS: THOMAS OPSTRUP PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES STARTT AND THOMAS OPSTRUP #GIRO D'ITALIA IN CATANIA Another day at the Giro d’Italia in Sicily. This time the start in Catania. After driving my son to school I went straight to Catania in the morning. I had already thought [...]
THE COASTAL RIDE CYCLING EXPERIENCE
WORDS: DAVE JOHNSON
VIDEO PRODUCER: THOMAS OPSTRUP
Cycling experience
The fact is that Sicily is a wonderful, rather undiscovered, somewhat unsophisticated jewel. A truly unforgettable cycling experience, with Etna etched into the memory for all time.
We came here as unassuming amateurs and will leave, as a team of fitter, faster, well-fed athletes. All in a week.
VC10 Sicily training camp
Last Day
Along a bit, up a bit squared, and some reflections.
Words: Dave Johnson
Some splendid riding today, allowing us to truly appreciate the Eastern coast of Sicily, with a calm blue sea and beautiful warm sunshine followed by rocky outcroppings with castles and dramatic temperature change as the climbs bit. Blinding white snow on Etna blinked in and out of black storms, and our guide Thomas seemed, like a quantum particle, to blink in and out of my perception as he flitted, featherweight and fit, from front to back of the group.
The descents were enjoyable, too – sweeping and technical – with just enough overtaking of cars to keep us feeling pro. It turns out, though, that spaghetti bolognese reacts in an exactly similar way to the physics of descending and braking, as does slippery cheese.
James was feeling it towards the end, and pushed on while we waited. As the chaingang formed behind (without me in it – bolognese issues), yer man Baker collected and sheltered another, unrelated, rider, also feeling it, and grateful for a tow. The fast boys then thundered past, each man giving JB an encouraging pat on the bottom. His following rider was amazed and confused, and deeply hurt, as not one helpful tap was directed his way. As he didn’t know we were all related, he felt terribly left out. “Why had those riders only fondled Baker? Is there something wrong with me? Or my bottom?”
Also read Snowstorm on Etna
As I passed a little later, he was stationary on the roadside, bewildered and having a little cry.
Back home at the hotel and breaking bikes into boxes, we reflected on our week:
Sicily is a great place, underestimated by Italy and Europe as a whole, and, for many historical, cultural and political reasons.
The food is heavier here than the light meditterranean dishes we, perhaps, are used to. You do find this in mountainous regions everywhere. Freshness and quality are wonderful.
The fact is that Sicily is a wonderful, rather undiscovered, somewhat unsophisticated jewel. A truly unforgettable cycling experience, with Etna etched into the memory for all time.
We came here as unassuming amateurs and will leave, as a team of fitter, faster, well-fed athletes. All in a week.
A turd. Polished.
Grazi Sicilia, Ciao bella xxx
Dave Johnson
VC10
Related Posts
SNOWSTORM ON ETNA
Riding to the top of Etna with a group of Gentlemen and Ladies. The weather turns from cloudy to snowstorm. At the cafe on the top, I tell the group that there is to option to get down the mountain: 1. I call for 2 mini busses to pick us up. The con of this solution is that you have to wait several hours for your rescue. Option 2: we descent down this will mean that you will freeze for around 25 min. more than you have ever frozen in your life. What are you going to do?
MONTE KALFA
One of the most beautiful rides in Sicily. The ride to Monte Kalfa takes you through the breath of history.
More Racing bikes of 2021 – part 2
GIRO D’ITALIA IN CATANIA