Florence Ride... Awesome!

Greetings:
Had an amazing time in Florence over the Thanksgiving holiday. I was in the company of terrific shoppers but I had to ditch them on my free day to experience the Chianti back country of Florence.... all 60 miles that I could squeeze in to one day. The weather was very rainy and dark but I asked my private guide from Florence by Bike if she was up for it... my twin (we couldn't have been paired more perfectly) said that it was up to me and I said No Turning BACK! I am earning my Florence by Bike Jersey and that is exactly what we did! It was so amazing and the Chianti vineyards provided a landscape that I will never forget. We stopped for lunch at a place that had a fireplace that we claimed our own! My cold weather outfit (thanks to Toni up in Militello) and though I was wet... I was warm.

The photo was taken at the end of the ride and honestly is the only photo I took on the cycling adventure since the weather had me in survival mode!

The cycling landscape in Florence consists of steady, rolling hills and we had 5 big climbs with two of those being 7km climbs but steady ones.

Buon Natale e Auguri, Tutti Club!

Enjoy a short show!

Greetings, everyone!

I couldn't have asked for a better training group over the past two years. We arrived in Sicilia in 2006 and by summer of 2007, the Sigonella Tri Club took shape at the first swim clinic that brought in over 35 participants. The numbers never really dwindled and members were meeting me for weekly swims, biking on Wednesdays, advanced rides on Saturdays and the training schedule stayed the same for summer 2008. During this time, members such as myself completed their first Olympic distance triathlon out in town amongst many medusa (jellyfish) as well as finished a half marathon in the pouring rain. A number of elite athletes journeyed to the top by completing Ironman races throughout Europe. Last summer, the club welcomed many first-timers to the popular sport and cheered them on as they survived the swim, hammered it through the bike, and sprinted to the finish to earn the title of Triathlete.

I would like to personally thank everyone who has been a part of this amazing journey. When I first arrived, 20 miles was a daunting bike ride but Kari (a serious triathlete who tried out for the U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team) took me in, passed me the torch, and showed me a passion for a sport (cycling) that I never dreamed of being a part of. Now... it is my turn to do the same and I hope this blog lights the way for those yearning to endure a personal perspective of european cycling through a less intense "touring" mindset which is one that I have lived for the last two years and includes riding... dolce stop... more riding!

I will continue to set up rides on the blog until our time here reaches an end. In the meantime, I also plan to update this page with various routes in the area via GPS as soon as I get the links ready.

Thanks again for a journey that will be cherished forever,
jenni one speed