A Ph'er takes on the Tuscany Trail!
Discussion
If you follow me on Strava or we've spoken, you'll have probably heard me or seen me mention Italy or the Tuscany Trail over the last few months. Its a 600km adventure ride / race through Tuscany mostly off road on Strada Bianchi or mountain passes with 11km of vertical assent! www.tuscanytrail.it
I found it after reading Gabby Leveridge account of last years event ( http://bikepackersmagazine.com/tales-from-the-tusc... and rather rashly signed up for this years with the idea of using it as a fixed point to force me to ride during the winter, having done the Tour of Cambs last year, I didn't want to be starting from scratch on my fitness again.
My last MTB adventure didn't end well, I think is an understatement! I agreed to do the SDW with Sixpotbelly, and bailed after just 25 miles! That was down to 3 reasons, 1) my handlebars were 3 inches lower than my saddle, and carrying 4kgs on my back, it was objecting, 2) I wasn't fit enough, and 3) The tracks I'd been looking at, I'd misread, I thought that as the distance was in imperial, so was the height, alas no! Yes, I though it was 4k feet of climbing, not 4km! Bugger!
Fast forward to now, and I fly to Pisa tomorrow, completely under prepared for what lies ahead. I'm 300 miles behind in my riding, although I have been doing local loops up to 50 miles both with and without GPS to refresh my map skills, and Strava was getting me down! The bikes been through an overhaul (new wheels and forks), and all the luggage is prepped, complete its a 20 - 22kg load!
I have 1 river crossing (that we know of, given the sink hole that appeared last week, right on route) and 20 cat 4, 3 cat 3, and 3 cat 2 climbs to contend with, the first climb is mostly a hike a bike section with a max gradient of 44%! What I'm hoping is going to be my first day has 5 cats 4's, and a cat 2, with 2 mountains, exceeding 3000ft, and I have to go over them both. To make matters worse, its now raining out there, and I'm on file tread patterns.
If have since found out, that its going to be recorded for the Bike Channel on Sky! So on day 1, if the sun comes out look out for the PH top with a Union Flag emblazoned across the peak of a helmet!
Also if you want to get into dot watching in preparation for Gruffy's TCR (and quite frankly much more impressive) attempt, then on the mail website is an interactive map, just select my name from the drop down list and if the tech works, you'll see where I am.
I'm not going to be first across the line, that honour I think will go to Josh Ibbet, last years TCR winner. I will do a proper write up when I get back to Blighty, as I doubt I'll be able to walk much!
I found it after reading Gabby Leveridge account of last years event ( http://bikepackersmagazine.com/tales-from-the-tusc... and rather rashly signed up for this years with the idea of using it as a fixed point to force me to ride during the winter, having done the Tour of Cambs last year, I didn't want to be starting from scratch on my fitness again.
My last MTB adventure didn't end well, I think is an understatement! I agreed to do the SDW with Sixpotbelly, and bailed after just 25 miles! That was down to 3 reasons, 1) my handlebars were 3 inches lower than my saddle, and carrying 4kgs on my back, it was objecting, 2) I wasn't fit enough, and 3) The tracks I'd been looking at, I'd misread, I thought that as the distance was in imperial, so was the height, alas no! Yes, I though it was 4k feet of climbing, not 4km! Bugger!
Fast forward to now, and I fly to Pisa tomorrow, completely under prepared for what lies ahead. I'm 300 miles behind in my riding, although I have been doing local loops up to 50 miles both with and without GPS to refresh my map skills, and Strava was getting me down! The bikes been through an overhaul (new wheels and forks), and all the luggage is prepped, complete its a 20 - 22kg load!
I have 1 river crossing (that we know of, given the sink hole that appeared last week, right on route) and 20 cat 4, 3 cat 3, and 3 cat 2 climbs to contend with, the first climb is mostly a hike a bike section with a max gradient of 44%! What I'm hoping is going to be my first day has 5 cats 4's, and a cat 2, with 2 mountains, exceeding 3000ft, and I have to go over them both. To make matters worse, its now raining out there, and I'm on file tread patterns.
If have since found out, that its going to be recorded for the Bike Channel on Sky! So on day 1, if the sun comes out look out for the PH top with a Union Flag emblazoned across the peak of a helmet!
Also if you want to get into dot watching in preparation for Gruffy's TCR (and quite frankly much more impressive) attempt, then on the mail website is an interactive map, just select my name from the drop down list and if the tech works, you'll see where I am.I'm not going to be first across the line, that honour I think will go to Josh Ibbet, last years TCR winner. I will do a proper write up when I get back to Blighty, as I doubt I'll be able to walk much!
Good luck CD 
I've been in heavy training too
For spectating that is. Spot watching all the upcoming mad distance stuff, starting with the HT550
http://trackleaders.com/highland16
I've been in heavy training too
For spectating that is. Spot watching all the upcoming mad distance stuff, starting with the HT550
http://trackleaders.com/highland16
My full race is over! This will sound worse than it actually is, I am 100% fine. I had 2 offs, a slow speed oh bigger one and the one I wasn't risking of a head and shoulder meets rock, because I was walking, I wasn't wearing a lid. As I had a cracking headache for an hour or so, I elected to drop out, find a hotel and decent food and lay up for the night and asses the bruides and hole in my heal!
Tomorrow I will rejoin the route somewhere and finish off as planned but minus the 2nd mud fest mountain!!! It was the mud that caused the above, although my climbing skills leave a lot to be desired.
Tomorrow I will rejoin the route somewhere and finish off as planned but minus the 2nd mud fest mountain!!! It was the mud that caused the above, although my climbing skills leave a lot to be desired.
I've got a bikepacking event coming up later in the year and I'm in the middle of doing my kit list, trying to balance cost/weight/size (pick two?), I'm curious as to what you decided on and why. I'm trying to be totally self sufficient and carry a sleep system and everything else I might need on the bike, using bricks and mortar only if the weather closes in.
Experienced hands chipping in would be most appreciated!
Experienced hands chipping in would be most appreciated!
Must have been galling to scratch after just 36km on day 1, but well played taking the train to Siena, Si. Good to see your dot wake up again when you got there.
Do you think you'll make it to Buonconvento tonight? It's 44km but a net descent of 400m over the day should help. Go Celtic!
Do you think you'll make it to Buonconvento tonight? It's 44km but a net descent of 400m over the day should help. Go Celtic!
Edited by SixPotBelly on Saturday 4th June 11:37
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