Percorsi ciclistici
Un giro per le colline di Rimini
The pedal pushers had been talking about going on a little bike tour of the hills around Rimini for quite some time. When they finally decided to take a tour laid out by one of the local cyclists, which they had found the year before on the web, the route and map had vanished. One day it was on the web, then suddenly it was not to be found. Or so they thought. Luckily, in addition to a bike mechanic, we had amoung us a net archeologist who was able to unearth an old cached itinerary. With this information in hand we set off on our ride. We all enjoyed a lovely day of spinning : percorso 1: Gatteo a Mare – Verucchio – Gatteo a Mare 58 KM. 
0 KM GATTEO MARE
- Incrocio di Viale delle Nazioni con l’Adriatica: direzione Bellaria. Dopo neanche 100 m, a dx. Dopo la sottovia della SS Adriatica, prima a dx, poi a sin. per Gatteo.
5.5 KM S. ANGELO
- Si incocia la SP 33 a sin. per Savignano.
10.5 KM SAVIGNANO
- Al semaforo attraversare la Via Emilia; dopo 100 m, al successivo semaforo, girare a sin. e proseguire nell’abitato per circa 1 Km, indi girare a dx per Canonica.
16.0 KM CANONICA
- Seguire le indicazioni per Poggio Berni e Verrucchio. All’incrocio con la provinciale Santarcangelo- Ponte Uso (Km 17,5) attraversare e proseguire per circa 2 Km. Al successivo incrocio girare a dx per Ponte Verucchio.
26.0 KM PONTE VERUCCHIO
- Passato il ponte sul Parecchia, a dx. Dopo 1 Km si incrocia la SS 258 (Marecchiese). Attraversare perpendicolarmente: si incomincia subito a salire.
30.0 KM VERUCCHIO
- Dopo la piazza si scende su Villa Verucchio dove ci si immette nella Marecchiese (Km 34).
39.5 KM S. ERMETE
- Si lascia la “Marecchiese”: girare a sin. per Santarcangelo.
43.5 KM SANTARCANGELO
- Di fronte all’arco girare a dx e portarsi sulla Via Emilia. Prendere a sin. e proseguire fino ad incontrare (45,5) l’incrocio per Bellaria (ind. S. Mauro): a dx.
50.0 KM VILLA TORLONIA
- Girare a sin. e dopo 100 m a dx per Bellaria.
55.0 BELLARIA
- All’incrocio con l’Adriatica prendere a sin.
58.0 GATTEO A MARE
DIFFICOLTA’: I 3 Km di salita che portano a Verrucchio.
RAPPORTI CONSIGLIATI: 39×21. »
Some good advice. Plan on making a quick stop for some light refreshments at the Caffè Torlonia, which you will come upon on your return, near the end of your ride. It is located nearby the Villa Torlonia. The lovely women behind the counter are fellow cyclists, who can provide information on other more challenging rides. I know they have done the “Nove Colli – Fausto Coppi & Marco Pantani” ride! Be sure to tell them that Mr. Click-Click sent you!
0 KM GATTEO MARE - Incrocio di Viale delle Nazioni con l’Adriatica: direzione Bellaria. Dopo neanche 100 m, a dx. Dopo la sottovia della SS Adriatica, prima a dx, poi a sin. per Gatteo.
5.5 KM S. ANGELO
- Si incocia la SP 33 a sin. per Savignano.
10.5 KM SAVIGNANO
- Al semaforo attraversare la Via Emilia; dopo 100 m, al successivo semaforo, girare a sin. e proseguire nell’abitato per circa 1 Km, indi girare a dx per Canonica.
16.0 KM CANONICA
- Seguire le indicazioni per Poggio Berni e Verrucchio. All’incrocio con la provinciale Santarcangelo- Ponte Uso (Km 17,5) attraversare e proseguire per circa 2 Km. Al successivo incrocio girare a dx per Ponte Verucchio.
26.0 KM PONTE VERUCCHIO
- Passato il ponte sul Parecchia, a dx. Dopo 1 Km si incrocia la SS 258 (Marecchiese). Attraversare perpendicolarmente: si incomincia subito a salire.
30.0 KM VERUCCHIO
- Dopo la piazza si scende su Villa Verucchio dove ci si immette nella Marecchiese (Km 34).
39.5 KM S. ERMETE
- Si lascia la “Marecchiese”: girare a sin. per Santarcangelo.
43.5 KM SANTARCANGELO
- Di fronte all’arco girare a dx e portarsi sulla Via Emilia. Prendere a sin. e proseguire fino ad incontrare (45,5) l’incrocio per Bellaria (ind. S. Mauro): a dx.
50.0 KM VILLA TORLONIA
- Girare a sin. e dopo 100 m a dx per Bellaria.
55.0 BELLARIA
- All’incrocio con l’Adriatica prendere a sin.
58.0 GATTEO A MARE
DIFFICOLTA’: I 3 Km di salita che portano a Verrucchio.
RAPPORTI CONSIGLIATI: 39×21. »
UPDATE: new course map courtesy of
Fishy Rider
Supper
Summer time and the riding is easy. Well not quite as easy as it could be. But I am not complaining too loud. He did stop at two. Nice ones for sure, but they do add some extra weight to bear.Ghost Rider
Pantani
Era il giorno di Valentino, and il pirata rode off with his demons to his final summit. One of the great pure climbers of our generation, unable to get off the “high of the mountain” and coast with the lowlanders, had plunged into the abyss of a deep depression. Recently Pantani had told his local Rimini newspaper that “You can forget about Pantani the athlete. I still ride my bike, just to turn my legs,” he said, “But cycling is the last thing on my mind. I haven’t been to the gym for months. I’ve gained 15 kilos and I have the physique of a little bull”. For cycling fans around the world he will not be forgotten. He was a giant among a select few in the pantheon of the cycling world. I had seen it coming for sometime now, and on our rides together I had tried to encourage him to enjoy the simple joy of spinning along country roads. I was not able to convince him of this during our recent outings. And now, also for me ends the spinning joy. I have been retired:Pantani’s bicycle to museum
One of the bicycles belonging to Marco Pantani will be exhibited in the Museo dei Campionissini in Novi Ligure, Italy. The bicycle will be delivered by Felice Gimondi and Francesco Moser on March 20, the day of Milan-San Remo.Nebia
Daze
I awoke early this morning and I wanted to ride, plain and simple. After being cooped up all week one begins to get stir crazy. One wants to spin a bit, if not for the full day, at least for the morning. There were a few who wanted to lie about. But I was adamant about heading out. I stood my ground and convinced all doubters. But only one actually got dressed. No matter, solo rides can be just as fun as a group ride. So off we went. Jeez who was to know it would be so foggy! And here we are heading up to San Leo, with the fog moving in and wrapping around us tighter the higher we climb. Note to self, plan on a slow descent if the fog thickens! I don’t think the old man is yet fully awake. Or perhaps he is just a tad cold and stiff! Whimp. Next time I’ll make sure and talk one of the younger guys into a ride. And hey who is that wierdo in the middle of the road with the camera ... damm tourist!Why Change
Original
Look closely. Everything is original. A classic. When things are made right there is no need to upgrade or change things just to keep up with the latest trends. One comes to love the feel of the familiar, to know that everything is ticking away in perfect order. The special bond between cycle and man is not something that is obtained overnight; it is a slow simmering process. It comes about through the many years of pedalling along seemingly endless flat roads, over gently rolling hills, up and down mountain passes of all grades. You soon find that having someone who is true and tried is a blessing. Gee you come to rely on it. So why would I want to change riders after twenty blissful years. No, I plan on keeping this guy for some time yet. I especially like the way he tenderly cleans me up after each of our rides together. Such a respectful man.Petacchi Pedal Power
Petacchi ended up with his 5th Vuelta stage win, winning the final stage in Madrid on Sunday. A sprinter’s “tripple crown”; final stage wins in the three Grand Tours: Giro D’Italia, Tour de France, and the Vuelta a Espana. Te ga fatto ben vecio.
Paflagonia
From Fontaniva to Turkey
They mounted their bikes and rode off in search of their roots. With Homer as their spirtual guide, they rode from 2001 to the bronze age, from Padua through Troy and onto the shores of the Black Sea home of the Eneti, ancestors of the present day Veneti. Adventure and History. A modern day epic on bicycle. << FONTANIVA. Che un’avventura, un viaggio in bicicletta dal Veneto alla Paflagonia (Turchia), potesse accendere tanto entusiasmo non se lo sarebbero aspettati nemmeno gliorganizzatori. Eppure questo Viaggio di 3000 chilometri che percorre a ritroso il percorso seguito dai nostri (almeno secondo buona parte della storiografia) antenati ha dimostrato di avere ma interessante valenza storica e culturale. Appoggia l’ipotesi secondo cui l’origine dei Veneti antichi sia rintracciabile nella Paflagonia, un’antica regione dell’Asia Minore, a nord dell’attuale Turchia. Si scontra con altre, che vedono i Veneti fra i piú antichi abitatori dell’area centroeuropea o come popolazione autoctona. >>
Spedizione nella mitica terra d’origine dei Veneti
di Barbara Gasparotto
Sulle Orme Degli Antichi Veneti
di Eleonora Baldan
Our heroic adventurers: Alessandro Bizzotto, Stefano Bonamin, Giuseppe Pavan, Giovanni Rebellato e Flavio Spiga, and atteneded by Ugo Silvello, Beppe Forti e Aladino Tognon.
Movie Bike
Water Break
I was one of the “movie extras” in a movie being filmed in Vancouver on a recent hot saturday morning. While the rest of the cast was being treated to hot coffee and scones and croissants and “lattes” and champagne (with orange juice, of course) and other goodies, this little star was left to it’s own devices. I chose to sip some of the local water. The talk on the street was that without a good agent this is about the best some movie folk could hope for.
On the other hand the bystanders were told to move on. They were taking up space. We heard that they started looking around for an agent.
"Lets Roll"
Todd Beamer, on flight 93, September 11, 2001. His final ride. But still he rides on in other ways, on our team jerseys for example. And in much more meaningful ways, for example: Todd Beamer High School & his foundation.
