Recumbent Tour in Italy: Details
Stage 1 Lugano - Fidenza: Departure in Lugano around 5 AM, we reached Milano 90 km later at 11 AM. The timing was perfect: because of the Summer vacation (Ferragosto) there was hardly any traffic. The Po plain after Milano was a nice and smooth ride, albeit under a hot sun. We reached Fidenza shortly after 9 PM.
Riding time: 12 hours, 235 km.
Stage 2 Fidenza - Cisa - Portovenere: Long and painful climb of Cisa pass. Not that is particualrly high (1155 m) but ... The weather was hot again. Also, after an initially steep ascent there are ups and downs that make the 30 km after La Salita seem never ending. Including the breaks it took us 9 hours to get there. The descent from Cisa was memorable, see the video (Quicktime, 25 MB): This is where recumbents shine!
Riding time: 11 hours, 160 km. 1100 m climb in total, .
Stage 3 Fivizzano - Cerreto - Parma: The Passo del Cerreto was veiled in thick fog. We had lunch there and then started an interminable downhill, interrupted by occasional flat and slightly uphill sections. The hilly countryside approaching Parma was absolutely gorgeous. Too bad we didn't stop take any pictures. We were having so much fun riding our recumbent bikes at 40-50 kmh that stopping didn't even cross our minds.
Riding time: 9 hours, 130 km, 1500 m climb
Tour de bent en Italie du Nord. Bient que la montés des Apennines soit pénible, les vélos couchés nous récompensent avec des descentes incryoables. Gli Appennini con le reclinate sono und divertimento particolare, specie le discese.
