Small optimisations

I've spent a little time this weekend optimising the last two days of riding. In particular I managed to take some back-tracking out of the route through Monte Leone. This has also reduced the distance and the amount of climbing by a small amount.

For the last day I have changed the route to connect up with the cycleway that runs from Novafeltria down to Rimini because it gives us a much easier run into town following the river. This has in fact made the route slightly longer but it should take about the same time.

I've also cross-posted the wiki to the Facebook pages of each of the hotels just in case they are interested and to remind them that we are coming!

Universal hotel Wi-Fi

A Facebook posting from Hotel Mario's reminded me... how good is it that every hotel we will stay at has free Wi-Fi?

☑ Fiumicino
☑ Firenze
☑ Montecarlo
☑ Greve in Chianti
☑ Arezzo
☑ Sansepolcro
☑ Novafeltria
☑ Longiano

... not to mention on the train and many other locations. This will cut down on data charges! 

Dress rehearsal

I travelled by plane to spend Easter with my parents. As well as being about seeing them it was also a dress rehearsal for the Italy trip.

• My touring bike in the Evoc case travelled safely, and even including helmet, shoes and cycling clothing in the bag it was 22Kg.
• The route was plane to Brisbane and then train to the Gold Coast, very similar to the luggage handling I'll have to do via FCO. Coming back there was track work and so we had to change to bus from South Brisbane to Roma Street... no problem.
• The bike case wheels pretty well.
• I rode three days in a row, and the first two days were pretty similar in profile and distance to the first two days from Viareggio to Greve in Chianti. I felt pretty good after each day's ride.
• The camera coped well, especially in terms of battery life. I can easily get two days of moderate use out of a battery, so with two fully charged I'll be in good shape.
• On thing I will have to take to Italy is the charger cable for my Pebble. Not needed for five days but certainly required for two weeks!

All in all a successful trial run. Now I just have to stay in some sort of condition over the winter.

At least I have a few events planned for May and June, the NSW Discovery weekend at Bateman's Bay and Melburn Roobaix and another trip to the Gold Coast in August.

Inside information

I have asked a native of Emilia Romagna for some inside information in the best place for some or all of us to lunch in Bologna (in case we decide to do that). She has been loud in her support for Bolognese food, and studied at the University of Bologna. The constraints are that it has to be in easy walking distance of the train station. I'll report back...

Here is what I got:

I have done some researches about the restaurants and I would suggest 4 that are very close to the train station:

 

two are very expensive in a kind of luxury environment, the other two are "trattorie" very easy going style not expensive, where you can eat the real traditional Cucina Bolognese ( a bit heavy, after dinner you need a coffee and some grappa!)

 

You can also have a look at the customers' reviews on tripadvisor.

 

EXPENSIVE ONES (they are both the Hotel's restaurant but you can eat without staying at the hotel, very historical and luxury environment):

 

RISTORANTE  I CARRACCI

http://grandhotelmajestic.duetorrihotels.com/hotel-5-stelle-lusso-bologna/i-ristoranti

RISTORANTE I PORTICI (1 Michelin star)

http://www.iporticihotel.com/il-ristorante

 

NOT TOO EXPENSIVE ONES (very close to the train station):

TRATTORIA ROMANO

http://www.trattoriaromano.it/

RISTORANTE BOLOGNESE

http://www.ristorante-bolognese.it/

Festa della Rificolona

I only just found out about this festival and we will be in Firenze on the right day! Some of us may be a little jet lagged, but apart from that it looks like a good idea!

My last booking done!

... well not counting a few train tickets etc. but all my accommodation is now booked.

I finally bit the bullet and booked the night at the Dubai Airport Hotel on the way home. It is about 10 hours from arrival to departure which is more than enough for a good night's sleep. The hotel is expensive, but if I went out and came back in again I'd lose two or three of those hours because of customs, immigration, dealing with my bike in both directions etc.

Things to be done much closer to the event

Still to be done

• Confirm the arrangements for arrival at Montecarlo (waiting on input from Marie and Julie).

Soon after we arrive in Italy

• Buy local SIMs and distribute phone numbers including to Giovanni.