Autumn Italy trip anyone???

[gairym]

Afternoon folks,

I've been chatting with Andy (Nordquist) about a potential little trip to bridge the gap between summer and the BB200.

We're thinking about hitting Italy and riding a big section of the Veneto Gravel route.

It's a trip I did last year and I bloody loved it.

Loose dates:

- sometime September or early October to be decided.
- 5 days (including travel).

Loose plan:

Day 1: fly in and hang/drink beer in Verona

Day 2: ride 100-150km along nice flat canal and river paths.

Day 3: ride 50-100km (depending on day 01), get a room, leave bikes, into Venice and do touristy stuff.

Day 4: ride 80-130km

Day 5: 70-120km (depending on day 03) back into Verona for flights home.

Disclaimer:

I must warn anyone who's potentially interested that this trip does NOT contain many of the ingredients commonly associated with 'bikepacking' trips.

It is a very pleasant bicycle ride, mostly flat, along very nice riverside paths and gravel roads, taking in some stunning little Italian towns and villages, the food is delicious and cheap and the weather will most likely be warm, dry and lovely.

Very little by way of suffering at all

Here's a little video I made of my trip last year:

https://vimeo.com/211066720

Anyone who fancies joining us can express interest here and we'll see what happens.....

[Taylor]

Interested but can't get a flight from Brizzle to Verona but can get a cheap flight to Venice.

[gairym]

Sure we could work summat out!

Nothing set in stone yet and no idea where anyone else might be coming from.

Seem to remember Verona flights from London village.

[Gari]

Possibly interested, again easier to get to Venice from here. Assume there must be transport from the airport to Verona, there’s a largish bus terminal just at the entrance.

[gairym]

A quick search would seem to suggest that it's 10€ and 1.5 hours on a regional train (the ones that take bikes unpacked) from Venice to Verona.

[Gari]

Bingo

[Taylor]

62 minutes from the station closest the airport to verona.

[rufus748]

Interested but can't get a flight from Brizzle to Verona but can get a cheap flight to Venice.

I think they are dirt cheap from Stansted. Trains to Stansted are cheap is booked well in advance (find a return for £25)
Although brizzle to Venice then a quick train works as well)

[Taylor]

Flights are in the region of £35 from brizzle and the same back.
Saves traipsing over to Stansted. Probably 2.5/3 hours over there or 20 mins to Bristol from my house.

Best nail a date then Gairy.

[gairym]

After looking into potential dates and after some heated and desperate discussions it seems that there's only really one set of dates that work.

Monday 17th to Friday 21st of September

Midweek is all I'm allowed these days as I can jig work around but Nikki needs an assist on the weekends with so many damn children running around the place!

I appreciate that this level of zero flexibility or consultation is a tad unreasonable but between me and Andy we've got school/university limitations, spousal and offspring birthdays, work commitments and house sales not to mention the BB200 for him and a two week trip to the UK for me.

It's actually weird that we managed to find any days that work.

Let me know your thoughts and we'll see what we see.....

[Mike]

Those dates may work for me depending on flight times. I finish on the 17th and I would have to get the 21st off but shouldn't be a too much hassle of I can fly from brum or East mids

[Taylor]

I think I'll have to bail on it then.

[gairym]

Not so fast Taylor.....

After further chatting and investigation we've got two more sets of dates that can work.....

24th - 29th September

and

1st - 5th October

So.....how do these possibilities sit with you guys???

[Taylor]

Sounds better.
I'll check with the boss

[gairym]

Mike, sorry didn't see your reply.

How do those other dates fit with your schedule?

[Mike]

It's possible I can do either of those two options

[Rob A]

Hello, me and Jen could be interested in this.

Any of the dates you've suggested would work for us as we were just trying to decide what to do with some time off around then.

I guess from your description the route is cross/ gravel bike friendly ?

What sort of locations do you overnight in? Jen has yet to fully embrace her inner two wheeled tramp so we take a tent when do a trip together. Would that work or will she need some re-education?

Cheers

[gairym]

It wouldn't be technically challenging on a 25c road bike and was perfect on my gravel bike with fast rolling 40c tyres.

1st and 3rd nights likely to end up being in a B&B as everyone will be arriving in Verona and then we'll need a base from which to explore Venice (and safely store bikes).

2nd and 4th nights could be totally wild, in a farmers field with permission or on a campsite - depends where we end up.

I'll likely take my tent for comfort and space and so whatever floats your boat is fine

[Mike]

Ah I'm out just realised that's the weekend I'm planning to ride the argyle trail sorry pal

[gairym]

Boo!

[Rob A]

That all sounds good to me!

[gairym]

So quick update.....

Dates now looking likely to be one of the latter two sets of dates.

24th - 29th September

or

1st - 5th October

I'm easy either way and no need from my end to commit immediately so let's see who can do what before we decide.

So we've got me and Andy N, Taylor looking into spousal permission, Gari who's expressed interest, Rob A and Mrs who are interested so far.

Mike, you said you can't do 'that weekend', did you not see the proposal of two additional sets of dates?

One of those are looking likely to be the ones we'll go for now so have a look and see if they work.

Obviously flights might get not expensive the nearer we get and so maybe let's bimble around a bit longer and then plump for a date and set things in motion.

Sound like a (loose and vague) plan???

Cheers, Gairy.

[gairym]

Ok, so finalised dates are.....

1st to the 5th of October

Who's in?

[Mike]

I'll be in Scotland then more than likely pal

[Rob A]

I think we're going to have to miss this as it's going to use all my remaining holidays so I need to do something incorporating weekends to get the most out of it.

Cheers for putting the trip out there.