Edit - I've got 7 full days on the route, and my fitness is coming back so (mechanicals / illness aside) I should have comfortably enough time to get through even the hardest route.
Depends how much time is spent imbibing local beverages though...
8 days here as well, although I have a bit of a contingency as my flight back on day 9 isn't until quite late. Mind you that last day will probably be spent trying to find some cardboard
I didn't think the Molini Pools option was on this year's route due to it being rerouted to take into account landslides etc? Or have I made that up.
Recently fitted aero bars to the gravel bike, which I think are generally a good thing for long Audax or multi-day rides in simple terrain, but I think they will be coming off for TNR. I juts don't recall may opportunities to make use of them on that roller-coaster route, and any weight ditched will be a bonus! Still feeling fatigued after the Colorado Trail, so not planning to do any unnecessary HAB nonsense, in fact the biggest motivator for this ride is the thought of great Italian mountain food...for lunch breakfast and dinner every day - no more Cliff bars or M&Ms for me!
I'm not arriving until Sunday. Think my flight arrives at 09:40 (assuming Ryanair doesn't cancel it ). Was planning on a little ride of some sort on Sunday once I've built the bike back up.
I'm thinking of visiting some Italian job film venues as it's my favourite film of all time. Train doesn't get in until 5.30 so it will be a quick one.
Molini Pool is out, officially. BRG is paying attention It was an extension off the Via del Sale but it meant going through Monesi to get to the turn off point, Monesi is where the landslide damage is. Liability says that's a no go area now. Means the following lost world section and the long dark tunnel is also out of the VdS section, just how it is for now. I don't think anyone in last 2 years got as far as the pool anyway.
The way to get there now is via the Monte Fronte ridge going east. Time allowing I might check it out this year.
Richard, your best bet given the time available is to nip down to your LBS, especially if they deal with commuter bike builds and fit SKS and Topeak racks .Both come with various metal stays to fit their mudguards and racks not all of which are used so they may have a stock of the medium length stays which when straightened in a vice allow you to use little nuts and bolts to lower the bottle cage. You may need to zip tie the bottom of the cage around the downtube to be totally secure but I've used this method on one of my bikes and it works fine.
). Was planning on a little ride of some sort on Sunday once I've built the bike back up.
