Day one of my training and I'm only a month late. Maybe 2 months late if I hope to show any form on what I expect to be the hardest day on my bike ever. I've had many days were I though the end would never come but I've always finished.

The Campagonlo Granfodo is my goal http://www.granfondocampagnolo.it/ which by all accounts is epic. What better way to spend Father's Day but suffering on my bike. 1000's of other cyclist treat the granfondos as a all out race. Maybe that's why there's a finish line, timing chips and results. For me it's going to be a race against darkness on my Ritchey Breakaway travel bike. She's no light weight, so here's where the 34X50 comes in. In order to climb 13% grades you need to be young, fit and strong or as in my case low gears. A 34X50 compact drive crankset with a 12X29 rear cluster better to the trick because it's all I'm going to have. Hence 34fifty.

My trip starts June 13 when I depart Seattle and arrive in Venice Italy via Air France. From the airport I'll take the train to my hotel http://www.hotelbrennero.com/ in Bassano del Grappa. I'll call BdG home for a few days before going farther north into the mountians. After the GF I'll arrive in Canzei where I'll stay for 3 night. From my hotel http://www.hotelcristallo.net/index.htm I'll be able to ride as many of the Giro routes as I find possible. This will include returning to Pordoi where I watched the Giro last year and the likes of the Gardena, and S. Pellegrimo.

June 24th I pick up a rental car and Jim Taylor in Lyon France. We'll head south to a small village in Provence http://crillonlebrave.com/index.html where we'll get in a few rides as Jim gets his clock adjusted in a proper fashion. Then it's north to the French Alps. We'll base our operactions out of la Bourg d' Oisans. From BdO many of the famous Tour routes are just a few kilo meters away. The list includes Alpe-d' Huez, Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier, Col du Telegraphe and Col de la Croix de Fer.

July 2nd Jim departs Lyon for home and I take the car in a direction unknown at this time. Maybe Abertville, maybe back to Italy to attempt the Stellvio.

My trip ends July 5 on TGV across France and a flight from Paris arriving in time for dinner.