Pietro: Rest Day in Alleghe, Cable Car and Andy Stories

Peter, aka "Pietro", files his eighth report, now riding with the Andy Hampsten tour.

"Wednesday, September 2, 2009: Day 6 Rest Day, Cable Car Ride, Andy Stories

Well, today is a rest day. No bike riding. Tomorrow: Marmolada

After breakfast, a few of us took the cable car and ski lift to the top of the mountain. What a view!!!

While I was up there, who comes rolling in on their bikes? Andy, Elaine, Bruce and Marcello out for leisurely day off ride up the mountain.

Later that day, we have a sit down to hear the Andy stories. We ask a question and he starts telling the story. Of course, I can’t remember the stories but you missed some good ones. So, if you want to hear Andy stories, sign up for his tour.

One item of note is that he was very much impressed with Bernard Hinault (“The Badger”) as a rider and also teacher. He related that during one Vuelta, the badger took off and built a lead. Three Spanish teams went to the front to try to shut it down but the “Badger” kept increasing it until it was 8-10 minutes. All the non-Spanish riders were sitting back in the peloton, listening to the Spanish team managers berating the riders that they couldn’t pull back Hinault. They Americans really enjoyed that ride. At the end, Hinault finished two minutes ahead and when Andy saw him Hinault indicated that was the hardest race he rode.

Andy is a good story teller and you’ll enjoy his stories.

Pietro"

Photos:Alleghe, our hotel in Alleghe, views from the cable car trip

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail

Part III: Andy Hampsten and the Gavia (and a few other Passes)

Part III, and last, of Buzz Yancich's story of riding with Andy Hampsten.

Andy Hampsten and the Gavia (and a few other Passes), Part III

Alleghe, continued

As important as the riding is there is also the food, wine, story telling and camaraderie. We all enjoyed Andy’s wine tasting on the deck of our hotel overlooking the picturesque lake in Alleghe as much as that day’s riding.

Wine tasting and a few more stories

Not only did Andy make his own history racing in Europe but also had a front seat to it. We enjoyed his insights into Lemond and Hinault during the 1986 Tour and many other revelations about the world of professional cycling.

Culinary diversions:

Pizza:

Ex-espresso

Local Pear Grappa

Hampsten’s crew is hand picked from diverse backgrounds and they really add a great dimension to the trip. Journalist Bruce Hildenbrand who is a walking encyclopedia of cycling history, a former mountain bike racer now turned Lute maker, the lovely Elaine, amongst others and our “patron saint” Gerardo – an Italian bike shop owner who doesn’t speak any English and yet can seemingly communicate with you on a telepathic basis in the most humorous way imaginable. A sort of modern day Harpo Marx – brilliant.

Topping it off are the riders themselves. We had a great collection of folks including my now dear friends Bob and Susan Long, Ken Whiteside, Susie and Corey from Alaska and my riding pal Andy Bowdle. If you want inspiration, try riding and sharing great meals and many bottles of wine with folks who are curious by nature, have a constant smile on their face and know that with PERSISTENCE any obstacle in life can be conquered. That’s the way to live. Isn’t that why we all love cycling?

Dinner time - Salut!

Of course, any trip to ride in Italy is bound to be a unique experience whether it is booked through a cycle touring company or a solo effort. The riding is sublime but what sticks with you in the months after your return home is the hospitality, the respect towards cyclists, the food and wine culture and that daily espresso made by the local guy who makes you feel like an old friend.

Getting the opportunity to ride with Poli and Hampsten took the experience to another level. It is interesting that they are so different in their physical make up and personalities and yet they are very similar in their love of cycling and now showing others the joy of riding in Italy. It also struck me that both of these men put themselves in the right place at moments in their racing careers and then had the courage to seize the day under the most difficult conditions. Hampsten on the Gavia and Poli on Mt. Ventoux. It is a lesson for all of us. When your moment comes dare yourself to go beyond your comfort zone.

In this media driven sports celebrity age, it is also refreshing that such historical figures in the sport are frankly such decent guys who genuinely seem interested in making sure that your experience is the best one possible.

It is fair to say that I never expected the Italian cycling experience to be so indelible. We all became so enamored of our time in Italy that our group is headed back this September for another go at it.

To paraphrase Eros Poli: “I know everyone in America thinks that the best riding is in France because of the Tour, believe me I love France but, please, let’s be honest, the riding in Italy is better…the roads, the food, the wines…I mean, please, it’s just better.”

Agreed. Better yet, go find out for yourself!

Back in Verona at trip’s end with some of the crew for one last Aperol Spritz in the Piazza del Erbe before flying home.

Buzz and friends rode Hampsten S&S Coupler bikes designed by Steve Hampsten at: http://www.hampsten.com/

Trips to Italy with Andy Hampsten are found at: http://www.cinghiale.com/

Most importantly, directions for making an Aperol Spritz can be found at: http://www.aperol.com/aperol/english/sprizz.htm

Part I of Buzz Yancich's story: http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/08/part-i-andy-hampsten-and-gavia-and-few.html

Part II of Buzz Yancich's story: http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/08/part-ii-andy-hampsten-and-gavia-and-few.html

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.

Part II: Andy Hampsten and the Gavia (and a few other Passes)

We continue with Part II of Buzz Yancich's story of riding with Andy Hampsten.

Andy Hampsten and the Gavia (and a few other Passes), Part II

Alleghe

The remainder of our trip was based out of picturesque setting of Alleghe and featured the jagged peaks and spires of the Dolomites – a terrain that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

The view from our hotel in Alleghe.

Our rides featured the Marmolada, Passo Duran, Passo di Campolongo, Passo di Costalunga, Rolle, Gardegna, Campolungo, and Sella. We had good weather with only a couple of damp days.

Dolomites - spectacular.

There is not a lot of handholding by Hampsten. He sets the stage for you, so to speak, and then steps back to allow you to discover the experience for yourself. It is obviously a formula that works as the majority of the riders on the trip were returning clients.

Stopping for photos is required!

Hampsten moves around the group quite a bit, a daunting task considering on climbs of these lengths it is only natural that the group strings out as everyone rides at their own pace. As mentioned earlier, Hampsten is still in remarkably lean and muscular. I remember following him up the Marmolada and seeing the outline of his spine and his back muscles clearly through his wool jersey.

It didn’t take long to realize that like all great athletes he has a deep inner focus and willingness to commit himself 100% to the task at hand. It was a real treat to be able to ride with him.

Typical view along the way – all day long.

Every turn holds a surprise.

To be continued............

Trips to Italy with Andy Hampsten are found at: http://www.cinghiale.com/

Part I of Buzz Yancich's story: http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/08/part-i-andy-hampsten-and-gavia-and-few.html

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.