Coffee snobs rejoice, for Vietnam is the home of a good brew. Not just good – great. Think about a puddle of sweet condensed milk resting in the bottom of your glass. Think about ice cubes on top, already melting in the morning sun. Think about the little metal filter atop your glass, and the drip, drip, drip of rich coffee, an aromatic brew that will be mixed with the milk and the ice to form the perfect cold drink for a hot morning in Vietnam. Your day has begun.
The story of Brunello embodies man’s quest for perfection. It begins with the discovery of a special grapevine on a steep Montalcino slope in 1842. That vine’s subsequent propagation by its founder, Clemente Santi, resulted in the creation of the Brunello wine.
Today, Brunello is considered one of Italy’s greatest wines and a supreme example of Sangiovese at its best. It has also become Italy’s most recognized premium wine, internationally. With a total production of 750,000 cases (9L), 65% finds its way into the world’s finest restaurants and connoisseur wine cellars. The United States has become the largest importer of Brunello, embracing 25% of the total production. Brunello’s international prominence was recognized by the Wine Spectator when it was selected the “Top Wine of the Year” in 2006.
In Italy at least it is the Piemontese Barolo that has assumed the moniker of being the ‘King of Wines’. Having travelled extensively in both Piedmont and Tuscany though I would contend that whilst this title was first bestowed centuries ago, given the choice I would usually go for glass of Brunello over one of Barolo.
With stage 3 of the Hannibal tour passing right through the heart the area in which Brunello is produced we thought we should at least give a bit of background on this most elegant of wines.
Production: 750,000 cases (9L), Vintage 2008
Vineyard Acreage: 4,700 acres
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese Grosso, although over 30 clones are used throughout the DOCG
DOC: Established in 1966; DOCG: Awarded in 1980
Minimum Alcohol: 12.5%; Maximum Yield: 3.2 tons/acre
Aging Requirements – Normale: Minimum of 4 years from January 1 after the harvest, 2 years in oak, 4 months in bottle.
Aging Requirements – Riserva: Minimum of 5 years from January 1 after the harvest, 2 years in oak, 6 months in bottle.
Now, the rest of the story…
The Place: The Montalcino zone takes its name from the town, which sits high on a hill as a fortified citadel with commanding expansive views in all directions. The zone encompasses 8,000 acres of vines, 4700 of which are dedicated to Brunello. The name, Montalcino derives from the Latin, “Mons Ilcinnus”, or mountain of holm oak. These oak trees grace the commune’s logo. Vineyards, while extensive, only cover 15% of the land, with forests, pastures, and fields of grain making up the rest. Indeed, Montalcino is like an elevated island amidst a sea of undulating wheat fields and pastures. The scenic beauty of the place won it a coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site award in 2004.
Lying some 27 miles south of Siena and 27 miles east of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Montalcino enjoys a much warmer and drier climate than its Chianti Classico neighbor to the north, and Montepulciano to the east. This, together with diverse soils (including rocky “galestro,” limestone, marl, clay, and sand) make for growing conditions which consistently ripen its finicky Sangiovese grapes earlier the either Chianti Classico or Montepulciano. In Montalcino, harvest is normally completed by late September, usually before the arrival of the October rains.
The Montalcino Zone resembles a square formed by 3 perimeter rivers: the Ombrone on the north and west, the Asso on the east, and the Orcia on the south. It rises from the perimeter to a crest at the Poggio Civitella (2168 ft), a short distance south of the town, Montacino. There are presently four notable wine production areas.
Further north, toward the perimeter of the zone and at slightly lower elevations, the soil contains mainly clay with deposits of marl and sandy limestone. Areas such as Altesino and Catiglione del Bosco produce a more forward style of Brunello in this area.The Grape: The name Brunello, meaning “the brown one,” came from the description of the Sangiovese Grosso grapes at harvest time – a dark colored, dusky brown berry. Brunello was the local name given to this type of Sangiovese Grosso, originally identified in 1842 by Clemente Santi. Today, the term is officially reserved for the name of the wine. Sangiovese grown in Montalcino has comparatively thicker skins, compared with grapes grown in other regions, and excellent anthocyanins. Both of these factors contribute to Brunello’s deep tannic structure and rich hue.
Sangiovese is Italy’s most planted single grape variety. It comprises 67% of the Tuscan vineyard acreage and is the main grape in 25 DOC(G)’s of Toscana. Sangiovese is an ancient grape, believed to have resulted from a spontaneous crossing during the Etruscan period. Recent DNA evidence reflects its parentage as a crossing between Ciliegiolo and Calabrese di Montenuovo.
However, there is significant diversity within the grape variety. Sangiovese tends to be genetically unstable and very adaptable; thus, many clones exist. Banfi Vineyards has documented over 600 versions of Sangiovese on their estate alone! Currently, as a result of extensive clonal research trials, the best clones are being propagated. Most estates are using multiple clones in order to add better balance and more complexity to their wines.
The Wine: Brunello di Montalcino projects an image of majesty and mystery that heightens its allure. This aura was cultivated by the Biondi Santi family. For 100 years, they were the only producers of the wine. The Biondi Santi estate “Il Greppo,” where Brunello was born, has been called Italy’s first “grand cru”.
However, the wine remained somewhat of an Italian secret until the 1960’s, when word began to spread about the tastings of the extraordinary Biondi Santi vintages of 1888 and 1891. Soon, the wine world turned its attention to this special place and its remarkable wine. The Biondi Santi family, led by Franco and his son Jacopo, carry the flag and continue to produce age-worthy Brunello at the family estate.
A growers’ consortium was established in 1967, and has become one of Italy’s most effective with 98% of today’s 208 producers being members. The consortium has guided a smooth growth in production, while advancing quality standards.
There is, however, growing internal controversy. Some “modernist” producers would like to shorten the 4-year aging requirement prior to release of the wine. Some also argue for the right to use small amounts of non-Sangiovese grapes. These changes are opposed by the “traditionalist” producers who have successfully, thus far, resisted these changes; aside from agreeing to reduce the required time in oak from 4 years to two years.
The Future: The path to wine stardom for Brunello has been like a “shooting star.” The influx of quality investment over the past 50 years continues and serves to accelerate and reinforce its meteoric rise to prominence. There are no “industrial” producers among its wine estates. Although there have been a few bumps in the road, the prospect for continued success is excellent.
As told by Donald P Kinnan
In September 2012 Ride and Seek Bike Tours ran the inaugural Hannibal Epic from Barcelona to Rome. Split into 3 stages the tour was taken in separate stages or as one 27 day Epic. Steve Nash came on board for Stage 1 from Barcelona to Rome. His account of the experience can be read below.
The early morning light trickles across the ominous hills of the Montseny Mountain Range. Situated just north of Barcelona this picturesque area marks the start of a bike odyssey I’m about to embark on that follows in the trail of Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, his 100,000 strong army and 39 African elephants.
Briefed on the route ahead, with the close companion of my Garmin 800, I’m trying my best to empathize with what Hannibal and his men might have been thinking over 2000 years ago as they prepared to take on the might of Rome. We’re accompanied on our tour by archeologist Sam Wood who cycled this route as part of a BBC and National Geographic documentary – ‘On Hannibal’s Trail’ – and he does a fine job of setting the scene. To make us feel suitably intrepid he chose to overlook the fact Hannibal probably didn’t have GPS technology at his disposal.
As I look around at my new acquaintances, all of whom look the part, I remember how I had ended up here. It had been a brave conversation after a few beers at the foot of Canada’s Blackcomb Mountain. Living by Ernest Hemingway’s advice “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk” I’d had no choice but to sign up. Knowing that the majority of day 1 was downhill only slightly assuaged the anxiety I felt at taking up the challenge.
Within kilometres of setting off I was experiencing for the first time travelling at +70Kmph on two very thin wheels! At this point it seemed a dangerously fast speed to be moving but I soon found myself sticking to pace-lines that I absolutely trusted switching from riding on the hoods to the drops as my speed grew parallel with confidence. At this point I had started to form a new relationship, not just with the iconic timeless beauty of the Specialized three times winner of the Paris-Roubaix race bike, but with myself.
Within any sport, it’s those that don’t train, show up in unimpressive gear, and still kick ass that leave you with a sense of jealousy, and in my own way, I think I had hoped for this but the first day had been a shock to the system. During the final 20km of the ride to Empuries I had found myself drifting into ‘The Zone’, a metaphysical exhaustion state that Bob, a well-travelled cycling guru had advised me of earlier that day. It was only when I ran into the sea at the end of the day that I started to feel ‘normal’ again.
Surprisingly, with the 7am banana filtering through and a couple of Torq energy gels ingested, setting off for Ceret the following morning had been less painful than anticipated. Bathing in the salt strip Mediterranean had clearly worked wonders! However, having descended from the mountains to the Mediterranean in a day we were now heading towards the Pyrenees on our way to France.
Whilst our route avoided the tougher climbs that this mountain range has to offer we were still faced with a fairly imposing elevation profile. It started to hurt about half way through the day when I faced another grueling climb in the deceptively tough Pyrenean foothills that are found in northern Catalunya. I was fast beginning to understand why the Sky team riders that passed us earlier in the day chose to train in this area. As I pushed and pushed I could feel the lighter and more experienced riders on my tail, occasionally one steadying past, with friendly comments, in voices somewhat out of breath which assured me I was not alone!
Our destination at the end of this day was the charming French town of Ceret that was once home to Picasso. Arriving through the convoluted streets I couldn’t help but feel perhaps that is where Picasso got much of his inspiration, the obtuse lines reminding me of ‘Ma Jolie’. After a brief sampling of Catalunyan cuisine we were now in the Languedoc region that relies heavily on local produce: olive oil, tomato sauces, herbs from the wild garrigue. Whether it was the exertions of the day that played a role I don’t know, but our first evening meal in this region was the finest I’ve ever had.
Not knowing much about the Languedoc before the tour I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d read an article by Steve Razzetti in which he had listed the region as one of the best places in the world to ride but I was skeptical given that hardly anyone I spoke to even knew where it was. However, as we cycled deep into the region I began to appreciate what he was saying. We had the road to ourselves as we passed through stunning medieval hilltop villages and over incredible rolling hills as we headed deep into Cathar country.
It was amazing to get an insight into the history of the Cathar’s who inhabited this area from the 11th to 13th century. Ostensibly the tour was all about Hannibal but we also gained an insight into the broader history of the region too. Catharism was a Christian religious movement that was against what they perceived to be the moral, spiritual and political corruption of the Catholic Church. The Pope at the time didn’t take too kindly to this and called a crusade on these rebels to wipe them out. He then followed up with the first religious inquisition to finish the job and all that remains is a series of Cathar fortresses across the region. Perched in the most precarious of positions one such fortress provided a challenge at the end of day 3. Never has a post ride beer tasted so good after taking on the 2km 20% ramp climb to Chateau Queribus.
The most impressive of these fortresses though was the Chateau Peyrepertuse that sits on an imposing 2400m defensive crag which offers breathtaking views in all directions – probably a key prerequisite for a fortress I guess. Not all the guys, least of all myself, were too chuffed with the post ride hike up to this remarkable site but on getting there it was definitely worth it. Once again having guides that were able to explain the history of what we were seeing brought them to life. That said my personal highlight of the day was the wild boar that was served for dinner which had been caught in the woods below the fortress earlier in the week.
I’m sure that in part it was the fine sustenance that we found in the Languedoc which enabled me to take on each days riding with my legs surprisingly still going strong. However each day still started with a hearty breakfast of carbs and painkillers. Amazing how you can soldier on though when the scenery is spectacular and the food is so good. Seeing the impressive fortified Cite de Carcassonne in the distance on day 6 for example served as a beacon some 40km out and somehow the pain dissipated as it beckoned me in.
Granted as the aggregate distance increased I raised the dosage levels of medication and my joints were somewhat in disarray but with the camaraderie of the group getting stronger as the tour went on there was plenty of support to fall back on. The fine wines of the Languedoc that I have failed to mention also played a role. Staying away from the coast in the high Languedoc we really felt that we experienced the best the region has to offer. We gently ribbed Sam about why we were there when logic would surely dictate that Hannibal would have stayed closer to the coast on his journey but he seemed to have an answer to everything. Since I had no intention of reading the ancient texts of Polybius it was easier to take his word for it.
As we continued on our way to the Papal city of Avignon we joined the extraordinary Voie Verte that is a converted railway that links a number of the regions’ picturesque villages including Olargues, voted one of France’s most beautiful villages and the site of the medieval Devil’s Bridge. Our aperitif on the bridge is an abiding memory as is the fine cuisine served by our Danish hosts that evening who managed to fuse the best of Languedoc cuisine with a hint of Denmark.
My final day on the bike was a bit of a slog as we pushed our way through a continuous head wind, noting the incredible Clamouse cave, the Gorges de’Herault and the Pic Loup Cliffs on our way to the Rhone River. The day was long and tough on the legs, but from deep within the energy was there to sprint the last 20km, and passing through a small French village, youngsters playing a game of football on the street greeted us with chants of ‘Tour de France’. The medieval centre of Sommieres, rich in Roman history, was a highlight but the crossing of the Rhone and heading towards the golden Madonna on the Papal palace in Avignon will be the memory that lives the longest.
There is still much conjecture as to how Hannibal got himself, his army and elephants across the Rhone with a number of outlandish ideas having been put forward. From elephants walking along the bottom of the river with their trunks breaking through the surface to rafts being built and covered in earth to look like land, the list of hypotheses is long. This is very much the case with my own experience of getting from Barcelona to Avignon as few of my friends believe I actually made it under my own steam! In my case the consensus is that I hitched a lift with the support vehicle!
Notwithstanding my skeptical friends I have to say that never at any point did I feel the need to flag down the van. With great support from the Ride and Seek guides and my fellow Hannibal riders the challenge always felt surmountable. Having the routes uploaded on the Garmins was also a bonus as it allowed you to go at your own pace and never worry about losing your way. I’m not sure I could have done what a number of the others were doing and continue on to Rome, but it is amazing how much stronger you get when you conquer an epic ride such as this. I hadn’t started this ride expecting to feel better than I did at the start, but I certainly did. No matter how many things I will forget in life, this ride will certainly not be one of them.
Steve Nash 2012
For more information on the Hannibal Tour visit www.rideandseek.com
With the Hannibal tour fast approaching I felt that I needed to get a couple of good long rides in as final preparation. It was with this idea in mind that I proposed to my regular riding partner, Al, that we cycle from Sydney to Canberra.
I already had tickets for the Australian Open squash champs and so it seemed like a logical idea at the time. Plan was to give ourselves 2 days to get there and arrive in time for me to catch the semi finals on the Saturday. The fact that getting there involved 2 century rides (in miles) and we are in the middle of winter was somehow overlooked or at least underplayed.
All started well as Al and I met at Central station at 5.45am to catch a train out to Sutherland in order to avoid the Sydney traffic. We were on the bikes by 6.30am and the ride began in style as we rode through the Royal National Park.
Al riding with the peloton outside the Bundanoon cafe and a brief visit to the Nan Tien temple just south of Woolongong
For the first part of the day I lost all feelings in my fingers – notwithstanding I’d spend a fortune on warm weather gear in the lead up to the ride – but fortunately the weather improved. Indeed, such was the improvement we actually got a bit of a tan on the first day.
The biggest challenge on the first day was undoubtedly Macquarie Pass which was a 750m ascent on a series of switchbacks. When Al stood on the pedals and shot off at the start I thought I was in for a lonely ride but he soon came back to my steady pace and we climbed together. On this day I think I found it a little easier than Al and not even the copious amounts of Gu gel helped him. Never has the pie shop at the top of the climb met such a ravenous man as Al was when we arrived!
The other tough element of the climb was that the weather changed with some bitingly cold rain coming down and the wind picked up. At this point the legs were getting a bit weary but our B & B beckoned and we had a couple of big steaks that evening to prepare for the next day.
Al refueling at the Robertson pie shop and the awesome views across Morton National Park.
Unfortunately though nothing could fully prepare us for the next day as we woke up to a 50km southerly wind – basically a head wind all the way to Canberra. Things weren’t helped either by the fact that 30km’s in my knees started to hurt too and hence whilst I’d towed Al up the Pass he had to return the favour on day 2.
We tried to stay on our original route but our GPS’s started having a couple of issues and we were both going a bit stir crazy with the wind so after 90km we decided to ride the highway to Canberra. At this point the pleasure had gone and it had become grind but with no transport links to speak of, riding was the only option. After a 7am start we finally got to Canberra for nightfall!
The stunning Fitzroy Falls and the reason for the ride in the first place – The Australian Open- which Ramy Ashour won on the Sunday.
Clearly I missed the semi finals of the squash by a good 4 hours but it was still great to arrive. We ended up doing 370km in total and boy did our legs know about it. That evening we went out with some friends for feed and the communal order only really worked for 2 people – us!- and a couple of well earned ales.
I’m delighted to have got the riding under my belt and it really reinforced the importance of getting some solid riding in before the start of a tour. Hopefully those knee pains were just a way of my body adjusting and won’t pop up again somewhere in the Alps.
Firstly thanks to CycleExif for this content….
If you’ve ever entertained a dream of riding a grand European tour of your own, through famous wine regions and sampling the local delicacies, or perhaps following in the footsteps of historic legends like Hannibal or Napoleon, Ride & Seek Bike Tours can turn that dream into a reality.
Last year, three Australian brothers, Danny, Sam and Ben Wood, retraced the steps of the Roman conqueror, Hannibal, from Barcelona to Rome. The journey was filmed and edited into a BBC Four documentary. Sam Wood, alongside tour director Dylan Reynolds, has since established Ride & Seek to offer the experience to cycle tourists. And if you’re not interested in ancient history (or partaking in the local specialties), they also offer classical tours through France and Italy’s most scenic gastronomically enticing regions. I caught up with Dylan, a tour designer, scout and leader with 12 years experience, to find out a little more about Ride & Seek the journey that brought him to this point:
Dylan, you must be clocking up some touring miles by now, and have rode through some interesting and beautiful territory. Can you tell us what your favorite route is, and why? There’s a tough question to start. You’re right, I’ve certainly had the privilege of riding through some pretty awesome landscapes over the years. I guess in terms of favourites I’d have to lean towards some of the touring I’ve done in my own time. By design the commercial bike tours I’ve led always take you through the best parts of the region they visit but as a guide you know what to expect. The routes that stick in the memory are those that come as a bit of a surprise. I cycled down the west coast of the US a few years ago and riding through the giant redwood forests was pretty mind blowing. In Europe the ride up to Volterra in Tuscany at sunset takes some beating, especially the first time I did it with a couple of mates when we were cruising around the region with no idea as to where we’d end up.
After 12 years of leading bike tours, you must be getting close to achieving your ideal setup. Can you give us a quick rundown of your equipment list for an extended tour? I guess in terms of set up the art to leading a successful bike tour is covering all potential eventualities, of which there are many. The obvious in this regard are mechanical and health issues that will sometimes arise. Logistically on a tour the accommodation and meals are booked in advance so that element is covered and doubled checked on the pre tours before the tour proper starts. That said probably the most important tool a bike guide has is his/her mobile phone as it is important to phone ahead of time to make sure everything is in place. Another key element is the van that accompanies every tour and acts as the luggage carrier, sag wagon and snack storage. We work as a 2 guide team with the guides alternating driving the van and riding the bike. Obviously most guides prefer the latter but there is definitely a skill in offering decent van support to the touring group. The van also carries the spare bikes, a variety of bike spares, picnic gear for the days that we put on lunch during the day, everyone’s day packs and whatever else besides.
What do you love most about bicycle touring? Cliched as it sounds I can’t think of a better way to travel and explore an area. As much as I enjoy hiking you can only cover a relatively small area. ‘Going for a drive’ has never really rocked my boat as I use a car as a means of getting from A to B and that’s it. On a bike you get the chance to really connect with the area you’re travelling through taking in the sights, sounds and smells as you go along as well as meeting the locals along the way. The biggest plus in my book though is that you build up a great appetite riding a bike and since food and wine are two of my favourite things the fact that they both seem to taste better after you’ve been on a bike all day is a big bonus.
Ride and Seek is your new venture, offering bicycle tours through some of Europe’s most beautiful regions. Can you give us a little background to the business? Who are your partners, and what was the events that lead to the founding of the company? Sure. The idea of Ride and Seek was a culmination of a whole lot of thinking and planning on the part of both by myself and Sam, my partner, on the venture. We both had been making plans independently though and it was only when we got chatting at a wedding last year that our plans converged. I was already in the process of putting together some tours with guiding buddies based in Europe and Sam was keen to set something up on the back of the success he’d had with the BBC documentary ‘On Hannibal’s Trail’. When we got chatting it seemed a natural step to start collaborating together and bring together our respective expertise and ideas. Both of us are mad keen on cycling so that was a given, but I was able to bring my guiding experience to the table and Sam who is an archaeologist by trade conceptualized the Expedition tour idea that we are both really excited about. Excuse the pun but the rest is history
Ride and Seek offers Classic Tours whose itineraries read like a foodie’s pilgrimage. Personally, what’s your favorite stop on these tours? I think I’d probably have to go for the town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy. The smell of Nutella that permeates the air as you cycle in – it’s the home of the Ferrero chocolate business – gets the taste buds going and the choice on offer in the town doesn’t disappoint. Just down the road in Bra is where the Slow Food movement began and it is an ethos that the town seems to live by. Alba is also the gateway to the Langhe region where some of Italy’s finest wines are produced – Barolo and Barbaresco to name a couple. The town also hosts the world’s most prestigious truffle fair each year which is a site to behold. White and black truffles are found in the surrounding hills and a highlight of our Piedmont tour is that we take guests out with a truffle hunter and his dog. He is happy to share the secrets of his trade as well as sharing any truffles he might find.
The Historical Tours, retracing the steps of Hannibal and Napoleon, would even sound enthralling to cyclists who might never have considered such a journey. Have you any more Historical Tours planned for the future? Sure. Both Sam and I are really into the Expedition element of the tour and incorporating the historical element into the tour format. Sam has a list as long as his arm of historical figures he thinks we could create a tour around – a good few of whom I’ve never heard of! I know that a tour following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great is one idea that really excites him but since that would involve a tour over 32,000km long it might be on the drawing board for a while. Spartacus and Hercules are two other tours that he has in mind that would be easier to put together. Personally I’d love to do a tour that follows in the footsteps of the Incas in South America or Marco Polo on the Silk Road.
How easy is it for a cyclist from another country (for example, Australia or the US), to bring their own bike on a tour? It’s a strange one this in that when I first started guiding I’d say the majority of the riders on tours brought their own bikes and I can’t remember there being too many issues. In recent years though with bike tour companies providing decent bikes people seem to be happy to leave their bikes at home. For example we have sourced the Trek Madone 5.2 and Specialized Roubaix for people coming on our tours as well as a decent spec flat bar hybrid, so guests can avoid the hassle of bringing their own bike knowing that they’ll have a decent bike for the tour. That said I appreciate that a lot of riders simply like to have their owns bikes as that is what they are used too and I wouldn’t discourage them. From experience I’d say by all means bring your own bike but account for the possibility that it might get delayed in transit. If you were booked to arrive from Australia or the US the day before the tour started you would be cutting it a bit fine but if you were arriving in Europe a few days before then at least you have a buffer. In conclusion bring your own bike but make sure you pack it properly or get someone to do it for you, and chat with the tour operator regarding what can be done with the bike box whilst you’re on tour.
Have you any tips for novice cyclists considering one of your tours? What about tips for more experienced bike tourists? The great thing about going on a guided bike tour is that the guides hopefully take the logistical element out of the equation and allow the traveller to just concentrate on the fun bits of riding their bike, taking in the scenery and sampling the gastronomy of the region. In terms of tips for the novices i guess the best piece of advice I can offer is to read the grading spiel for each tour carefully and don’t overestimate your abilities. Whilst the van is always available as a back up and can come in very useful at the bottom of any steeper hills I think that people will generally have a better time if they manage their expectations beforehand. In this sense it is always a good idea to get some bike time in before you come on tour irregardless of the difficulty rating we have given the tour. If nothing else it means that you’re backside will already be prepared for spending multiple days on a bike seat. Our espresso grading system is designed to give potential guests an idea of what sort of rider each tour is aimed at and whilst slightly subjective provides a decent guide. For the experienced bike tourist all I’d say is come along for the ride and enjoy being pampered for once!
Who are your modern day heroes, cycling or otherwise? As a kid I was a huge Pedro Delgado fan and whenever we went off on family bike trips I would pretend to be him on the customary sprint to every village sign we came across. The subsequent doping allegations apart he is still pretty high on my list. The Italian cyclist Girardengo is a hero from the past but I guess the De Gregori song about ‘Il bandito e il campione’ played a part in that. Among today’s riders I have to say I was chuffed that Cadel finally got a tour win under his belt and I’m always happy to see Cav on the podium. Special mention should also go to a guy called Alastair Humphreys who rode around the world a few years back and whose take on life through his blog I find pretty inspirational.
Are you optimistic about the future of cycling, and in particular, cycle touring? Definitely. There seems to be a real buzz around cycling at the moment at all levels from commuting up to the professional ranks. I’ve lost count of the number of blogs I’ve followed of people cycling around the world and I love the fact that chatting about the Tour or the Giro seems to become almost commonplace at work. On the bike tour front I think the fact that tourist numbers on the bike tours I lead have continued to increase over the last few years – even through the GFC – suggests that the appeal of bike touring is continuing to grow. Having set up a new bike tour venture we certainly hope that is the case anyway!
If you’ve ever had an inclination to tour by bicycle through Spain, France or Italy (or all three), make sure you bookmark Ride & Seek. There’s plenty of inspiration there. Thanks to Dylan and Sam for the words and photography
