Category Archives: bicycle touring

Zoldo Loop: Passo Cibiana, Forcella Staulanza, Passo Giau

Weather looked good, so we headed off for a long loop of three passes.  This ride is about 60 miles and climbs nearly 9000 feet.  The passes are not famous, but they sure are beautiful.  They carry very little traffic, … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, Dolomites, Italy, travel | Leave a comment

Passo Giau out-and-back

Today’s forecast called for rain in the afternoon, starting around 1 PM or so. The morning skies were dark and as we got ready to go riding, the sky opened and gave us a 15-minute soaking. Result was half our … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, Dolomites, Italy, travel | Leave a comment

4 passes: Falzarego, Valparola, Campolongo, Falzarego

We’re heading into some of the most scenic territory in the Dolomites and riding up some of the most famous passes. Here’s a photo of Sue leading Craig up the Campolongo. OK, that’s a little out of order. We started … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, Dolomites, Italy, travel | Leave a comment

Dolomites 2012 — day 1 Auronzo Loop

It’s vacation time again — hurray! — and I’m back in the Dolomites with Alta Quota Adventures.  We’re doing essentially the same trip as last year, riding most if not all of the classic Dolomites climbs and staying in my … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, Dolomites, Italy, travel | 1 Comment

2012 Giro d’Italia — Best Ever?

Details about the 2012 Giro d’Italia are starting to dribble out.  In April, we learned that the Giro will start in Denmark.  Given the Giro has always been a climbing festival, we’ve all been waiting for news about the mountain … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle racing, bicycle touring, Italy, travel | 3 Comments

Bormio — Extreme Mountain Town

By now, you’ve probably read about the two great rides we did from Bormio: both sides of the Stelvio and the Mortirolo/Gavia loop.  These are two of the greatest one-day rides I’ve ever done. There are two more mega rides you … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, food, travel | 4 Comments

Mortirolo e Gavia — an Epic Day

Today is the last day of our trip.  It’s good to end a trip with a bang! We have climbed most of the famous peaks of the Dolomites — Sella Gruppo, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego — … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, travel | 5 Comments

Passo Stelvio — Cima Coppi — both sides in one day

Of all the mountains one can ride a bicycle up, Passo Stelvio fascinates me the most. Sure, at 2757m Passo Stelvio isn’t the highest pass in Europe.  Col de la Bonette Restefond (2860m) is the highest and Col de l’Iseran … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, travel | 1 Comment

transfer day: Cortina to Bormio — preview of Passo Stelvio

Today we have to drive from Cortina to Bormio.  Our plan was to ride from Cortina, climbing Passo Giau, Passo Fedaia (Marmolada glacier), and Passo Nigra, and meet Ajax in Bolzano where he would drive us the rest of the … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, travel | 2 Comments

Cortina d’Ampezzo — Jewel of the Dolomites

By now you’ve seen my descriptions and photographs of all the great rides we’ve been doing in the Dolomites with Ajax Dempsey of Alta Quota Adventures.  http://www.altaquota-adventures.com/  We’ve been staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo which has served as an excellent base … Continue reading

Posted in bicycle touring, travel | 3 Comments