Back in the Saddle Again (with apologies to Gene Autry)

Montepulciano is the definition of a Tuscan hill town.

After 8 months of what Carol calls “un sacco di ferite” (a sack full of injuries), she’s back on the bike and climbing to the top of the hill where Montepulciano sits perched.

Truth be told, Carol is riding a bike with an electric assist.  She still has to pedal to go anywhere, but the electric motor helps make those long, steep Tuscan climbs a bit easier on all those metal plates and screws in her legs.

After this day’s ride, Carol said for the first time since her fall last August she felt like her old self.

As the locals would say…Brava!

We’ve be in our much-beloved Pienza for a week now…

…and it’s been wonderful connecting with old friends.  

Our apartment is small but very comfortable and looks out on a lovely walled garden…

For those of you who wonder why we keep returning to Pienza year after year, we’re about to show you.

Carol hasn’t been able to ride a bike since Labor Day (save a few minutes on a stationary bike at the gym).  Roger is in the middle of discovering how unaccustomed his legs are to the Tuscan hills.  As a result, our bike rides have been short and not terribly ambitious.

Ride #1:  Chiusi Scalo to Pienza

 (Roger rode this himself.  Carol hopes to do these rides in May.  She has gone now 200km, all on short rides until today.)

Val di Chiana

Ride #2:  Montechiello Loop…

A farmhouse on the road from Montepulciano to Montechiello.

Ride #3:  Montefollinico Loop via Petrio, Castelmuzio, and Santa Ana di Camprena (the place where the film The English Patient was shot).

Montefollinico

When Napoleon conquered Italy in 1800, he tasted the wine at this winery.  He pronounced it the best in all Italy and confiscated all their production.

Ride #4: San Giovanni di Asso and back

Farmhouse along the road back to Pienza.

Ride #5: Castiglione D’Orcia Loop

Val d’Orcia

This ride has a story behind it.  On our first solo trip to Pienza, Roger climbed to La Rocca, the 800 year-old fortress pictured in the background.  He found it the toughest climb of his life.

Last year, Carol and Roger climbed to La Rocca again.  It wasn’t so bad, so Roger just assumed he hadn’t been in very good shape the first time.

This time, Roger discovered a “shortcut” up to the fortress that bypassed the town.  It was 2 km shorter than the route they took last year, so he tried it.

The climb was just shy of 1,000 ft elevation gain.  The road started at an 8% grade, then went to 11%…13%…15%…and finally 17%.  Just short of the summit, Roger’s legs turned to jello, and he walked the last 150 meters.

He again had found the toughest climb of his life.

Ride #6: Torrita di Siena Loop.  

The first time this trip Roger and Carol rode together.

The town of Montepulciano, at the top of the hill.

Palazzo Massaini…on the way home from Montepulciano.

With scenery and history like this, all that sweating is worth it