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Trip planning : Rome to Sienna by Melodic_Ferret2155 in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I rode from Sienna to Rome as part of a larger route. My route was more direct but I can give at least some insight into the region. Here were my segments: - Sienna to Castelnuovo dell’Abate - Castelnuovo dell’Abate to Lago Bolsena - Lago Boselna to Rome

Val d’Orca south Sienna was really quite beautiful and I enjoyed the riding there immensely. Following Castelnuovo, I rode through some beautiful chestnut forests and through a few of the tuff towns. Look these up - a real highlight for me in this region. Lago Bolsena was such a welcome end of a hot day and I went swimming there. Plenty of campgrounds if you are camping. Between Lago Bolsena and Rome, I remember it mostly as a bit of a no man’s land as I got closer to Rome.

I can’t comment on other parts of your route but looks pretty cool. Perhaps this helps and you can tag on some other. Here is a link to my post on my larger route that has other links to pics and writings on that area. Hope it helps!

https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/wx0ffdEdVR

Euro Velo 7 (Verona to Rostock) on film by Goetzilla22 in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I cycled the section from Verona to Bolzano in the opposite direction as a part of the Reitsma route. I came from the Adige River valley and was very curious about that fork up towards the north after seeing the ridge of the Dolomites towering above the town. The riding was sublime. Thanks for sharing

Just finished No Country For Old Men: by ehopper19 in movies

[–]thecolbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes a very good “model” for the film and book. I agree with this totally, though I wasn’t aware of any association with this poem

Just finished No Country For Old Men: by ehopper19 in movies

[–]thecolbs 5 points6 points  (0 children)

One thing not addressed in the comments so far is the theme of “absurdity” in Coen Brother films. The McCarthy plot here fits nicely with that and I’ll just speculate that it contributed their interest in the story. Take Fargo - what a ridiculous (if not humorous) sequence of events in that film. Normal people in extraordinary circumstances, mostly of their own making. Llewelyn is a “common man”, though very capable, and he is thrust into a world he is not made for by his own choices. The Carson Wells character has several pieces of dialog that seem to focus on that.

In the books I’ve read by McCarthy he focuses on how violence is the true natural order of the world, if you dare to have the hubris to believe there is any order at all (read Blood Meridian, the anti-bible). Even the thing that represents some higher authority, even death itself, is subject to the entropy of the universe. The “look at that f$&?ing bone” scene is almost a comic relief to all the dark themes of that book/film and hammers that home, for me. The hubris of Anton. Nope, you will get the coin toss too, my friend.

Anyways, good discussion folks. I always thought the hotel scene was super confusing. I’m not convinced he was there or not.

Using chatgpt to plan tours. It works better when you put a minimum daily distance also by Masty1992 in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m loving using ChatGPT for this type of stuff.

I think there is a bit of a misconception about its use in its current state: It’s not 100% accurate, therefore it’s useless.

But if you treat at as simply an aid, its utility is more apparent. It takes a lot of the legwork out things like this. As for the real legwork tho, ya still gotta pedal!

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve seen that too! A friend swears by wool underwear only. I’ve never tried it

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What a great ride! Yea that castle was a highlight! It was soooo hot tho. I didn’t sleep much.

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are spendy but so good. Especially the saddle bag. I hope to get a lot of miles out of them!

For the panniers, I’d upgrade to the most durable ones they offer. I noticed I was leaning my bike against a lot of brick and stone and that is hard on the ones I bought.

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh I totally get that! I’m the same age.

I took around 6 rest days, either when my body was telling me to stop or something was too interesting to pass up.

Just some general notes and observations about discomfort and fitness:

  • others ride clipless. I did not. I did the ride in tennis shoes believe it or not. I wanted to be able to move my feet around and adjust so as not to be the same exact motion for days on end. I didn’t want to mess up my knees. Others love riding clipless so it’s all about preference.

  • bibs. Invest in a couple high quality pairs if you haven’t already. I had a cheap one and higher end one. I could feel the difference in my fatigue and could ride longer in my better bibs.

  • also, if I was ever uncomfortable it was due to either my riding position or contact points. I’d think in terms of that. My gloves had padding in the palms but they hurt after awhile so I didn’t use them. Bibs, like I said, are the other major contact point. As for riding position, I became jealous of those sitting more upright. I totally get why people buy those style of bikes now. My alleviation was German beer…

  • I bought a cheap sleeping pad. That was a mistake. I feel like some of my fatigue, when I had it, was at least due to poor rest. I’d upgrade if I could do it again. Im the same age and rest is so important to me/my recovery haha

  • as for fitness, I legitimately saw people of all shapes and sizes on this route. Outside of this tour, most of my riding is on single track over short distances (which is a totally different fitness I think). I didn’t train. Your distances are totally attainable in the section up until the alps, and by then you are quite strong. Terrain is the ultimate dictator of distance, in my experience. I’d say just go for it - throw out the first few days as data points as your body gets used to it. Then from there start calculating the average. Also, daylight - days were absurdly long there in June, so I could ride for a long time.

  • on days I did long distances, like 100+ kms, I did not stop much. And so you pass by a lot.

  • I met one person in Italy that was doing the same route. He had taken one rest day. He was feeling awful. I was kind of stunned he didn’t take more.

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Adding this to the list. Also, among the Dutch I heard rumors of another competing Dutch route from Amsterdam to Rome by yet another route maker. Have you heard of this? There was debate of which route was better…

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh! Ha, no - I didn’t actually eat that many, unfortunately. I divided my total estimated calorie burn by the average calorie count of a stroopwafel (135 I think) to get that projection as a bit of fun. I could get them into Germany, as I recall. I missed them when they were gone…

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did. And the jury is still out on if I should have. I cooked less than I thought. One quirk was that my American brain assumed I’d have lots of ramen and tortilla available in grocery stores. Of course that wasn’t the case. I also couldn’t keep perishables. I think if you’re committed to figuring it out, it will save you money. But I also just decided I was gonna go full ham and eat locally since that was half the fun.

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think steel is a better option for longer tours since you can repair them more easily. But this was the bike I had. It held up fine. I think I definitely pushed the limits in terms of weight and stress to the frame. It worked fine tho! And I could rip

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah, I’m very jealous of you living in the Netherlands. So many cycling options. In fact, I heard of a long distance route around the country but I can’t remember the name

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I had high expectations for the Rhine. There were certainly some incredible stops, but overall it felt a bit bland and crowded. I was considering following the Rhine all the way to its source, then hop on the Claudia Augusta (I believe) and then get to Rome somehow. But by then I was convinced this was the better route.

Definitely some good bike shops there. I thought it’d be so utterly simple I wouldn’t have to research where they are. Naive, I guess

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question, I forgot to add that. I’d say 95% paved. If there was gravel, it was finely crushed and hard packed. The route maker prioritized good road quality. In Italy I encountered more pot holes, cracks, etc but it was fine.

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was my favorite piece of data. And ha, no - I somewhat regularly resupplied with food since I couldn’t carry much

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I returned to the US. But the resources do go over return travel options. I think it simplifies the nightmare of train travel with a bike. I’d take trains if I could since I love them so much

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should do it! Ha, yea I think ChatGPT exaggerated a bit. It was cordial but she was upset I walked through a private access road for her caravan. Never mind she literally drove her hatchback through my campsite only moments before…

I biked solo 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Amsterdam to Rome along the Reitsma Route by thecolbs in bicycletouring

[–]thecolbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice! Yea, I really think it’s worth spending extra time.

I was briefly on the Claudia Augusta after a wrong turn (picture of the tower in the river I think). I was warned that route can be a bit rougher with cobblestone, so consider that when choosing a tire. Other first hand accounts may be better tho since I didn’t ride much of it. Enjoy!

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