La Piazza Blog & Stories
Transforming Lives Through Active Travel
Transforming Lives Through Active Travel
October was a one-year anniversary of becoming a rider and athlete in training. It’s the month I found the joys of cycling. When we became empty nesters five years ago we celebrated our anniversary by going on a European bike trip to Provence.
When we came home we bought bikes and occasionally rode rides with a local bike club, especially prior to our annual fall trips. In September 2008 we went on Ciclismo Classico’s trip to Sicily and that changed our lives forever.
We joined a group of avid cyclists from Toronto and thank goodness Massimo and Enrico were our Ciclismo tour guides. With their teaching, encouragement and patience they made me a rider. I learned how to pace myself and use my gears on hills, how to ride in a paceline for speed and distance. They taught me nuances with my body position for power and endurance and gave me confidence with cornering on descents. They would ride in back of me, coaching me up a hill or yell out about my gear and position from the van as they passed. The Canadians even invited me to join their morning pace lines and I felt like a cyclist! The custom of ˜passing the cap’ to acknowledge the day’s rider ended with me receiving the coveted Bianchi signature cap on the last day because of my ˜quest to learn and grow’ with the inscription œLearn Lots “ Ride Lots “ Team Canada.
When I returned home I took a risk and went to local park looking for ˜B’ pick-up cyclists and I told them I had a goal to ride with B riders. I haven’t stopped riding since. Here is email a rider from that day sent me on my ˜anniversary’ in October:
Hi Diane! Happy anniversary! One year ago you arrived @#1 for a pick up ride with Rick, Fred and me. It was a sunny, crisp,day in the 50’s to 60 degrees. We went 48.71 miles @14.4 in 3H23M to the Titanic deli, but ate @DD’s. You expressed an interest in being a B rider and we gave you lots of advice, even though we thought you could already ride B. Well you worked hard and look what happened! Congratulations and many more good rides to come.
That fall I rode 1,700 miles and did my first time trial in December and though I came in last, I finished and found a love of competition. On New Year’s Day in January 2009 I had three goals: to become a B* rider, compete in more timed trials, and do a Triathlon though I did not swim distances and could not run. The year has been a wonderful journey.
I turned 56 years old this year and discovered from biking how much I love physical challenges. I will log 7,700 miles on my bike.
I’ve taken wonderful multi day trips without sag support to the Costa Brave region of Spain for two weeks, a solo four day trip from Sacramento to San Francisco through the Napa region, and a weekend round trip from New Jersey to Poughkeepsie New York.
I’ve competed five Centuries in the spring and summer.
My first Triathlon was in June when I rode the bike leg at 18.5 and ran at 10.5. My first 5K race was in December and I came in fourth in my age group with a 9.3-mile time (I know I can do better).
In April I competed in my second time trial and significantly improved my time and came in second in the women’s category. My third time trial was in October and I again came in second place, but I improved my April time by 2:20, a significant accomplishment. I was honored to be invited by the Montclair Cyclists of New Jersey to join their women’s racing team and race for them in 2010.
Our Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey asked me to take a board position when one became vacant in the summer, and I am enjoying a leadership role in our club activities.
I’ve lost more than twenty pounds since taking my Ciclismo Classico bike trip to Sicily and I’m in the best shape of my life because I discovered cycling as a sport. Your trip and your guides opened up a healthy lifestyle for me that I had participated in casually but never appreciated until I had the trip of a lifetime to Sicily.
(My husband continues to ride with me, and he is now also in the best shape of his life!) What a gift “ to discover something you love and can do everyday, something that gives you lasting friendships, personal challenges and great health as a reward.
So yes, Ciclismo has helped change my life. Thank You!
La Bella Sicilia
Featured in Trusted Adventures
When we came home we bought bikes and occasionally rode rides with a local bike club, especially prior to our annual fall trips. In September 2008 we went on Ciclismo Classico’s trip to Sicily and that changed our lives forever.
We joined a group of avid cyclists from Toronto and thank goodness Massimo and Enrico were our Ciclismo tour guides. With their teaching, encouragement and patience they made me a rider. I learned how to pace myself and use my gears on hills, how to ride in a paceline for speed and distance. They taught me nuances with my body position for power and endurance and gave me confidence with cornering on descents. They would ride in back of me, coaching me up a hill or yell out about my gear and position from the van as they passed. The Canadians even invited me to join their morning pace lines and I felt like a cyclist! The custom of ˜passing the cap’ to acknowledge the day’s rider ended with me receiving the coveted Bianchi signature cap on the last day because of my ˜quest to learn and grow’ with the inscription œLearn Lots “ Ride Lots “ Team Canada.
When I returned home I took a risk and went to local park looking for ˜B’ pick-up cyclists and I told them I had a goal to ride with B riders. I haven’t stopped riding since. Here is email a rider from that day sent me on my ˜anniversary’ in October:
Hi Diane! Happy anniversary! One year ago you arrived @#1 for a pick up ride with Rick, Fred and me. It was a sunny, crisp,day in the 50’s to 60 degrees. We went 48.71 miles @14.4 in 3H23M to the Titanic deli, but ate @DD’s. You expressed an interest in being a B rider and we gave you lots of advice, even though we thought you could already ride B. Well you worked hard and look what happened! Congratulations and many more good rides to come.
That fall I rode 1,700 miles and did my first time trial in December and though I came in last, I finished and found a love of competition. On New Year’s Day in January 2009 I had three goals: to become a B* rider, compete in more timed trials, and do a Triathlon though I did not swim distances and could not run. The year has been a wonderful journey.
I turned 56 years old this year and discovered from biking how much I love physical challenges. I will log 7,700 miles on my bike.
I’ve taken wonderful multi day trips without sag support to the Costa Brave region of Spain for two weeks, a solo four day trip from Sacramento to San Francisco through the Napa region, and a weekend round trip from New Jersey to Poughkeepsie New York.
I’ve competed five Centuries in the spring and summer.
My first Triathlon was in June when I rode the bike leg at 18.5 and ran at 10.5. My first 5K race was in December and I came in fourth in my age group with a 9.3-mile time (I know I can do better).
In April I competed in my second time trial and significantly improved my time and came in second in the women’s category. My third time trial was in October and I again came in second place, but I improved my April time by 2:20, a significant accomplishment. I was honored to be invited by the Montclair Cyclists of New Jersey to join their women’s racing team and race for them in 2010.
Our Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey asked me to take a board position when one became vacant in the summer, and I am enjoying a leadership role in our club activities.
I’ve lost more than twenty pounds since taking my Ciclismo Classico bike trip to Sicily and I’m in the best shape of my life because I discovered cycling as a sport. Your trip and your guides opened up a healthy lifestyle for me that I had participated in casually but never appreciated until I had the trip of a lifetime to Sicily.
(My husband continues to ride with me, and he is now also in the best shape of his life!) What a gift “ to discover something you love and can do everyday, something that gives you lasting friendships, personal challenges and great health as a reward.
So yes, Ciclismo has helped change my life. Thank You!
La Bella Sicilia
Featured in Trusted Adventures
