Guest Stories: Mary Gill and Dennis Kruszewski

Feeling 12 Again: Life on a Ciclismo Saddle

My husband and I are originally from the Midwest—we met at Indiana University—but Atlanta has been home since 1980. Outdoor activity has always been integral to our lives. Before we took up cycling, we both ran every day (he was a high school track and cross-country coach). In our youth and college days, we were casual cyclists, drawn to the freedom and adventure it offered.

Everything changed in 2008 when close friends invited us to join a private Ciclismo Classico tour in Piedmont. Years earlier, we had done a self-guided cycling trip in France with the same couple and had fallen in love with the experience. So, we eagerly said yes—and that trip truly changed our lives. We’ve been committed to cycling ever since and have ridden with Ciclismo almost every year since then.

At the time, we weren’t avid cyclists and were a bit nervous—especially about using road bikes—so we opted for hybrids. But we quickly realized we could keep up just fine and actually regretted not choosing road bikes. In fact, the week after we returned home, we bought a pair for ourselves!

From the first ride, I was hooked. Although I’m now 70, being on a bike makes me feel like I’m 12 again. The push up the hill, the satisfaction of reaching the top, and the thrill of the descent make my heart sing and always bring a smile to my face. There’s something about cycling in Europe that moves me every time—the beauty of the countryside, the joyfulness of the ride, the cultural richness of each region, and the camaraderie among riders. It’s a feeling I’ve never found anywhere else.

Some of our most treasured memories come from these trips—like Marcello stopping mid-ride to pick fresh figs off a tree for our group on Ride Across Italy, or Umberto flying down a descent with Dennis drafting close behind. The magic often lies in those small, unexpected moments that stay with you long after the trip ends. The guides are the frosting on the cake. Their local knowledge, warmth, and sense of fun bring every trip to life. They give context to the ride—adding culture, history, and connection in ways that deepen the experience.

Over the years, these tours have become the cornerstone of our vacations and the source of many lifelong friendships. This fall, we’ll be cycling through Normandy with a couple we met five years ago on the Taste of Tuscany tour—our fourth trip planned together after Sicily and Sardinia.

Cycling has given us so much—fitness, friendships, and a new way of seeing the world. When people ask us what our best trip has been, we always say the same thing: “The next one.”