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The weather forecast promises sunny 24 Celsius for Saturday and Sunday. I can't wait to get going, but my flight leaves Saturday morning.

253 days until the start for me too. This time a later start means that hills after Jönköping should be at day break. I don't know how I will manage to get to sleep and wake up at two though.

@wjwat1 I was originally planning on doing the 135km route, but I might have to shorten it to just the 75km loop. We have no hills to speak of where I live so I don't know what I've gotten myself into. I guess I will figure it out when I get to the junction. Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to get all my stuff to the airport.

What time are guys starting and which route are you going for?

I'll be wearing a black "Cicli Chinarello" merino jersey in memory of Giovanni Pinarello. Meet up would be nice, but it would be cool to have somebody to chat with on the road as well.

It's getting close now. I was supposed to do a final prepatory ride yesterday and it didn't really go quite as planned. I managed to snap the front derailleur cable and the italian threaded bottom bracket started unthreading itself. I guess in a pinch I could get away with just 42t ring, but I hope bottom bracket holds up now that I've added some threadlocker. Anyways here is a pic of my bike.

https://chinarello.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/img_6868.jpg

Ok, I guess I will figure it out on the spot. So many things to worry about. I rode my chosen bike to LBS and managed to OTB on the way . The rear derailleur is pretty shot and I will propably need to change it once the hanger and wheels have been trued. It would be good to get some miles in before the event.

If I understand correctly there is no dedicated parking lot and you just park along the road? I guess most of the 5000 participants would be arriving by car. I'm considering spending the night sleeping in the rental car. I don't see the point of booking a hotel for a couple hours of sleep. Having to negotiate myself to Gaiole that early in the morning sounds difficult. I might be too old for such foolishness, but it is supposed to be an adventure. This is going to be epic.

Ok, Good to know. I already managed to wrangle on some 28mm gatorskins so I will propably just end up using them. What's the parking in Gaiole like? There is really nothing about that on the web site. Someone mentioned having to hike up a hill up to the village.

I managed to get my rear derailleur tangled in the spokes on a test drive around the yard. In addition to bruises and cuts the derailleur hanger is probably bent and a spoke needs to be replaced. Still waiting for a Cinelli stem and handlebar combo to arrive so there is still some work to do. Is it forbidden to ride on non-tanwall tyres? My only pair is 25mm and I thought something wider would be better.

Hard at work planning away. Apparently I will be flying to and from Rome. Saturday noon arrival at Rome and hoping to make it by the evening somewhere around Gaiole. If somebody wants to share the ride let me know. Anybody know if it is possible to park the rental car in Gaiole for the weekend or do I need to arrange a cab from where-ever I'm staying?

Heh, I have had my share of mishaps and bad luck with old racers so you are probably right. Missus needs to be at work Monday morning so I don't think I can risk it. Maybe I could get flights out from Pisa. I would fly direct to Rome I don't bike get lost on the way to Gaiole.

I can't bear the thought of a triple crankset on a vintage racer. I'm sure I will regret the attitude later.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with the flights and the accomondation. Do you think is it feasible to still catch a flight from eg. Rome on the same evening? Of course that would mean I would need get somebody to drive a rental car for me. I was planning on doing the 135km route, but I suppose I would be on the safer side if I turned back earlier. The start is early I've understood and if 75km takes 4h I guess I should be back at Gaiole by two even with some longer breaks as long as there are no mechanicals.

Just finished Domestique by Charly Wegelius. Well worth the read and the end matched my current motivational problems.

Ok, that's what I thought. I don't know if my shimano 600 derailleur would work with cogs that big. Anyways I'm still contemplating about going tubular on wheelset with threaded hubs so it might be difficult to find a suitable freewheel. I think the biggest i've seen was 28t.

I have two pairs of cranks, 170mm and 172,5mm. Which one should I use? I can only have minimum of 28t on the back and 42 at the front so would longer crank be better as it would give me more leverage going uphill?

I'm also considering camping. Is there a place to store your tent/stuff for the duration of the event?

I was thinking of having something like this printed on a gray shirt.

Does it have too many colours for screen printing?

1. tom (tilover)
   
2. 105 champ (john)
   
3. peter v + 2 other Dutchies:
   
4. SimplexNL
   
5. PJ Der Ailleur
   
6. Tapsnbath
   
7. Beret + 2 other Poles
   
8. Rox + no other Finns that I know of
   
   

I haven't sorted the flights or accomondations yet. I guess it would be best to try to get a flight to Pisa, but I would prefer direct flights so might need to consider Rome also. One thought was to rent a motorhome/campervan with the family. If I end up going alone I would be willing to share a ride to Gaiole.

I got through in little under 13 hours. First 100k I was flying averaging well over 30kph. Then things took a turn for the worse and it was pretty horrible hitting the head wind in the rain. I was wet and miserably alone fighting up the hills in the middle of the night. As the sun came up I eventually started to warm up and during the last bit (50k or so) I was passing people all the time even though I couldn't find a good group. I'm little bummed I could not do the ride in under 12 hours so I think I'm hooked. Next time I will be starting early in the morning instead of the evening. I doubt I would go ever try it fixed though. The hills are long and I think long downhills would just murder my knees that were hurting already now.

I've signed up, but I think I'm just going to ride my charbon bike. I've seen people ride shorter sportives fixed, but at least for me it is bit difficult to adjust to speed changes in the pace line. Also call me soft, but I just want to make it to the end without totally destroying my lower back and knees.

Seatpost found its way to a new home. Many thanks. By far my best xmas present.

I would like to have yellow leather Turbo saddle for my Olmo to match the bar tape. Will pay via PayPal and EU shipping required.

It looks like a sweet ride. What frame is that?

I have been a big fan of Rapha, but recently bought some gear from Ullmax. I've been very happy with their Merino Supersoft polo so I thought I would share. Long enough at the back and thick enough to actually keep you warm in the arctic wind.

http://www.ullmax.fi/webshop.asp?PG=210

Oh my,
I'm in tears. You should definitely contact Rapha returns department with that story. They will send you ten years supply of the stuff just to keep us entertained.

BTW. Don't feel bad. How the f*** are you supposed to know?