The October meeting of the North Carolina Bicycle Club was held at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary. 30 people attended. Club president Henri Bohl presided.
Kevin and Phoebe Coggings, owners of The Spin Cycle, were on hand at the October meeting of the North Carolina Bicycle Club to show photographs and talk about their cycling tours in the Tuscany region of Italy. They had visited Italy in '96 and '97, staying for two weeks each trip at the Italian Cycling Center. Unlike conventional, cross-country tours, the Cycling Center offers a sort of base camp from which you take daily cycling excursions. The Center is about 40 miles north-northwest of Venice, and offers a "cycling paradise" - highly varied terrains, breathtakingly beautiful countryside, and a cycling friendly, if not cycling obsessed, culture. Beautiful roads wind through countryside and farmland and, while narrow, there's simply no problem with traffic. In this area everybody rides a bike. Everybody - and the bike is an important part of the Italian culture. Kevin reported that everywhere they went the locals would scrutinize their bikes and equipment.
Flowers are everywhere - such as apartments with flower boxes under each window. Things are very neat and well maintained, with no litter to be found. As you might expect, the churches are all magnificent. Many include masterpiece level art.
Kevin explained that the daily schedule would have you up at 7:00, you'd ride until early afternoon, return for a good lunch ("With all the wine you want," Phoebe added enthusiastically). Afterwards you'd have fun in the afternoon, which may or may not include more riding. Breakfast consisted of cereal, fruits, yogurt, and cake or bread. For lunch you'd have salad, four meat courses, unlimited water and wine, surprisingly delicious french fries, and deserts. Supper was similarly bountiful. Phoebe said she gained 5 pounds over two weeks, even though she rode over 500 miles (many of them in the mountains) over the period. And the wine! The wine was fresh and had no preservatives, and thus yields no hangover! "You simply can't find wine like this in the States" Phoebe bemoaned - she had tried.
The environment in that area of Italy is quite relaxed, and that spirit extends to the Cycling Center. Ride schedules are somewhat impromptu - "Ride until you get there, then come back" might be the route description for the day. Similarly, riders assume you know what you're doing, so they might casually motion with their hands about road hazards ahead, but otherwise there wasn't much talking within the group. The leader would always ensure return to the Center in time for "champagne hour" (although in Italy they don't call it "champagne").
The rooms at the Italian Cycling Center are like fancy dorm rooms. The region is a training area for a variety of pro teams, and the Center allows you to meet all sorts interesting people and athletes. And sometimes looks can be deceiving. Phoebe related that on one difficult mountain climb a 65-70 year-old rider, with a loaf of bread and bottle of wine on his back and smoking a cigarette, easily passed her. The Center is also in the center of Italy's cycling industry, and they had an opportunity to visit the Campagnolo and other factories.
After their presentation Kevin and Phoebe answered a number of questions.
Q: What is driver etiquette like?
A:
There are lots and lots of bikes, but drivers respect you.
Cars are fast and assume cyclists know what they're doing.
People don't seem to be in hurry except to go to lunch.
There are few apparent rules of the road, like staying in your
lane, but you have the feeling and experience that cycling is safe there.
Q: Is there a "siesta" time?
A:
Yes - the whole country shuts down after lunch
Q: What about Venice?
A:
You can ride a bike to Venice, but it's not convenient to have a bike there.
Travel is by boat or by foot.
Q: What is the cost?
A:
Air fare to Milan was $800, and the Cycling Center cost $110 per person per
day.
Q: How are the rides paced?
A:
There are different groups.
There are occasional A pace rides, but they usually rode a B pace, 17-19
mph. If you fall back the group will wait for you.
There were slower,C rides on some days.
While it was a cyclist's paradise, there were few planned activities for
non-cyclists.
Kevin and Phoebe were clearly enthusiastic about their trips to Italy, so much so that Phoebe is hoping to start leading cycling trips herself, with a possible trip to the world championships next year.
Club president and Fall Rally director reported that the upcoming Fall Rally would start from Blue Jay Point Park and go out to Satterwhite Point and back on Bike Route 1. Turnaround points will be marked for shorted distances. Bikeline will be providing mechanical support. Jack Powell will transport the trailer, and Alan Egge will get the ice. Riders were warned to be careful of the speedbumps at the park.