June 21, 2024
To Trento
Another hot and hazy day, but wait – there’s more. The third H of the triple whammy – Humidity! It was good day for an early start, but I was more intent on having pancakes for breakfast. And some eggs. And some fruit. You would have thought I setting out for an epic climb, but it was only a 29 mostly flat miles to Trento.
The day started by retracing my route back to the Adige River, this time opting to stay in the saddle through the twisting tunnel. About ten miles into the ride, just before reaching Roverto, I came to a Bicigrill, one of a series of bike-friendly cafés that are spaced along the Adige cycle route. I was still a bit full from my ample breakfast, but decided to stop for another coffee. I then continued on through Roverto and was soon humming alongside the Adige, cycling further into the mountains.
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The heat and humidity were oppressive and as the remaining miles decreased I began to crave the nice cold Fanta waiting for me in Trento. With less than five miles to go I ran across another Bicigrill and made a rash decision to pull in. It was a near-disastrous decision. Vivien George does not have a kick stand, so I usually find suitable leaning place such as a wall or a bench. Finding no such spot at the Bicigrill, I tried to roll her into one of the available small bike racks, front wheel first. But the racks were flimsy and she began to tip from the weight of the panniers. I then tried rolling rear wheel first, but the rear derailleur stopped my progress. I finally resorted to a combination of bike rack and wall – it kept her upright while I slurped my Fanta and replenished my water bottle.
When I got back on the bike that I discovered the rear derailleur would not lift the chain off the smallest sprocket. I surmised that I had used too much force backing Vivien George into the bike rack and had sent the derailleur into crash mode – a Di2 safety response I’d previously experienced and one that had been easily fixed. Or at least I hoped that was the problem. I was less than five miles to Trento and on a flat road so I went into fixie mode and rode directly to a bike shop, resolving to order a Click Stand when I get back to the US.
I arrived at the Free Wheels bike shop just before 3 pm and joined a couple of other customers waiting for the doors to open after the mid-day break. Within a few minutes, Vivien George was on the “lift” and the derailleur readjustment was in progress. It looked a little grim for a bit, but soon the chain was lifting and so were my spirits. A short test ride indicated all was good and I was on my way to the hotel.
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5 months ago
My plans for exploring Trento were reduced to a brief stroll through a small section of town on the way to dinner. I’d decided to celebrate my escape from derailleur disaster at one of Trento’s Michelin-recommended restaurants - the gazpacho was smooth and refreshing while the spaghetti with tuna, olives and capers had a surprising combination of flavors that were a real delight. Lightening flashed across the sky on my way home and I fell asleep to the sound of thunder, hoping that a cleansing rain might dissipate the humidity and bring clear skies tomorrow.
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5 months ago
Today's ride: 29 miles (47 km)
Total: 1,381 miles (2,223 km)
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4 months ago