Zio Tony: March 2009

Ciao Zio Tony Fans! Springtime is beginning to roll around again, slowly raising the temps and stretching out the daylight. That means it's time to do a bit more rolling around myself.

So, when I saw the sun peaking out and the mercury sneaking past 50 this last Saturday morning, I decided it was a good a time as any to try my first "cir-Como-navigation" of Lago di Como. As you'd read in previous blogs, I had ridden near Lago di Como before but had kept to between Como and Bellagio, being content with climbing The Ghisallo and on up to Colma di Sormano. But, looking at the map, I've had the hankering to venture a bit further a field. Here's the 75 mile route I struck upon:

After hopping the train from Milan up to Como (A), we set out in the clockwise direction, stopping for lunch at a little village called San Siro (B), then rounded the top of the lake and crossed over by ferry from Varenna (C) to Bellagio (D) {cutting off the leg down to Lecco because it's a nasty stretch for riding} before heading back to Como.

But, it just occured to me that "we" begs an introduction.

Meet "The Yellow Flash"!

In case you're wondering, no, that's not the new "_ride" (that would be "Zio Tony Passoni"; and , yes, I still owe you a proper introduction ... that'll be coming soon; so, stay tuned). Flash came with me to Itay straight from "training camp" in Austin, TX. Flash is a Cervello and a "tri-bike" ("tri" for "triathlon" - but, when the Italians say it, it sounds like "tree-bike") or what can also be called a "time trial" bike. That means Flash is build with a premium on aerodynamics (including how the rider sits, hence the goofy handle bars) and does best on relatively flat terrain ... that's why he's the perfect buddy to roll around the lake with.

So, knowing that Flash prefers the flats, you can see why we kept to the edges "around" Lago di Como, and not too far off of it.

Be sure to let me know if this is boring you ...

If you're curious about how it looks like "from the handle bars", here're a few to give you an idea ...

Definitely the type of roads you want to keep "Occhi Fuori!" (Eye Out!). But overall, the Italians are pretty conscious and patient with cyclists on the roads - afterall, there're plenty of us about on nice weekend days like this one.

Here was the find of the day: "Ristorante Lauro" in San Siro, along the western shore. When I asked the proprietess how long she'd been there, she counted back three grandparents (and she's one herself) into the 1800's. Totally old school and totally good.

First course: Homemade fettucine with pesto.

I ate the second course (perch from the lake) before I thought about taking the picture. The large table next to me was served a production of "pizzocheri" which they wouldn't stop talking about - I'll have to come back just to try that.

After lunching & lolligagging up the western shore, I had to put the hammer down around the the top of the lake and back to Como before the sun went down ... and along the way "a yellow flash" met "The Yellow Flash"