Meet "Zio Tony Passoni": Honeymoon over the Bernina Pass

Ciao Zio Tony Fans! Well, I admit this introduction is a little over due. Back in November, I had written wistfully about meeting my new "_ride" in "The Day We Met" and a few weeks ago I announced that the "big day" had finally arrived. Naturally, our first outing was the "hard way" climb to Santuario della Madonna del Ghisallo (if that only sounds like a bunch of Italian to you, check out "My Madonna of Bicycles"). But, actually we had ridden with the wheels from my old bike and I was still looking for a new set to compliment the new frame. This last weekend I found them in Tirano, Italy where I met Corrado Spada and picked up a pair of his fantasticly light carbon wheels - and then of course, went for a nice little ride. Think of it as a kind of "honeymoon" ... in Switzerland.



Back when I wrote that I was in the market for something "permanent and ITALIAN", I wasn't kidding. I can now say that I literally shook hands with the guys who made the custom fit, titanium frame (Passoni ) and built the light-weight carbon wheels (Corrado Spada). The carbon front fork and integral handlebar are "Made in Italy" too, by the"Profitably Conjugate Sports and Design" folks at Cinelli. (Only the drive train & brake components are "imported", Shimano DuraAce 7900).





And here's where I ran the "fully operational" ZT Passoni through the paces: along the Bernina pass between Tirano, Italy (A) and St Moritz, Switzerland (C). Actually, since the road just outside of Tirano was a bit rough for riding, I drove into Switzerland and started at a town called Poschiavo (B).



You can see Poschiano down in the valley at the distant right of this picture along with the road ascending from it. Beginning at an elevation of 1000 meters (3,280 feet), there was only one direction to follow for the next 18km (11 miles) ... UP



As you can tell, there was still plenty of snow about and the drifts only got higher, the higher I climbed; but, the road was in great condition ... and I was the only one on it, awesome.



Here's passing 7000 feet and still climbing. I'm moving alot of CO2 at this point; but, no pain, just a lot of "relaxed" concentration, looking for that last switchback and final crest ...


... to the top of Passo di Bernina at 2339 meters (7,644 feet) above Sea Level.



You can see the weather was beautiful and the temps were mild - plus, with all the climbing I stayed plenty warm, actually coming up in short sleeves. The descent however was a big brrrrrrr; so, I had donned a soft wool undershirt, long sleeves, and a windbreaker to make it bearable.

I hope you understand that I was a little busy coming down and the other side was busier with traffic of skiers coming of the slopes; so, I didn't snap any more photos until I got to St Moritz.


And then a great day got even better, hopping the scenic "Trenino Rosso" (Little Red Train) to cross back over the Bernina Pass to where I started in Poschiavo. The train and its route are actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in the comfort of the train car I could leisurely soak up the amazing landscape ...




... which had, quite literally, just taken my breath away.