Home » Italy » Cycle to the Summit Part 4 - Milan to Senigallia

In this entry, the team reunite in Milan, only to discover Frank has decided not to continue on the trip. Following the loss of two bikes last week, Paul and Ruth continue through Italy on the remaining cycles, while Toby flies back to the UK with Frank, to return after Christmas with a replacement machine. Meanwhile Paul and Ruth make good time, covering high distances in flat countryside - despite record low temperatures. Will they achieve their objective of reaching Greece by Christmas and will their feet survive the cold? Read this exciting instalment of Cycle to the Summit to find out.

Cycle to the Summit Part 4 - Milan to Senigallia

Toby Hammond
2006-06-25 18:44:10

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to decorating the place. We were only 17 km from the Ferrari factory but Paul had no time to pay homage. The day had been a good test of our speed and ability to cover distance on a good flat road with negligible wind. We had averaged 20 km/h for 120 km.

Friday 21 December - Modena to Cervia 148km

To avoid the previous day's traffic we set off on smaller 'N' roads. The cycling was much more pleasant through rural parts with a variety of fields/crops emerging from the low lying mist, the sun fighting through. Temperatures topped 5°C in the late afternoon. The vines are grown high above the ground (above head height) and supported horizontally with a framework. Maybe this protects them from the frost, in such flat countryside, unlike the vineyards we had passed through south of Dijon.
We cycled nearly 150 km to reach the Mediterranean coast just 20 km south of Ravenna; a place called Cervia. This was a record distance for the trip so far, but the gentle tail wind had pushed our speed up a little. We noted that we had met several very friendly and helpful Italians during the day and decided that we thought Italians are "all or nothing". They either give the impression that nothing is too much trouble, or that having to just converse with you is a gross inconvenience.

Saturday 22 December - Cervia to Senigallia 104km

The elusive Med. appeared after turning a corner in the area's coastal sub-urban sprawl. It had been dark the night before and today it was very hazy again. These resorts were largely deserted for the winter. Even the palm trees were wrapped up, patiently waiting the warmth of the next summer. This was the first day that we had not been pre-occupied with keeping our hands and feet warm since…I can't remember when. The temperature peaked in at double figures. The scenery changed suddenly when it became briefly hilly near Cattolica -an area very popular with racing cyclists putting in some winter miles. Accommodation was found at Senigallia leaving us with only 30 km to do the next day to reach the Ferry terminal at Ancona.