Tuscany Trail 2017

[gairym]

Entries are now open!

Anyone planning on it for this year?

I just entered.

Also, I can confirm that it's worth the hassle of wading through the overly complicated Italian entry form.

Fills up fast and limited places available (500 I think) so no immediate rush but don't dilly-dally!

See you there.....

[Taylor]

Too busy this year.

[mikehowarth]

Hi Gairy

I managed to put an entry in this year.

Its been on my list for a while, looking forward to it.

Hopefully catch you there!

Mike

[gairym]

Nice one fella, see you there!

Are you Eddie's friend Mike?

(if that makes no sense then you're clearly not)

[mikehowarth]

Not guilty I'm afraid!

[gairym]

No worries, I'll still talk to you!

[S.Softie]

Hi Gairy - I'm entered (again) although currently medically unable to complete.
Hoping to be patched up in time to do some riding beforehand.
Actually, hoping to be back in the saddle before I need to pay for flights !!!

[robbie]

I'm in. Just trying to work out flight options from Scotland. Anybody done it before? Would a cross bike suffice for it or better with a Mtb?
Cheers

[Wotsits]

Too many other events on offer so on the fence about this atm, i'm going to procrastinate a bit longer..

Would a cross bike suffice for it or better with a Mtb?
Cheers

Depends how 'comfortable' you are with it on some technical stuff. If speed is your priority & you can put up with a certain amount of tech & discomfort, then overall it will be quicker.

If being comfortable is more your thing rather than speed, then definitely an mtb.

Last year the section from going off road at the start to Prato (just before Florence), was hard going on an mtb & would have been a nightmare on a cx. From Florence onward was good going, with only a couple of sections that'd be testers on a cx. Otherwise the lap of 'the island' just before the finish has some rocky & lose bits.. To be fair a lot of the difficulties at the beginning were down to the weather + 500 cyclists riding the same route = lots of mud!

I've not looked at the route this year so don't know how much it's changed, but on first impression it looks like there's 1000m less climbing?

There was one of our group on a cx last year & he didn't finish.

Deffo an mtb for me, the only way i'd consider a cx is if i was just going for a fastest possible time..

[gairym]

I agree with everything Jase said but.....

I'm taking my gravel bike this year!

Rigid steel Cotic 'Escapade' with 40c tyres on.

The reason being that I like to be technically challenged and so am happy to take a beating on the first bit into Florence and then it'll be faster all the way to the island.

If my attempts at getting into some semblance of actual shape work out then I'm considering having a go at doing it in 4 days otherwise I'll just mosie on through and it'll take as long as it takes.

[Asposium]

I'm entered

Flight booked

Best get the bike finished and start training

[Asposium]

For those that have done the event before; how much of a problem will it be that I know zero Italian?

[gairym]

For those that have done the event before; how much of a problem will it be that I know zero Italian?

None, we all managed.

[Asposium]

For those that have done the event before; how much of a problem will it be that I know zero Italian?

None, we all managed.

Phew.
Thanks

[Asposium]

If anyone is flying from Manchester to Pisa on Thursday 1st June then give me a shout.
Only the one flight.

[evilgoat]

Hi Gairy, I'm Eddie's friend Mike. No I'm not riding, although i did have a funny and confusing conversation with eddie about it last night. I'd love to ride it but no way i could get a pass out for it at the moment.

have a good one!

[gairym]

Hello Eddie's Mike!

Ha! Yeah, forgot to correct my message to him.

Did he seem in slightest bit likely to be convince to do it?

[Chew]

For those that have done the event before; how much of a problem will it be that I know zero Italian?

I'd make the effort to learn a few basic phrases.
Hello, please, thank you, yes, no, etc.... A little willing goes a long way when you're bumbling through what you'd like in the smaller towns.

Stu blended in like a local in the Carrefours on TNR with a simple "Ciao", 'looks at the number on the till handing over the appropriate amount of coins', "Grazie" , 'walks out with stuff', approach. Dont think anyone twigged

[Taylor]

For those that have done the event before; how much of a problem will it be that I know zero Italian?

I'd make the effort to learn a few basic phrases.
Hello, please, thank you, yes, no, etc.... A little willing goes a long way when you're bumbling through what you'd like in the smaller towns.

Stu blended in like a local in the Carrefours on TNR with a simple "Ciao", 'looks at the number on the till handing over the appropriate amount of coins', "Grazie" , 'walks out with stuff', approach. Dont think anyone twigged

Think I only know about 4 or 5 more words in Italian than Stu.
I managed.
Get the google translate app on your phone and use the camera option to translate menu's, sometimes it can have a very funny translation.

[robbie]

If anyone is flying from Manchester to Pisa on Thursday 1st June then give me a shout.
Only the one flight.

Is that the one getting in at 21.55?
If so what are your plans to get to Massa for the start. I've been looking at flights from Scotland it looks like I'll have to go out on the Wednesday. Unless late on the Thursday but bit of a pain to build bike and get to Massa in time?

[Asposium]

If anyone is flying from Manchester to Pisa on Thursday 1st June then give me a shout.
Only the one flight.

Is that the one getting in at 21.55?
If so what are your plans to get to Massa for the start. I've been looking at flights from Scotland it looks like I'll have to go out on the Wednesday. Unless late on the Thursday but bit of a pain to build bike and get to Massa in time?

it is
flight EZY1847
haven't looked yet at how to get to massa
I will have a ponder
I don't imagine I will be the only person on that flight doing the TT, find a few of us and hire a taxi-van???

[gairym]

There's a train that goes straight to Massa from Pisa.

[Chew]

As a bit of a guide:
Pisa airport is tiny, so you'll be out of there quick.
Its about 2 miles to the station. Theres a frequent shuttle bus to the station, and just pay the driver.
It drops you off at the back of the station and theres a couple of flights of stairs to get to the ticket office/machine and then to the platform. Pain with a bike box but manageable.
Regular trains to Massa, think the journey was an hour or so.
Couple of miles to either the sign-on/start location. Massa's a small station so you may be waiting for a taxi if required.

[Asposium]

As a bit of a guide:
Pisa airport is tiny, so you'll be out of there quick.
Its about 2 miles to the station. Theres a frequent shuttle bus to the station, and just pay the driver.
It drops you off at the back of the station and theres a couple of flights of stairs to get to the ticket office/machine and then to the platform. Pain with a bike box but manageable.
Regular trains to Massa, think the journey was an hour or so.
Couple of miles to either the sign-on/start location. Massa's a small station so you may be waiting for a taxi if required.

thanks.
very useful and helpful information

[robbie]

I looked at trains but think they end before I would get there 22.30 from Edinburgh. Thinking I'll need to go on the Wednesday but it will have to be from prestwick which is a pain. And it's gonna have to be Ryan air. They charge £60 each way for the bike!!!