Monday 3 May 2004

The sudocream is open and the backsides will be broken in. Jane completed the first 55 leg from Rome to Viterbo after six and a half hours in the saddle.

Shocked by the size of the climbs on the first day Jane now knows the types of contours that stand in the way of her returning to Leeds.

Leaving a busy Rome just after rush hour progress was understandably slow because of busy traffic, 4,500 feet of climbing including a highest altitude of 2,000 ft the map has come to life with a vengeance. In context the altitude today equalled the highest achieved on last years John O'Groats to Lands End.

Jane commented that the riding was easy but getting on and off the bike ride was difficult due to the cancer in her lower back.

Already acknowledging that this ride is more difficult than imagined she faces tomorrow (Tuesday) a monstrous day on the tandem with a ride of 85 mile from Viterbo to Pienza with an early start in order to leave enough time to challenge what are feared to be tortuous gradients.

Anyway one day is done and the road to home awaits...

See the full diary and bike route.