In Cervia

Santarcangelo

Cycling up to Cervia via Santarcangelo is great. Garry and I took a medium group out to Santarcangelo first where we stopped for icecream or coffee. We were in total 22 riders which is way too many, and it showed.
The group weren't very homogenous and soon moods were getting frayed around the edges.
Some of the lady riders complained about the pace for example. We were travelling at a snails pace, 17kms an hour was being dictated at the front. But with 11 rows of cyclists who aren't in tune, they would often let the cyclist in front pull away a few meters and then catch up again by increasing their speed.
This has a devastating effect on those further down the line. With everyone doing the same thing, those at the back will have to keep increasing their efforts only to hit the breaks again when they catch up.
After splitting into 2 groups it became much easier. AND the ladies managed 27kmh plus without any trouble. A lesson learned for them, even though they didn't realise it at the time.

The gate of Clemintin in main market square where we stop for coffee

Once out of Santarcangelo we headed north east and made our way to the town of Cesenatico where the start of Sundays ride would take place. In my previous blogg I tried to get a video of one of the houses en route. Unfortunately, cameras; either in mobile phones or otherwise really cannot capture the essence of this place. You need to feel the warmth, the musty odours produced by the trees and the earth, the sounds of the birds, the hum of life in all it's pre-summer glory.
On and into Cervia we rode and then we rested.
As we would do the next day in preparation for the Nove Colli ...
I'm as nervous as hell and so undecided. One moment I want to do the 4 hills and 130kms, the next I don't want to do it at all ... I've booked a flight home, I thought that since the crash I may find a 36 hour bus ride somewhat uncomfortable.