I first heard of The Tuscany Trail a couple years ago via a Youtube video from a couple old guys in Lycra, and it immediately went on my bucket list. I’m not getting any younger, so this was the year I finally put a stake in the ground and signed up. That was the easy part. Now the planning had to begin.
The first question was what bike I would use. I initially thought that renting a bike would be the best solution. It certainly would be the cheapest, but even in January I couldn’t find a suitable bike available. Most of the bikes on offer were Ferraris: fast and sporty but not really practical for bikepacking and off-road use. What I needed was more like a Toyota Siena: maybe a little dull, but reliable, comfortable and capable of carrying my stuff. I decided I would ship my own bike. At least I would know what I was getting and I could test everything out beforehand.
Now the question became how to get my bike to Italy. I first checked Bike Flights who shipped my bike to RAGBRAI last year, but they were charging over $1000 each way, and I’d have to find an address for them to ship it to. That was out of the question. The cheap solution would be to use a cardboard bike box from a local bike store and bring it on the plane, but I figured there’s no way I could fit it into a small European car or it would be a pain in the ass to lug it to a train. I could dispose of the box and find another one at an Italian bike shop when I finished the ride, but that sounded risky and time consuming.
I found a bike case from Orucase that would fit my requirements. It’s relatively small, breaks down smaller for storage, and is cheaper than other alternatives. The downside is that it required disassembling the bike, including removing the forks, but I figured I could handle it. I ordered the case that was advertised for gravel bikes. In a rare case of foresight I tested it out months in advance, and the only way it worked was by completely deflating the tires, which would spread tire sealant all over the place, and even then it barely fit. I certainly wouldn’t trust the various border inspectors to treat the bike with care while trying to zip up the case. Luckily Orucase took the case back and sent me the case advertised for mountain bikes, which was a couple inches larger in each dimension. Perfect.
Now that I figured out how to bring my bike to Europe, I had to figure out where to leave my extra gear while on the ride. This problem was solved when my wife selflessly volunteered to go to Italy too and drive to Cinque Terre with my daughter while I was riding. It’s amazing the sacrifice they made for me.
Next I had to decide where I would sleep. I could stay at agriturismos, but that would drive up the cost of the trip and seemed to detract from the sense of adventure. Furthermore I didn’t know the exact route, and so I didn’t know where to make reservations at places that wouldn’t require long detours. I also didn’t want to be tied to specific endpoints each day in case things didn’t go to plan. Instead I decided I would camp. The organizers provide “Base Camps” along the route where people can pitch a tent overnight and which would have showers and toilets. In the worst case I could wild camp on the side of the road.
This meant that I needed to get suitable camping gear: a tent, pad, sleeping bag or quilt, and a pillow. Because space and weight are at a premium, I chose a cheap Chinese one-man tent from Naturehike. I found a 35 degree down quilt in the bargain basement at REI, which I figured would be warm enough for May in Tuscany even if the temperature ratings are a lie. I splurged a little to get a pillow and an insulated pad from Klymit.
For clothing I would bring 2 sets of cycling clothing, 2 sets off shirts for off the bike (Merino wool which allegedly doesn’t get stinky), a pair of stylish dad-pants that can be converted into shorts, a pair of warm socks just in case, a long sleeve shirt, a pair of slides, a swimsuit, a towel and a rain jacket.
Other odds and ends:
- A power bank suitable to cover 3 days. I didn’t want to rely on the power sockets at restaurants and base camps. My wife would meet me on the third night and we’d stay at an agroturismo where I could recharge the power bank. And by recharge my power bank, I mean plugging it into the socket.
- Sunscreen.
- Wipes in case I needed to crap in the woods or needed to take a whore’s bath in the absence of a shower.
- Chamois Butt’r to keep the undercarriage lubed. STEVE SMITH APPROVED.
- A light, cheap lock. Can’t trust those shifty Eye-talians.
- Lights and a reflective vest in case I had to ride at night. I didn’t plan to do so, but sometimes plans go awry.
Next I needed to figure out how to carry all the gear. A lot of people use a big saddle back, a frame bag, and some method to carry large gear like a sleeping bag or a tent on the handlebars. It’s pretty aero and looks cool, but the cost of all that was high so I went a different route. I already had a rear rack from the days when I commuted by bike, and I found a pair of medium size panniers on closeout that should be able to carry most of my stuff for about $100. When I tried packing my stuff I discovered that the tent poles wouldn’t fit so I found a frame bag on sale that could hold the poles, and I splurged on a handlebar bag to give me extra room for various odd and ends like the power bank and food.
The frame bag meant I had to get side loading water bottle cages in the event I wanted to drink while riding, which was highly likely. I bought a pair that was highly recommended and inexpensive, but on my first ride with them I hit a pothole, and a water bottle went flying. In the end I opted for a more expensive cage from Specialized that kind of matched one I already had but wasn’t using.
Now to test out the gear. I used the camping gear prior to riding an event in March. All went well and the quilt was warm enough. About a month before it was time to go I loaded everything on the bike and took a local test ride to simulate the conditions I was expecting: uphill, downhill, smooth gravel roads and bouncy rocky roads. After a few tweaks to adjust the weight distribution, the gear was ready.
The last detail was to load the maps of Italy onto my bike computer. I couldn’t really test that until I was in country. At our apartment on Elba a couple days before the start I fired up the computer to verify if the maps were working and nothing. Crap, this is going to be a problem if I need to use my phone for navigation. I have no way of mounting the phone and the battery life will suck. I turned the computer off and on again and slowly a map loaded, but with a message of “Weak GPS Signal”. I guess the Europoors can’t afford decent satellites or something, but at least it was working. I was good to go. Time to escape from Elba like Napoleon and start riding. But that’s a topic for my next post.
I heard there’s no rentals available in Tuscany.
You call that a First? THIS is a First!
You can imagine what I’m doing with my penis at the moment.
Detaching it and putting it away for safekeeping?
Check the medicine cabinet.
I think I saw it for sale out on the 2nd Avenue near St. Marks Place.
Where those people sell the second-hand junk on the sidewalk? Was it next to that broken toaster?
Have you ever seen that video of the famous artist who sold his expensive paintings on the street for a few bucks to people who didn’t know who he was?
Yea. That’s me. That’s my penis. You foul mouthed tiny handed vulgarian.
Si, si. This a-one.
Maestros can always find a place to rent and conduct business.
Middle aged, or retired? You are certainly ambitious.
Middle aged and maybe retired. I got laid off a couple days before leaving on the trip.
That sucks.
^ what he said
It’s not bad actually. I just turned 59. The kids are grown and have their own insurance. My daughter is still in college getting a graduate degree, but the school is paying for that. The house is nearly paid for. I’m in a position where I don’t really need to work. I’m looking for a job, but it’s not stressing me out. Maybe I’ll go to work as a Walmart greeter just to stay busy.
I’m looking forward to the pictures from the trail.
Why not one of these?
If it had training wheels I could use it for a walker.
Thanks for all the tips. I won’t be needing them but it gives me an idea of the PPthatPPPP.
This problem was solved when my wife selflessly volunteered to go to Italy too and drive to Cinque Terre with my daughter while I was riding. It’s amazing the sacrifice they made for me.
She sounds like a keeper.
I guess the Europoors can’t afford decent satellites or something, but at least it was working.
Russian jamming and the need for more US money! For our European friends!
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06/tests-suggest-russian-satellites-can-jam-gps-on-a-continental-scale/
Is that what you kids are calling it these says?
Recharge/discharge, it’s all the same.
Does anybody know a good resource regarding the hoops one needs to jump through to fly drones these days? Right now it’s just a lark, but I’m curious about the barriers to entry.
Check the FAA site.
UAS pilot license!
No medical required. Yet.
Jo can’t remember who it is on here but there was someone that was pretty knowledgeable.
The FAA mad it suck of course.
🤔 249 g … but $400
There is a pretty nice one at the local pawn shop.
Computer guys/those with 3D printers tend to make their own.
There are times when I’d like a plug and play solution. I have other problems to solve with my computer and 3D printer.
a tent – that is no place for a middle aged man to sleep.
stylish dad-pants that can be converted into shorts – stylish is doing a lot of work here
the pics dont seem to work for me
also the avatars…
Working in NYC. Russian jamming?
i can see the pictures in the media library… oh well
It’s an intermittant problem several users are seeing, myself included. sometimes it will load, sometimes it won’t
I am experiencing it now too (Brave). Firefox corrected most of the photos
Just because you sleep in a coffin….
Before KISS, Gene Simmons Made $30 a Week Lugging Meat Up Stairs
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/gene-simmons-kiss-band-homes-4254c8b6?st=eQUw4Z&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Puff piece in the WSJ. Funny, no mention of COVID in the whole article about his humble roots to rockstar.
Cinque Terre is pretty.
Civic responsibility
Cheaper housing could also nudge more people to make decisions that ultimately serve their community and the economy. For example, Zwick suggests cheaper housing might help encourage family formation. When people are less worried about the cost of an extra bedroom or finding enough space for a family, they may be willing to have more kids. Over the long run, that could mean more workers and more taxpayers, which can ultimately benefit the economy.
Are you doing your part?
Your function in society is to be one of the tax cattle for the Goodthinkful to mulct.
While I agree that cheaper housing might lead to more people having families and is good for a whole lot of other reasons, saying that you should have kids to serve your community and economy sounds a little fascist.
Don’t worry, it’s the right kind of fascism. The one with the right people in charge.
From NPR? One of the main organs of the Democratic Party and therefore a leading advocate of making housing unaffordable?
Pull the other one.
Negative inflation?
I have a bicycle question.
Where do you buy decent tubes? I put one in my bike, inflated it and then realized I had to deflate it to get around the brakes, when I inflated it the second time it blew up and ruined the tire. Now I’m in it a tire and another tube.
My tires are tubeless, but I’ve used Continental tubes purchased from Amazon, and they seem to work well. As for having to deflate your tires to get around the brakes, you should be able to easily disconnect the brakes to open them up so you don’t need to deflate the tires, assuming they are center pull brakes or V-brakes.
The only aspect of fascism the left recognizes as existing is the prejudice part.
I thought the brakes would be easy to do that too but I was wrong. Would have had to take them loose with an Allen.
I thought I was deaf until that tube blew about a foot and a half from my face.
What kind of brakes do you have?
Rim clamp style on that bike.
The old ones I had were a simple, slip the cable nock out of its grove and release the leaver. This one dosent have a knock on the end of the cable.
A few days ago, on Glibs, I saw a picture of a kid using a stick in the spokes trick for brakes. It sort of worked for him.
That sounds like a lot of fun. Let me second or third a request for pictures.
How was the Klymit pad?
I’ve been eying them for a while and have a TON of REI rewards to use or lose.
It was very comfortable and held the air just fine. Beats the heck out of those blue foam pads I used to use while camping back in the day.
Thanks. Good to know.
We were curious what our sources thought about Denver’s falling housing prices. Many suggested that it’s been driven primarily by an increase in supply. The city has built a ton of new housing units, especially new apartments, in recent years. That is probably a good sign. Although some did mention the in-migration into Denver has slowed while out-migration has picked up steam, suggesting demand to live in Denver has also cooled.
Inconceivable.
Watch what you wish for it the outflow is merely to the suburbs. Philly went through this a couple decades ago – Blue folks moved out and turned the suburbs from marginally Red to True Blue, but the city remained about as Blue as ever.
This right here.
Incredible town council speeches, part 1:
https://x.com/i/status/2069119418483810585
“Congratulations, you just got yourself a new pain in the ass”
That’s awesome.
Jacob’s just a sore loser.
Would contribute to his defense.
And nothing changed.
I’m sure it will change.
It will get more heavy handed.
This rancher knows how to ranch the right way. Scared meat is tastier I’m told.
Veal though.
Pretty flavorless.
Life Advice from Obi a Hermit in 1930. Restored in Color
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E72QpxNSLg
Does anybody know a good resource regarding the hoops one needs to jump through to fly drones these days?
What’s your bomb payload?
Cameras. I want to take pictures of the river and the state park neaby.
Possibly even take it on the road to look at places I visit.
https://x.com/b4dchan/status/2069187468386087271
Hah!
Right below your tweet.
I’m going to need to know how many Zioniosts he’s helped kill before I set up the Gofundme.
I missed the plot twists in the Canada shooting
https://x.com/shortmagsmle/status/2069419982954303666
What does Alex Jones have to say about it?
[This Space Stolen Via Corrupt Judicial Shenanigans]
Watch what you wish for it the outflow is merely to the suburbs. Philly went through this a couple decades ago – Blue folks moved out and turned the suburbs from marginally Red to True Blue, but the city remained about as Blue as ever.
The Front Range Megalopolis is not exactly in danger of “turning” blue.
🤡🌎
You’re just making shit up now. No serious person would use the term transfemicide.
The mayor of Chicago is not a serious person.
Transfemicide is the name of my KMFDM cover band.
ES, get me tickets!
The trans fems are also men.
How many of those cases were the result of the dude pretending to be a woman not revealing to a prosective intimate partner that he was in fact a dude pretending to be a woman until surprising them?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPFRCtUksDa/?hl=en
They want me to create an account – so I can’t see whatever you linked.
I clicked the link on the one actual trans who actually was murdered this year.
Criminal mastermind. Another kang with so much potential lost.
Oh I didn’t see that link.
And it’s domestic violence, as I expected.
Probably not someone who was surprised with an unexpected penis and freaked out, though.