Well, after rolling mountains and walking amongst the clouds in Italy, here’s how it can be riding at this time of year in flat, windy Holland….

(my sincerest apologies in advance for the soundtrack)

I was up in the mountains of Abruzzo near Rome last weekend, sadly didn’t bring a bike, or see any, but I saw this..

I stayed here..

there are some stunning trails..

definitely going back in the spring with a Milanese MTB!

I really like these shoes…

I think they’re one of the best looking spd/city shoe currently available (if you’re a sartorially inspired rider)…

I’m just a little let down that Vittoria felt the need to add this detailing..

I don’t have a bike from 1976!

That said, the sole looks solid, and when I examined a pair, I was impressed with the overall construction quality.

I’d avoid these though personally speaking…

If Vittoria requires a field test report, I’d be happy to oblige!

I found a couple of these in the early autumn sun..

the seat looks more like a sling/hammock than a saddle,

this one was next to an immaculate vintage Fiat 500

and I’ve always got time for a vintage Porsche 911…

I saw this whilst out on a ride …

Complete with Gios fork crown coins…

nice!

I was in Zurich recently for a short stay, and I’m impressed with the cycle culture there,a lot of vintage road bikes with gears and a flat bar set up, I saw a Gios, De Rosa, Eddy Merckx and 4 Colnagos, including a Master in Isotar decor and C record  gruppo with delta’s all being ridden quite nonchalantly… when I went out for a drink one evening, I came across this locked to a post in the dark..a vintage Colnago Super,

apologies for poor picture quality, I only had my Blackberry,

the bike had a Colnago pantographed gruppo!

I found this image the other day, quite a pair, what seems to be a Colnago Super Tandem,

with a Pogliaghi Tandem in the background…