Tutti Dolomiti Day -1

I could get used to just hanging out in Verona, Italy. We had a nice breakfast in the hotel then assembled bikes. I put mine together then got dressed for riding but when I went to grab my bike 30 minutes later the front tire was flat. I ended up replacing the valve core and that seemed to fix it. I rode with my roommate-to-be Mike to a nearby bike shop to top off our tires to 60 psi and mine was still holding, so we went for a ride.

We rode the tour track for Stage 1, which took us over a couple of bridges, past the Verona Arena and then out of town. After all the traffic and traffic lights faded behind it felt so great just riding through the countryside. It was sunny and warm. After a while we left the route and headed up on a tiny country road where we saw some bikers descending. Through vineyards and tiny villages, so nice. We weren’t up for anything big so turned around after about 15 km. We rode back through the more touristy areas and made it back to the hotel. Just your basic shake-down cruise.

After a shower, lunch was just across the street where we found Kiwi Blair testing the local beers. We had pasta and large, cold beers – just great. Funny when the bartender asked if I wanted large or medium and I said grande, he showed me what that actually was, a giant one liter stoneware mug – I switched to medium! I took a bit of a nap after that but had the alarm set for 5pm so only slept a little. We had dinner warm-up beers back across the street, and met another rider from California, Keith. He was staying a different hotel, one that he picked because it was near a particular beer place. Of course we said, “Ok let’s go, where is this amazing beer place?”

After a nice 20 minute walk we arrived at the Santa Maria Craft Pub and it did not disappoint. They are serious about their beer and the bartender spoke English and set me up with an Italian IPA from near Milano that was absolutely great, maybe the best Italian beer I’ve ever had. My Balkan Boulevard buddy Lex joined and we were now seven. After that I tried ordering about the strangest looking beer on their draft menu, a lambic called 21 Con Sangiovese from Toscana (Tuscany). It was also a total winner.

It was after 8 when we finally left and walked around looking for a restaurant with an outdoor table that would fit 7 people. We found one by the interesting looking Torre dei Lamberti – I might have to go back tomorrow and go up it. On the menu they had a pizza with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella, all added after cooking. It tasted as good as it sounds and with a limoncello spritz, it was the perfect dinner. Since we didn’t really ride today, we skipped dessert and walked back by a bit after 10pm. All that and tomorrow is still another pre-tour day! Amo l’Italia!