12 days cycling covering just over 800 miles, climbing over 44,000 feet and visiting Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, this will be both a challenging trip and a beautiful ride.

Day 1 – Munich to Mittenwald

Day 2 – Mittenwald to Nauders

Day 3 – Nauders to Bolzano

Day 4 – Bolzano to Torbole

Day 5 – Torbole to Mantova

Day 6 – Mantova to Guiglia

Day 7 – Guiglia to Pistoia

Day 8 – Pistoia to Siena

Day 9 – Siena to Casciano Dei Bagni

Day 10 – Casciano Dei Bagni to Farnese

Day 11 – Farnese to Bagni di Stigliano

Day 12 – Bagni di Stigliano to Rome

My trusty titanium Enigma Etape bike is (or will be!) serviced, cleaned, and ready to go. Hopefully it will see me through another adventure – like Trigger’s broom (remember ‘Only Fools and Horses!?) aside from the wheels, the rear derailleur and cassette, the front derailleur, the fork, the front and rear brakes, the saddle and obvious consumables like tyres, brake pads and cables it’s exactly the same bike I bought back in 2014. We work well together.

Other regular features like Rapha bib shorts and Bag Balm (to assist with avoiding surface interface irritation!) are all set and ready to go as is my latest Garmin 1030 SatNav device which works nicely with my Garmin Varia combined rear light and radar – nothing can creep up on me other than another cyclist! It’s the simple things that make the difference.

Of course the most significant addition to my toolbox is my granddaughter Sienna – she will get me up and over the mountains!