7 days later….. By the time we started leaving for the airport it was clear that 9 of the 12 riders in our group had been ill on that final day so the celebration dinner was a somewhat subdued affair with the traditional toasts made with glasses or either still or...

22 miles ridden - 190m climbed - Temperature 31C. A new perspective to yesterday’s collective struggle came clear this morning when 4 riders messaged that they had been up ill all night and wouldn’t ride today. Others were not feeling tip top but left as planned. The...

61 miles ridden - 1333m climbed - Temperature 32C. Today was brutal. It was hot, very little cooling breeze and lots of climbing. Within half a mile of the hotel we started a 9 mile category red (Garmin) climb. It was relentless at 5-8% and although we missed the...

70.6 miles ridden - 772m climbed - Temperature 30C. We went for an early start today so that we could break the back of our 22 miles of climbing in the cooler morning hours and because the sun is behind the mountains there is much more shade. The climb started about...

59.6 miles ridden - 942m climbed - Temperature 31C. Today felt like a long day but that may be because we stopped for a somewhat lengthy coffee break and also a lunch stop. Sapri looked quite charming this morning and I even took in some sculpture on the seafront. But...

46 miles ridden - 1126m climbed - Temperature 28C (most of the time!) Today was a ride of two halves - the first climb and the second climb. The first climb started about 1 mile from the hotel high is always hard as it takes me about 20 minutes to get warmed up but...

53 miles ridden - 794m climbed - Temperature 29C Today was a good day. The first 20 miles or so was flat which was a nice start although the road was quite busy for the first 12 miles or so after which it quietened down nicely. Sadly we weren’t right next to the sea...

48 miles ridden - 1004m climbed - Temperature 30C. The first four miles were an assault course of potholes, closed roads, buses, school drop-offs and impatient drivers as we made our way out of Pompeii towards todays big climb. There weren’t any especially steep...

No riding today. For the majority it was a lazy day although one of the guides did go cycling over to Sorrento. Others took a train to Naples for a look around, others a train to Sorrento. It seems half of us stayed in Pompeii and looked around the ruins.I was in...

68.5 miles ridden - 553m climbed - Temperature 30C (maximum 34C) Today started to feel routine. I woke up excited and well rested, eager to head down to the beach and take in some sea air before breakfast. Then I glanced at my bike on the balcony and immediately my...

57.5 miles ridden - 443m climbed - temperature 28C. After leaving last night’s very nice hotel our first few miles were along relatively quiet roads before we joined the much busier SS7 main route. The road surface was ok and the drivers generally respectful but the...

59.4 miles ridden. 223m climbed. Temperature 30C. Today was a fabulous day. The sun shone brightly all day as we rode almost all the way along the coast with the glistening Mediterranean Sea to our right. There were a few interesting loops inland which were generally...

0 miles ridden - 0m climbed Last nights weather  forecast and the severe weather warning across the media generated much discussion yesterday evening. Not to put too fine a point on it the summary read: ‘Strong to severe thunderstorms may occur. Damaging winds,...

58 miles ridden – 1007m climbed – temperature 28C Day 3 is usually my tough day. My body is complaining but my mind is happy to be out on the bike – mind over matter! The very first thing we had to negotiate was a 12% hill just to get out of the hotel but after that...

63 miles ridden – 696m climbed – temperature 30C Today was a better day. I cycled most of it with three others which makes it more enjoyable. Overall today was about covering distance as the road were largely uninteresting and busy and although most of the drivers...

65.9 miles ridden – 861m climbed – temperature 30C After a breakfast buffet tussle with an elderly French group of walkers I set off with two riders – both previous Bike Adventures riders – just before 8am when it was still autumnally fresh in advance of a hot day....

The 4am start wasn’t the best way to start the day but I didn’t have much else to do but make my way through security and enjoy a 4:30 porridge from Pret A Manger. That time of day is funny in airports as there is a weird mix of really excited fully awake people and...