its not what leaves on tour that matters....

Its sometimes what COMES BACK from a tour that does!

Last year it was various shower caps, apparently used as rain covers for helmets, and unidentifiable pills, apparently used for late night drinking games.

This year the found items inside the trunk bags attached to the rear racks when a bike returns from a tour have been...well to use one of Clay Porter's favorite words..."lackluster." To date Robbie has found no less than three CO2 tire inflation devices and several CO2 cartridges, half a tool kit, and some spare change, I have found nothing (mostly cause I let INTERN clean the trunk bags this year), and Sara, just today discovered the slightly stale remains of a roadside tryst...which of course will be going up in the shop somewhere...until the next tour comes through of course, you know we have to maintain our sanitized image with the clients...till then, have a scratch and sniff moment with your computer screen.

Bon Apetite!



Scotty

FUCK work, lets RIDE!!!!

Rob has been a big source of local trail riding inspiration the last couple of days, pretty much trying to get me to ride with every ounce of good reason (when he should have just called me a bitch!)and calling for me to man up and stop with the pity party and staying late at a job I'm not really that stoked on at the end of this season. What has resulted has been amazing rides in the back yard, a few beers and some shit talkin', even an outing with his buddy from the mountain bike club to a MEXICAN yes MEXICAN restaurant in Imola where we feasted on anything BUT Mexican food and margaritas that probably had lemmoncello in them...but THE BEST IPA we have had since we landed on friendly shores 7 months ago...which resulted in feeling a little slow Thursday morning... RADness ensues...was that a run on sentence or what!? whatever...roll the clip!











zoom in - wild horses on the hilside...





amazing old abandoned church on the way back...



Frank waiting when we arrive...



And a mexican restaurant...legit...



oh you KNOW i tried to steal it like ten times!



I love "tequila boom boom"



rob loves IPA this much...







a couple of these...



turn normal dudes into these...







especially in the presence of these...





another thursday ride


















ending very much in the dark...



with refreshments...



and some bike on bike jealousy fight when I returned, Loni feeling left out whilst ChiChi feeling frisky from her first real ride out in ages...



Even got the locals to sing a little Romagna Mia on the way home...che fantastico!



get out of the house while you still can!!!!!
Scotty

when in doubt pedal it out...

My overactive brain has been riddled with thought lately, from life on the farm and the communication breakdowns we are suffering, to life as I want it to be in some far off future, and the inevitable middle ground where it all leaves me feeling stuck and trapped and generally backed up into a corner...a place I am in no spirits to navigate. I have felt bored of the same old rides, tired of living in Italy, and ready to call this season over and get back to the culture that appreciates my humor, my work ethic, and the friends who would never question the quality of my character. In the meantime I have found a small fraction of joy in the ride. I built Loni with the intent that no road or hill or path or ride would intimidate us into a static no-show way of life, and lately I have been a pussy when it comes to getting out. But as of this week I have again found my solace in the spinning wheels, dusty dirt roads, and shit talking goodness of the group ride, as well as the spirit of adventure in a solo exploration by bike.











discoveries like this means I need a new play bike...











I gotta thank Robbie for turning me onto the local Dirt Crew in Faenza. Without a mountain bike I have avoided the scene, but this week I have a new love for what the group ride can do for a biker's soul, even with language and cultural barriers, there is nothing like the communal giggle of a shared hill either up or down, and no amount of communication can surpass a shared experience.











And La Una too...for the offer to meet at the an international food faire at the beach by bike...a beach that was 100K plus round trip at the end of the day. A much needed nap in the sand, a swim in perfect temp waters alone, and an "international" beer or two was just what the kid needed.



does NOT actually take a genius to find Mensa...



and a great big devil horns to this tiny hamlet...

















There's community here if I stop and chill the fuck out and realize it. Its healthy and active and funny too. Don't let me bitch about not having what I need. For the first time I think I only have what I need. Its the things I want that feel so far away, but that's a simple choice away now isn't it?

S.