Trans Italia 2025 – day 10: the messy middle
The day starts slow and gets even slower riding up and down the seemingly endless local hills. I consider trying to just ride towards the next mountain, so I can get more than 15 minutes of up- or downhill section. At least I make the most adventurous regional...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 9: Basilicata & Potenza
I start my morning by visiting an old roman excavation, Grumentum, a large settlementand archeological center. It isn't open yet, when I come by, but I can still see some of the ruins. Today's main 800 m climb starts from Marsico Nuovo and the first challenge is...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 8
I stary early to escape the heat - the night was very warm - and ride further along the ex-railway, now-cycleway. I pass through a series of short tunnels, in all of which the lights aren't working, and emerge beyond the pass. The last part on the cycleway leads...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 7: Valley Heat
I start riding down the mountains to cross the valley of the Crati river into the Lucanian Appenines. The morning is already warm up over 1000 m elevation and it only gets hotter, as I descend further through Acri and Bisignagno. At noon at the valley bottom, it's 38°...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 6: Parco Nazionale della Sila
I start off a little later than usual and the first few kilometers uphill drag on slow. My first planned stop is the Lago Passante, but its waters are so far below the road that I decide to ride on. Shortly after, I do stop for a late breakfast at a local "Science...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 5:
An uneventful day, really. Lots of up and down, including to only 75 m above sea level. Accordingly, over 3000 m elevation. Busier roads than yesterday, but all around quiet enough. Hot, with less shade than yesterday. Had an early lunch in Serra San Bruno after...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 4: Ciclovia Parchi della Calabria
I start the day early and ride further up into the Appenin mountains. The road is almost empty and is easily comparable in length and intensity to any alpine pass road. From Campo Calabro to Lago Rumina, I already have 23 km and 1200 m elevation done, all before 10...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 3: Dorsale dei Peloritani & Messina
After a quiet night, I start out on the narrow trail that I left the day before. This section is pretty smooth and I can ride it until I the trail widens into a larger road and soon I'm passing through a beautiful forest. Alas, it doesn't last. First the road turns...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 2: In the shadow of Etna
After a cool, but not cold night under the constant rumbling of Etna, I ride down the mountain. First along beautiful pine-covered forest paths, the along small roads until I reach Adrano. Here, I turn north onto a larger road for about 20 km until just after Maletto,...
Trans Italia 2025 – day 1: Mount Etna
I break camp at 7 and wind my way though the outskirts of Catania by 7.30. My goal is to take a quick look at the city centre, then move along to a shopping center outside where I can get both groceries and camping gas. The city is typical of how I've come to know...