2. Put sunscreen on because you WILL burn. However, if you like the idea of getting skincancer or rad tanlines, then please skip to step 3.
3. Wear your helmet. Just because you’re in Europe and don’t wear a helmet, it doesn’t automatically make you ‘Euro’. Much thought and dedication goes into the making of a Euro Cyclist (see rules here) and therefore you just look like an idiot wannabe.
4. When you’re 10kg over race weight don’t expect to be able to climb well. You have obviously been training for the descents, not the uphill. So stop kidding yourself.
5. When the old Italian man riding with you asks if you want to go the flat or the steep way home, always choose the flat. Believe me, after experiencing the ‘flat’ way, riddled with the repetition of the word ‘Dura’– you’ll be thanking your lucky stars that you didn’t inflict what could have been the ‘steep’ way on yourself.
6. Don’t laugh at the man with the compact chain ring, because right about now you’ll be wishing you had one too.
7. When riding up hill, don’t look up the road. Believe me, its best you don’t know what’s coming. DO however, enjoy the view on your way up – it takes your mind off the burning ;)
8. Hills in Italy aren’t like those in Holland. They are about as steep as your driveway, but go on for about 10-30km; So don’t feel the need to ride hard for the first 100m = bad idea.
9. Climb the steepest hill all day – the one to your house in the hills (footage to come) and collapse on the couch with your nice cold bottle of San Pellegrino.
10. Enjoy yourself, because you’re bloody lucky to be there. And smile, because nothing feels better than a hard day in the saddle :)
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