Finally the day has come, are not available at work, the sun came out after more than a month of rain and the bike new paws in the garage to go for a ride (yeah, because it is the paws that bike, not me ...).
I lose part of the morning to figure out how to mount the tank bag, crazy, I have all the bags in the world but I have yet to mount the brackets, then this tank is plastic and magnets, bags not keep! In the end I can and I'm ready to go, destination Lake of Mont Cenis, one of my favorite roads.
Parto, the heat is already unbearable and they are only 11.30, who knows what will become in the afternoon, but as I go into the mountains (I think to me and me), I lie in the sun A little bit, I and two photos of the day is done ... relaxing and out of this world and the problems which seem to me recently targeted.
Arrival at Susa, a town which I attended for perhaps too long, instead of going directly to the Mont Cenis decide to do some running in the tires, it seems that the previous owner just did not want to use them if not on the highway, and decide for the curves of Gravesend, the place I know of that comes closest to keeping a track (and many unconscious on Saturday and Sunday shows that they know too). Convinced to take advantage of the tires to 100 percent (as is an enduro, which ever it takes to bend?) to start a ride, but to my surprise, the bike has tires that have more than me (a lot). I decide not to overdo it, and I head towards the Mont Cenis (SS 25), but to my surprise I find a sign ban on driving, without too many comments, only the ban on driving on my favorite state! The day starts wrong ... my plans are already in smoke.
are here now, the only alternative is to go Ulzio ... which I do very calmly and without overdoing it, my morale is not the best now, I do not see how the day will change fold ... have been around only makes Sahara is a warm and on a road I do not like and I never liked it, but as always I try to stay positive ...
Ulzio Stop in, coffee and pit-stop and decide to go on a piece, then, is my first outing after years in solitary, a little bit of me time I can also take . I decide to get to Montgenevre ...
Surprise at Montgenevre everything has changed, no longer passes through the village, I was stopping to turn around, instead of a tunnel entrance that leads beyond me up area .. . Not bad, not bad, there should be a road over the Montgenevre, I decided to get to Briancon and maybe go back to Bardonecchia, I know that there is a way but do not know where to get it ... find something ... I also spend
Briancon, I'm not going to stop in town, I stop at a roundabout where there are two guys with a Guzzi (350?) Browsing the map. I ask where is the road that leads to Bardonecchia and I say "It 's on, there is a sign for Valle Stretta, take that and go to be sure, we do too, do not go back to the Mont Cenis you can because it is closed "
What, I trust, have the map, they seem knowledgeable in the area, and go ahead! The road continues, if no signs I see, but the ride is pleasant, I do a leg to follow a GS1200 laden, and I remain impressed by the fact that for me is not easy to keep up with him. Okay, it's my first release, but I was a GS a quiet move more ... and instead ... I am surprised.
The road continues, and losing all hope to turn to Bardonecchia, go ahead ...
A road sign, or rather two, attract my attention: "Col de Lautaret", "Col du Galibier ... I think there are close to the steps you've always dreamed of and I can not do, will make cold will be far, not on my way ... and but no! The road was just one of the Galibier, climbing and climbing, following the first-Guzzi, the streets still surrounded by snow at the top, at 2625 m. above sea level, a paradise! ! !
Day
exceptional road fantastic and amazing bike, and now I am happy the day he took the "fold" right ... : D
Like other major peaks, this is very popular with cyclists
just a problem I do not know how to get back in Italy! One guy said to me, I must go on, follow Modane, and then taken to Lansleburg Mont Cenis, says that is not so much a problem because the bikes can go ... I trust him too, I hope to get better
I place myself in the saddle, get off the Galibier, do the Telegraph, I take direction Modane ... how nice run in France, the roads are well-maintained and clean, there are infrequent but the police are reported to be arriving in the face ... along the highway leading to the Frejus, the state seems a highway is so wide and smooth.
Arrived Lansleburg I am in front of a sign where it says that access is interrupted due in Italy broken road (forgive my loose translation from French). I decide to go anyway, and even convinced two Scottish guys to follow me, they stopped in front of the sign thinking of going back to the Frejus, but I reassured them by saying that it could pass.
I go to the Lake of Mont Cenis, on the contrary there is a surreal landscape of the Galibier, there are low clouds, fog and almost cold, but the most incredible thing is the road & # 233; totally deserted, there is no one! Well, almost empty, having regard to the tranquility of a groundhog decides to cross the road just as I'm passing, we scared them both (and especially thank San Brembo), but both happily continue our tour.
the former French border I'm back in front and blocked the road with other bikers, this time the Germans, who do not know what to do. A They were told that the road is impassable and come back, I decided to go and go and see.
After 3 km the road blocked again, and pass the obstacle I am facing the river of sheep that are going up to the Mont Cenis, I can only stop and wait.
went on, finally arriving in Bar Cenisio, site of the landslide ... and discover that you can not go! During the day, the riders have gone a little too far, and the police have decided to remedy by closing the small passage that had been created. And now? Some say to turn back, who they say take a dirt road with my bike so that I can, who says (with common sense) that you just wait, sooner or later they're putting in place Operario the way they will go and then there will be no more problems. And meanwhile there's the Scots who trusted me.
Wait, I speak with the workers and they tell me clearly that they are leaving and that after we pass, their problem is they can not work while the bikes pass him on the head as he's wrong?
After a while they go, move the log that blocked the road and get a group of bikers who find the work already done, lucky them. Somehow it goes, whoever has the enduro is certainly an advantage, but eventually all the bikes can get through, we can finally go back to Italy (especially not having to go back and take the Frejus or revise from Briancon.
I'm going home which are now 8 o'clock, time to watch the match of the Europeans who unfortunately lost on penalties, but it was definitely a beautiful day ... : D
Here is the map of the tour, with arrival and departure from Susa, for a total of 209 Km
Considerations on the bike after the first baby walker? And 'comfortable but not calm, I think the wheel tire 21 on the road very twisty, will likely need to tweak my driving style and remember that when entering the turns with the front brake is challenging enough with this bike. Consumption reasonable, I did practically a full 300 miles, and not going for a walk, so I can not complain, as I absolutely can not complain of engine performance, exceptional.
negative points that I found, and that everyone is familiar with the excessive heat it generates, and delivery is not too soft bottom, which helps riders with little experience.
