Unforeseen Triumph

By Lynn Fernando 01/07 (tour guest)

Editorial Note: Interested in a Granfondo but scared to try it? You are not alone. Even experienced recreational riders and seasoned alpine tourists tremble at the idea of mixing it up with thousands of riders and racers. But Italian Granfondos are different, and we can guide you towards your personal best. Let the vigorous competitors jump to the front. The rest of us find our fear of the unknown replaced by exhilaration, as this testimonial recounts:

The choice to go to Italy for cycling was undoubtedly an obvious one for my husband and me. Who wouldn’t want to ride through Tuscany’s rolling hills painted with aromatic vineyards and speckled with picturesque stone houses encased by majestic cypress trees? This scenic picture seemed to be the epitome of Italy, and it was exactly what I was looking forward to on my first trip to Italia. But my husband had other ideas in mind. He wanted more. He needed more. What could be more? To my surprise, I found Granfondo Cycling Tours, and realized he (we) could partake in a ‘Granfondo’ in the legendary Dolomite region of Italy. But what’s a Granfondo? Well, it’s a huge event in Italy. It’s an organized cycling event for anyone who would like to see what it’s like to race in the Giro d’ Italia or ride like the pro’s. The longest course was 130 miles long with more than 15,000 ft of climbing.... I succeeded in finding him the ultimate cycling tour and one that could fulfill his cycling dream! Since I had only begun cycling a little over a year ago, I, on the other hand, was oblivious to what I was getting myself into.

Arriving at the start of the Granfondo Campagnolo was jaw dropping. Over four thousand cyclists jam-packed into both sides of the street; women on one side, men on the other. Even having my two cohorts, Carrie and Julie, alongside of me was no comfort. All I could think about was the advice I had received all morning; don’t get too close, look ahead, don’t follow the person in front of you, be careful when the road narrows. Straddling my bike, I realized the impossibility of clipping in as my bike was already wedged between tires in an awkward position. The music bellowing out of the speakers filled my head, and excited all the other cyclists, who seemed to be revving their engines. I was shaking. I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to throw up! I didn’t even hear the start but I knew it was time when the Italian women around me cheered in Italian and clipped in. Here we go. Actually, away they went! I graciously let anyone who wanted to go around me go! Whew! I took my first sigh of relief as I glided through the single lane and the elephant sitting on my shoulders drifted away!

My senses were in overload as I took in every bit of this Granfondo experience. I was in awe as countless mini pelotons hummed and whisked by me in fluid rhythms that disappeared all too quickly. The melodic Italian language sang out all around me in conversations that kept me wondering what stories were being shared as foreign riders rode alongside me. The views above and below were magnificent and breathtaking as I twisted and turned onto endless switchbacks, ascending me into the heavens. If my heart wasn’t beating from the brutal effort needed to conquer these climbs, then it certainly would be from the inescapable grandeur that engulfed me. The sun scorched my back through my sweat-filled jersey, only to have the breeze of the descents temporarily cool me off. When the dolomites called on me again and again to see if I would surrender, I refused to wave my white flag that easily. Five and a half hours later, I pedaled my last strokes up the cobblestone street as I finished the short course of 58.6 miles and 5,955 ft, my first Granfondo. Confused and utterly fatigued, I heard David call my name. He was the youngest rider in our group and was the first to finish, despite riding the medium course of 70 miles and 9,000 ft of climbing. David proved with his performance that he was just as good at cycling as he was at cross country! We rode to a nearby café where we reminisced about our race, shared a snack and waited for the rest of our group to finish.

The remaining rides of the tour would be icing on the cake. And they were. For my last ride in Italy, Carrie and I rode the Gavia together, making it a ‘girls’ ride where we celebrated our chilled, rainy victory with the best cup of hot chocolate and cream I’ve ever had! The next day, the two of us drove the support van up the Gavia, taking in all the sights again, but from a much different view. I hung out the passenger window whistling and yelling out words of encouragement while the rest of the gang peddled their way up “one of the most beautiful passes in Italy”. I truly had seen the best of both worlds.

My first trip to Italy was an unforgettable experience and like many firsts, it will be impossible to duplicate. When I think of my greatest accomplishment, I will always know it was the Granfondo Campagnolo. When I think of my most memorable experience, I will remember the vacation I had in Italy with Carrie and Tobias and the other members of our group. Forget the numbers that represent mileage or altitude. I came home with much more than facts and figures on paper. I had a renewed outlook of myself. What I learned about myself in Italy was that I conquered my fears and doubts about myself and found determination and will power I didn’t know I had. I proved to myself that I can do whatever I set my mind out to do. I can say without a doubt that I eagerly look forward to my next Granfondo and all that it has in store for me.

Ciao Italia, until we meet again.

Editorial Note: Granfondo Cycling Tours has ridden across Italy with the entire spectrum of bicyclist. We’ve toured with experienced racers and with riders exhibiting only one year of experience. We have had riders who came for the touring, planning to skip the Granfondo… only to find themselves infected by the enthusiasm and “racing” for the first time… in Italy! The results are very positive across all rider types. As the article above shows, our knowledge of Italy, the people, roads and culture, and our preparation for the challenges you seek out, will make it a “winning experience” whether its you’re first or your 101st event.

When imagining a dream wedding in Italy you picture a nice villa, an ancient church, and of course romance. Now picture a grand castle fit for Cinderella from the 15th century with lush green gardens, ivy covered walls, and complete with towers and turrets. This magnificent jewel surmounts a hill overlooking a crystal blue lake. Combine this picture with a cycling tour and what do you get? An unmatchable fairytale wedding made complete with bicycle wheel arches, wedding livery of matching jerseys, and a water bottle salute.

Last year Granfondo Cycling Tours was asked by a couple if they could be married while on a tour from Florence to Rome. This was a first to us and we accepted the challenge. Now don’t get me wrong: I have planned weddings before. Tobias and I were married 14 years ago and I have helped with 3 or 4 weddings since. However I’ve never been asked to set up an entire wedding in another country. Kellyanne and Brian didn’t really set any requirements, but they thought a Christian wedding in an old church would be nice. This was my starting place to learn about the complexity of marriage in Italy.

It turns out that it is almost impossible to get married in a church in Italy unless you happen to be Roman Catholic and have a government certified interpreter in tow, so a church wedding was out. My next try was for an outdoor wedding, but I was told that the only way for this couple to be officially married in Italy was a “civil wedding” in a town hall. There are some beautiful town halls in Italy so we proceeded in this direction. The bride and groom had to make a trip to the Italian Embassy in the USA and obtain letters of permission and signatures. Kellyanne even had a friend in the Italian government helping out with arranging the town hall and setting up appointments with the needed officials in Florence. Everything looked as if it were going to work out until the atto notorio office (notary) in Florence told Kellyanne that they would only sign the papers on Tuesday and Thursday. The couple had already purchased unchangeable tickets to arrive on Friday, and we were starting our group cycling tour that Sunday, making our way to Rome by bicycle. At this point -- only a couple of weeks from the tour start -- it seemed we were out of options. Their marriage would not occur in Italy.

The next day I was cleaning out my closet in preparation for the trip, and came upon an object of great personal nostalgia and the fondest of memories, my wedding dress. I am a very sentimental person, a great fan of marriage, and not one who easily backs down from a challenge. I headed back to the office and renewed my efforts for wedded bliss with a new idea in mind. I had read somewhere during my Italian research that you could bring your own pastor with you to perform your marriage. We couldn’t carry a pastor on our bikes, but maybe I could find one that was already there. After many emails and phone calls I located Pastor Gray Williams of La Scuola Biblica di Firenze. After interviewing the bride and groom by phone he agreed to marry them. A major hurdle overcome! Now we needed to coordinate a location and a day on the tour. We decided that our day on Lake Bracciano just north of Rome would be the best. We thought we could have an afternoon wedding on the shores of the lake. Perhaps the local landowner would allow the wedding in the near by vineyard.

A few days before the group arrived, Tobias and I went to Lake Bracciano to find the spot. Walking along the lake I kept looking up to the enchanting Odescalchi castle on the near by hill and thinking to myself, “THAT is the place, wow wouldn’t that be fantastic.” But with only a week until the wedding, and working with a modest budget, I dismissed the idea as fantasy. It was time for us to head back to Florence, so we went back to our hotel to wrap up some details. Again I saw the castle, this time on a promotional brochure with a phone number… and a few words about weddings. There’s no hurt in trying, so we called the castle. We managed to talk the staff into staying through the lunch hour so that we could see the castle. We loved the castle but the caretakers could not confirm that we could use the castle. In fact, they could not even quote a price until they asked permission from the owner: the Princess Odescalchi!

Even in Italy, an enchanted land, available castles are scarce. Normally the castle is rented out by the day for elite weddings, for a price around 50,000 Euro. Many famous people have been married at Castello Odescalchi including Martin Scorsese. Their most recent knot was tied between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. We explained that the couple was trying to have a somewhat spontaneous casual wedding and that we would really appreciate it if we could use the castle for an hour. The princess and I must share the same sentiments on marriage, because a few days later she gave us permission to use the castle for one hour. She also offered to provide us with an English speaking guide for a tour of the castle after the ceremony. And to complete the fairy tale, she insisted upon a minimal fraction of the going rate. So at last we knew we were going to have the wedding!

While cycling through Tuscany and Umbria all the details came together. The bride, after admiring her bike jersey tan in the mirror while thinking of her strapless dress, decided it would be fitting to have a cycling themed wedding. Imagine our humor and delight as she requested me to be her matron of honor, and asked the whole group to dress in their Granfondo gear. The timeless romantic beauty of Italy embraced the new wedding format, which included a processional arch made out of bike wheels, and wedding fountains supplied by shooting water into the air with our Granfondo bottles.

Now what to do for music? The theme song for this tour group had become “Volare,” instigated by Dr. Robert Kahan, who serenaded us every time he passed us on his bike or in the support van. “Volare” became the natural choice for the wedding. Everyone took part in learning the song, and practicing the pronunciation of the words with our guide Massimo. I love the song, but I remembered the couple’s original request for a Christian wedding, and thought the entrance of the bride needed something more. I remembered hearing one of our tour guests, Patti Leahy, singing Ave Maria. I asked her if she would be willing to sing this beautiful hymn in the wedding. She graciously agreed to sing as a duet with her husband Dr. Michael Leahy. The chosen day was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The bride arrived in her motor dawn cycling carriage (also known as our tour van) to the castle gardens, her guests all attired in their finest cycling gear. At the queue of Ave Maria the wedding started. The bride was walked down the aisle by Dr. Kahan who had become like the “God Father” of our group. Even though the wedding had a relaxed bicycle theme, Kellyanne and Brian had a wonderfully reverent ceremony which led to many joyful tears all around. Pastor Gary did a fantastic job, and we are very thankful that he could make this day possible for Kellyanne and Brian. After pronouncing the couple man and wife they walked though the wheel arches with all singing “Volare” and shooting water in the air….the castle staff must have thought we were crazy!

We finished the day with our castle tour and a dinner reception on the lake. The challenges of planning this wedding, its delightful outcome, the enthusiastic participation by our fellow riders, all made possible through magical intervention by the princess, show that Italy is a land where fairytales come true! Even without a fairytale wedding in an enchanted castle, this bicycle tour from Florence to Rome was a fabulous ride. We cycled through historical towns and national parklands of great beauty. Our stay in Rome exceeded all expectations. But those are Italian tales for another time!

- Carrie

The ART of Healing Active Release Technique, a new trend in body repair, helps injured athletes get back in action fast. By: Stephen A. Black, DSc, PT, ATC/L, NSCA-CPT

When you're a veteran of 15 centuries and 20 stage races, and multiple triathlons running through discomfort is familiar territory. So when Rebecca 43, of Boulder, CO developed a painful tightness in her glutes, she didn't stop training--even when her cadence slowed, her knees started to hurt, and her right leg felt numb. New shoes, bike fit and orthotics didn't help, nor did six months of physical therapy. Desperate to get better, Rebecca turned to Steve Black, an Active Release Techniques (ART) provider. ART is a rigorous and interactive form of therapy in which a practitioner applies pressure to the affected area while moving the surrounding muscles through a full range of motion. Rebecca's breakthrough came when she was introduced to ART. The hand on technique searches the muscles for "adhesions"--places where injury, repetitive motion, and inflammation has left dense, tight scar tissue. Then pressure is applied into the scar tissue, and along it in one direction as the patient is instructed to move through a prescribed set of motions. The adhesions are “released” and the problem is solved. Typically 4-6 treatments are necessary with remedial stretching, strengthening and exercises prescribed. Rebecca’s case was more chronic so 10 sessions were necessary to return her to competition. A controlled, periodized training program with strict adherence is a requisite for all in order to completely resolve the initial injury and prevent reoccurrence.

ART is effective in the relief of most muscle, nerve and mechanical dysfunctions. The key is in the biomechanical evaluation which reveals the treatment. Problems such as plantar fasciitis, carpel tunnel, piriformis syndrome and other cycling related over-use and acute injuries can be effectively treated with ART.

More Facts on ART: ART changes the basic understanding of soft tissue injuries, giving the doctor the insight necessary to identify and correct the root cause of a problem. For example, in cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, the doctor may check for injury along the entire length of the nerve, including the forearm, arm, and neck. This allows for identification and treatment of all involved areas, often resulting in a complete and quick resolution.

When a muscle, tendon or ligament is torn, the healing process involves the creation of scar tissue. This is necessary to connect and bind the torn tissue. Unfortunately, the healing scar tissue often sticks to surrounding structures (think of it as glue) overworking healthy tissue, entrapping nerves, and limiting motion, strength and speed. Scar tissue can also result from overuse. Overuse causes the tissue to increase in tension; this decreased the blood supply and releases free radicals. Free radicals attract the cells that produce scar tissue. This means that poor posture, athletic pursuits, and repeated use can all result in scar tissue.

ART is a hands-on, meaning that treatment is done exclusively with the doctor’s hands. Therefore, there are no surgical complications or unwanted side-effects from medication. In some cases these adjunct therapies maybe necessary but since ART is non-invasive it is worth a try first. If surgical intervention is indicated ART should be undertaken following the surgery to diminish the effects of scarring and restore normal biomechanics.

For further information on ART or to find a practitioner in your area visit www.activerelease.com. There are approximately 4000 ART practitioners world-wide.

For further information on Steve visit his web site at www.clubcoach.net. Steve not only is an ART practitioner, he provides on-line coaching, VO2/Threshold testing with exercise prescription, and lecture and workshop opportunities.