All I can say is WOW!!!! (see below) Richard Rose (Toledo, Ohio) now a little depressed!
>
> This is easy! Back in 1985, I wanted to go to watch the World
Championships
> on the Montello, just outside of Bassano del Grappa (Treviso) in Italy. I
> flew to Amsterdam and then proceeded to ride down through the Netherlands,
> Belgium, Luxembourg ( I purposely went to the highest point in all three
> countries, not that that is saying much), France, Germany, Switzerland
(with
> a side trip to Liechtenstein), Austria (passing over the Arlberg and
Brenner
> passes) to Italy. Once I arrived in Treviso, I made side trips to Pula in
> Yugoslavia (over the worst 'improved' roads ever encountered in my life),
to
> Venice and to the Croce D'aune and Gavia passes. On the rides to these two
> passes, I left my gear behind and met a few pros out training. I tried to
> keep with them for as long as I could... aarrgh! At least they had a good
> time fooling around with the wannabe racer on the bike with mudguards and
> racks.
>
> On the return trip, I rode through Lombardy to the lake district (Garda,
> Iseo, Maggiore...) and in one particular stage rode 270 km (close to 170
> miles) from Como to a campground just beyond Aosta. For those that know
the
> area, they will be aware that at least the last 50 km of this ride are all
> uphill. I then passed through the Gran San Bernardo pass into Switzerland.
> The pass itself is over 2500 meters above sea level but required over 8000
> feet of altitude gain in less than 24 hours to be reached and this was on
a
> day with over 95°F weather. From there I rode the southern shore of Lac
> Léman and effectively rode the stage from this year's tour into Bourg en
> Bresse before heading North to Paris from where I flew home. All told, I
> rode just shy of 4000 km in 22 days including watching some track racing
and
> the wonderful win of Joop Zoetemelk at the World's.
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ
>
> PS: the ride was made on a home-made frame with 13-23 block and 42/52
> chainrings.
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.380 / Virus Database: 213 - Release Date: 24/07/02