[caption id="attachment_7693" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Mia Cugina, Fabio 2 and Me"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140038.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7693" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140038-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

The day before I left for Italy, my colleague, Allyson, met at the water cooler and talked about my upcoming trip.  Allyson was especially curious about the bicycle tour portion of my Italian adventure.  She asked me if I had been training.

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"Well...you know...I work out.  I'm fit.  I've taken 3 spin classes to reacquaint myself with a bike."

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Allyson skipped to the next logical question:  "When was the last time you were on a real bike?  One that requires balance, shifting gears, etc."

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Damn!  I forgot about those minor details.  Oopsie!  It was too late now.

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I stopped to think about the last time I mounted a real bike.  I couldn't remember for certain.

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"Well...ummm...25 years ago?  When I was in high school? No, wait!!!!  I rode a bike to campus when I was in grad school!  20 years ago!!!"

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Allyson burst out laughing.

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I defended myself with a sheepish "Doesn't the saying tell us that it's just like getting back on a bike?!?!  How difficult can this be?  The trip is ranked easy to moderate!  Spin class is much harder than a leisurely bike ride!"

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Allyson attempted to comfort me with an unconvincing "I'm sure you'll be fine.  Can't wait to hear all about it!"

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**********

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On Day 353, my cousins and I met with our tour group and leaders for the first time.  I was pleased to learn that we had not one, but two Italian men as our tour leaders.  Benissimo!

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To protect the identities of these incredibly talented and professional leaders, I will herein refer to them as Fabio 1 and Fabio 2.

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I knew that it was going to be an anything-but-boring trip when Fabio 1, upon seeing my <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/09/05/day-341-luggage-fashionista/" target="_blank">new luggage</a></strong>, gestured wildly while exclaiming, "Michelle!!!  This looks just like Italian luggage!  Che bella!"

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All 19 of us boarded the bus and headed out from Firenze to the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany.

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Since the trip was approximately 90 minutes, we stopped half-way in for a food/cappuccino stop.  Italians need to refuel with caffeine and calories often.  Lucky for me, I grew up in an equally food-obsessed Portuguese family, so it took me exactly 0 seconds to adjust this aspect of the Italian lifestyle.

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[caption id="attachment_7692" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Pit stop at the autogrill"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140022.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7692" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140022-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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An "autogrill" is a roadside gas station/food mart in Italy.  Sort of like a Circle K in the States.  Except imagine a Circle K serving homemade gelato, high quality espresso, gourmet sandwiches and pastries, and a menu of hot pasta dishes.  Lining the walls, you won't see Doritos and candy for sale, but artisan pastas, breads, olive oil and of course, wine.

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[caption id="attachment_7688" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="No food on the bus! But what if you&#39;re Word&#39;s Slowest Eater and didn&#39;t finish your pastry in the autogrill?!?!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140023.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7688" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140023-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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45 minutes later, we arrived at the <strong><a href="http://www.agrihotel-elisabetta.it/elisabetta/english/index.html" target="_blank">Agrihotel Elisabetta</a></strong>.

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Agriturismo is huge

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After checking into our rustically charming rooms, our leaders summoned us to the veranda for an orientation and a cycling warm-up.  YES!  This is where I would get back on the bike, find my balance, learn how to shift gears, etc.

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NOT!  You see, the other people on this tour actually <em>trained</em> for it.  They didn't need remedial instruction.

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But that's o.k.  I was the baby in this group.  With a few 50-something exceptions (including my cousins), this tour group consisted of peeps my parents' age.  On my last day as a 41 year-old, I was repeatedly called "kid".  Isn't that the best 40-something birthday present ever?!?!

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The leaders directed us to choose a helmet for the duration of our tour.  I picked my Lucky Number 11.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140035.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7683" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/P9140035-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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We then made our way to the parking lot for an 8 mile test run on our bikes.

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I pulled Fabio 2 aside.  "Listen.  I need Cycling 101.  I haven't been on a bike in 2o years.  What the heck to I do with these gears?"

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He looked puzzled, and then patiently walked me through the gears.  Basically, I was not to touch the gears on the left, and fiddle- faddle around with the ones on the right until I was cycling easily.  Piece of cake!

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What I forgot to ask for in my Cycling One-on-One was how to dismount without nearly falling into traffic.  You see, to get to those Tuscan hills, one must navigate through traffic just like anywhere else.  Were you expecting a completely pastoral setting?  I was.  Oops again!

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At the end.

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I sheepishly explained to Claudio, "listen.

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"You stay with me tomorrow."

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o.k.

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had to learn how to dismount. nearly fell into traffic.

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Luckily, there was plenty of vino to ease my nerves after the ride.