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>new luggage</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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meeting in lobby

bus ride/auto grill

hotel elisibetta

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Orientation:  chose helmet 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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I thought orientation would teach us how to shift gears, etc., but everyone else (parents age) had actually trained for this tour.  I thought an "easy" tour would be just that:  easy.  Isn't spin class harder than a leisurely stroll/ride?

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bill and rhonda thought they would be the senior couple, but no.  I was the baby.  It felt great to be called "kid".  Women who are freaking about turning 40, go on a vbt bke tour

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Oh, yeah.  You don't have to balance in spin class.

And a real bike has shift controls.  on both sides.  what the hell am i supposed to do with those.  It was covered in our orientation.

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I pulled a puzzled Marco aside.  "Listen.  I need Cycling 101.  I haven't been on a bike in 25 years."

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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.