Blog Archive

My pilgrimages, or pellegrinaggi, to Rome have been not just a physical challenge, but a spiritual journey as well. I've cycled from Lecco to Rome, Italy—a 450-mile trip—four times so far. The first time, I was just 15 years old, cycling with my father, brother, and some friends from my small town of Castello di Brianza in northern Italy. We were cycling to Rome for the Jubilee in 2000, and we brought a plaque with us to gift to the Pope. The 2000 trip was also the only time that I returned to Lecco from Rome by bicycle.

Cyclists in Rome - Bike It Bellagio

Cyclists in Rome - Bike It Bellagio

Cyclists in Rome - Bike It Bellagio

For my second trip in 2011, we brought a stone as a gift, a donation or dono, which we took turns carrying in the rear pockets of our jerseys. This stone had been collected by a friend of ours on top of the Pizzo Stella, a mountain that represents Don Guanella, a priest who grew up nearby. That year we were going to Rome for the sanctification of Don Guanella. It was my first of three pilgrimages to Rome with Don Agostino, my priest.

cycling from Lecco to Rome - Bike It Bellagio

cycling from Lecco to Rome - Bike It Bellagio

My third and fourth cycling pilgrimages from Lecco to Rome were in 2015 and 2016, when I was also accompanied by Casey. This October, I am making another pilgrimage, but this time I will start in Rome and cycle 530 miles, over six days, to the Madonna del Ghisallo here in the Lake Como region in northern Italy. I will again be accompanied by my wife, Casey, as well as a group of Americans. Famous places such as the Madonna del Ghisallo in the Lake Como area are well-known because of their sacredness. Nearly 70 years ago, Pope Pio XII proclaimed the Madonna del Ghisallo as the patron saint of cyclists. In 1949 a relay was held in which a group of cyclists rode with a large bronze torch from Rome to the Ghisallo Cycling Sanctuary. The final leg of the relay was ridden by the famous Italian cyclists Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Today that same torch is still lit in the center of the chapel in remembrance of the “fallen” cyclists and as a testimony of faith to the living cyclists.

Cyclists in Rome - Bike It Bellagio

Each Rome cycling trip has allowed me to meet and build friendships with other cyclists, and with each trip I have grown as a cyclist. From first being brought along at 15 years old as a complete newbie to the sport, to now leading a group of non-Italian cyclists on this trip, shows how much this experience has shaped me personally and spiritually and remained a part of my cycling lifestyle.

This six-day, 530-mile trek from Rome to the Madonna del Ghisallo above Bellagio requires motivation. It is also an opportunity for devoted cyclists to bring a dono to Rome where it can be blessed before carrying it by bike and gifting it to the Madonna del Ghisallo. This will be an amazing trip full of significance, comraderie, exploration, self-reflection, and of course cultural and gastronomical appreciation. If you are interested in joining us for this trip, please contact us. Trip details: Pellegrinaggio Roma-Ghisallo 2018

English: Italians are often described as “passionate” people. It’s not surprising, given the lengthy history and passion for the sport of cycling in Italy, that a true vocabulary of terms and expressions has been created over time. We have some cycling slang to share with you, attempting to translate the words and expressions as best we can. If you have some Italian cycling slang to add to our list, please share them with us. And we expect to hear you use some next time you ride with us and our team!

Italian: Spesso gli italiani sono descritti come un popolo "passionale". Non c’e’ da sorprendersi quindi, vista la grande storia e passione di questo paese per il ciclismo, che in Italia si sia creato col tempo un vero e proprio “vocabolario” di termini ed espressioni utilizzate nel mondo del ciclismo. ne abbiamo raccolte alcune e abbiamo provato a tradurre e a spiegarle….anche se sicuramente per esprimere tutta la loro carica emotiva bisogna impararle in lingua originale! Partiamo con "solo" 25 termini, siete liberi di impararli e aggiungerne altri!

A Tutta!

andare al massimo delle proprie possibilita’ (to ride as fast as you can ... an all out sprint).

Gambe legnose

faticare molto, non essere in forma (to have legs of “wood,” you’re not in shape and you get tired easily).

Bagnomaria

viene utilizzato per definire l’atteggiamento del gruppo rispetto al fuggitivo/i tenendo controllato il ritardo per permettere un facile recupero prima del termine della tappa. (literally means double boiler) *This term is used to describe the behavior of the peloton after there’s a breakaway, controlling the gap so they can catch the rider/riders before the end of the stage/race.

Essere un diesel

non andare mai in crisi, avere una grande resistenza (to be a ‘diesel’ engine, you never bonk and have great endurance).

Finire la benzina

andare in crisi di fame (to run out of gas, you have a hunger crisis).

Scoppiare

andare in improvvisa difficolta' e crisi (to “bonk,” you all of a sudden can’t ride any further due to fatigue and hunger).

Piantato

calare drasticamente l’andatura in salita (you can no longer keep the pace during a climb, you plant yourself right where you are).

Mangia e bevi

sezione di percorso collinare (literally meaning “eat and drink”, it signifies a rolling hills section along a route).

Frullare

pedalare agilissimo, fa parte del soprannome attuale di Froome! Frullatore-Froome! (spinning with an extremely high cadence, this is actually the nickname that Italians have given to Froome).

Non sento la catena

Sono cosi forte e in forma che non capisco nemmeno di pedalare! (spesso detto in modo scherzoso). *Often used jokingly, it literally translates to “I can’t feel the chain,” meaning “I’m so strong that I can’t even feel myself pedaling!”

Essere al gancio

faticare estremamente per non staccarsi dai rivali (using all your might to not get dropped by the group, you're on the edge!).

Stare a ruota OR in scia

pedalare dietro a qualcuno (sucking on one’s wheel or staying well in the paceline).

Fare il buco

perdere la ruota del corridore davanti e costringere chi sta dietro a chiudere il buco! (literally to create a gap, to drop someone, when the rider behind you can no longer keep on your wheel and it’s up to whoever is behind him or her to make up the difference and close the gap!).

Succhiareuote

ciclista CHE NON TIRA MAI! (wheelsucker, a cyclist that NEVER pulls).

Limare

pedalare cosi vicino alla ruota posteriore degli avversari per sprecare meno energie possibili (cycling right on the wheel in front of you to waste as little energy as possible).

Tirare

stare davanti al gruppo (to pull/lead the group).

Fare una menata

aumentare drasticamente il ritmo per un tratto piu' o meno lungo (to drastically pick up the speed for a long section, often with the intention of trying to drop some group members … or encouraging them to work hard!).

Stare nella pancia del gruppo

pedalare in posizione centrale, in mezzo al gruppo (to stay in the ‘stomach’ of the group, ride in a central position, in the middle of the pack).

Essere in fuga

to be leading the breakaway.

Fuga bidone

fuga inaspettata che arriva vittoriosamente al traguardo con diversi minuti di vantaggio sul gruppo (a suprise breakaway that takes home the win with a few minutes over the peloton).

Il Velocista

ciclista forte in volata (a strong cyclist in the final sprint).

Lo scalatore

ciclista forte in salita (a strong climber).

Il passista

ciclista in grado di mantenere un ritmo medio alto per lungo tempo, specie in pianura (A cyclist that’s able to maintain a medium-high rhythm for a long period of time, especially in the flat sections).

Il Cronomen

traduzione assurda dall’inglese! ciclista forte nelle prove a cronometro (this is an absurd translation example, as it comes from English, but essentially it’s a cyclist who does well in time trials).

Essere un paracarro

corridore particolarmente scarso (a particularly weak racer).

Finishing Cycling Race - Bike It Bellagio