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frankenbike
@balmain
Great write up and some lovely pics. I did the ride as well and loved it, in fact my Pearson is propped up alongside your bikes in one of the pics. My first long trail ride and pretty much my first ride on tyres bigger than 25mm outside a few Richmond Park test runs. As you say, pretty easy going most of the time, but I was hopeless on the muddy sections and way out of my depth on the steep rocky bits. No experience in gravel tyres, so just went with what came on the bike. Ditto gearing - 32 at the back had me walking a few times. Live and learn, but terrific fun.
We took about five days as well and by the looks of your pics probably tracked you guys – got caught in the same storm, camped out at Bagno Vignori and went to the food festival. Had no accomodation booked either and it worked out fine, camping spots were easy to find with so many people doing the same. Coolest place I stayed was a Monastery on the Via Francigena about 20km before Siena, I’d have been happy staying another night. There was a food festival going on there as well – definitely not a ride that you’re going to lose weight on.
Fwiw I didn’t do the medical form – wasn’t prepared to pay the £75 and had a busted finger at the time it was required so couldn’t really go to the GP. Expected to have to ride it unofficially, but no one said anything when I collected my starter pack and got the goody bag at the end. Not saying it’s a fool proof strategy but…