City: Rome
Country: Italy
KM: 110km
Bike: 3T Exploro
Hours: 5
Best time of the day: Early morning
Best period of the year: All year Round
Elevation: 776m
Favourite stop: Piazza Navona
Route: strava.com/activities/3395401147
The lockdown is over and ‘phase two,’ as they are calling it, has started. It is the first day in which you can go cycling. After months of forced lockdown, in Italy and in the rest of the world, you can finally go out alone to do outdoor sports within the borders of your region. There are many of us who have been waiting for this moment and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to experience the last few hours of peace in a Rome without cars.
At five in the morning the alarm rings when it is still dark outside. Slowly I get out of bed and head to the kitchen, make my coffee and start dressing like I haven’t done for weeks. The usual ritual begins in the dim light of the lamp in the living room. I put on my bib, sports socks, cycling shirt and windproof jacket. I check the battery and GPS track on my device, I fill the water bottles and from a distance I peek at the child who moves in the cot. He must have heard me while I was sipping my coffee. The bike, on the other hand, has been ready for days, oiled and clean, the same as for big occasions. After breakfast, I collect everything I need for the day and get ready to go out. On tiptoe I leave the household still asleep, close the door and put on my bike shoes. Hopefully I haven’t woken anyone up.
At half past five I turn on the front light and jump onto the saddle. The temperature seems good and the first lights of dawn can be seen in the distance. I leave the neighborhood feeling a mixture of happiness and trepidation while a light breeze accompanies me in the first minutes. What will I find before my eyes? Will Rome have changed? Will there be the usual traffic? It’s certainly good to feel free riding my bike again!
I cycle along
