Hi Guys, I'm home!

[Fredwina]

Welcome back!

More pics, please?

I love that one. What an interesting bike. Small tires, right?

Pooks, when I saw it, it reminded me of my Bike Friday (about the same size wheesl, and same color frame.)

[Trekhawk]

Glad to hear you had a good holiday. Love the pics. See that is why I want the Amsterdam bike by Electra for Xmas so I cruise around like those ladies.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=11495

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Support hose are the new tights!

[lauraelmore1033]

Ah, welcome back. I am seething with jealousy--but that might have as much to do with the fact that my husband is off in Venice right now, leaving me to languish at home. Granted, he's working his butt off, but...it's Venice! I stayed in the hill country a few years back and it was the best three weeks of my life. I would LOVE to go back. I find myself wondering how Italians can stand to leave and come and live in America. What a fabulous time you must have had! Even without the bike--those hills are a great workout.

[margo49]

Wonderful pix - post more please!

Nice to see the non-technical bikes. Very European. My favourite is the top one - love that curvy frame. And the basket too.

[mimitabby]

i spent two hours this morning making the pasta from my grandfather's home town. What fun! they came out pretty good. Guess we're having pasta for dinner. Instead, my dh went on a bike ride.

but here are some more photos from my trip

[Quillfred]

Ciao Mimi

I join the chorus of "great pics". It must have felt great to get away for a spell. So I'm curious, did you see much cycling in cities or primarily in smaller villages?

Quill --sorting through Mimi's luggage for the new wool Bianchi jersey

[mimitabby]

i spent most of my time in a small Calabrian town where I saw exactly 2 boys on mountain bikes. they labored up a very very steep hill and then about 40 minutes later I saw them coming back down, obviously enjoying the hill thoroughly.
My town is not very conducive to biking, it is practically straight up and down. Even in a brand new rental car, some of the inclines really made me nervous.

While i was near (and in) Milan I saw men dressed up in full roadbike battle gear (probably on fancy bikes) and lots of everyday folks riding commuter bikes.

In Podenzano (where I took all the photos) the predominant bicyclists were women. I went into the bike store there which interestingly enough was full of upper end Bianchis. There were a few lower end bikes there; but it is not clear to me where all these folks were buying their bikes.

Even in the nasty Milan traffic, I saw men and women riding their onespeed bikes. You have to understand that in Italy the attitude towards bicyclists is very different than it is at least in the United States. Bicyclists are grandma and grandpa, not some evil alien creature trying to take over the roads.

[chickwhorips]

gald to see your back home. i love all the pics! looks like you had a great time!

[Xrayted]

Buonasera, mimi! Beautiful pics. I especially love the last one. Wonderful and inspiring architecture. Makes me want to go get a nice little pub table and chairs, sit down with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.

Hey, cameriere!! Vino della caso, por favore!..... Aaaaahh!

[Brandi]

Love the photo's they were so cool. What a neat way to share the people of where you were but by taking photo's of them on their bikes! Thank you so much for sharing!

[BikeMomma]

Mimi --

What a great way to capture the Italian way-of-life!! Great pictures, and wow, those ladies look great on those bikes, don't they?

BTW, you inspired me....
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...783#post143783

Thanks for posting about your trip. Way neato.
~BikeMomma