Bella Italia

By Team Welwyn's roving European reporter, Nick Warren. Note, my TW kit was in the wash the day we took these photos!

It's worth traveling to Italy for the coffee alone. It still amazes me how a crappy service station on the Austostrada serves a better espresso than every cafe in Salzburg.

But in addition to kick-ass coffee, the country has some great roads for cycling especially the Chianti region of Tuscany where I enjoyed a few days of riding with my friend Mark in between baby duties, eating amazing food and lying by the pool.






Without wishing to gush to much, the cycling was some of the most pleasant I have ever experienced. Smooth roads, winding hills with steady gradients and plenty of views made the rides extremely memorable.

Feeling inspired by stage seven of this year's Giro d'Italia when the peloton blasted across filthy dirt tracks - known locally as Strade Bianche - we included some of these back roads in our routes. To be honest, they weren't that bad. A bit rutted in places it was tricky going up steeper hills when the back wheel occasionally slipped, and dodgy on the descents where skinny tyres offer minimal grip.


And obviously the coffee stops were perfect - you just can't beat an Italian 1€ espresso.



Here are the routes we took:

Team Welwyn Go Riders kitted out

Team Welwyn's Go Ride sessions are underway and the kids have been kitted out in their new gear.

The sessions are for youth riders aged 5 years upwards and take place every Thursday evening at The Sele School, Welwyn Road, Hertford from 7.00 - 8.00pm.

Cost is £1.00 per rider, per week and you don't have to be a Team Welwyn member to take part, although we welcome new members of all ages and at very reasonable prices! Riders need a mountain bike or BMX in good working order and a hard shell helmet.

Phil mows down the field at Ispwich grass track

Phil Lisher picked up a couple of tidy results at the Ipswich grass track meet on June 12, winning the 800m and coming second in the 8km.

A few extra pictures courtesy East Anglia Daily Times:

St. Andrew's Summer Fete Grass Track Meeting Cancelled

The organiser of the St. Andrew's Summer Fete has been taken ill and this has forced the cancellation of both the Fete and the popular Team Welwyn Grass Track promotion that has formed part of the Fete activities for the past several years. We wish the Fete organiser a speedy recovery.

Grass Track aficionados who particularly love a short, tight, track that requires really good bike handling skills, can rest assured - we'll be back!

Team Welwyn Go Ride

Back for the third great year, Team Welwyn Go Ride sessions for youth riders aged 5 years upwards take place every Thursday evening at The Sele School, Welwyn Road, Hertford from 7.00 - 8.00pm.

Cost is £1.00 per rider, per week and you don't have to be a Team Welwyn member to take part, although we welcome new members of all ages and at very reasonable prices! Riders need a mountain bike or BMX in good working order and a hard shell helmet.

Other than that, turn up and ride, no need to book, parent or carer sign on needed at your first session. Great for fun, great for fitness and great for bike riding skills, we look forward to welcoming you to your first Go Ride session.