The pleasure of a new bike...

I bought a new bike...not just some old bike, no, it's a really beautiful black and white De Rosa King 3 racing bike in carbon fibre!
I bought it second hand at this bike shop called Conti in Lecco. They have a lot of old/new bikes as the men in this area like their bike to be the latest in fashion and in the newest/lightest materials. So after a year or two on a brand new bike they replace it with something even newer.

When I picked my bike up, a week after having ordered it, it looked so pretty and fast with the white handle-bar tape and the white saddle, black wheels and tires! I couldn't wait to take her to the road.

The day after it was Saturday, sunny and 28 degrees outside, the perfect conditions for an inauguration!
I rode to Menaggio to meet my Love and his cycling friend, they took the boat from Bellagio, a beautiful way to see the lake!
The next day our friend who is the owner of the Mitchumm Cycling Team invited us to do a race in Erba, 20km from Como. This would be my very first race, but I was feeling confident with my feet clicked into some fast pedals, so I joined.
After mistaking the road and being escorted back to the bottom of the climb by the last motor, I started to make my way up to the 12km long track to the top of the Cornizzolo. One of the steepest climbs in the area.
Nearly at the top with my tongue on the floor the guys came see how I was doing and guided me on my last meters to the top. After proudly passing the finish I dived into the pieces of banana, warm tea, cookies and slices of fresh blood orange to reload myself with energy before descending back home. Delicious!! It's a whole new way of enjoying food, the real need for it makes it taste so good!

I have the feeling my next post will be a foody one...

Oh, and I have to tell you all about the garden..it's starting to look pretty now!

My investment in FUN: De Rosa King 3

In cima, view from the Cornizzolo

Opening of the Villa Olmo 'summer exhibition'

Cappuccio in Milano

Pretty notebooks at Spazio Rossana Orlandi,  Milano

Piet Hein Eek at Rossana Orlandi

Fresh violets from the garden

Frangipane apple tart, freshly baked today!

flowerpots in Bellagio

It's starting to feel like summer here in Como and I'm so happy to be able to ride my bike without frozen hands and feet. Last weekend, after my Love came home from a 80 km ride, we cycled up to Bellagio together (another 60 km).
As soon as the sun shows it's face in this pretty little village the tourists start flying in. We sat down for a lemon soda and a piece of pie, as that's always much needed if you've only had breakfast before getting on your bike. I felt like a lucky girl sitting there next to my Love, overlooking the beautiful lake, wearing my new fancy cycling shoes...what else could you want?!
I spotted these nice flowerpots in the centre. They seem to put a lot of effort in keeping Bellagio look attractive, almost unreal pretty.
The next day my Love rode another 110 km while I did the housekeeping and prepared lunch. Which was a good thing, because as soon as he opened the door (when he usually says, 'Hi honey, I'm home..) he said without breath 'FOOD AND WATER'! It's obvious he's training hard for a race he's riding in two weeks.
He said it would be something I could also participate in but I think it's a bit too early for that. I've just started to become fascinated about cycling and I still have to train a lot to be able to ride a race... I'll be at the sideline cheering, Whoohoo!!!

almond cake and capuccio

bar San Remo, Bellagio