It all began in mid June.  I was sitting in the Denver airport flying home from a race thinking about how I needed a job for the fall to cover racing debts.  Only a couple months later, I am working for Butterfield & Robinson, a biking/hiking tour guide company.  Now in Arezzo, Tuscany, next week I go to guide the last of 3 trips this fall.

It all happened so fast, one minute I was filling out applications, the next I had a ticket booked for Italy for 2.5 months.  It was an exciting turn of events and worked out well as the season was finishing up I could fly over to Italy and begin guiding for the fall season.  Since I am Italian and American, cyclist, and have experience in the service industry, I have a pretty good skill set for being a guide.

I arrived in Varese with 10 days before training began in Beaune, France (head european office), to visit family and ride around my old cycling streets where I first began cycling.

I arrived in France and had 3 days of intense training alongside 12 other new guides.  Some from Canada, some from Europe.  It was fun to ride and experience another part of France I had never been before.  Meeting the veteran guides and new ones I noticed an interesting personality trend of exploring, adventure, and enjoyment in hosting others.

Sentiero degli Dei, Path of the Gods

Between riding, demo’s and logistics it all went by so fast.  Real life hit on the last evening of training where I said my good-byes to new friends and headed out on an overnight train and back to Italy… southern Italy… Naples.  I began pretrip for a week and then guided a 6 day trip along the Amalfi Coast.

The trip went from Naples to Capri, to Positano, to Amalfi, then final night high above in Ravello.  It is an amazing place with breathtaking hikes, amazing food, and a culture so different even from the north.  Despite being my first trip guiding all the travelers were pleasantly surprised and I definitely used my other experiences and strengths to highlight and be a good guide.

Final night of Music and Wine

My next trip took me north … Home.  I guided a group in what B&R calls the Lakes District of Italy.  My family lives on Lago di Varese, 1 of 7 lakes in the area.  The trip started in Bellagio on Lake Como (probably the most known and famous), then to Lake Lugano in Switzerland, then finally on Lago Maggiore.

Mt. Bre, above Lake Lugano

I have ridden around all of these areas and know the roads and area so well.  On the Lago Maggiore part of the trip we went by Santa Caterina, a small church on the side of the cliff where my cousin works as a restorer and making art for the shop.  I was able to give a personal and local experience to the trip.

I must say it was a bit strange at first seeing all these places with a “work” perspective.  I met some amazing people on this trip and a woman who has been fighting liver disease for many years really made an impression on me.  For her strength and incredible genuine compassion, thanks Fran.

Even though my passion, determination, and goal is cycling.  To be professional, compete in the Olympics and World Championships, and be the best I can.  I have to support myself and make some money to fund all these races and traveling I want to do for this sport.  So that is where work comes in, and I could not have found a better off season job then this.  I get to share my passion for travel, languages and culture, while meeting some new people and having new experiences.  I still continue coaching and work with my amazing sponsors like Integrated Health and love my relationship with them even as I am off the bike.

I’ll return to the U.S. at the end of October and be back to racing for cyclocross.  I can’t wait to get back into competition and training hard again for next season.  Till then I’ll be enjoying some Italian trail hikes, riding, new friends, and can’t forget…  THE GELATO!!