Treadmills are great, sure—they’ve been faithful companions during this endless lockdown. But how can you compare that to a relaxing 160-km ride on my bike, surrounded by the wild nature of the province of Frosinone?

On this sunny morning, not even the 1,300-meter climb up to Prato di Campoli that lies ahead seems harder than the tough times I’ve been through. After all, cycling teaches us this lesson from a young age: get back up right after a fall. So off I go, water bottle in hand, ready to set off from Ceccano toward Veroli to blow off the week’s tensions—a week spent, as a research biologist, dedicated to studying new cancer therapies.

The 25 km of rolling hills leading to the foothills of the Ernici Mountains allow me to enjoy the lush landscapes of the Frusinate region, passing through Torrice and Giglio di Veroli. Everything around me seems to move slowly, just like my ride. As I enter Veroli, I catch sight of the summit of the 9-km climb that awaits me, and I prepare myself with bursts of speed and gradual accelerations. After an extremely tough first kilometer, surrounded by scattered houses, I notice the bed of a dried-up river. Focused, I continue the climb until, near a hairpin turn, my attention is captured by a stone barn. To some, these are just details, but for every cyclist, they reveal scenes that are truly rejuvenating.

I’m wearing clothing by Oxyburn, whose compression fabrics don’t feel tight or cause chafing, making them super comfortable. The Raid overalls promote breathability and feature an extremely functional chamois for long distances. Paired with the ultralight B-Easy, which helps maintain a constant body temperature, I’ve added the X-Trackjersey, featuring a self-ventilating micro-mesh structure that wicks away sweat even during intense activity. On my feet, I’m wearing the comfortable Draw socks made from Repetita recycled yarn.

As the shade of the trees eases my fatigue, I can see all the neighboring villages spread out before me. The silence is broken only by the jingle of bells around the necks of the cows, busy grazing on grass of an unreal green. My pedaling picks up pace; I know I’m almost there. Finally, I’m at the top of the Prato di Campoli climb, the starting point for hikes in the Ernici Mountains, with peaks over 2,000 meters.

Happy about this small return to normalcy, I decide to take the long way home, passing through Amaseno, Prossedi, Frosinone, and Morolense. And then comes the moment when I feel that, despite the difficulties, everything will be all right.

by Emanuele Bruni