Ride The Legend. Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Tuscany.

If you ever want to test the strength of a friendship group, forget escape rooms or trust falls. Gather twenty cyclists, tell them you’re going to Tuscany and watch the WhatsApp thread descend into a frenzy of questionable fitness, weather‑based panic and debates about tyre width and pressure.

Forge 1860 did exactly that, bringing together a band of like‑minded friends and customers for a self‑organised pilgrimage to Siena for the 140km Gran Fondo Strade Bianche. And somehow, miraculously, everyone made it. Here is a steer for anyone 'Strade curious'.

Travel: Heathrow → Bologna → Siena (and back)

Entries to the ride can be made directly through the Gran Fondo website or with specialist travel agents for 'entry only' places. Sign up to newsletters for up-to-date information on entries for next year.

The adventure began at Heathrow, where British Airways Economy Plus generously includes 23kg of luggage, which, as luck would have it, is the weight of a bike and kit in a box (if you remove all dignity and half your wardrobe from your baggage allowance). 

A short hop to Bologna, a 2.5‑hour transfer by mini‑coach (plus a van hired and dedicated solely to bike boxes), and we arrived at our hotel overlooking Siena’s Piazza del Campo. And it's some Campo to admire, a medieval bowl where the famous Palio horse race has been held twice a year since the 1600s. The place where history, drama and now twenty UK-based cyclists converge in search of pasta and to discover their inner chainring.

Siena: A Hilltop Host With Serious Charm

Siena is the kind of city that makes you wonder why you'd ever settle for 9-5 office life and questionable coffee. Its terracotta skyline, narrow alleys and gothic architecture feel like a film set, except the gelato is real and the hills are steeper than you would ever imagine.

The city is also the start and finish of both the pro Strade Bianche race and the Gran Fondo sportive. It’s cycling’s equivalent of a pilgrimage site: sacred, beautiful and slightly terrifying when you realise you’ll be riding the same 20% gradients the pros dance up.

The Weapon of Choice: The Pearson Forge

Of the twenty riders in our group, the majority proudly rolled out on Pearson bikes, many of them the mighty Pearson Forge, freshly fettled by Forge 1860’s workshop.

This year’s bike setup was simple but effective:

• Enve SES 4.5 carbon wheels
• 50/34 chainset
• 11–34 cassette
• Vittoria Pro Control 700x34mm tyres (tubeless)
• A geometry as perfectly balanced as a yoga guru

The Forge was born for this terrain. Long distances: easy (ish). Steep, 20% ramps: manageable. The infamous white roads: surprisingly navigable. Its stability and fit‑first geometry make it the perfect companion for a day that would involve equal parts of suffering and scenery.

The Pro Races: Pogacar Is Not A Myth

Saturday is pro‑race day, a spectacle so intimate you can taste the dust blasting from the riders’ bikes. Both the women's (133km) and men's (203km) races share the same challenging terrain and finishing line in the Campo.

And yes, we saw him. Pogacar. In the flesh. Moving at a speed that made us question physics, fairness and our own life choices. The white roads didn’t slow him; if anything, they seemed to part for him like some sort of biblical event.

Gran Fondo Day: White Roads, Now With Extra Moisture

Sunday morning greeted us with a Tuscan surprise: an overnight storm that turned the Strade Bianche into a fine white paste. Think tiramisu for bikes.

Oddly, the steeper climbs became grippier, a rare treat, while the tighter corners demanded greater concentration and the braking confidence of someone who is fully up to date with their will.

Still, the Forge handled it all. Tyres, set up tubeless and inflated to 50psi. Mud, chalk, gravel, questionable descending decisions, it took everything in its stride.

The Majesty of Tuscany

The Tuscan countryside is the kind of place that takes your breath away, even off the bike. Rolling hills, cypress‑lined roads, vineyards that whisper “you deserve a glass later,” and views that make even the toughest climbs feel worthwhile.

Everyone seemed to agree: no matter how many times you visit, Tuscany never disappoints.

Life in Siena: Architecture, People, Cuisine

Between rides, we wandered Siena’s medieval streets, ate our bodyweight in pici pasta, and soaked up the atmosphere of a city that feels both ancient and alive.

A four‑day trip is the sweet spot: enough time for local loops, the sportive, the pro race and a healthy amount of sightseeing. Arrive Friday, leave Monday.

A Trip Worth Repeating

Forge 1860’s Strade Bianche adventure was a healthy blend of camaraderie, culture and chalk dust/cement. The Pearson Forge proved itself the ideal machine for Tuscany’s unique terrain, balanced, comfortable and utterly dependable.

If you’re considering the Gran Fondo, do it. Book early, pack light, bring friends and trust your bike fitter.

And if you want the perfect bike for the job?
Well… you know where to find us.