Km 0 - the roots

These are the places that I won't visit in the next months. Not because they don't deserve being visited, but just because I have the pleasure to live close to them. I highly recommend to come to see them if you have never been to this awesome piece of land between the Adriatic Sea and that part of the Alps called Dolomites.

These are my roots. The roots give nutrition to the tree, allowing its flowers and fruits to grow.
Likewise, I think everyone's roots can't be the end, they are just the mean to grow better and go further away.

"Quello che io penso come albero parlante è che la vita sia questione di radici: più sono profonde più ti puoi portar lontano incontrando gente conquistando amici, perché io ho scoperto che le mie radici in fondo sono lì per procurarmi le risorse, cosicché con le mie foglie io possa affrontare venti forti e possa farmi delle corse."
(Lorenzo Jovanotti - L'albero)

Il nome della bici [IT]

Per fare un viaggio di questo tipo bisogna avere un rapporto speciale di fiducia con la propria dolce metà. Che sarebbe la bicicletta, ovvio. Quindi mi è stato suggerito di darle almeno un nome. Consiglio ottimo, ma dopo giorni e giorni di riflessione ancora niente.

Me piaxe i nomi stranieri, ma no go proprio idea. All'improvviso m'illumino d'immenso. Posse ciamarla Naily?

"Vado via qualche mese in giro per l'Europa..."
       (preoccupato) "Ma... da solo?"
"No no, figurati, vado con Naily!"
       (tirando un sospiro di sollievo) "Ah bon..."

Why bicycling?

This question could introduce the longest post ever written by me, since the "because..." list would include reasons like economy, ecology, health and much more. Fortunately for the readers, this is not the case.

Right now I'm writing my Civil Engineering undergraduate thesis about Safety in the design of cycling infrastructures. Besides all the technical stuff concerning cycle lanes, cycle tracks, intersections, etc., the fact that made me think the most is the well-demonstrated virtuous circle "more cyclists = more safety = more cyclists=...". Basically, safety with numbers. Logical. But while writing my thesis I kept thinking: economy, ecology, health... safety, where appliable. Most people know that by riding a bike you save money, respect the environment, stay fit... Isn't that enough to make them choose bicycles whenever possible for their everyday home-to-school, home-to-work travel?

Then I stumbled upon this article and this video. Afterwards things were clear.

Question: has anybody ever told you that bicycling equals happiness?

(possible start of my journey: October 5. You can follow it also on Facebook and Twitter! And maybe somewhere else, soon...)