Team Members Share Their Summer Adventures: Emily Lovett

Catch up with PSIA-AASI National Team members as they share their summer adventures and how it keeps them on their game for winter. Here’s what PSIA Cross Country Team Coach Emily Lovett has been doing this summer.

What’s your big summer adventure?

My husband Clay and I had a big “early summer” adventure when we did a three-week self-supported bike tour in Italy. We began in Florence and cycled and ate our way through the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, and Le Marche. We ended the tour on the Adriatic coast.

Why was this on your to-do list?

Bike tours are one of our favorite vacations because every day you wake up to an adventure. Bike tours in Italy are decadent because of the combination of cycling, food, and wine. We spent 4-5 hours each day cycling, route finding, stopping for a cafe or a gelato, and seeing everything new for the first time. It kept me in the present moment. You never know what’s around the next corner, a field of poppies, a cute town for a picnic lunch or a steep climb!

What did you learn?

I’ve toured in Italy before, but this trip we rode more dirt roads (strade bianche). I learned that I want a lower gear on my bike for next time. I also learned that I’d like to study Italian language again, preferably in Italy. I love experiencing how other cultures live life. It allows me to see a broader scope to living, being happy, and loving others.  

How does this keep you physically and mentally engaged in the offseason?

Getting some good endurance miles on the bike in the springtime sets me up for a strong cycling season. Cycling is one of the ways I stay aerobically fit in preparation for the ski season. Mentally, being in the present moment and indulging in adventure each day is a perfect place for me to be after a busy ski season.

Listen to this podcast to learn more about Emily’s summer travels.