Italy cycling trip, suggestions?

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

I am considering taking a cycling holiday in Italy next spring for a week or so. I have noticed a number of ads for Italy Bike hotels and would appreciate any feedback or suggestions regarding location and accommodations. I am an avid group rider 53 years of age located in BC Canada. Cheers Terry.

Here's a link I keep close for my future Italy venture. Maybe they could help you.

http://www.cycleitalia.com – Cycle Italia – GREAT SITE

I think you need to get more clear about what things you want a "bike hotel" to do for you - (and how much you're ready to pay for different levels of service).
Like . . .

hotel only provides maps + cue sheets of local routes (mountain or road or both?)
hotel only provides a special room in the basement to store bikes
hotel can help you arrange to rent a bike, (versus)
includes bike rental in the cost of the package
can help you arrange to hire a local bicycling guide, (versus)
includes guide service in the cost of the package
will drive you and your bike to the start of routes away from the hotel

If most of the routes will start from the hotel, then I would want to move to a different hotel in a different region after 3-4 days.

As for "where?", I think you've got to offer at least a hint about what sort of riding you're looking for. Off-road versus road? hilly versus flat? mountains versus seaside? non-bicycling activities on some days? Are you trying to avoid other tourists or are you hoping to connect with non-Italian tourists?

Ken

I am considering taking a cycling holiday in Italy next spring for a week or so. I have noticed a number of ads for Italy Bike hotels and would appreciate any feedback or suggestions regarding location and accommodations. I am an avid group rider 53 years of age located in BC Canada. Cheers Terry. Dear friend, I am Italian living in Italy now. I have just left Victoria, BC where I have lived for few years. I am now starting my own company which will provide guided, fully supported, challenging and exclusives, tours in Veneto and the famous Dolomites mountains. We are partners with Pinarello, which will provide high-end carbon fibre bikes. Now since our company will be launched within weeks I will haved to get back to you with our web site.
For the time being if you can be more specific (are you taking your own bike, do you need only accomodation, do you know where to go/when, are you by yourself, how much do you want to spend????) I will do my best to help you find the right accomodation, in the right place at the right price.
Ciao Giovanni

:) Hello Giovanni, thanks so much for replying to my thread, how interesting to hear you lived in Victoria, are you familiar with the cycling areas around Victoria ie Central Sannich, Sydney, Mill Bay etc? I was considering taking my bike, (I am currently riding a Specialized Tarmac Pro) though the more I think about it the idea of renting may be the way to go. I ride with the Oak Bay bike store group on Saturday mornings for my main 100k group ride, with 8 to 10 hours training mid week, to give you an idea of my current riding. My wife will be accompanying me (non rider) on this trip, so the visit will also need to provide a certain touristy element . Our stay will be for about one month in total.
We have not picked an location yet, suggestions would be welcomed. Accomodations will be required for our stay somewhere nice but not crazy, rural village setting perhaps. Interesting to hear about your cycling venture, sounds great, I am looking forward to hear more details about your tours. As far as a time frame we were thinking Spring or Fall. I look forward to hearing from you soon, Ciao Terry. Potter1@shaw.ca
PS Good luck with your cycling tours.

Terry of course I am very familiar with the areas you mentioned and with the Saturday morning Oak Bay rides. I would suggest to come to Italy in April, May, June or September, October. If you avoid July/August you are already in a good shape. Areas to ride would be Veneto,Sardinia and Sicily (two big islands), Toscany, Umbria, Puglia, Abruzzo it all depends what you are looking for as type of ride. If you decide to come to Veneto we will be able to help you organize the entire trip for you (we have a travel agent) and find the the bike for you (what about living your nice Specialized at home and trying a Pinarello instead?). Pinarello factory is 20 km. away from Venice and then you can go to Verona, Padua, the Dolomites, etc. and this would be enough for a month and for your wife. Also week in mind that we know that on May 25 the Giro D'Italia will be in the Dolomites for what is considered the toughest ride of the tour; may be you want to see that as well....
Let me know if I can help you. Ciao



:) Hello Giovanni, thanks so much for replying to my thread, how interesting to hear you lived in Victoria, are you familiar with the cycling areas around Victoria ie Central Sannich, Sydney, Mill Bay etc? I was considering taking my bike, (I am currently riding a Specialized Tarmac Pro) though the more I think about it the idea of renting may be the way to go. I ride with the Oak Bay bike store group on Saturday mornings for my main 100k group ride, with 8 to 10 hours training mid week, to give you an idea of my current riding. My wife will be accompanying me (non rider) on this trip, so the visit will also need to provide a certain touristy element . Our stay will be for about one month in total.
We have not picked an location yet, suggestions would be welcomed. Accomodations will be required for our stay somewhere nice but not crazy, rural village setting perhaps. Interesting to hear about your cycling venture, sounds great, I am looking forward to hear more details about your tours. As far as a time frame we were thinking Spring or Fall. I look forward to hearing from you soon, Ciao Terry. Potter1@shaw.ca
PS Good luck with your cycling tours.

I recently visited Italy with the group of friends. We climbed Passo dello Stelvio and Passo del Gavia. I organized this trip by myself and saved a lot of money. You can read about it here:

http://www.edmontonmasterscyclingclub.ca/

If you need more info you can email me at: zkahlina@shaw.ca

Hope this helps.

Z.

I recently visited Italy with the group of friends. We climbed Passo dello Stelvio and Passo del Gavia. I organized this trip by myself and saved a lot of money. You can read about it here:
www.edmontonmasterscyclingclub.ca (http://www.edmontonmasterscyclingclub.ca/)
I see in your story that you rented a car. That's what I always do. Makes it easy to get to the best riding. Easier to deal with bad weather. Much wider selection of hotels.

Here's some photos (http://www.roberts-1.com/t/b05/it/k/index.htm) of my trip with Stelvio + Gavia and some other nice rides.

I'm actually not sure what a "bike hotel" is. Since I have a car and my own bike, I don't worry about it -- just choose whatever hotel makes sense, and there's always been a way to store my bike.

Ken

I am considering taking a cycling holiday in Italy next spring for a week or so. I have noticed a number of ads for Italy Bike hotels and would appreciate any feedback or suggestions regarding location and accommodations. I am an avid group rider 53 years of age located in BC Canada. Cheers Terry.
check out this site:
www.veloclassic.com (http://www.veloclassic.com)
they're doing a Giro trip in May with former professional Andrea Tafi.
Great site, great company. I've traveled with them each of the past 4 years.
The owners are fantastic, and are on every trip. worth a look!