Ciclismo Classico

"Wheel Time" in Friuli & Slovenia - Tales from the Tour

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:58:11 EDT

Friuli & Slovenia

Ciclismo staff member Rachel, will be blogging her experience on the Friuli & Slovenia tour as it happens! Also stay tuned for updates from the guides, Cristiano Bonino and Federica Luppi.

This departure of Friuli & Slovenia has concluded. Like what you read? Spots are still available on our September 13th departure!

Day 7: new!
For our last day, we went biking in Bled. In the morning, we got up and ate breakfast before boarding a bus that took us up over the Italian Alps. The views on this trip were so beautiful, the scenery just absolutely gorgeous.

We arrived at our hotel, La Villa Bled, which was stunning, thanks to it being locaed directly on the lake. The rooms inside were HUGE! It was like staying in an apartment. The area we are in is very classy. Members of the Hapsburg nobility vacationed here in this spa town.

We were already in biking gear upon arriving at the hotel, so we immediately hopped on our bikes. There was an optional 4km of riding which was by far the best scenery of the day. If you take this trip in the fall, you MUST do this optional ride!

For lunch we dined near Lake Bohinj, the largest in Slovenia. It was a little resort area with spectacular views. Afterwards, it was back to Bled for a farewell cocktail and our final dinner at a 1 Michelin star rated dinner. Rounding out the trip, we sat outside on the terrace drinking wine and talking about all the fantastic things we saw and experienced on this trip. It was the perfect end to a perfect trip!

-Rachel

Day 6:
Today we did something very different in Ciclismo's 20 year history... we went rafting on the Soca River in Slovenia! We have never done this on any trip before, and the guests looked good in their helmets and wetsuits, so we'll be sure to keep it in for the future. Enough of me talking though (this is Cristiano), I'll let some of the guests talk about the trip.

Joe M., Arlington Heights, IL
These guides are incredible. Cristiano is especially great... he's paying me lots and lots of money to say this. In all seriousness, they really are both amazing. Today's scenery was incredible. Very memorable.

Chuck B., St. Cloud, MN
This is my third trip with Ciclismo. The last two days have been the most beautiful days of scenery. Rafting on the Soca River was wonderful. I even did the optional 25-mile bike. It was a great way to split up the day.

Brian S., Toronto, ON
Now for the Canadian perspective. Let me preface this by saying we never exaggerate... This trip is [expletive deleted] AWESOME!

Susan R., Toronto, ON
This is the more refined Canadian perspective, of course. I joke, but really, at the end of today's ride, I'd rate it a 9.5 to 10 out 10. Just a great trip overall. We've seen many new, interesting and exciting things. What we have here is a bunch of people who don't know much about the country of Slovenia. Now we know more than ever before and are going to educate the world!!

Jim P., Carmel, IN
It's after dinner and we're all just sitting here enjoying some of the delicious local red and white wines. This has been a seriously awesome trip, just terrific. Cristiano and Federica are doing a wonderful job. The activity day concept was a very good idea and the weather has been wonderful the past couple days.

Well, that is it for now. I think it's time to finish this bottle of wine! Arrivederci!

-Cristiano

Day 5:
What beautiful biking it was today! Probably the best day of the tour so far. Everybody was happy to see the sun.

We crossed the border into Slovenia and there was green green green everywhere! It was like the vegetation exploded. Right now we're in Bovec, which is in a valley surrounded by high mountains and it is very beautiful.

This afternoon we had a visit to a WWI museum. It was beautiful. The local guide we had was very very good! The museum itself is something incredible. There are a lot of pictures of the war. When you visit the museum, you can feel how the war could have been. The places we are biking, you can almost feel what was happening over 70 years ago. It's very touching and adds something special to the tour.

The group is melding together pretty well. Out of everybody on tour, there is a group of 6 people (3 couples) who all met on Ciclismo Classico tours and now they travel together! Many people tell me the tour is very very nice. They like the bike rides and even though I ask which country they prefer, they say they love it all!

-Federica Luppi, Ciclismo Classico tour guide

Day 4:
We got up this morning in Gorizia and the weather was holing up okay as we biked into Cormons. There, we had a wine tour and tasted some of the delicious wines of the region. One in particular is called Vino del Pace, or Wine of Peace. It's comprised of over 600 grapes!! What really cool is that the bottles are designed by local artists, giving each one a very unique and exclusive look. One of the most common grapes used in the wines is Tocai, a grape from Hungary. It's used to make some sparkling reds and whites.

When we left, it had started raining once again. One guest came up with the brilliant idea to wear shower caps over our helmets and it worked wonderfully! Who knew!?

For lunch, we dined in an alpine village and tried Frico, a special quiche-style food. It was definitely a comfort food for how soggy we were all feeling. After lunch, it was raining too hard to go on the bikes so Cristiano gave us some grappa while we were waiting for the van.

Feeling pretty good after the drink, we came back to the hotel where everyone took off to the pools, sauna and massages, so everyone's pretty happy! Speaking of which, I think a massage sounds perfect right now!

-Rachel

Day 3:
Ciao from Friuli! Tonight we have dinner on your own, so while the guests are out eating, I will take this time to talk about today's ride.

Friuli is a primarily flat west of the Alps. The scenery is very different than other regions in Italy, due to how flat it is, but it is still very green and nice. The town we visited today was Palmanova. The whole place is like one big fortress and we visited a museum that tells us all about it. We had lunch in the market and everyone appears to be enjoying Friuli!

After lunch we came back to Gorizia for a wine tasting and Italian language lessons. All in all, it was a very nice day.

The group is getting along very well. It's actually a very unique situation where everyone is very similar in their riding ability, so they're staying together for each ride! That's all for now, tomorrow is our last day in Italy and then on to Slovenia! Ciao Ciao!

-Cristiano Bonino, Ciclismo Classico tour guide

Day 2:
This morning, the sun came out for us! We started by biking up and out of Trieste to the town of Prosecco. The guides promised us that this will be the most steady climbing of the whole tour. It was tough, but totally beautiful: right along the Adriatic Sea - incredible views, twittering birds, the works! We had fabulous weather all day - 75 and sunny.

From Prosecco, we biked another 4k to the Grotto Gigante, which was a huge hit. The group descended 500 steps into an enormous natural cavern with crazy pancake rock formations, different colored stones, and a ceiling that must be about 20 stories from top to bottom.

Then we buzzed on to an outdoor restaurant over the Slovenian border and ate a "your grandmother's lasagna" type lunch (read: delicious). The last leg was mostly descents, one more climb, and we re-crossed the border to arrive in Gorizia for a guided walking tour of the city.

Tonight, we had dinner in a once Franciscan monastery, now a charming cafe and restaurant. The food has been incredible and we're tasting TONS of Friuli wines. Tonight we also tasted frica (Friuli fried cheese).

-Rachel

Day 1:
Luckily, I made it to Trieste on my intended flight (there were some worries I was going to miss my connection). Met the group today, and they're great! Everyone seems in good spirits despite the cold, wet weather... excited for the tour to come.

Trieste is a beautiful little city. It's green, green, green, with rust-colored tile roofs. The Adriatic is the color of glacial water - that sort of ice blue, sometimes tealy color. None of the buildings are much higher than 4 or 5 floors. To me, if feels like a less warmer version of the French Riviera.

For our warm-up ride, we biked right along the coast to Castello di Miramare, a castle on a cliff. Had some prosecco (white grapes) for lunch and in a bit we're doing a "welcome cocktail" and then dinner. I'm having a ball!

-Rachel

"Wheel Time" in La Bella Sicilia Ovest - Tales from the Tour

Wed, 28 May 2008 10:35:22 EDT

La Bella Sicilia Ovest Ciao! Our Sicily trip has come to an end, and while we were not able to give you a day by day telling of our experiences, I would like to let a couple of the guests on our trip tell you about it. If you like what you read you should take our trip in the fall. Even if you don't like what you read, you should still take the trip anyway because we will be sure to change your minds by the end! -Massimo De Laurentis and Paolo Nicolosi Jonathan B., New York, NY The first day was pretty hot and the second day there were lots of hills. The wind also picked up with gusts between 50 and 60 miles an hour and a couple people even got blown off their bikes! The terrain was very challenging, but it was extremely exhilarating being able to finish the entire day despite these challenges. The dinner at Cantina Siciliana in Trapani was the best night of the trip. There was an accordionist who was very good. Paolo jumped in and sang with the musicians, and even though he hadn’t rehearsed with them, they were able to follow his cues! For food, we had lots of fish. The landscape was very rugged, kind of like western Texas with high planes. As for the people who were on this trip, well, we really enjoyed each other and everyone got along very well. Karen L., New York, NY I was drawn to this trip because I’m of Sicilian descent, so it’s always been my lifelong dream to get in touch with my roots. Well, let me just say that my expectations have been exceeded! Massimo and Paolo are the perfect compliment to each other. They’re both confident, gracious, and very concerned for everyone’s need and well-being. The scenery has been exquisite. If it weren’t for the crazy wind, it would have been a perfect combination of hills and flat riding. The food has been outstanding. I’m not a fish lover and we’ve eaten fish every night, but it’s been wonderful! Throughout the trip, Massimo taught us a lot about the slow food movement, which was very interesting. In Trapani, we stopped for a couscous demonstration, which was excellent! Last night we had a really neat wine tasting in a cellar. The people on this trip seem very real and interesting. The camaraderie has been wonderful and everyone is just down to earth. All the places we’ve been, from the restaurants to the hotels, have been very charming. I have no complaints and Paolo and Massimo have worked their butts of to make sure it’s gone smoothly for everyone. The whole trip has just been really really wonderful and I would love to be able to come back and do Sicily East! Joan R., San Francisco, CA I’m the eldest woman on the trip by far and I’ve biked every single mile! Even on the windiest day with everyone struggling, none of the riders even considered dropping out. Today, I even got lost on the way to Agrigento, but the way I see it is that I got a little bit more for my money by getting to ride extra streets! Overall, the trip has been wonderful and so have the guides. Me and my husband are staying by car to see the eastern part of the island. We’re big Ciclismo fans and we had a great time, with outstanding guides! Virginia M., Bloomington, IN One of Ciclismo’s strengths is definitely the guides—they were great! Massimo and Paolo were wonderful support, especially with Paolo pushing cookies on us whenever we turned around! The dinner at Cantina Siciliana with the musicians was a really nice touch, and the visit to the Greek ruins were very special to me. We had guided tours in Segesta, Palermo and Monreale. This trip was special because of the many excursions and tours to compliment the cycling. The trip itself was great, and even though we had two days of phenomenal winds, we were all stubborn and insisted on riding (and I’m thankful we did)! Today was beautiful—it was a great last day for a great trip. The next departure for La Bella Sicilia Ovest is October 2-9 and spots are still available! Also, check out our Sicily for Wine Lovers tour with Sommelier Robin Stark October 17-24!

"Wheel Time" in Southern Italy: Sea to Sea -Tales from the Tour

Fri, 09 May 2008 05:03:51 EDT
Southern Italy: Sea to Sea

Day 7: Palinuro new!
At group dinners, one pastime we enjoy is the passing of the “cappellino,” or hat. Each recipient wears it for the evening and then awards it to another person the next night. Well, I’m pleased to announce that this evening’s recipient is our very own imaginary guest Gus! Gus decided to be nice and let the sun come out today, making today’s ride phenomenal. Picture descending into the coastal city of Palinuro as the sun reflects off the waters and ending the day with a big helping of gelato and you’ll know what I mean.

I’m sure you’re all quite sick of hearing me talk, so I’ll let some of our guests do the work for me!

Matt M., Walnut Creek, CA – This trip has been pretty eventful, and the riding’s been really good. We’ve been to some interesting places so far. The best part was breaking out into the sunshine after a few days of rain—it was pretty amazing. Coming out of the mountains and seeing the sea in the sunshine was pretty cool. I’ve been on a few Ciclismo trips and this location has the best view off a hotel balcony in my entire experience—it’s gorgeous!

Don G., Calgary AB – I’m a big fan of Shimano but Frank here likes Campagnolo “Campy” components. He likes Campy anything, so we’ve decided to pin him down until he crosses sides. The food on this trip has been delicious (we had a lamb dish in Matera that was to die for) and we’ve seen some spectacular scenery, the best of which has been on the coasts. My favorite location so far is the one we’re in now, Palinuro. The setting of the hotel is spectacular—it’s on a pretty rugged coastline overlooking a private beach on the bay.

--Allow me to interject (this is Frank here). The dish is called Cutturridd and is usually only made on Easter. However, the cook at the restaurant we stop at in Matera makes it for our groups because it’s always such a huge hit. It’s essentially a lamb stew with potatoes, celery, spinach and just lots of really good stuff. They mix it in a crock pot and layer the top with pizza dough before it goes in the oven. When it comes out, they chisel off the top and buon apetito! Oh, and Campy IS the best!

Keith M., Des Moines, IA – I would just like to comment on Frank and Dana and the care they put into selecting the wines. I’ve been on Ciclismo trips before and the amount of time Frank takes selecting the vintages makes it even more special because it’s the most spectacular boxed wine I’ve ever had! In all seriousness though, the selections have distinguished this trip from any other we’ve been on. We had a 1997 Taurasi, which is a bit more expensive but it was absolutely worth it. It really takes special care to find the right wines and Frank is great at it.

Well that about does it for this evening. Tomorrow we head up to the Greek ruins of Paestum, and hopefully the sun be with us again!

-Frank

Days 5 & 6: Castelmezzano, Padula
I'm finally able to get to another internet line here in Padula. We're now into the region Campania and I'm sorry to report that it is still raining. The group has taken to blaming the wet weather on our imaginary guest "Gus." Gus is a guy one of our own guests claims to have met en route to Italy who said he was on our trip. Seeing as we have no record of Gus (of if he even really exists!), he most likely was traveling with a different group. However, we decided to let the imaginary Gus join us and be the blame for anything bad that happens. It hasn't dampened the spirits of our guests who have such great attitudes and they're still super excited to just get out there and ride. Whenever the rain picks up, we just use the van! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - there is absolutely no shame in using the van to get around!

Yesterday we spent the day in Castelmezzano, which is an amazing city. The roads on the way to Padula are very isolated and surrounded by a mini-mountain range - sort of like a mini-version of the Dolomites. The riding here is spectacular and the views are definitely something else. There are very few cars and very few people around.

We also had our most difficult climb today - "The Lovers Pass" or L'amoroso. It wasn't the highest elevation of the trip, but we still dropped DOWN to get to the hilltown. The group is doing a fantastic job. They conquered the 95km ride together. It's great to see a group wait for the others to catch up before continuing on.

One unexpected bonus the guests received was a full-on in-depth spoke changing demonstration, which I performed for a guest who had some technical difficulties along the route. Cycling AND learning all rolled into one - how bout that?

After reaching Padula, we got settled into our lodgings at a 14th century monastery and had a very nice tour of the town with a local guide, Maria Concetta. She's been a staple of this trip for the past four years and guests love her. She's very "old-world" Italian - super funny, thick accent, and the guests are often dying of laughter by the end.

Tomorrow we're off to Palinuro, and we hope to update again soon!

-Frank Yantorno, Ciclismo Classico Tour Guide

Days 1 - 4: Polignano, Alberobello, Matera
Hello! Boy, this trip has been quite fun so far! Finding a secure internet connection sure is hard in some of these remote towns in Southern Italy, but we're here in Matera, and surprisingly we've found the elusive internet.

The group is getting along great. Everyone is very respectful of each other during the rides and will always wait for any stragglers (sometimes that ends up being me and Frank!).

We met Friday in Polignano and got everyone accustomed to their bikes before taking a little spin.

The weather on the rides Saturday and Sunday through Alberobello was simply amazing! The sun was shining and the temperature was mild - such great cycling conditions. One guest said "you couldn't ask for anything more perfect than this" and it's true! When you ride a bike, this is exactly what you want.

Thanks to the sun, the flowers were in bloom. Our paths were lined with the most stunning blossoms. Sunday offered a traffic free ride into Matera, which is where we are today.

Matera is an incredible town. It's a world famous UNESCO site having been inhabited for over 8,000 years. Our lodgings are located within a cave, and yes - there IS running water and electricity! The whole place is just stunning.

It can't be sunny every day, unfortunately, and this morning we awoke to a spat of rain. Today is a rest day, but the guests wanted to take the optional loop ride. We decided to take the van with us in case the rain picked up. As we were leaving, I was stopped by a local police officer. I had lost track of time and the roads close to cars after 9am for pedestrian use only. Luckily the officer let me off with a warning and we were able to get the van out of the town for the ride!

The ride turned out to be free of any major rain and we were able to squeeze in a tour with a local guide, which was very educational. We also were able participate in a wine tasting and sampled several local foods, which were delicious!

Tonight was a dinner-on-your-own night and the group decided to go out together. It's time to get some rest since tomorrow the big climbs begin. I hope to be able to update again soon!

-Dana Geraghty, Ciclismo Classico Tour Guide

“Wheel Time” in Andalucia, Spain – Tales from the Tour

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:57:14 EDT
Andalucia, Spain Day 7 - Ronda The town of Ronda also gave our guests – now in the heart of the tour – more of real Spanish culture. A night in a deluxe Parador – a castle converted into a hotel - and a visit to the oldest bull ring in Spain, were once-in-a-lifetime experiences for many! One stop along the next ride took us through Castro de Rio, the village where we enjoyed a delicious olive oil tasting, consisting of seven different varieties. After the tasting, we had a tasting of our own – our final lunch with typical tapas, the region’s famous ham – jamon Serrano – gazpacho, and fresh “queso”. The ending days of our invigorating bike tour take on a consistent them – dramatic, poetic landscapes! Rich, rocky vermilion fields dotted with the blue-gray puffs that are olive trees, terra cotta roofs that stand out on whitewashed villages that are like oases on the plains as we head toward Arcos. The view is ever-changing with the ups and downs, always keep us saying “wow”, “que bello”. After conquering such amazing rides (one guest even had a bout with a herd of goats blocking the road), we arrived at Arcos de la Frontera, our final destination and UNESCO world heritage site. The chef de cuisine at our hotel prepared a special six-course meal just for us: chopped salad, tuna with roasted pepper, fresh vegetable soup, baked grouper with a sauce of mushroom and asparagus, chocolate ice cream, and the best coffee. And yes, we’ll do it all again this fall, September 20 – 28, 2008! -Alessandro & Jose Day 6 - Antequera Wednesday's loop ride from the Antequera valley is a realtively flat route, with plenty of distance and quiet road to work on pace and cadence. All with the backdrop of the dramatic landscape of contrasting colors and views. Along the way, we stopped at a tranquil lagoon, where a family of white flamingos played in the cool water. Spontaneously, we rented some binoculars so guests could view the birds and orchards in the distance. Once back at the hotel and refreshed, tour leader and resident wine expert Alessandro held one of his famous wine tastings at the Casa del Conde de Pinafiel, sampling the local reds "Torques" and "Gadea". Tomorrow, we'll pedal on to Ronda, a highlight of the region - a town split in two by one of Spain's deepest gorges, El Tajo de Ronda. Check back for some great photos! -Jose Gil, Ciclismo Tour Leader Day 5 - Antequera Suddenly, the sun shone it’s much-missed rays, and along the route, flowers, flowers everywhere! Fields chock-a-block with red poppies, white bianostinos, and lush wheat carpeted the countryside cycling route. Today’s ride took the group to Antequera, a historic whitewashed Andalucian village known for its baroque monuments and churches. The signature Ciclismo picnic in Archidona gave riders a true energy boost – with fresh langostinos, and a dessert of freshly baked “pastels de San Augustin” – St. Augustine’s cookies, baked by the cloistered nuns of Archidona. When we pulled the thick, ancient rope that rang the doorbell of the cloister, a hand emerged from the mini-door make of steel, framed in a gigantic wooden gate. In it were the pasteles, still warm, sweet and ready for eating. What will be the next magical moment? -Alessandro Days 1 & 2 - Cordoba The first official tour of the 2008 season got off to a cheerful start on Friday, April 18 with a big “Ole” from the group, and a bit of rain from the sky. That didn’t stop many riders as they mounted their Bianchis and completed their warm-up ride in historic Cordoba, and still wanted to ride some more. Of course, tour leaders Alessandro and Jose obliged. Saturday arrived with some intermittent spring showers, but guests still enjoyed great riding, entertaining Spanish lessons from Jose, and a hands-on cooking lesson of a typical Andalucian dish – roasted “cordonices” (local quail) and fresh “merluza” (hake) with organically farmed local asparagus, some of the greenest and most savory in Europe. The meal itself became the mere appetizer for an evening of flamenco at the famous “Tablao El Cardenal” in Cordoba. For more on flamenco hot spots, visit flamenco.org. -Alessandro, Ciclismo Tour Guide

A Glowing Review: Tuscany & the Island of Elba

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:03:24 EDT
We recently received a glowing e-mail from our guest A. Schickler about his "Tuscany & the Island of Elba" tour. Keep reading to learn more about why Mr. Schickler enjoyed this trip so much...and to see why everyone else is raving about Ciclismo!

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The bike tour exceeded my expectations in every way. I had the time of my life. The scenery was extraordinary and when coupled with the aromas of the countryside the experience was magical. The hills were “challenging”; and the physical exertion added to the overall pleasure of the moment coupled with a sense of accomplishment. The guides were nothing short of wonderful. They were not only extremely knowledgeable bikers, but were aware of the culture, food and wines wherever we traveled. In short, the guides were true ambassadors for Italia and Ciclismo Classico. And they were most attentive to everyone’s needs.

I trained hard before the trip and it really paid off. I felt stronger every day. In some respects, I felt like a teenager; riding on the open road, in a beautiful world accompanied by a group who seamlessly transitioned from strangers to friends. The accommodations, food and wines were all terrific.

...

Finally, many thanks for all of your help and advice. The arrangements you made for me and my wife were flawless. In this day and age when we are relegated to talking to machines, it was a pleasure working with a person who is professional and responsive.

Regards,

A. Schickler

Lynette Chiang Cruises BAI on her Bike Friday....

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:03:38 EDT
We were recently honored to have Bike Friday cycling phenomenon, Lynette Chiang on our Bike Across Italy tour. Lynette packs infinite cycling wisdom and genuine pedaling passion into her web site and blogs.

She is a cycling touring treasure who effortlessly shares her love of bicycle travel with everyone she meets. Savor and share her web site with friends http://www.galfromdownunder.com and check out her wonderful story on her recent Bike Across Italy tour

http://www.bikefriday.com/italy/bai

We love you Lynette. thanks!

Lauren

Here is an excerpt:

Imagine pedaling your Friday through the lush, rolling countryside of Italia, nosing your front wheel along cobbled streets of tiny villages bursting with with cheese, wine and designer shoe stores, sitting down to a gourmet multi-course wine dinner at the end of each day, laying your weary helmet in grand, four star historic hotels and charming old world albergos ...

Cicilismo Classico (CC, pronounced 'Cheek-LEEZ-mo') is a Boston-based company specializing in this heightened level of cycle touring. There are a number of operators in this niche but as I found, CC strikes a good balance between sufficiently challenging miles and so guilt-free pampered luxury at day's end.

Because CC has been recommended by several Bike Friday customers, and principal Lauren Hefferon recently joined the fold herself by acquiring a Pocket Rocket Pro, the company has earned its coveted place as a Friday Friendly Tour Company.

In 2007, an Outside Magazine article "Best Trips. Ever." named CC's 'Giro del Gelato' tour as their Trip of the Year - a very prestigious accolade.

The Galfromdownunder was privileged to review one of the company's most popular tours: Bike Across Italy.

Spanning 'the mid-calf to the mid-shin' of the boot of Italy over ten days, this moderately challenging tour takes in the regions of La Marche, Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio, starting in Fano on Adriatic sea and ending in Porto Ecole on the Mediterranean. The average mileage is about 50 gradually hilly miles per day.

What, never heard of those places? If you travel with CC you'll discover there's more to Italy than Rome, Florence and the Vatican. I chose the May 10-20 departure of Bike Across Italy (BAI) because I was told May is warm but pre-sweltering .. perhaps due to global warming, it was hotter than normal, said the guides, Dana and Andrea, following a low-snow season across Europe.

he CC website is self-explanatory, with a handy selection feature where you can look at tours by season, region, and the tantalizing 'Tours No One Else Has'. Following is a day by day account of the tour as seen by a cyclist of moderate fitness. The tour is rated intermediate, averaging around 30-50 miles per day. See the above day-by-day accounts for more detail.

My Assaggio Toscana -- a story by Jewel

Wed, 23 May 2007 09:27:39 EDT
I just recently returned from my six-day cycling trip in Tuscany, the Assaggio Toscana. To say that the trip was “fantastic” would be an understatement. The weather welcomed us with open arms and made every day better than the last. The glorious hills alternated in color between hues of bright green and yellow, while red poppies delightfully spotted the fields. And, one of my most favorite parts of the ride, a typical trait of Tuscany, was the majestic quality of “le cipri,” the Cyprus trees lining the road and towering over us as we cycled our way to our next destination.

Of course, the food and wine were endless (we even had delicious pizza leftovers sprinkled with truffles as a super-snack). In addition to a typical Italian pizza and beer night, we sampled and learned about Tuscany’s infamous red wines. We feasted on Florentine steak, fresh vegetables and fruit, Pappa al Pomodoro, learned how to make a typical Tuscan dish called Ribollita, and sampled all different kinds of olive oil.

One of the best parts of the trips was the group. I’ve walked away (or should I say cycled away) with some great new friends—folks from all over the globe: Canada, Japan, Chile, California, Chicago, Boston, and New York. Thanks to the good times and for sharing the sweat and happiness that the group endured. We met locals together, cringed at the sight and smell of grappa and toasted to everyone and everything – sang, danced, feasted, shared stories, and loved every moment!

On a personal note—after this tour I really feel like I improved as a cyclist (and I’m still riding on the cycling high leftover from the tour). Growing up in Florida, it took me some time to get used to hills and actually using the gears. Thanks to our lovely guides, Frank and Dana, and the loving hills of Tuscany, I am no longer intimidated to go uphill or downhill, and I’m definitely ready to conquer more!

Tuscany’s notorious hills are really welcoming for the first-time visitor to Italy and perfect for an active person who wants to improve their cycling skills. – A word of advice for the traveler…it’s nice to arrive at least a day before your cycling trip so you can rest up before the tour starts. For this Assaggio Toscana tour I arrived the same day as the start, and happily (luckily) got through all of the first day’s activities, but by dinnertime I was definitely ready for bed. Given another chance, if I had the time then I would arrive the day before.