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Cycling through the Tuscan countryside - pure joy! |
Click here to see my recent post on where to rent an e-bike in Tuscany.
My recommendation is to buy one or more bicycle route books well before you depart for your vacation so that you can plan your itinerary and accommodation around the routes rather than vice versa. For example, one of the classic bike rides is from Florence to Sienna and back, along the Via Chiantigiana. Florentines start off from wherever they live in Florence but they have the experience on how to avoid or at least deal with traffic. Newcomers should either take the SITA bus out of Florence or plan to stay in the country and join the cycling routes near where they are staying.
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All set to go! Tuscany by bike. |
There are several guided bicycle tours of Tuscany offered on the internet. These have the advantage of providing the bikes, a support vehicle and accommodation booked along the routes, plus, of course, the planning of the route itself. Some are accompanied by a guide while other provide a route plan and are effectively self-guided. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to lock oneself into an organised tour, guided or self-guided. Armed with a good route book, you can easily choose a base and nearby routes. On the other hand, if the organised tour provides the bicycles, you could well save a lot of time unless you are experienced at shipping your own bike.
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All set to win the Eroica! |
e-Bikes in Tuscany
For those of you who are not as fit as you used to be, the availability of very user-friendly power-assisted e-bikes (electric bikes, booster bikes) opens up the wonderful world of bicycle exploration of Tuscany. Once again, I recommend to make at least your initial excursions on the back roads, including dirt roads, where there is little traffic, little noise and plenty to see. e-Bikes are readily available as rentals and for the Chianti area of Tuscany, I can strongly recommend Tuscany e-Bike Rental snc. They are located in Gaiole in Chianti, but will transport your bikes to you within any reasonable distance of Gaiole.
More about Tuscany e-Bike rentals in Tuscany.
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e-Bikes in Tuscany |
I have reviewed a selection of cycling atlases of Italy and Tuscany here.
A comprehensive assortment of Tuscany bicycling route books
Today's top links: For everything you need to know about what to do and where to stay in Tuscany: The Chianti Travel Guide and The Greve in Chianti Tuscany Blog.
Author: Anna Maria Baldini
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