Money is a great motivator for planning self guided bike tours.
Italy is a very bike friendly country, so with a little work and
knowledge it is relatively easy to plan a rather exciting trip
biking in Italy. It can save you from one half to two thirds of
the cost of a fully organized and chaperoned one. Understand that
there are two different ways to accomplish this.
Tour Company: Self Guided Bike Tours:
Italy has a number of small operators that are willing to organize
and plan Italian bike tours. They have extensive experience and
knowledge of local roadways, great vistas and unique cultural
and tourism values, so there is great value in paying a few extra
dollars to benefits from their experience. It can assure you a
trouble free vacation.
Companies:
As well there are a number of international players like Nichols
Expeditions & Bike Riders from the US, Pedal & Sea Adventures
from Canada and Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring from Ireland that
provide a similar service, if you would prefer to deal with an
English speaking operator. They typically have in-country joint
venture partners to co-ordinate their Italian bike tours.
Tour company Services:
Bicycle tour companies can provide detailed route maps, daily
luggage transfers and have great lodging waiting for you each
evening in a wide geographical selection of self guided bike tours.
Italy, as I'm sure you know by now is pretty hilly if not mountainous
in some areas and having a company move your luggage from hotel
to hotel, reducing your bicycle's payload, is certainly a great
asset. They can also keep you off the main arteries and away from
the worst of the heavily tourist pathways if that is your desire.
Self Designed Bike Tours:
A more difficult option is to plan your biking-in-italy holiday
entirely on your own. This is certainly doable, but having traveled
quite extensively, I'm not sure that you really save any money,
if that is in fact your agenda. Finding good value and clean accommodation
is not always easy in ancient hill communities where even the
3 star hotel standard is not always available .
Your best bet is to review what some self guided bike tour operators
have to offer first when they are doing the arrangements. At the
very least this will give you a great starting point in knowing
where to go if you choose to make all your own arrangements Their
evaluation of trail complexity in each of the regions of Italy
will be quite valuable so you don't get in over your head. Self
Guided Bike Tours are a great way to allow you to travel at a
pace that works for you. You just need to make sure you've asked
all the right questions.
More Information:
Italian Cycling Tours
