Taking a tour in Italy? Bicycle Trips are a once in a life time vacation and you want it to be all about fun and life experiences and certainly NOT an endurance test. But without the right bike, traveling for 6 or 8 hours a day could become just that! So what can you do to make sure the bike you end up with is as great as the scenery around you?
First maybe have a discussion about whether renting a bike is the way to go. If your intent is to travel long distances for many hours per day and straight up the Swiss Alps on the most challenging trails it may be worth considering taking your own bike on the airplane. Your body has conformed to your bike seat and your mind is timed to the sweet spot on the shifter so for demanding rides nothing can beat your own machine.
But maybe your intent is to be somewhat less aggressive on your tour in Italy. Bicycle trips up the amazing valley and coastal roads can be enjoyed with a great Italian racer. Creating an itinerary with one of the better known travel operators can give you access to equally good rental bikes. There is one big advantage. You don't have to wait in stressful silence to see if your bike does make it off the plane in one piece, or in fact does make it to the right destination, so here's a list of the some of the things you might want to think about if arranging a rental.
Year, make and model of the bicycle. You want to make sure that the rental agency is upgrading their rental bikes on an ongoing basis.
Type of gear shifters. You'll want to use the same style of shifters as what you ride with at home, if at all possible. This will make your riding more enjoyable if the learning curve is shorter.
Gear Ratio. Does the rental company have the ability to match the gear ratio or bike to the intended trails? This can be significantly different for each area of Italy. Bicycle trips through the mountainous interior will demand a different gear ratio then the valley roads.
Shoe clip? Not all shoes use the same peddle clip so ask if you prefer to ride with biking shoes.
And of course the obvious questions of cost with a clear understanding of the drop off and pick up times so you don't end up with any extra fees. I've found that bike rentals in Italy run typically between 100 and 150 EUR per week, obviously cheaper per day for longer rentals.
We have more information on line about the 4 most exciting districts to visit when planning a bicycle tour in Italy, including a discussion of boxing your bike for airplane transportation and a more extensive list of critical issues on bicycle rentals in Italy. Come for a visit!
Type of gear shifters. You'll want to use the same style of shifters as what you ride with at home, if at all possible. This will make your riding more enjoyable if the learning curve is shorter.
Gear Ratio. Does the rental company have the ability to match the gear ratio or bike to the intended trails? This can be significantly different for each area of Italy. Bicycle trips through the mountainous interior will demand a different gear ratio then the valley roads.
Shoe clip? Not all shoes use the same peddle clip so ask if you prefer to ride with biking shoes.
And of course the obvious questions of cost with a clear understanding of the drop off and pick up times so you don't end up with any extra fees. I've found that bike rentals in Italy run typically between 100 and 150 EUR per week, obviously cheaper per day for longer rentals.
We have more information on line about the 4 most exciting districts to visit when planning a bicycle tour in Italy, including a discussion of boxing your bike for airplane transportation and a more extensive list of critical issues on bicycle rentals in Italy. Come for a visit!
It is a great temptation to make bicycle tour in Italy. It is something different and unusual. It is extremely important to find a good italy trip planner in order to prepare the suitable for bicycle tour itinerary.
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