It is only flat in a few river valleys and there is often a lot of traffic. Although the Italians have recently been signposting more and more cycle paths in the Arno Valley, these routes often end up in a traffic jam. The search for small side roads requires good planning and patience.
Charakater:
Cyclists in Tuscany need time, leisure and, above all, fitness. The hilly landscape, which always looks so lovely in the photos, reveals itself to be a constant uphill, downhill ride with often steep ramps. It is only flat in a few river valleys and there is often a lot of traffic. Although the Italians have recently been signposting more and more cycle paths in the Arno Valley, these routes often end up in traffic jams.
The search for small side roads requires good planning and patience. However, you can also discover many unknown things this way. The ideal way to explore Tuscany is by car. This allows you to organise day trips according to your needs. Good starting points: Lucca, San Gimignano, Castellina in Chanti or Siena.
Which bike?
A bike with a 7-speed hub has no place in Tuscany. Good gear ratios and the lowest possible weight not only significantly increase the riding pleasure, but also make exploring the sometimes steep hilly terrain possible in the first place. We also recommend slightly wider, robust tyres for the most beautiful, car-free gravel roads.
Travelling time:
In May and June, Tuscany is a sea of flowers and the temperatures are ideal for cycling. In July/August, the hotels are overcrowded and the sun is blazing hot. The golden autumn in September/October is also worthwhile for the grape and olive harvest.
Literature/Maps:
Bikeline Cycling Atlas "Tuscany" with detailed maps 1:100 000 and
Additional information on culture and places to stop for refreshments. Suggestions for multi-day tours and circular tours, Verlag Esterbauer, 122 pages, 14.50 euros, mailto:bikeline@esterbauer.com , http://www.esterbauer.com ;
Reise Know-How "Toscana", travel guide with lots of tips on where to stay, Reise Know How Verlag Bielefeld, 696 pages, 19.90 euros.
Italy map sheet 7 "Toscana", Kümmerly+Frey, 1:200 000, 7.90 euros.
Information:
Italian Tourist Office in Frankfurt, Tel. 069/237434, http://www.enit.it ; Tourist Office of the Province of Siena, APT Siena, Via di Citta 43, I-53100 Siena, ask here for the German-language brochure "terredisiena in bici" (in the Sienese countryside by bike).
Touring areas:
Around Lucca:
The city and the surrounding area with its countless villas are particularly suitable for one or more day trips. Pisa with its leaning tower is also easy to reach from Lucca.
Around Siena:
Strada Bianca is what Italians call those small gravel roads on which you can explore the hilly countryside to the south of Siena. However, don't plan your daily stages too generously. There is more to discover in this picture-postcard landscape than you might think.
Chianti round tours:
The medieval village of Castellina in Chianti is an ideal starting point at a high altitude. From here you can easily reach the small town of Radda in Chianti or start a circular tour through the vineyards above Poggibonsi, which are so popular with connoisseurs. Please note: the smallest roads are often unpaved. Some extreme gradients are to be expected.
Homemade pasta:
Pasta is the ideal food for active cyclists. What could be more natural than learning how to prepare perfect pasta in the land of origin of flavours. Cookery courses are all the rage in Tuscany at the moment. Depending on how much you want to learn and your budget, these can last up to a week. The highlight of an enjoyable afternoon at the "Coselli cookery school" near Lucca, for example, was homemade ravioli filled with wild asparagus and a sophisticated truffle and cheese butter sauce. Strengthened in this way, every climb loses its terror. Information on the Internet: http://www.coselli.com
The full-length article from issue 2/2005 is available as a free PDF download.
