You're riding through Medieval villages with cobbled streets that barely accommodate a small car. But the locals seem rarely put off by cyclists—single or in groups. As with the pace overall in Italy, they take the short wait to get around you in stride. That includes the little trucks that work the vineyards and farms. In Italy, the scenery is as promised: vineyards, spiraling junipers, and the charming towns themselves. If you've ever watched the pro cycling races rip through these little towns all over Europe, you know how the cafes come right up to the narrow roads. Most are geared for cyclists. With many stopping for a mid-ride lunch, espresso or glass of wine. Fueling up before pedaling off to the next borgo. You quickly feel like you're in the right place. Expectations, exceeded.
I love Italy. I'd been looking forward to going back to Tuscany and getting to ride there was the realization of a long time dream. The week before we left, I was challenging myself to manage my expectations because I'd been waiting for this for so long— for a while not even sure it would be possible. This trip capped the year for my road cycling, post wreck and pre-surgery. It was definitely a motivating force during my training. Something that I wanted to be ready to do and ride well.
The reality was it all far exceeded my expectations in every imaginable way.
Easy on the eyes, not necessarily the legs.
Tuscany is not easy riding. It's why many pro cyclists train there. There are no straightaways and constant up and down with vertical that accumulates in a sneaky way. There can be punchy short climbs — sometimes just a quarter of a mile— but they go up to 20% grade. You have to hit those with some momentum and definitely have your gearing right. It's both beautiful and challenging.
InGamba offers a unique way to cycle through multiple places in the world. In Italy, we stayed in the tiny town of Lecchi and rode out of there in a different direction each day. One day heading to Castellina. Panzano the next. Cycling past Castelnuovo Beradenga. On to Siena. And finally, Crete Sensei.
Exploring on a bike with an outfit like InGamba offers an unparalleled way to see the countryside. Experts including legendary Italian pro cyclist Eros Poli, guide you from quaint village to village. Like the pros, you have the support of sag wagons and soigneurs.
Each day there is delicious local food and wine. You might ride past a vineyard and find yourself sampling a bottle from that very same place that night at dinner. It is magical. Be forewarned if you take on the Chianti Classico trip, you must earn your Aperol spritz at the end of each day with a last, hard 800 foot climb back up to Lecchi. Tuscany was just another thing on the list of options I thought I might have missed out on when I began to find my Wayback. Riding there, and riding well, was La Dolce Vita in more ways than one.
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