Tips for cycling in Tuscany
We love to head to Tuscany for a holiday for a late summer or early Autumn break. We have been all over Tuscany in Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano, Lake Trasimeno in the Tuscan hills and then on the coast at Viareggio and around Grosetto in the south. This year we are headed to Chianti, for the famous L’Erocia vintage bike race. https://ebike-europe.com/tuscany-a-colourful-treat/
There is always so much to see, taste, smell and experience, you could spend weeks here and never tire of it. The food as you would expect is delicious and I would say to everyone, just try everything and ask for suggestions from your host. Keeping an open mind and open taste buds are a must in Tuscany.
It’s a little different in Tuscany
If you have been ebiking in other areas of central or Northern Europe you may find this area a little different. Take 2 minutes to read my suggestions and it will save you time when you get there. If you have any further suggestions, then please send them to me so I can add them to the list.
Top Tips
- Get a map for bike tracks, and make sure you can read it. The signage is a little hit-and-miss, so a map is really important. We used the Kompass map for the area of Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano area and Lake Trasimeno.
- Stick to the bike tracks marked as going off those tracks can be disastrous. Some can be impassable and more like walking tracks rather than anything close to a bike track. (this is from personal experience.)
- You can use Komoot or similar apps for planning routes; however, use it alongside Google Maps as they tend to send you down farm tracks, which are only suitable for goats and sheep. I find a mixture of the two works really well.
- Keep an eye on your route on the map, as there are very few signs to direct you. I know it can be a pain to keep checking the map, but it could save you from getting lost.
- If you have a bike computer, then use it; however, some of the signal cover is poor. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help when you need to find your way home.
- The terrain is undulating, which makes it perfect for e-biking. Use the power when you need a wee hand and turn it off for the lovely downhill parts.
- The White Roads “Strade Bianchi” are flat’ish chalk roads that are used as B-roads. They are normally a decent road surface but watch out after a few rainy days as they can become difficult to ride. Remember to take care on these surfaces as they can be a little slippy and also can be interspersed with big stones. They are however the most beautiful sections through amazing countryside and well worth the effort.
Preparation and Bike types
- I would recommend a mountain ebike or a trekking ebike with big knobbly tyres. Take a bit of air out of the tyres as the roads are bumpy. This will give you a little more suspension and avoid punctures due to the hard, bumpy paths.
- A city bike would be okay as long as the tyres are bigger and not the narrower ones that are standard on city bikes.
- Tracks have quite big stones in places so tend to look like a dry riverbed rather than a track. Taking your time and picking your way through is essential to avoid scrapes and bruises.
- Take spare inner tubes with you and make sure you know how to change them. (Or employ my husband as your bike mechanic!)
- Take a picnic as there can be quite a lot of routes that don’t have a café, restaurant or supermarket.
- Ask to charge up your battery whenever you stop so you can relax about getting home with enough power.
- Cycling 30 km on these roads and tracks feels more like 40 or 50 km. This is due to the focus you need on keeping your bike upright and avoiding the bumps, lumps and holes. Be alert all the time.
- Early and late season – be prepared for changes in the weather. Take arm warmers or long-sleeved warm tops as well as rain jackets and gloves, you could get a couple of seasons in 1 day.
Recommendation
I wouldn’t recommend Val D’Orcia for people who are new to ebiking as the infrastructure for cycling is not easy. The signage is a bit hit and miss and the tracks can be rough and difficult to navigate. On the positive side, there are parts that are very easy and have good road surfaces. These tend to B-roads and therefore if you are not that confident, you might find the traffic is a bit challenging.
The area around San Gimignano and in Chianti are great for riding bikes either on the White Roads “Strada Bianchi” or on B-roads which are quieter.
Why I love Tuscany
I have been to Tuscany countless times and I love it. It is such a beautiful place and well worth a visit. The pull of the excellent wine, food and Italian culture is what takes us back year after year. I love just getting on my bike and normally getting a bit lost but also coming across the most amazing views, little cafe or even a ‘truffle’ restaurant which we did last year. It’s things like this than can make a great holiday, unforgettable. You cannot beat the beauty of the landscape and what better way to really get to know a destination, than from 2 wheels.