Journal
Can you go on a cycling tour if you haven’t ridden a bike in a long time? How can you tell which difficulty level is right for you? And do you need to be an experienced cyclist to travel around Italy by bike?
The short answer is no—you don’t need to be a professional cyclist.
The short answer is no—you don’t need to be a professional cyclist.
How to prepare for a cycling tour and choose the right route
A cycling tour isn’t a race or an endurance test. It’s a journey where a bike helps you see more: small towns, coastal roads, olive groves, vineyards, mountain passes, and places ordinary tourists don’t always get to visit.
All you need is a willingness to give it a try, a sense of adventure, and a readiness to spend a few days on the move.
Everything else can be tailored to you.
All you need is a willingness to give it a try, a sense of adventure, and a readiness to spend a few days on the move.
Everything else can be tailored to you.
“
Can you go on a cycling tour if you haven’t ridden a bike in a long time?
— YES
If the last time you got on a bike was several years ago, that doesn’t mean a cycling tour isn’t for you.
Of course, it’s important to be realistic about your fitness and not choose the most challenging route for your first trip. But there’s a big difference between "I haven’t ridden in a long time" and "I can’t do it."
Our tours welcome people with all kinds of experience:
So age alone isn’t a barrier. What matters more is how you feel, your willingness to get moving, and choosing the right route.
Of course, it’s important to be realistic about your fitness and not choose the most challenging route for your first trip. But there’s a big difference between "I haven’t ridden in a long time" and "I can’t do it."
Our tours welcome people with all kinds of experience:
- regular cyclists;
- people getting back on a bike after a long break;
- first-timers on a multi-day trip;
- families with children;
- older travelers;
- people looking for an active holiday without turning it into a sporting challenge.
So age alone isn’t a barrier. What matters more is how you feel, your willingness to get moving, and choosing the right route.
How to choose the right difficulty level for a cycling tour
Cycling tours in Italy differ not only in region and scenery, but also in terrain, distance, amount of climbing, and pace.
That’s why we don’t expect everyone in a group to ride the same way. We take participants' fitness levels into account and help them choose a tour they can enjoy—rather than spend the whole time wondering whether they’ll have enough energy to keep going.
That’s why we don’t expect everyone in a group to ride the same way. We take participants' fitness levels into account and help them choose a tour they can enjoy—rather than spend the whole time wondering whether they’ll have enough energy to keep going.
IF YOU’RE A BEGINNER OR HAVEN’T RIDDEN IN A WHILE
For your first cycling tour, choose a route with gentler terrain, a comfortable pace, and plenty of opportunities to stop along the way.
Good options include:
Apulia — a relaxed pace, small towns, olive groves, whitewashed streets, and roads linking historic sites.
Sicily — a mix of beautiful scenery, small towns, the sea, and stops to enjoy local food. You can choose a route that doesn’t require athletic fitness.
Sardinia — a great choice if you’d like to combine cycling with nature, the sea, and leisurely walks. Be sure to consider the specific terrain and daily distances when choosing a route.
For your first cycling tour, choose a route with gentler terrain, a comfortable pace, and plenty of opportunities to stop along the way.
Good options include:
Apulia — a relaxed pace, small towns, olive groves, whitewashed streets, and roads linking historic sites.
Sicily — a mix of beautiful scenery, small towns, the sea, and stops to enjoy local food. You can choose a route that doesn’t require athletic fitness.
Sardinia — a great choice if you’d like to combine cycling with nature, the sea, and leisurely walks. Be sure to consider the specific terrain and daily distances when choosing a route.
IF YOU’RE A CONFIDENT CYCLIST
If you ride regularly, are used to covering long distances, and aren’t put off by climbs, you might consider a more challenging route.
Tuscany is a good choice if you want to do more than admire the scenery—you'd also like to experience the region’s varied terrain.
The Dolomites are best suited to fitter riders looking for mountain roads, significant elevation gain, and a real cycling challenge.
Even a challenging route shouldn’t feel like a battle against yourself. The effort should match your abilities and what you want from the trip.
If you ride regularly, are used to covering long distances, and aren’t put off by climbs, you might consider a more challenging route.
Tuscany is a good choice if you want to do more than admire the scenery—you'd also like to experience the region’s varied terrain.
The Dolomites are best suited to fitter riders looking for mountain roads, significant elevation gain, and a real cycling challenge.
Even a challenging route shouldn’t feel like a battle against yourself. The effort should match your abilities and what you want from the trip.
“
What if I’m not sure I’m up to it?
For situations like this, we offer different types of bikes. You can choose a traditional bike if you’d like more of a workout and are comfortable setting your own pace—or opt for an e-bike.
An e-bike doesn’t take away from the journey or make it any less real. It simply helps you manage your energy and feel more confident on climbs, longer stages, or days when you’d rather focus on the scenery. It can be especially helpful when people with different fitness levels are riding in the same group.
Some people can ride under their own steam. Others may need a little extra support.
And that’s perfectly okay.
An e-bike doesn’t take away from the journey or make it any less real. It simply helps you manage your energy and feel more confident on climbs, longer stages, or days when you’d rather focus on the scenery. It can be especially helpful when people with different fitness levels are riding in the same group.
Some people can ride under their own steam. Others may need a little extra support.
And that’s perfectly okay.
What happens if you get tired along the way?
We won’t leave you to deal with difficulties on the road alone. Our guides are professional athletes who know cycling inside out. They can help you pace yourself, find a comfortable rhythm, and tackle a climb. They ride with the group, offer help with technical issues, and make sure the journey stays enjoyable.
If you feel you need a break, you can hop into the support vehicle. That’s not a failure, and there’s no need to feel awkward about it. Sometimes the best way to keep enjoying the journey is to rest when you need to.
Our goal isn’t to make every rider cover every kilometre at all costs. It’s to help you enjoy the route—and leave you eager to ride again.
If you feel you need a break, you can hop into the support vehicle. That’s not a failure, and there’s no need to feel awkward about it. Sometimes the best way to keep enjoying the journey is to rest when you need to.
Our goal isn’t to make every rider cover every kilometre at all costs. It’s to help you enjoy the route—and leave you eager to ride again.
“
Do I need to train before a cycling tour?
How much preparation you’ll need depends on the route you choose.
If you haven’t ridden in a while, you can start getting ready in advance:
Before your trip, we recommend talking with us about the distances, elevation gain, type of bike, and details of the tour. That will help you decide whether it’s right for you and how best to prepare.
If you haven’t ridden in a while, you can start getting ready in advance:
- Go for short rides a few times a week.
- Gradually increase the distance.
- Try riding up a few gentle hills.
- See how comfortable you feel in the saddle.
- Let the tour organizers know about your fitness level and cycling experience.
Before your trip, we recommend talking with us about the distances, elevation gain, type of bike, and details of the tour. That will help you decide whether it’s right for you and how best to prepare.
It’s not a race
The most important thing to remember before your first cycling tour is that you’re not riding to be the first to arrive.
A cycling tour isn’t a race.
There’s time to stop for photos, enjoy a coffee, try the local food, chat with other riders, and simply take in the scenery. You don’t have to keep up a fast pace or prove you’re stronger than anyone else. And you don’t have to turn every climb into a personal athletic test.
You came to Italy to explore. The bike simply lets you see it from a different perspective.
A cycling tour isn’t a race.
There’s time to stop for photos, enjoy a coffee, try the local food, chat with other riders, and simply take in the scenery. You don’t have to keep up a fast pace or prove you’re stronger than anyone else. And you don’t have to turn every climb into a personal athletic test.
You came to Italy to explore. The bike simply lets you see it from a different perspective.
“
Can the whole family go on a cycling tour?
— ABSOLUTELY!
A cycling trip can be a wonderful family adventure—especially when you choose the right route and format.
One family might enjoy a relaxed tour in Apulia. Another might prefer exploring Sardinia, with a mix of cycling and walks. Some family members may want e-bikes, while others might feel more comfortable in a small group. Or a private tour could be the best fit, with the flexibility to adjust the pace and itinerary.
We’ll help you find an option that suits your family’s size, ages, cycling experience, and expectations.
Because the perfect family cycling tour isn’t about everyone riding the same number of miles. It’s the one that leaves you chatting about the journey over dinner and reminiscing about the most beautiful places you saw.
One family might enjoy a relaxed tour in Apulia. Another might prefer exploring Sardinia, with a mix of cycling and walks. Some family members may want e-bikes, while others might feel more comfortable in a small group. Or a private tour could be the best fit, with the flexibility to adjust the pace and itinerary.
We’ll help you find an option that suits your family’s size, ages, cycling experience, and expectations.
Because the perfect family cycling tour isn’t about everyone riding the same number of miles. It’s the one that leaves you chatting about the journey over dinner and reminiscing about the most beautiful places you saw.
WHAT MATTERS MOST ISN’T FITNESS—IT’S THE WILLINGNESS TO GO
There’s no one “right” age for a cycling tour. No required fitness level. And no rule that only people who train regularly can travel by bike.
There are different routes, bikes, paces, and formats. Apulia is a great introduction to cycling holidays. Sicily and Sardinia are for those who want to combine riding with nature and new experiences. Tuscany and the Dolomites offer more for confident cyclists. There are e-bikes, support from guides, and the option to take a break whenever you need one.
There’s no one “right” age for a cycling tour. No required fitness level. And no rule that only people who train regularly can travel by bike.
There are different routes, bikes, paces, and formats. Apulia is a great introduction to cycling holidays. Sicily and Sardinia are for those who want to combine riding with nature and new experiences. Tuscany and the Dolomites offer more for confident cyclists. There are e-bikes, support from guides, and the option to take a break whenever you need one.
And there’s the chance to experience Italy from the inside—not through a car window, but along its roads, through its towns and landscapes, and among its people.
A CYCLING TOUR DOESN’T BEGIN WITH PERFECT FITNESS. IT BEGINS WITH THE DECISION TO GIVE IT A TRY.
If you’ve been dreaming of a trip like this for a long time, maybe now is the moment.
You can go solo.
You can go with friends.
Or bring the whole family to Italy and make memories together.
A CYCLING TOUR DOESN’T BEGIN WITH PERFECT FITNESS. IT BEGINS WITH THE DECISION TO GIVE IT A TRY.
If you’ve been dreaming of a trip like this for a long time, maybe now is the moment.
You can go solo.
You can go with friends.
Or bring the whole family to Italy and make memories together.
We'll create a personalized itinerary for you
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