10 Reasons To Love Our Tuscany Bike Tours

Undoubtedly there are more than 10 reasons to join us on a bike tour in Tuscany. Here’s one place we shine effortlessly. After all, Ciclismo Classico began offering its first bike tours there nearly 30 years ago. But here’s an open window into our Tuscan world, a glimpse into those reasons why we are so uniquely integrated and connected to this special place. So I’m taking a moment here to share a few extraordinary people, places, and experiences; things you may or may not know about our most beloved home-base, La Toscana.

“”I particularly enjoyed the early morning in Arezzo when I met and spoke Italian with an old man, who had thought I was lost. He introduced me to his dogs and took me for an espresso in the main square with his friends…and all this happened before breakfast!””

–Amy H., Assaggio Toscana

1. It all started here. We know Tuscany THE best, by default.

La Lorena, Lauren Hefferon, Founder of Ciclismo Classico reflects on her early days in Italy: “”The highlight of my time in Florence was being a part of a large cycling club that would join other cycling clubs in the area on the weekends for a massive (and super fast) bicycle ride. Each weekend, the rides would follow a gorgeous route into the hills of Tuscany. Within a year of my three-year stay in Florence, I had learned all of the most gorgeous roads!””  It all started with a passion and a curiosity for Italy. In search of her Italian roots and gorgeous roads to ride, Lauren Hefferon’s year-long Rotary scholarship to Italy evolved into a three-year cultural immersion, which included hanging out at Mario Conti’s bike shop in Florence (and learning the local dialect), racing for his team while discovering Tuscany through her new network of fun-loving Italian cycling friends. Lauren founded Ciclismo Classico in 1988, realizing a dream of combining her passion for cycling with her love for Italy. And, in fact, this love affair all started in Tuscany.

2. Basecamp Tuscany. Our core Italian team lives in the heart of Tuscany. This is home, casa nostra. 

Behind the scenes, at our Tuscan “”basecamp”” a lot happens. With Massimo De Laurentiis leading the team, Aldo Papini managing, purchasing, and maintaining our fleet of Bianchi bikes and Jacopo Montobbio carefully steering the ship as European Coordinator of Operations, these guys keep our tours running smoothly. 

3. Our amazing top-end Bianchi bikes & bike maestro Aldo Papini.

The word maestro in Italian means “”teacher”” but it also means “”master”” or “”expert.”” Aldo is just that.

Aldo Papini, our in-house bike manager and mecchanic, has lived in Tuscany all of his life. Eighteen years ago, he began working with Ciclismo Classico and no doubt, together with his right-hand man Jacopo Mantobbio, they rock the “”manpower behind the curtain”” when it comes to overseeing quality, maintenance, and improvements in our bike fleet.

Bianchi. It’s the legendary blue steed that made Fausto Coppi the “champion of champions” and Marco Pantani the king of the hill. It still turns heads around the world. It’s your personal bicycle, your new best friend as you pedal your way to exciting adventures. Stylish, a little racy, and quintessentially Italian, all of our bikes are custom-built for Ciclismo Classico.

For 2018, we have all sorts of goodies and new surprises to share with you, including new and improved Bianchi hybrid bikes, an upgrade to an all-carbon collection of road bikes, and brand new E-bikes. More news in upcoming posts!

4. Hosting guests in Tuscany is our craft, passion, and livelihood. Il Molinello: Sandro & Elisa.

Sandro Draghi is a property owner and a tour guide. So, his approach is dual. His role puts a new spin on the concept of accoglienza or hospitality. This enchanting farmhouse Agriturismo il Molinello, where he lives with his wife Elisa, on the outskirts of Asciano, Tuscany. He and his entire family (grandparents, wife and children) orchestrate the daily activities of running this delightful, historical place: a restored mill that dates back to the 13th century. During the tour season, while Sandro is out leading trips around Italy and beyond, Elisa holds down the fort–among a million other things this talented woman does. Guests who have experienced the magic of Sandro’s home, il Molinello, have described is as “”a place of beauty but above all, a place were you are surrounded by graciousness.”” 

“”The guides and the intimate sightseeing experience cycling through beautiful scenery, smelling the smells, meeting locals and getting a sense for the day-to-day life of the people made for a perfect vacation.””

–Lisa P., Heart of Tuscany

5. Tuscan artists & artisans: Meet violinist Jamie Maire Lazzara.

For those lucky guests who have been on Tuscany Green or Tuscany & L’Eroica bike tours, you’ve probably experienced the amazing presence of Jamie Marie Lazzara during our final evening celebration. The woman not only makes these beautiful instruments, but she plays them beautifully as well. Since opening her shop in Florence 20 years ago, Jamie has been the subject of hundreds of interviews with news outlets around the world, including Public Radio International. 

Today, Jamie builds custom instruments as well as period instruments, like citterns, and kit violins, for renowned musicians, local artists, and even for the likes of Barack Obama. Here is an excellent short video about Jamie and her work.

6. Our Tuscan winemaker guides: Guiditta Parisi & Massimo De Laurentiis.

Not only is Ciclsimo Classico guide Giuditta Parisi is a keen, graceful cyclist with a voracious passion for good food and wine, but she and her dynamic family are living the dream. They have been able to combine all of their individual artistic talents and remarkable work ethic to produce delicious, high-quality wines with an imaginative flair. 

Giuditta and her family run a winery called NostraVita—a featured visit on our popular Heart of Tuscany trip—which deeply explores the heart and soul of the legendary wine regions of Chianti and Val d’Orcia. Giuditta’s family produces Brunello di Montalcino (5,000 bottles per year) and Rosso di Montalcino (5,000 bottles per year), two of Italy’s most prestigious wines. 

In 2017, Top Guide and Director of Italy Operations Massimo De Laurentiis took on a new adventure in wine making by purchasing a wine estate in Tuscany, close to the village of Cetona. The farm, Tuscan Soul, produces wine and extra virgin olive oil. He’s growing Sangiovese, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and two very rare and indigenous varieties similar to Abrusco and Abrostine. Stay tuned for more news and updates on Massimo’s wine adventure!

7. Fabiana Luperini: Tuscan cycling professional and NEW Ciclismo Classico guide – Alla Grande!

Fabiana Luperini began leading tours with Ciclismo Classico in the Fall of 2017. We are so honored to have this wonderful, humble soul on our team. Fabiana Luperini won the Giro d’Italia Femminile with four consecutive victories in 1995–1998, plus a fifth ten years later, in 2008. She has won the Grande Boucle Féminine three times consecutively, from 1995 to 1997. In 1998, she won the Tour de l’Aude, and in 2006 she won the lurreta-Emakumeen Bira. Yes, this is her story…

The 43-year old was born in Pontedera, so she is a Tuscany native. Coached by her father as a little girl, Fabiana began racing at the young age of seven years old. That same year, she was hit by a truck (not racing, but just riding) and received many stitches in her knee. With fierce determination and amazing talent, she persevered on and continued to race and ride for nearly another 20 years. Known for her excellent climbing skills, Fabiana was nicknamed “”Pantanina”” (after the famous Marco Pantani, otherwise known as il Pirata, 1970-2004).

Fabiana shares: “”Guiding tours is a beautiful experience that allows me to do the thing that I love most and at the same time see new places and learn more about my own culture and others.”” She humbly adds, “”This was my very first tour and although I have no problems with the riding or teaching/training and sharing part of cycling, I want to improve in other areas.””

8. L’Eroica—an unforgettable Tuscan vintage bicycle ride.

Vintage steel frame bikes with downtube shifters and toe-clips, woolen jerseys, leather shoes and white gravel roads—these have become part of everyone’s favorite ride of the year. From unforgiving climbs that test both body and mind to the mystical feel of candle-lit paths at the start of the ride to overflowing bowls of ribollita soup and Chianti rosso at rest stops, L’Eroica is a ride like no other. It’s a truly unique and special event celebrating the golden years of cycling, the true heroism of once-upon-a-time cyclists. L’Eroica has become renowned worldwide for its festive spirit and captivating emotion. No wonder our 2018 Tuscany & L’Eroica bike tour is sold out.

9. Viva Florence: Our favorite Ciclismo haunts.

We like to think of Florence as our local playground. We’ve got all the best hidden secret cultural and foodie stops to share with you that nobody else knows about simply because we live here and if we don’t know where to go in a particular neighborhood of Florence, we know exactly who to ask!  Need help or recommendations on any of your Tuscany pre- or post-tour plans in Florence? Let us know. We’ve got you covered.

10. Tuscan food & wine. Si! We can’t say enough.

We allow ourselves full bragging rights when it comes to Tuscan food and wine, We’ve got this. Living, working, breathing these comestibles in our every day life is joyful. Sharing all this knowledge and appreciation with our guests, keeps us on our toes. We cannot take it all for granted. In Italian, we refer to Tuscan cooking as cucina rustica (rustic, country cooking) and it’s characterized by simple food that’s not overpowered by heavy sauces. In this region, all the cooking is done with olive oil (no butter, which is used mostly in northern regions). Olive oil crudo is used as a salad dressing, poured over raw veggies and bread, and in soups and stews. Beans are also a staple. Sage, rosemary, and basil are popular spices. Grilling over vine embers and chestnut wood is preferred. The Florentine steak, grilled flat over an open fire and served rare, is a tradition tracing back to the Etruscans. There are paintings from as far back as the eighth century B.C. showing this practice. Chicken is also split, spiced, and broiled. Other meats and sausages are skewered before broiling. Vegetable and bean soups like ribollita are very popular in Tuscany, as are bread porridges such as pappa al pomodoro. Check out this article focused on Tuscan bread soups (includes recipes!).

When cycling along gorgeous Tuscan roads on our Assaggio Toscana trip, guests often ask, “”What kind of crops are grown here?”” For centuries, the farmland surrounding Florence produced olive oil, wine, wheat, corn (though this was a new-world crop that probably didn’t become popular until the late Renaissance period) and fruit. Farms grew vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, spinach, cardoons, beans, and peas. Small estates also raised chickens, ducks, rabbits, and pigs, with locals making small hams and boar hams. Finocchiona (salami flavored with fennel seeds) is still a Tuscan favorite. You would have found cows in the valley of Chianti and Maremma (closer to the sea). But because Tuscan cows are not raised to produce milk, there is little local cheese, other than pecorino (which is made with sheep’s milk). The surrounding woods are home to truffles, and a great quantity of mushrooms, including porcini, ovoli, and morels.  

Vino Veritas: “In (Tuscan) Wine There is Truth.” Wine or vino is always present at the Italian table and is considered an integral part of any meal. You will find excellent wine throughout Italy, and especially in Tuscany. The DOC and DOCG labels guarantee that the wine is produced using traditional methods and that its grape content satisfies the new standards. In 1992 a new classification “IGT” was introduced in an attempt to include many non-traditional grapes—like Cabernet in the Chianti region. Tuscany boasts some of Italy’s most famous wines, such as Chianti Classico, Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and many, many more. We’ll be sampling an impressive variety of Tuscan wines on our any one of our Tuscany Bike tours. On our Tuscany Green tour, Top Guide, olive oil and wine sommelier Alessandro Draghi teaches you the ins and outs of how to do a proper tasting (while having loads of fun!) with these great products––the daily staples of Tuscan life.

P.S. Did I mention the stunning Tuscan landscapes? 

From yoga to fine cuisine, eco-friendly stays to vintage cycling races, we have an ideal tour for you. Learn more about our unforgettable Tuscan bike tours. 

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