People Are Asking

You’re right—there are hundreds of companies to choose from. However, you won’t find a more intimate, immersive, and culturally rich experience anywhere else. We are experts on Italy, with tours covering the most regions, led by local guides with a deep understanding of the culture. We bring this same approach when we expand into new countries, like France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, and many more.

We have been in operation since 1989, and our expertise has only expanded as we’ve grown

Our guides are locals—many of them native to the regions they lead—and experts on their routes. This means they can fully immerse you in your journey, introducing you to people, places, and flavors that even many locals have never experienced! Our guides consistently receive ’10 out of 10′ on guest evaluations and are, without a doubt, the #1 reason our guests return year after year.

It starts with answering a few questions.

• How long would you like to ride (i.e. how many days)?
• What time of year would you like to travel?
• How much do you bike – both in terms of distance and terrain?
• Would you like to be challenged or do you prefer a relaxed pace?

With these answers, you can start narrowing down which rides are best for you using our tour finder. Our expert Travel Consultants are also available to help you find the perfect tour match! It’s essential to ensure that your dream vacation aligns with one of our tours. Fill out our contact us form, or call our office any-time Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm EST.

Easy: Terrain is flat to rolling hills and 20-30 average miles per day

Athletic Beginner: Terrain is rolling hills and 30-40 average miles per day

Intermediate: Terrain is hilly and 30-50 average miles per day

Advanced: Terrain is hilly to mountainous and 40-50 average miles per day

Absolutely! We can put you in touch with a reference who has done that tour.

Each tour includes all breakfasts, most dinners, and some lunches. Dinners are as much about conviviality as they are about fine cuisine. Menus are crafted to provide a culinary experience that makes a Ciclismo Classico tour memorable both on and off the bike. Dinners typically consist of multiple courses at fine restaurants and local trattorias, though we may also opt for a casual pizza night. We strive to serve what’s local and in season, and we’re flexible in accommodating specific dietary needs.

We are happy to accommodate non-riders, and, in fact, we receive this request quite often. Tours with double-night stays at each hotel are ideal for non-riders, as they allow ample time to explore the town and surrounding area at their own pace.

Non-riders are valued members of the group and enjoy the same hotel, dining, and guide services as riders. As a result, the price for a non-rider is the same.

Yes! We have a partnership with Officine Mattio, who provides custom-built bikes for our customers. Our bikes are kept up-to-date and top-of-the-line, with upgrades every few years. To see our current fleet, you can visit our Bikes and Gear page.

We offer high-performance carbon road bikes and hybrids on all tours. E-bikes are available on a limited selection of our European tours. We also strongly encourage tandem use and provide attachments and trailers for families, which can be attached to our hybrid bikes only.

While our road and hybrid bikes are available on all tours, e-bikes, tandems, and family trailers/ride-alongs are available in limited quantities and come at an additional cost. Visit our Bikes and Gear page for more information.

Ciclismo’s 24-speed, custom-designed ultra-performance hybrid features a welded aluminum frame with straight handlebars. Our sloping design provides superior fit and comfort, better clearance, high performance, and responsiveness. Ultra-performance hybrids are equipped with adjustable stems, 25mm tires, and easy-to-use grip shifters.

We have a limited number of Co-Motion tandems available, so reserve yours early. Our hybrid tandems are equipped with easy-to-use grip shifters and come with either a 24-speed drivetrain and 26-inch wheels or a 27-speed drivetrain and 28-inch wheels.

If you’re using one of our bikes, we fit you based on your height and seat height. We don’t request your bike frame size, as different manufacturers calculate frame sizes differently. All bikes are thoroughly checked before and after your tour, and our mechanics are highly knowledgeable and professional. To see the measurements we need to ensure the best bike fit, please refer to the diagram below.

Measurement A: Seat height
Measurement B: Reach
Measurement C: Handlebar-to-wheel height

We do have a limited number of trail-a-bikes for our family tours, but they can only be mounted to our hybrid bikes.

Our La Classica Ribelle road bikes come with front handlebar bags, and we can add a rear rack upon request in most cases. Keep in mind that our support van accompanies you along the route, providing easy access to a backpack or other bag at rest stops.

Bringing your own bike on tour is a personal choice. Some riders are determined to ride their own bikes, and, of course, being familiar with your own bike is a big advantage. However, there are challenges involved in shipping or bringing it as luggage on the plane, including substantial costs. You might prefer to simply bring your pedals, shoes, and saddle—and leave the rest at home.

For international bike shipping, Luggage Free offers services to over 200 countries, handling all customs documentation and providing door-to-door delivery. For domestic shipments, ShipBikes specializes in affordable bicycle shipping within the United States, offering various shipping containers and services tailored to cyclists’ needs.

Our guides are usually busy organizing the tour and working on the rented bikes. If they have time, they may also be able to assist with your personal bike, depending on your arrival time and when you meet them. There is a $30 handling fee for transporting the bike case on tour, to be paid before the tour.

We offer a variety of sizes in our Giessegi-brand jerseys to ensure you find the perfect fit! For more information on sizing, please refer to the chart below.

In exceptional cases, we may allow a late arrival or early departure. However, we do not recommend these options as substitutes for participating in the full tour. Several of our tours also offer ‘mini’ versions—use our Trip Finder or give us a call to learn more.

On all of our tours, we use charming, comfortable, and unique three- and four-star inns and small hotels. Most of our accommodations are four-star luxury inns and boutique hotels.

Public transportation in Europe is excellent, and in most cases, there’s no need to make reservations in advance unless you plan to travel on a high-speed train (such as Eurostar or TGV) or an overnight train. Check the train schedules in the country you’re visiting to see available connections. For European travel, we recommend contacting Rail Europe at 877-257-2887 or visiting www.raileurope.com. For train schedules specifically in Italy, visit www.trenitalia.com.

For weather information for any region in the world, visit Weather Underground.

Your Tour guide gratuities (tips) are customary and at your discretion to recognize exceptional service, customer care, and the little extras that surprise and delight. That’s why we invite you to consider including a guide gratuity. It’s an easy way for you to say thanks as a bonus to our already industry-leading compensation. The local currency is preferred; they’ll be divided among the guide team, so feel free to leave your gratuity with one of the guides at the end of your trip. You may choose to give more if your guides made your trip an unforgettable experience. While no industry standard exists, our Ciclismo guests typically give 8-10% of the trip price per person per guide team. You may give this amount to one guide, and they will then split evenly. This amount is consistent with other bicycle tour operators.

Local enology is an essential part of the cultural experience Ciclismo Classico aims to deliver. Wine has been integral to human civilization for thousands of years and remains deeply connected to the land and local cultures. We strive to offer the finest wines each region has to offer, and many of our guides are wine connoisseurs, with some even trained as sommeliers. To ensure an unparalleled wine experience on tour, we keep the cost of wine separate, as not everyone drinks wine. For this reason, wine and other alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour cost. We suggest two options for handling wine and other alcoholic beverages consumed at group dinners:

• Join the Wine Kitty: On the first night of the tour, your guides will collect a set amount (based on the tour length and average wine prices) to create a “Wine Kitty.” During each group dinner, guides will select wines that showcase the best regional offerings, and occasionally, exceptional local beers.
• Select and purchase wine and beer on your own each night: Alternatively, you may select and purchase your own wine or beer each night. You’ll be responsible for tracking your bill and should be prepared to pay in cash for any beverages you consume.

Make sure to bring enough spending money for coffee, snacks, and lunch (lunches on your own typically cost €8-15). Depending on your travel style, plan to spend an additional €15 to €30 per day.

Yes, the best way to get cash is at ATMs, which are widely available. You may have difficulty finding ATMs in the countryside, but your guides can assist you if needed. Most ATMs limit withdrawals to €250 per day, and the airport ATM is a convenient option upon arrival. There’s no need to shop around for the best exchange rate, as rates on credit card withdrawals are very competitive. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted cards. Be sure to notify your bank before traveling abroad to avoid any holds on your account due to suspicious activity.

Credit cards are widely accepted, but many establishments still insist on cash only. The safest approach is to ask or look for a credit card sticker.

Some banks will accept traveler’s checks, but we recommend using cash or credit cards, as most hotels, restaurants, and shops do not accept traveler’s checks. Traveler’s checks can be exchanged for cash (for a fee) at most banks, but you’ll need your passport when doing so.

Many cell phones do work in Europe, although coverage can be spotty in remote, rural areas. Before traveling, check with your provider to ensure your phone will work and to confirm reasonable rates. Another option is to buy a cheap cell phone and prepaid SIM card at the airport upon arrival. This provides a convenient way to have a cell phone for emergencies at a cost of €30-50.

Many hotels offer Wi-Fi service, though speeds may be slower than what we’re used to in North America. Most hotels also have a ‘business center’ or at least a computer with internet access for checking email.