the novice...

I found out in July that I would be going on a bicycle tour in Tuscany in October.  I had envisioned weeks of training and long bike rides outside to whip myself into excellent shape and prepare for the hills.  However, life got in the way, and I didn’t get to as many rides as I had wanted.  I was, however, averaging two to three spin classes per week and a thirty minute run at least once per week, twice, closer to the date.  Since I am just beginning as a cyclist, I was feeling slightly nervous about the hills and I did not want to slow the group down.  In the end, I did not have to be nervous about the riding and everything about the trip was fantastic!  We had a WONDERFUL group, Tuscany is beautiful, the guides were amazing, there was great weather for riding, and the hills were manageable – and quite fun.  I thought I would share some of my experiences riding in response to some common questions and in preparation for your next trip.

A day in the Tuscan hills

I had hoped to have everything sorted out and be packed up days in advance but I was questioning what to bring to cycle for the late October weather.  Layers seemed like the best idea.  I decided to purchase leg warmers and arm warmers to wear in addition to my bike shorts and DuVine jersey.  I figured it gave me more options and diversity for the tour and for future riding.  The leg warmers were great, I wore them every day.  The arm warmers slid slightly but I was still happy to have them, I took them off on two different days during the rides.  Others on the tour, were wearing shorts with their legs exposed and other than one chilly morning ride in the valley, they seemed to be ok.  It rained on the first day and I was happy to have a rain coat and my legs covered.  Other layers I used while riding, I stored in my bike bag when I did not need them.  I am certain that I also could have put anything extra in the van.

happy on the hybrid

I was also questioning about whether to request a hybrid or a road bike.  After much deliberation, I decided on the hybrid.  In the end, I was happy with my choice. I do not have experience on a road bike but I know that it is lighter and takes less work.  However, about half the group had hybrids and I liked the gear options going uphill.

I arrived in Rome on Saturday and spent the night in the Eternal City, before heading to Chiusi on the train on Sunday morning.  I lived in Italy for five years and I immediately got a warm, familiar, sense of home feeling.  Rome is one of my favorite places – I love the pulse of the city, its glamour, history, culture, food, coffee and the Italian people.   If time allows, it is a great place to spend a few days before or after the tour.

Some Arrival Tips:
• The taxi from Fiumicino airport to the center of Rome is a fixed price of 40 euros.  Talk to the taxi driver about this before you get in.
• When traveling to Chiusi, keep in mind that there are not always station announcements.  Pay close attention to what time you are scheduled to arrive and from the train windows look for the blue and white signs with the station names on the platforms.  Of course you can always ask someone on the train.
• For all of the regional trains (and trains where you do not have a reservation and there is no seat assignment), you must validate your train ticket, which stamps the date and time on the ticket.  This is what the conductor looks for when he comes around and checks the ticket.  There are small yellow boxes at the beginning of every platform to validate the ticket.  If you are in a real jam, and you realize once you get on that you have not validated it, you can write the date and the time along the left edge of the ticket.

Guides in waiting...

Our guide Tom was waiting for us on the platform and he took us to the first accommodation, La Chiusa.  After dropping off our luggage and getting into our bike gear, we had an introduction and toasted a glass of Prosecco while overlooking the beautiful rolling hills where we would be riding for the next few days.  The Tuscan scenery is breathtaking and with the hills, come the most beautiful views.  We had a bike fitting and started the first ride.  Although the first hill out of La Chiusa is short and steep, once we started on the decent, I couldn’t stop smiling as I glided down.  It actually was raining but I was enjoying it so much that it didn’t bother me.  We rode single file and I seemed to be about average – in regards to my athletic ability.  We rode up and down the rolling hills to the church of San Biago.  Climbing back to La Chiusa, I realized that I could really enjoy the climbs, this being one my favorites.  At dinner with the Michelin starred chef, everyone was charmed by Umberto and Dania. We were even invited into the kitchen, which was a special treat.

In the kitchen with Dania

The next few days of riding consisted of uphills and downhills and even one particularly enjoyable flat stretch.  I settled right into the saddle and the group more or less seemed to ride together.  On day two there was a tough hill and I had almost convinced myself that I must have asthma and really wished that I had done more cardio training.  However, by the next downhill, I was convinced that I could be a cyclist.  The guides do an excellent job of going over the route and letting you know which parts of the day will be more challenging than others.   As we had been prepped for the climb to the hilltop town of Montalcino, I was certain that I would be getting in the van with some others from our group.   I was talked into doing the climb (which is one of the more difficult of the week) and I was very glad that I had done it.  I was slow and stopped a few times but after finishing it, I realized it wasn’t impossible.  It also helped me for the rest of tour because I knew that if I could do that hill, then I could do any of the hills we faced and I no longer worried about them anymore.  In addition to gaining stamina as we rode along, I also gained confidence in my abilities.

quiet roads in quaint villages...

On the fourth day we rode to Siena.  This was my favorite day of riding, although, the next day through Chianti was a close second.  Day four is broken into three parts: a moderate ride in the morning which leads to the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, a challenging ride in the afternoon and an even more challenging extra ride to the hotel.  The morning ride was great.  For the second part of the day, I went slowly, took short breaks with other riders when needed, and was surprised when we had reached the top of the last hill.  It seemed that many members of our group couldn’t decide between the extra ride and going into Siena but most ended up take the van to Siena.  I amazed myself by continuing with the extra ride.  We would have had to get into the van to be shuttled to the hotel.  Not only did I not want to get in the van, but I did not want to get off my bike.  I opted for the extra ride and did not end up taking the van at all during the week.

The routes took us through stunning countryside with views of rolling hills that extended far into the distance and we ended up in enchanting hill towns.  I impressed myself with my biking abilities and I think that preparation for this moderate to challenging tour is worthwhile.  The more confident I was on my bike, the more I enjoyed the hills.  However, as David says, if your bike gets tired, it can always go on the top of the van.  By Friday I did not want the tour to end.  I had shared a wonderful week with a great group of people, sometimes I had even laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.  The food was divine with very memorable meals and wine tastings.  The guides went above and beyond with many DuVine surprises and we had special connections with the locals, especially at the home of Domenico and Lina.  Best of all, we got to enjoy it all by bike.

The stunning countryside...

As the group departed in Florence, I had already started dreaming about my next DuVine Adventure.

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