Florence, Italy rides

[chunkylover53]

Looking for some help. Heading to Florence for about 10 days (beginning of April), and have a lot of free time to devote to riding. Have a few rides in mind, e.g., to Siena, Arezzo, San Gimignano. But anyone here have any recommendations on some good rides? Gravel, back country type stuff is my preference. Google just seems to spit out a lot of tour company rides. TIA

[Tickdoc]

I can only offer jealousy and fond memories :~P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0533_zpskuyd434l.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0514_zpstysmqiwu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0512_zpscoi76nua.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0499_zpshkwm6nf7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/1CCA8C16-46D1-4B50-B428-BFCC5E336DA2_zps6eciecqu.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0469_zpscxgnoucn.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0434_zpsgl4ugrvx.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/Italy%202016/IMG_0444_zpskngjk0te.jpg

[chunkylover53]

Those work too! I'm familiar enough with the city (go for work a fair bit), but hoping to explore the surrounding countryside a bit more this time.

[tristan]

I spent a couple of months based just south of Florence in Greve in Chianti and honestly you can't go wrong. Pick a road and ride it - it will be stunning, the traffic will be courteous, and the village you come to will serve amazing coffee and cheap calzone.

I loved the roads between Florence and Siena - Panzano, Lucolena, Radda....all amazing places.

Some of the gravel strade bianche are pretty steep and not enjoyable to ride. Check the route for the Strade Bianche race as well as l'Eroica as those roads are ridable.

Tutti bene!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3791/33222982075_9c534f773a_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SBNt6M)Italia dreaming (https://flic.kr/p/SBNt6M) by Tristan Thomas (https://www.flickr.com/photos/wheelworks-nz/), on Flickr

[ducati2]

When I as there you could always find a group of locals by the Ponte Vecchio setting out in the mornings.