Italy Bike Tour Guides

[maldav]

I'd like to tour Italy next summer, either as part of group or a route I put together with the guide.

I searched the forum and found a couple of positive comments about Andy Hampsten's Cinghiale, and not much more.

I would be grateful for any suggestions from or info on specific experience of forum members.

Thanks.

[makoti]

Approach Saddle Skedaddle with caution. Not saying I wouldn't use them, but my experiences have not been great. I know others who have had great experiences. Mine was bad enough that they gave everyone on the trip a refund of $750.

[maldav]

@makoti, thanks so much for that info.

[tv_vt]

Check out Holomites in Badia if you're interested in that area of Italy. And Igor Travella at the local biker hotel, who's name I'm spacing on...
Oh yeah, Ustaria Posta. See the other Italy Dolomites thread.

[schwa86]

I did a wonderful week with your cycling italia (bill speckman) near bassano de grappa a few years ago. If you search the forum, I think you will find my review. https://www.yourcyclingitalia.com/

[maldav]

@schwa86, thanks for that recommendation

[maldav]

bump up

[Mr. Pink]

Consider bike hotels.

https://www.gardabikehotel.com/en

Cheaper

[dave thompson]

We did the Belvedere bike hotel in Riccione which is on the Adriatic coast. They offer 5 different tours everyday, from scenic rides to the real epic ride up to San Marino. The week that we spent at the Belvedere gave us the best guest experience I’ve experienced in all my travels.

https://www.belvederericcione.com/en/bike-hotel-italy/34-0.html

[maldav]

Thanks for those recommendations

[veloduffer]

My friends have done Italy and Ireland with Backroads and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also I have heard from some customers at the LBS that Trek Travel is good too, plus you can customize and arrange private tours with them.

[KonaSS]

Had a friend who used Trek Travel in the last year and had nothing but good things to say about it.

[paredown]

A good friend of ours had a house party for the tour company he and his wife have taken multiple trips with--the company guys were soliciting business, but cooked us dinner and gave us the pitch.

I have not used them for a trip, but I enjoyed meeting the guys and hearing the stories. My friend Frank thinks they are the bee's knees--both he and his wife have had wonderful experiences with them.

Cyclismo Classico:
https://ciclismoclassico.com/

(in fact, my lovely wife won the raffle that night which was a discount coupon for a trip--maybe that should be my next adventure????)

[glepore]

We did the Belvedere bike hotel in Riccione which is on the Adriatic coast. They offer 5 different tours everyday, from scenic rides to the real epic ride up to San Marino. The week that we spent at the Belvedere gave us the best guest experience I’ve experienced in all my travels.

https://www.belvederericcione.com/en/bike-hotel-italy/34-0.html

I've been looking at Belvedere for a long time. My partner doesn't ride, how's the non riding experience?

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . in the Finger Lake,s Adirondacks, central Vermont, and the Maine Coast. The owner has been doing Italian trips since 1989 and has guides there who have worked for her for many years and have all the connections to go anywhere and do anything you want. She has a very high repeat customer demographic and I guided tours last season with multiple customers who had been on over 20 past tours with them.

PM me if you want her private contact info. :)

BBDave

A good friend of ours had a house party for the tour company he and his wife have taken multiple trips with--the company guys were soliciting business, but cooked us dinner and gave us the pitch.

I have not used them for a trip, but I enjoyed meeting the guys and hearing the stories. My friend Frank thinks they are the bee's knees--both he and his wife have had wonderful experiences with them.

Cyclismo Classico:
https://ciclismoclassico.com/

(in fact, my lovely wife won the raffle that night which was a discount coupon for a trip--maybe that should be my next adventure????)

[dave thompson]

I've been looking at Belvedere for a long time. My partner doesn't ride, how's the non riding experience?

The Belvedere offers a lot more than just cycling, it’s a beach community hotel. Marina, the owner, has a friendship with Marco Pantani’s family that goes way back.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the Belvedere so I would encourage you to contact them directly, info@belvederericcione.com

I’ve said this before here but I think it bears repeating, the week my wife and I spent at the Belvedere was the best week of any vacation we’ve had. Full stop. Each year Marina sends us birthday greetings with a nice personal note or responds to something I’ve posted on Facebook in my travels.

Feel free to PM me if you want to ‘talk’ about it.

[Bob Ross]

The missus and I did a cycling tour of Sardegna back in 2012 with ABCycles (https://www.abcycle.org/). Fantastic experience, and I would recommend them again in a heartbeat. If it wasn't for this freakin' pandemic thing we would have already booked another tour with them for this year, which is our 20th wedding anniversary.

[marc]

The Cycling House.
Excellent organization. I have done many tours with them, USA and Europe. Well organized, friendly, plenty of support and great food.

[maldav]

Thanks so much to everyone who has posted recommendations and ideas. Great stuff.

[Xrslug]

No personal experience with Andy Hampsten’s tours, but I would look into his offerings if I were planning a trip to Italy:
https://www.cinghiale.com/

[herb5998]

Another option is Hotel Dory in Riccione, great location and the guides are good, different distances offered each day. Dinner/breakfast included and it was wonderful. Stayed there for a week in 2016.

If you want something closer to the big mountains, Bike Hotel Garda is highly recommended


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[Spaghetti Legs]

Ah you folks have gone and done it. It’s been a few years since I’ve been in Italy and now I can’t stop thinking about it.

[Mr. Pink]

Had a friend who used Trek Travel in the last year and had nothing but good things to say about it.

If I was rich, I'd take a Trek week once or twice a year. But, alas, I'm not, and 5000 dollars can buy me three weeks to a month of non cycling in Europe if I work it right, so, no.

[Kirk007]

I’ve done 2 tours with Andy. Been great- I mean your cycling around Italy with a former Giro winner who can still drop most everyone but enjoys the wine and food as much as the riding. And he is widely recognized in Italy by the cycling community. It’s a unique experience.

I think it’s also possible to have a fantastic trip doing the bike hotel route. Il Perlo Panorama in Bellagio (lake como) is great and the bike operations are run by a former pro/tour de France rider.


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[clyde the point]

Just finished an in Gamba tour in the Chianti region. Worth every penny however not for everyone. You are in a pro-style training camp, chef, massages, etc. Quite the luxo trip! Beautiful scenery and every road is up/down. You will work, and be rewarded. Definitely a one and done for us, but very well put together.

[maldav]

Great stuff. Keep it coming. Can't thank everyone enough.

If you posted a reco in another thread, please include the link.

[saintruggler]

Also following this!