One Day Bike Tour Tuscany – ride in the heart of Chianti Classico
Looking back on my one-day bike tour Tuscany with Elena and Piero, Owners & Tour Leaders at Bike Florence & Tuscany, it all seemed so effortlessly perfect. A great group of people meeting on vacation early in the morning to pedal the personalized itinerary comprised of small towns, Tuscan scenery, and wine tasting.
My memories were of a perfect combination of laughter, physical exertion, feeling safe, and Tuscany.
A one day bike tour Tuscany like this just doesn’t happen by magic. It takes experience, knowledge of the area, and a personality that is capable of drawing the unexpected together fluidly.
One Day Bike Tour Tuscany – Let the magic begin!
Our one day bike tour Tuscany started from downtown Florence with a personalized pick-up service for participants. It was our first presentation to the day’s group. I was greeted by a couple with a teenager from Australian, an Italian journalist and a fellow single traveler.
Elena was good at calculating our individual skill, we all showed a comparable level of perseverance.
Credit goes to our organizers who clearly understood that with an 8 am wake up call while on holiday was to be done slow and easy.
So our one day bike tour Tuscany started with a leisurely ride thru the hills of Chianti to a small town. Truly small – it only had two coffee shops! And here they gave us a bit of free time to stroll the deserted cobbled stone streets, take a ton of photos and savor a frothy cappuccino.
Waking up to the heart of Chianti while on a One Day Bike Tour Tuscany
We were alert now and as we climbed back into the support van, which was to become our constant companion. Even the level of chattiness and familiarity had risen. We were ready to listen attentively to Piero as he gave us bits and pieces of info regarding the Chianti territory and patiently answered our questions.
Our one day bike tour Tuscany it’s been the best way to learn so much about the region explained by an enthusiast ” born-and-grew-up” Florentine guide!
The roads were quiet and panoramic, the scenery was everything I imagined. Especially the next little town on the itinerary which was as well known as the wine we would be drinking sometime soon: Castellina in Chianti.
Save Your Place for our Next One Day Bike Tour
This is where our one day bike tour Tuscany trek would begin. Yet before we mounted up, Elena encouraged us to explore the “viales” of the town and (surprisingly) some of us were ready for another caffè. Thus far,
I would characterize this one-day bike tour Tuscany as well paced.
Our guides worked together with the precision of a Swiss watch, and the overall atmosphere was light, friendly and relaxed while each phase slid into the next – effortlessly.
One day bike tour Tuscany : why start the tour off in a van?
As an occasional rider, pedaling all way was definitely beyond my physical comfort level. Elena & Piero knew this to be true and spent months scouting out not only the most scenic route featuring vineyards, stone farmhouses, and sweeping hills, but they were also looking for the easiest route.
They had found the perfect place to start the biking part of our tour – practically heading downhill. The wind whispering by as we glided towards our first destination. It was invigorating and whether they knew it or not, it gave me a sense of confidence and courage to mount up after our first wine tasting. 😉
It seemed a bit daunting when I signed up: three wine experiences! Ok, actually it seemed a bit decadent not daunting.
Again, their expertise shines through: they introduced us to three wineries and three very different wine experiences: an antique cantina, as well as wines from all over Italy and a presentation to organic wines and local products like cheese, creams, and cookies.
Each stop on our one day bike tour was not merely a place to fill our glass, but rather a presentation with passion and professionalism.
Stopping for fun photos in Tuscany
One day bike tour Tuscany : Are we there yet?
After 2 medieval hamlets, 2 vineyards, 13 miles of scenic roads on our bikes, our one day tour Tuscany had still not come to an end.
Each and every element of the tour naturally flowed into the next, and this was a testimony to the finely honed organizational skills and a well-planned itinerary.
The last stop had us armed with a map, several suggestions of where to explore and a few ideas for gelato and a light lunch! Piero and Elena left us at the entrance to Siena where we enjoyed time to roam the medieval streets of this UNESCO World Heritage city.
As we all filed back into the van at the end of the day for the trip back home, we had formed a lively group and had fun with a show & tell of purchases and then shared emails (for an eventual exchange of photos) and some of us took the opportunity to catch a bit of shut-eye before dinner.
On my unforgettable one day tour Tuscany between the support van, the attention to details and even the maps, I constantly felt that Elena and Piero had our back.
Taking a one day bike tour Tuscany with Piero&Elena no worries about being pushed into overdoing it, or getting lost or left behind along the way.
In every case, it was clear that this one day bike tour Tuscany itinerary was artfully designed for both first-timers and repeat travelers, and the actual bike time could be extended or shortened according to the skill level of the group. It was a day filled with the best of Tuscany: picturesque hamlets, panoramic scenery, traditional flavors & dose of architectural beauty.