Tuscany: Florence to Lucca Ride

5 Reviews

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  Anonymous
  Written on October 31, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  Brilliant trip all round. Amazing varied scenery, great food and drink, and some fantastic places to stay overnight and explore after a day in the saddle.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Everyone wanting to cycle through torrential rain and stick together, enjoying and completing the full route on day 1 in great spirits. We were still all doing everything together after the week. I also really enjoyed the steep hill sections and getting the heart pumping by tackling them full on! What did you think of your group leader?The two group leaders were fantastic (Mike and Nathan). Both complimented each other well and were always helpful and well organised. They definitely knew their stuff and helped make it a very enjoyable trip for everyone. They also always had / knew of different options available to us (whether this be dining out or route wise).Do you have any advice for potential travellers?You need to be pretty fit to do this trip. The grading was spot on as the first few days had a few hills but not too demanding but later in the week there are some really steep sections, some short and some quite long. However the fitter you are the more you will enjoy it. As long as you either do a reasonable amount of cycling already (including going up big hills) or have a good level of fitness you will be fine. And remember Cadence, Concentration and Composure!Is there anything else you would like to add?I would definitely recommend this trip 100%.Like one of the others reviewing this trip i would like to see Exodus put on more trips of this grade in Europe for 7 days duration. There are lots of moderate but not any others which are moderate / challenging.
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  Anonymous
  Written on October 30, 2013

  4.0 - Good

  A varied and interesting week of cycling in lovely countryside, that was really well-led and supported - together with great food and wine. There was a good mix of rides: progressing from moderate through to challenging as the week progressed. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Enjoying the long, fast sweeping descent to Vinci on on our third day of cycling. Having a delicious picnic at the top of a tough, but satisfying climb into the mountains and enjoying great views from our lunch stop with the rest of the group. Being with a friendly group, willing to stay cheerful and keep cycling after a day of extremely wet weather at the start of our trip.What did you think of your group leader?Mike and Nathan were our two group leaders - and they took turns guiding and providing vehicular support on alternate days. Both were extremely friendly, experienced, professional and capable leaders and their characters complimented each other. Mike had an in-depth knowledge of the area - in terms of its countryside and culture and and advised us really well both when briefing us on the day's ride and on food and wine choices in the evenings. Nathan, too was an accomplished guide and provided excellent leadership and support to the group. The vehicular support was the best of any cycling trip I've been on  - with the van stopping regularly and having plenty of snacks, water and our day sacks available whenever needed. Both guides chose really excellent places to eat in the evening (and for coffee stops during the day) and were really good at making it really straightforward for the group to divide up the bill at the end of a meal.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Always take plenty of clothing (you can leave it on the van on a trip like this). We had some really wet weather on the first two days of our trip and needed our waterproofs and extra layers on some occasions (a fast shady descent when sweaty or wet can be pretty cold - even on a relatively warm day). Ensure you take have the normal cycling gear: gloves, cycling shorts, suglasses, helmet and a mobile phone - and always carry some water with you.Is there anything else you would like to add?I love Italy for its countryside, delicious food and wine and friendly people. Cycling on a trip like this is an ideal way to discover all three. We had a really enjoyable and varied week of cycling with two great guides and a friendly group of people that all got on well (all thirteen of us stayed together at the end of the holiday on the free day at Cinque Terre and ate togther every night). The cycling itself was really good - challenging enough to feel you'd earned the coffee stops and good evening meal.
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  Anonymous
  Written on October 28, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  Cycled to gorgeous hilltop villages, had the best food I ever ate, stayed in lovely twinkly towns and swam in the sea off the Cinque Terre coastWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The first town we stayed in, Lucca, was so beautiful, a walled mediaeval town where we cycled on the wall. Also a picnic on the top of one of the steepest hills I ever rode with a stunning view of mountains. We went to the top of the leaning tower of Pisa and inside Pisa Cathedral, and had the places almost to ourselves.What did you think of your group leader?Our two leaders, Mike and Nathan were very organised and a lot of fun. Mike is a great chooser of wine, and the Chianti Classico in this part of Italy is delicious. One of the hotels was double booked and they got us into a much better hotel round the corner in minutes.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Practise cycling up big hills first. I thought I was good at hills, and discovered in North West Tuscany that I really wasn't. Get your hill legs on. The van carries your heavy stuff and water is provided. Bring a small bag for your waterproofs.
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  Anonymous
  Written on October 27, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  A great trip for those who like door to door cycling, hill climbs, great views with excellent food and wine to round off the day.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?I have to say the hill climbs though I also really enjoyed walking the Cinque Terre path on the final day.  Our trip happened to coincide with the cycling world championships and it was an added bonus to be able to cycle part of the signed men's road race route.What did you think of your group leader?Mike & Nathan did a superb job. We definitely benefitted from their years of experience as guides and cyclists. Their advice was spot on from the days terrain and road safety tips right through to where to eat and what wine to choose! With torrential rain on day 1 I was surprised we even made it onto our bikes but Mike came up with various options and in the event, we all made it to the finish line, drenched but contented.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?I think the trip is correctly graded moderate to challenging and to enjoy it to its max, its worth having some experience of hill climbs. I think the longest climb is about an hour but there are shorter steeper climbs. You can take you mind of the pain with the scenery and for every up, there is a down!Is there anything else you would like to add?I had a great time and would definitely recommend this trip. Its a shame that there are not more European cycling trips of this grade in the brochure!
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  Anonymous
  Written on October 7, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  This is an excellent cycling trip with a great balance of cycling through very scenic areas and challenging climbs.  Mike and Nathan were a great team to lead the group. Both are excellent ride leaders as well as bike mechanics. the accommodations were first rate too.  I think anyone would be hard pressed to come up with a better route through some amazingly beautiful countryside.  this trip provided EXACTLY what I signed up for from the group of truly exceptional and fun loving cyclists to experiencing the beauty of Tuscany.   What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?the last very steep climb to a great picnic on a perfect day. What did you think of your group leader?as I stated in the summary both Mike and Nathan are first rate group leaders.  I do not think Exodus could improve on them.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?other than rain gear in late September not much more than prepare to have the time of your life.Is there anything else you would like to add?We are already looking for our next cycling holiday.  the only advice I have for Exodus is to advertise these trips more in the states.