Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi Guys,

I am on my way to Europe.
I am looking at living in Italy.
I was just wondering were the No#1 destination would be recommended for me to go bass myself & join a Awesome cycling club??

If you have been there & done it or know of somebody, please let us know.

thanks Kindly

benny the wheel

Tuscany for sure - around Florence and Siena

Friends of mine, when questioned on the best town in Italy to visit, said Pitigliano.



For cycling culture I'd possibly suggest Rimini or Lucca. Another friend has good cycling friends in Perugia.

I would choose a location in northern Italy near the Dolomites - Lombardia perhaps, or Trentino. This where most of the famed mountain stages are.

You may not be aware that Italy has chains of hotels that cater for cycles. Here's an example, and there a plenty others to be found with Google. Worth a look.

I agree re northern Italy, assuming you like mountains. Verona and Lago di Garda, Bolzano, Feltre, Bassano del Grappa, Lecco just to name a few.

Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre
SE of Genoa. Very nice countryside for cycling.There is also a roman road which hugs the med coast. A bit busy with traffic but by no means flat and some great scenery. Also goes through some of the med italian wealth enclaves - some of which are worth a visit in themselves for a spot of people watching... I can't remember what its called. 'Via something'?
I enjoyed Verona - especially to the north. Some decent hills as well. Garda was a good base.Haven't been cycling to the south so can't comment much on that.
cheers
GW

To me, anywhere. Just as long as I am in Italy. Lotsa hill towns for you too.

Heading back in 2014. Taking the uni this time too. Whoo whoo.

RonK wrote:I would choose a location in northern Italy near the Dolomites - Lombardia perhaps, or Trentino.

I'm biased but I'd even go further east if you're up that way i.e. Friuli (where my dad's side of the family is from) at least for a visit.

It's a lot quieter, albeit a bit out of the way, but offers climbs shuch as Nassfeldpass, Monte Croce and the dreaded Zoncolan. Take a compact crank and the biggest cassette you can fit though!

This guy gives a good write up http://dolomiti-friulane.blogspot.com.a ... dpass.html

grw wrote:Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre

LOADS of mountan bkie trails there too

Around Abruzzo (Pescara) is pretty good for riding as well. There are a couple of hills (Majella - Giro 09 - being a very nasty one) and there are all the roads along the coast to keep you entertained. It is less popular than Tuscany but still very nice.

+1 for the area around Lucca especially the river valley that runs up to Bagra (absolutely beautiful).

You could also look up the various Fondo's that are run throughout Italy and plan your trip around them. Here http://www.lecomaridellamdd.it/calendariogf/ is the link.

just prior to my 2 week riding tour following Tour de France this year, I spent a month based near my parents hometown on the Altopiano di Asiago. Riding almost every day, I had the time of my life. This area, about 100k north east of Venice is cycling heaven. There are hundreds of climbs and/or trails just out the front door. This area or any area in northern Italy for that matter is absolute magic. The majority of Italian bike manufacturers are based here and there is basically no road rage displayed towards cyclists, unlike here in Oz. Having crossed off Alpe D'huez, Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux and D'Aubisque from my bucket list, Ive now added the Zoncolan, Mortirolo and the Stelvio etc etc all in northern Italy.

I have my location sorted (Veneto/Dolomites) but I have 3 nights to spend in Venice after 2 weeks of riding. I won't be dragging a bike around - travelling light and on my own for this last bit of the trip.

Can anyone recommend a small inexpensive hotel for 3 nights in Venice?

Ben, the weather sucks in the far northern part of Italy, where the famous climbs are to be found. They are only accessible in the summertime. Don't dream of climbing the Cols year-round.

Im currently living in Nice, I think its the perfect location! Cols everywhere within 30min ride - Alps not far, Mt Ventoux 2.5hrs drive..Italia round the corner...thats me though

Bolzano would be my pick.

It's immediately near the famous Sellaronda. This is the route that circumnavigates the Sella Massif and takes in all the major passes in the Dolomites.



Definitely a bucket list destination. And a couple of times a year they completely close the whole thing to cars and let the bikes go nuts.


And if you ever get bored of the roads you've got some of the world's best MTB trails, many of them serviced by cable cars and chairlifts.





Then in winter the skiing... You can do the Sellaronda on skis in a day if you start early.

And there's also the matter of the food, which seems to fuse together the best of Italian and Tyrolean cuisines.

rama wrote:Ben, the weather sucks in the far northern part of Italy, where the famous climbs are to be found. They are only accessible in the summertime. Don't dream of climbing the Cols year-round.

Agreed. Note Ben asked his question nearly 2 years ago... Would be interesting where he settled on but he hasn't been back since his only post.

Going to the Dolomites two or three times this year ... Only really been to Bormio so looking forward to it!.

Need to post photos and details when you have TLL as I've only done Bormio too and the Dolomites are on my bucket list...

cyclotaur wrote:I have my location sorted (Veneto/Dolomites) but I have 3 nights to spend in Venice after 2 weeks of riding. I won't be dragging a bike around - travelling light and on my own for this last bit of the trip.

Can anyone recommend a small inexpensive hotel for 3 nights in Venice?

Meanwhile .... back at the ranch - anybody got any answers to my query that revived the thread ?

cyclotaur wrote:Meanwhile .... back at the ranch - anybody got any answers to my query that revived the thread ?

Try https://www.airbnb.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ???

dalai47 wrote:

cyclotaur wrote:Meanwhile .... back at the ranch - anybody got any answers to my query that revived the thread ?

Try https://www.airbnb.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ???

Yeah, had a look there and everywhere else .... just wondered if anyone had a recommendation actually in Venice, but seems not. Might stay in the region and visit Venice for the day.
Thanks.

Sorry, best I could do. No mountains in Venice so haven't been there...

dalai47 wrote:Need to post photos and details when you have TLL as I've only done Bormio too and the Dolomites are on my bucket list...

Ended up staying in Arabba, bit quiet but nice spot... Got to see everything but not necessarily ride it. The Sella Ronda loop is stunning!!! 52kms anti clockwise with the Campolongo, Gardena, Sella and Pordoi passes ( 1850m climbing ) ... Easy to navigate and not much traffic, Motos are plentiful though! .
Also from Arabba through to Cortina over the Passo Falzarego ( not too hard ) after Cortina back up the same road for about 5kms at 6%'ish the turn off onto the Passo Giau ... Around 8.5kms at around 9% av ( very tough )... Lovely up top.
Then Arabba to Bolzano... Over the Passo Pordoi again and then the Passo Costalunga ... Nice ride mainly downhill.
Did one HC climb in Bolzano ( can't remember the name ) ... Plenty to chose from there but a lot more traffic.
Then we were off to the Stelvio, there is a very long bike path all the way from Bolzano to the turn off to the north side off the Stelvio.
Got to go up the Gavia very late in the arvy. Very cold for the last 5 kms!.... But you warm up quickly on the way down. The Bormio Mortirolo Gavia route is really nice ... You might have done it?, but for others the Mortirolo is brutal!!!, the east side of Passo Gavia is far more stunning ( and harder ) than the way up from Bormio.
Post a few pics soon.

Appreciate the details TLL!

I only fitted in two days at Bormio when I was there and day two was the Mortirolo - Gavia loop. Agree that the Mortirolo is a little challenging...

The first day I rode both sides of the Stelvio from Bormio return- rode to the summit, back down 3 km towards Bormio and right over the Passo dell'Umbrail to traverse around and up the other side.

Did the Sellaronda on skis a few years back. What a day that was.

Now that would be cool!... Pity I have never skied :embarrassed: