Cycling Tour Levels

Like at the table for a meal, when you hit the road for a ride, your satisfaction depends a lot on how “hungry” you are. After 18+ years organizing tours and 35+ years riding, we have learned that motivation makes a big difference. Do you simply want to reach the top of the hill at your own speed? (Fast or slow is fine!) Or, do you want to push yourself to try to beat a previous record?

However you wish to enjoy your cycling vacation, we offer 4 Cycling Tour Levels (Level 1 = easiest). Given our focus on food, we could not refrain from drawing inspiration from the typical Italian meal:

Level 1 – Antipasto (Appetizer)
Level 2 – Antipasto and Primo (Pasta)
Level 3 – Antipasto, Primo and Secondo (Entrée)
Level 4 – Antipasto, Primo, Secondo and Dolce (Dessert)

See below for more detail and published tours corresponding to each level. Each level can become even easier if shortening the rides using the van, or can become one level higher adding extra mileage and elevation gain daily available on tour.If you plan on traveling with friends/family and would like a different level (easier or harder) from the rest of the group, please don't hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you.

For any questions such as how to get ready for the tour, or about e-bike rental or others, please check out our FAQ's section with some useful info.

Buon appetito e buona pedalata! (enjoy your meal and have a good ride!)

Level 1 | Daily average between 20-35mi & elevation gain 500-1500ft

Expect mostly flat and rolling terrain with a few days featuring a few 1-2mi climbs between 2-7% grade
In general this level of tour does not include climbs at 8+% grade. If it happens it can be for a few times over a week for less than a mile
A few downhills will be possible. Remember that some roads can be narrow and steep!
If you have more steam you can daily add 10+ more miles and 500+ feet of elevation gain

Cycling Tour in Puglia | Cycling Tour in Alto Adige-South Tyrol & Trentino are our current journeys featured for this level.

Level 2 | Daily average between 25-35mi & elevation gain 1500-2250ft

Expect a few sections of flat and rolling terrain and, at times also three, four 1-4+mi climbs between 2-7% grade
This level can include some climbs at 8+% grade for a few times daily for a mile or so
There might be a few downhills featuring narrow and steep roads at times
If you have more steam you can daily add 10+ more miles and 1000+ feet of elevation gain

Cycling Tour in Provence | Cycling Tour in Dordogne | Cycling Tour in Sicily | Cycling Tour in Alentejo are our current journeys featured for this level.

Level 3 | Daily average between 30-40mi & elevation gain 2250-3000ft

Expect mostly rolling terrain and, at times also three, four or more 1-6+mi climbs between 2-8% grade
This level can include some climbs at 9+% grade for a few times daily for more than a mile or so
There might be some downhills featuring narrow and steep roads at times
If you have more steam you can daily add 10+ more miles and 1000+ feet of elevation gain

Level 4 | Daily average between 30-50+mi & elevation gain 3000-5000+ft

Expect mostly climbs and descents, at least three, four or more 1-10+mi climbs between 5-9% grade
This level can include some climbs at 10+% grade for a few times daily for more than 2-4+mi or so
There might be more downhills than previous levels and featuring narrow and steep roads at times
If you have more steam you can daily add 12+ more miles and 2000+ feet of elevation gain

Cycling Tour in the Dolomites | Cycling Tour in Corsica | Cycling Tour in Abruzzo and Molise | are our current journeys featured for this level.