Piedmont N - S 2018

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
Piedmont sits between the Ligurian coast, France, Swizterland and the Italian Alps.  We will travel from North to South starting with a bus transfer from Milan to Terruggia and at the end from Barolo back to the Milan airport. On this tour we start in the flatter areas of Terruggia heading south to the steeper landscape of the Barolo wine region. We stay in smaller villages to avoid heavy traffic.  Typical dishes here feature hazelnuts, white truffles and Arborio or Carnaroli rice used for risotto. The region is most famous for its red wine (too many to name!) but white wine and Spumante appear in the area of Cortemilia

RIDE RATING
The trip is rated a 3A, averaging 33 miles per day and a daily average of 2,475 feet of climbing. There is one difficult day that is required at 37 miles long with 3,577 feet of climbing. Using a different metric, the number of feet per mile, a difficult ride is widely recognized as 100 feet per mile. A moderate ride is 50 feet per mile. This tour averages a 77, or right in between a moderate and difficult rating. An additional factor to consider is that half of the rides are on layover days, where you have maximum flexibility. Cue sheets will be mailed with maps and digital GPS files will be posted on the Rode Leader Docs.

DESCRIPTION
This is the second time the tour is offered by Tom and Julie Leever. We meet in Milan for an over-night stay at Hotel Cardano, close to the Malpensa airport. The next morning we bus to Terruggia where we start cycling. Hotel Ariotto is a well-known base for road-bike tours. The restaurant offers regional specialites like the filled “plin” pasta and Agnolotti. Meat eaters delight in the antipasti platter of aged and crudo meat washed down with a Barbera d’Alba.   After a 2-night stay in Terruggia, we head south, to the tiny borgo of Cioccaro di Penango for a 2-night stay. We pass through tiny villages where you might find a comunal sculpture fountain gurgling with bracingly cold Alpen snow melt. Fields of wild poppies add a jolt of color. As we continue south to Cortemilia, the patch-work of lush green crops yield to amber wheat and shocking yellow rape seed.  In Cortemilia we have another 3-night stay where host Carlo Zarri is Piedmont’s celebraty chef.  Why? Try his pork with caramalized onions drizzled with toasted hazelnut reduction. In this area you’ll notice the roads begin to wind like a cork-screw. Often you’ll see ancient farm buildings made of stone that seem to cling to steep cliffs with slate rooves so heavy they threaten to topple at any moment and yet they haven't for centuries.  En route to Barolo, the landscape of vineyards rolls out like a magic flying carpet. You may have to yield the road to a passing tractor on paved farm roads that cut through the vineyards. In Barolo we'll have a wine tasting in the hotel's cave, featuring one of the oldest wine producers in Barolo, the Brezza family. You need only gaze out the window to see the vineyard that surrounds the hotel. From here we take a private bus to the Milan airport.

WEATHER
The weather in Piedmont in early summer is usually warm to hot. Temps in May average a high of 50 F-65 F.  Last time the temps were in the 80s - 90s F.  There are an average of 7 days of rain in May. If it is raining it can be cold so plan to pack long fingered gloves, full rain gear and rain pants.

LOGISTICS
Arrival day is Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Cardano Hotel Malpensa. At the end of the tour, you are delivered by bus from Barolo to the Malpensa-Milan airport for departure on Friday, June 1, 2018. Bike boxes are delivered to Terruggia to start and Barolo to end the tour. Bike rentals will be available directly from the rental company; details provided after you sign up.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
Min/16-Max/22. Estimated cost is $1,800 based on an exchange rate of $1.20 = Euro 1.00.  Included in the estimated price is 12 nights lodging, all breakfasts and 8 group dinners, maps, cue sheets, wine tasting, luggage van & driver, chartered bus transport to Terruggia and from Barolo to Milan airport. Not included in the price is the non-refundable $100 BAC ride fee,  Final payment of $1100 is due January 15, 2018. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be some minor changes in the amount of the final payment.

SINGLES
We encourage single riders to sign up who are willing to share a room. We will assist with finding a roommate. Space for 2 solo riders with an estimated supplement of $420. Single supplement payments will need to be made directly to the Ride Leader.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fees are non-refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Any refund amounts are dependent on finding a replacement, plus any cost incurred before you cancel. If we are not able to fill your position, any refund will be based on the principle that costs not be increased for those who are completing the tour. Your share of fixed costs, like the administrative, luggage van, leader and van driver expenses will be deducted from your eventual refund. We will attempt to recover lodging costs (most places require a final count 30 days in advance). Whatever we can recover, you will get back after the tour is completed and the final accounting takes place. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP
To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee online and $500 tour deposit by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.