Cancelled - Torino to the Sea and Back

This Ride has been Cancelled

† 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

Torino to the Sea and Back

OVERVIEW:  This ride is an outgrowth of personal cycling experiences we have enjoyed in the region and the 2016 and 2018 versions of it were well received, so we have continued the ride with thoughts of what can we continue to do better. Of course, hotel ownership changes are a constant but the quality of the riding and quaintness of the roads have not.  Our goal continues to be to provide an adventure that combines wonderful roads to ride on, incredible lodging and memorable meals. We will travel from our hotel near the Turin airport through the country side of the regions of Piedmonte and Liguria to the Italian Riviera coast of the Ligurian Sea and follow an adjacent route to the east back to the same departure hotel where our bike bags have been stored. Piedmont is renowned for its wines including the Barolos and Barberas, the slow food movement, Romanesque architecture, charming villages and of course the Italian Coffee. The villages are connected by quiet roads which for the most part are off the main tourist routes. The Ligurian coast of the Mediterranean Sea is known as the Italian Riviera and features wonderful seafood. Leaving Caselle Torinese we travel south thru Coccanoto, Tigliole, Barolo, and Calizzano.  We will be arriving at the sea in Finale Ligure, and after spending the night there we will be heading north to spend 2 nights in Cortemilla, a night each in Acqui Terme and Vignale Monferato and then two nights in Corteranzo before ending our trip back in Caselle Torinese. The following links are the tripper reports from the two previous trips for your convenience and inspiration.

https://www.bicycleadventureclub.org/html/rides/?action=viewTripper&rideid=1212

https://www.bicycleadventureclub.org/html/rides/?action=viewTripper&rideid=1011

RIDE RATING:  3B! The average daily riding distance is 36 miles, with 50 miles being the longest day.  The average climbing on required ride days without the exceptions is 2,150', there are 3 required riding days when the climbing exceeds 3,500'.  The biggest climbing day is 4,400' when we ride from the sea coast back into the hills.  Be prepared to tackle some climbing every day.  Short ramps that exceed 8% are frequent, and occasionally there are very short grades of 12%.  While the majority of the time we ride on quiet back roads, be prepared to encounter some traffic when leaving Caselle Torinese, riding on the coast and returning to Caselle Torinese.

WEATHER:  Daytime temperatures in the fall can range from the mid 60's to the mid 70's and days are mostly sunny.  Rain can always happen, so don't leave your rain gear behind!  Evenings cool down to the 50's.

​​​​​​LODGING & MEALS:  We will be staying primarily in hand-picked 3 star boutique hotels in small villages, and will enjoy meals featuring Piedmontese specialties made from the freshest local foods available.  Some memorable meals will include dinner at a Michelin star restaurant and two other dinners prepared by Celebrity Chef Carlo Zarri.  We will spend 2 nights in Barolo, Cortemilla, and Corteranzo.   We will enjoy wine tastings at the cellars of family Brezze Barolo and the Canonica di Corteranzo, and a special lesson on how to taste wine from Carlo Zarri.  You are on your own for dinner one night in Barolo and the night we spend in Finale Ligure. 

LOGISTICS:  The trip will start and end at a hotel near the Turin airport.  Plan to have arrived and have your bikes assembled and ready to roll before the social hour at 6:30 pm on September 16, 2020.  The trip ends with breakfast at the hotel on September 30, 2020.  The departure/arrival hotel will extend the rates for early arrival/late departure for those wanting to arrive early or depart later. We recommend arriving in Europe one full day prior to the start of the trip to allow for lost luggage and jet lag to take their normal course.  Detailed arrival and departure information will be provided approximately three months prior to the start of the tour.  During the tour, breakfast is usually available by 8:00 and participants should be prepared to load their luggage in the van around 8:30 am on required ride days.

Previous participants have rented cycles in Torino with differing degrees of success; participants wishing to do so should do it with their eyes open to the potential problems and lack of support on the ride from the bike shop. Tandem riders are welcome but need to be accomplished riding tandems. Electric bikes are welcome but subject to the same rental issues described above. I believe that airlines have significant restrictions on shipping the battery packs for bringing your own E-bike but that is for the participant to confirm with their airline.

COST & ADMINISTRATION:  Included in the $2,900 costs are 14 nights’ accommodation (based on double occupancy), 14 breakfasts, 12 dinners, daily social hour refreshments, 3 wine tastings, luggage transfers, cue sheets, GPS tracks, van pickup for emergencies and bike box storage.  The price is calculated on an exchange rate of $1.25 to the euro.  The second payment of $1,000 is due April 1, 2020.  The final payment of $900 is due no later than July 1, 2020.  Some fluctuation may occur between now and July 2020, requiring a price adjustment.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY:  It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own.  The Ride Leader will assist singles by sharing names of other singles who are interested in the ride.  However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until October 1, 2019 to find a roommate.  If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the $100 BAC fee and credit card processing fee) or pay the $1,500 SOLO supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.
 

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  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 sign-up links just above the Ride Description.  After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($100) and tour deposit of $1,000 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.