The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Green Roads of Tuscany 2024

May 3rd to May 18th

Ride Director: Julie Leever
Ride Co-Director: Richard Frederick
Report by: Linda Reeves

Glorious scenery, great riding, history galore, delicious wine and food! Red poppies line the roads, vineyards and olive orchards define the sloping hills, and cypress stands lead the way to ancient churches and historic villas. Some of the towns are designated UNESCO world heritage sites with walls and towers, and there are Etruscan ruins.

Mostly we rode on quiet country roads with no shoulders and little traffic. Drivers seemed accustomed to bikes and were generally careful when passing. We did encounter tour bus traffic on the ascent into San Gimignano, and the short ride that day had more traffic than the long ride. There was also traffic the final couple miles returning to Florence at the end of the trip.

There are hills to climb, but the layover days make it manageable. Many days the elevation gains are 100 times the mileage (4,000’ feet of climbing over 40 miles). For a more challenging trip, just ride the long routes every day. Our two strongest riders also added extra miles and climbs! Most days there are short and long options. Think of these as hard and harder options. One day there is a hill climbers route; you will be disappointed if you expect there will be no hill climbing on the other optional rides that day. Some of the places we stayed at are located in hilltop villages, meaning there are steep climbs at the end of these rides.

We stayed at a range of accommodations that suited our needs. Hotel Silla in Florence is top-notch, located along the banks of the Arno River. The historic La Cisterna is in the heart of the San Gimignano walled City, and four rooms shared a large balcony with spectacular views for our happy hour parties. The Hotel Palazzuolo in San Quirico was modern luxury with its fabulous pool and resort setting. Il Colombiao in Castellina in Chianti was a charming family-run rustic Inn. Hotel Castello in San Rocco a Pilli and Hotel Ghibellino in Buonconvento were clean and provided everything we needed, although lacked the charm of the other hotels.

Tom’s RWGPS routes are excellent, with cue sheets including points of interest, coffee shops and restaurants. Julie previewed the route each night which helped us recognize key turns and points of interest.

There is so much good food that some of us may have gained weight on this trip. In addition to the croissants, pasta, pizza, you’ll find a delightful selection of cheese, tartufa (truffles) and cianghiale (wild boar). Julie requested vegetable dishes to accompany our group dinners and you will find eggplant and cooked spinach on most menus. Of course, wine and gelato are plentiful.

Julie and Tom Leever are the very best! They know this area intimately, they know the best roads to ride, they know the best sightseeing spots, and they have cultivated relationships with the inn keepers and restaurant owners. Plus Julie is fluent in Italian! And she throws a terrific happy hour. And she arranged a fabulous tour of Siena. And on nights when we were “on our own” for dinner, she made optional reservations for us at the best restaurants. Being on a Leever trip is special.