Cycling
in Italy
Here are
a few tips about cycling in
Italy
that will help you to enjoy your tour.
Riding
Rules-Most
of the roads we will be traveling will not have a shoulder.
Don’t ride double or triple and take up the entire
road. It’s
advisable to always ride single file. When passing other
riders-always call out.
- Signaling-Always
let others know what your intentions are by using hand
signals when you going to change lanes, turn a corner or
stop.
- Down
Hills-You’ll
be experiencing numerous down hills every day.
Don’t be tempted to fly around blind curves, and
drift into on coming traffics lane.
Italian drivers are very aggressive going up hill,
and can drift into your lane.
Businesses-They
don’t stay open all day. They are generally open from 9 am
to 1 pm; then closed from 1- 4; and open again from 4 - 7pm.. This includes markets and banks so get your picnic
supplies and lunch money before 1. Restaurants are generally
open from 12 - 3 and 7:30- 10 PM. Many businesses are closed
on Sunday and Monday. Italian supermarkets stay open all day,
but they are only in the larger towns. These times
may vary by 30 minutes each way depending on the town.
There
are AT Ms in almost every village and city. The exchange rate
is and can usually withdraw-up to 300 euro each day (around
$360 US) so you
'
ll have plenty of cash. A card accessing your checking account
via Cirrus or Plus is the best---you
'
ll of course need a PIN. Make sure you find an ATM in the
airport before our transfer to the hotel cabs will only accept
euro. Many places will accept credit cards, check for emblems
on the door or window but it
'
s a good bet to have enough cash---just in case."
If your ATM card doesn't work at a bank try a different
bank. Bring a credit card, and know the PIN number
of the card. If you don't have a pin number call your
credit card company and they will issue one.
Traveler
'
s checks can usually be cashed only in banks (with passport)
so are less convenient. They
are a real hassle.
Calling
home from your room is expensive. A
better option is to buy a phone card at a newsstand or a
tabaccheria and use the orange public phones called SIP that
take them. You can call collect or with a calling card from
your room by getting an outside line, linea esterna, and
dialing the access code to get an English speaking operator.
You will need a calling card to call the van or the
hotel if you have a problem on the road.
Most Italian public phones will only take a phone card.
Access
codes numbers in
Italy
- AT&T: 800-172-444
- M.C.I.: 800-90-5825
A good
way to communicate back home is via Fax. Faxes sent to our
hotels care will usually be waiting for you on arrival. Hotels
will fax your reply back home for a nominal fee. Post cards
are best mailed directly from the post office early in the
trip; even via air mail it can take them over a month to
arrive.
"Grocery
stores include supermarkets,
and mini-markets called alimentari. You will get the best
quality food if you visit specialty stores like the panificio
(bakery), pasticceria (pastry shop), salumeria (meat shop), or
formaggieria (cheese shop). Open-air markets are a good bet
for fruits and vegetables. When you buy produce at a
supermarket, you weigh it yourself on the provided scale which
spits out a price tag. You then put the sticker on the bag and
proceed to the checkout. At small stores and open air markets,
the proprietor generally selects and weighs the produce for
you. Bike shops in
Italy
are usually family-run and are seldom self-service; often, an
item is hidden away and must be asked for. For clothing, tell
the proprietor your size and he or she will pull out what they
have.
Eating
out is an important cultural event for Italians. They take
their time and enjoy it. You should expect to spend more time
and perhaps more money in an Italian ristorante than at home.
Allow between one and two hours for a meal, even at lunch. A
quicker option may be a Tavola Calda (literally, hot table)
which serves a variety of hot dishes and sandwiches. There are
also pizza stands serving slices and cold drinks, but real
Pizzerias often don
'
t have their wood fired pizza oven going at lunch. Bars may
have sandwiches and pizza, but quality varies. Markets and
bakeries offer little pizzas or make sandwiches and usually
have a selection of drinks.
While
cycling, choose a restaurant with an outdoor patio so you can
keep an eye on your bike. Don
'
t be afraid to try something new under primi piatti---first
dishes---which covers pasta, rice, and soups. Salads and
vegetables are listed under contorni. The conto (check) will
not come until you ask for it. The tip is usually included on
the bill as a coperto (cover) charge, or servizio (service).
When in doubt, ask. If the service is exceptional, you may
leave a little extra. Italians
usually leave some change for the server.
"Italian
bars focus on coffee and conversation not alcohol, they are
more like Starbucks. They are great rest stops during your
rides. If you go into a bar to use the bathroom, get your
water bottle filled, you should buy something. Bars in
Italy
will have sodas, juices (succo), water, even snacks. Bars
charge higher prices for having your drink at a table rather
than standing up.
"Tap
water in
Italy
is usually potable. We have never had a problem with tap
water. Water from fountains may be O.K. for
locals, but don
'
t risk it yourself. Avoid this:
'
Aqua non potabile
'
. Bottled water is cheap in
Italy
so keep some around. Get in the habit of bringing your bicycle
water bottles to your room each night then filling them at the
hotel before you start riding in the morning. If you stop at a
bar or restaurant, ask them to fill your bottles before you
leave.
Public
toilets (WC, gabinetto, or Toiletta) are rare in
Europe
. Local customs usually allow men to use
'
behind the trees
'
rest rooms. Women have to look for a good sized bush or line
up to use the conventional facilities. Some bathrooms are the
'
hole in the floor
'
variety which has the advantage of not requiring a toilet seat
cover and often the disadvantage of not providing toilet
paper. It
'
s a good idea to keep a little T.P. or a small pack of Kleenex
in your pocket. Restaurants and bars will be happy to allow
you to use the facilities as long as you are a paying
customer. Buy a coffee or order lunch, then ask.
Laundromats (lavenderia) are hard to find in
Italy. We bring a small sealable bag of laundry detergent and a
portable clothesline. We wash our cycling clothes and whatever
else we need in our sink or bidet, roll them up in a towel to
wring out the excess water. If your window faces the front of the hotel, they
don’t want your laundry adorning the place. Do your laundry
when you first arrive at a new hotel; that gives it a whole
day to dry. We’ll
be staying at several hotels for two days.
Plan on doing your laundry on one of those stays.
Italy
has good pharmacies that have a green cross hanging in the
front. Everything from aspirin to zinc-oxide is behind the
counter and you have to ask for it. Showing the pharmacist
your illness or injury will usually get you an appropriate
remedy but it
'
s better to be prepared. Having the medicine to treat common
illnesses is good insurance against getting them. Bring any
prescription drugs you need and familiar over the counter
remedies like Sudafed, Advil, Aspirin, Dramamine, Imodium,
even antibiotics. Toothpaste, shave-cream, lotion, shampoo,
and feminine items can be found, but you won
'
t be familiar with the brands. Bring a second set of any
prescription eyewear you might need and bring the phone number
of your doctor since you might want advice when an Italian
doctor is hard to find. Finally, if you need special food and
drinks for riding like Power bars, etc. bring them with you
because they are expensive.
Before
you spend money and aggravation on a converter kit, ask
yourself if you really need the appliance in question. Bring
extra batteries for all your gadgets including cameras, alarm
clocks, and bike-computers. Bring film for the camera too as
it
'
s much more expensive in
Europe
. Think twice about things like notebook computers, you
probably won
'
t have time to use them anyway. Disposable cameras are a good
option for pictures taken during rides.
The best
kind of traveler is a prepared optimist. Expect the best
weather but be prepared for the worst. Weather can change
instantly, so a rain jacket or windbreaker that fits into your
jersey pocket is essential. The sun can be as big a hazard as
the cold, so bring sunscreen.
You won
'
t have to worry much about theft except in large cities. It
'
s best to keep your valuables in a fanny pack turned to the
front. Make a photocopy of your passport/credit cards and keep
it in your luggage, NOT your wallet. I usually feel safer in
Italy
than I do in many parts of the
US.
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