What's Included

The trips include cost of van rental to carry the luggage, all breakfasts, most dinners, maps and cue sheets. Please carefully read the following general information about the trips general guidelines.

Routes and Cue Sheets

 All of the routes are carefully chosen.  Most of them have been scouted, and are on secondary roads with minimum traffic.  However, there are times when heavy traffic is unavoidable.  Riders will be provided with maps and direction sheets for each section of the tour.  All of the distances are approximate.  Riders have to be able to read a map and follow directions.  Basic navigational skills are required.

 All distances are approximate.  Although we have done our best to insure their accuracy, there is always a possibility of an error.  Always verify directional or road changes with your map.  Bring a compass, and learn how to use it.  When you’re cycling on quiet country roads there are few opportunities to ask directions, especially when you don’t speak the language. We will have  a nightly meeting to discuss the next day’s route options. 

Physical Condition-Participants are expected to be good physical condition and be able to complete every section of the ride.  It's imperative that riders prepare themselves by training prior to starting the trip.  It's impossible to enjoy this type of trip without appropriate training. The cumulative effects of daily cycling over hilly terrain are tiring for poorly trained cyclist and greatly deminised their enjoyment. 

Singles-we take no responsibility for matching up singles as roommates.  It's your responsibility to contact a potential roommate to be sure you're compatible.

Dress Code-Europeans dress for dinner.  Dinner is an evening event for conversation, relaxing and good food.  We will be dining at nice restaurants.  We understand the limitations of packing space on a bike trip, but it’s important to bring a few nice things to wear at dinner. This isn't a camping trip. We have found easy-to-care clothing and mix and match separates are ideal way to prevent us from bringing lots of clothes.  Please don’t wear bike shirts, bike shoes, jeans, T-shirts, or clothes you would wear on a camping trip.   Please see the enclosed suggested packing list for suggestions.  If you're plan to extend your vacation and will use more outdoor type clothing, bring an extra bag.  The hotel will store it for you while you're on the tour.

 Dinner-We won’t be able to accommodate any special meals or dietary requests. Most of the restaurants we will be eating at are small. They usually buy only the ingredients they will use for the evening meal.  The menus are extremely limited, unlike American restaurants.  Each evening we will be eating regional dishes consisting of at lest 3 courses.  The menu will be varied allowing you an opportunity to eat dishes that are difficult to order at home.  We believe that dinner should be a culinary pleasure.

Wine-It’s an important part of Italian dinning.  Many of our meals will include a local wine chosen by the owner.  We have found these wines to be of good quality.  If you want to order a more expensive wine, please free to do so at your expense.  We will inform you before each meal, if wine is included.  If wine isn't included in the cost meal cost, you’ll be asked if you would like to order wine.  If you don’t want a full bottle you may order quarter or half carafe of the house wine.  If you only would like a glass, ask someone at your table if they would like to share a half carafe.  Please bring cash to pay for wine or other beer at the end of the evening. Please don't put it on your room because it makes setting the bill the next morning extremely complicated and time consuming.

Breakfast-Italian breakfasts are served buffet style.  Usually there a selection of breads, cereals, meats and cheeses.  These are to be eaten at breakfast, and not taken to make your lunch.  The hotels only buy enough for guests.  If you take more than your share, late arrivals won't have anything to eat.  Many hotels have refused to book BAC tours because they have had a bad experience with riders taking all of the breakfast food for their lunch's.  There will be many places available on the route for you to buy things for a picnic or eat at a restaurant.

Hotel Rooms-In planning the trip we have attempted to find small inns and hotels that reflect the character and charm of the region.  Many of them are hundreds of years old having been former country villas, convents or monasteries.  Each is unique, and the rooms usually vary in size.  All of our accommodations will have private bathrooms, with showers or tubs.  At some of the establishments we may be the only guests.  Please be flexible if there is something that you don’t like about your room.

Laundry-don't hang your laundry from your room windows or balconies.  Many BAC trips have been barred from returning becasue of this.   Ask at the front desk if there is a place on the hotel grounds where you can hang your laundry to dry.  Many Italian hotels have areas where they dry the hotel linens.

Van support-The van is used to carry the luggage only.  There isn’t room in the van to carry tired riders and their bicycles.  The van will not sweep the route and will only be available to assist riders in an emergency.

 Luggage-Riders are restricted to bring one carry on size bag, 22’x14’ and one small shoulder bag.  Due to the number of riders and van space there isn’t room for large or multiple suitcases.  If you plan to extend your trip, you may be able to arrange to leave extra luggage at the hotel during the tour.  Please see our enclosed packing list for suggestions.

Bike Cases-We will arrange for bike boxes and cases to be stored. 

Basic bicycle repairs-Riders should know how to do minor repairs on their bicycle.  There will be no bike mechanic on the trip, and you’ll be responsible for making your own minor repairs.  It’s very important that you have your bike serviced by an experienced bike mechanic before leaving home.  We have enclosed a list of things they should be checked.