Bike plus boat. Bike plus spa. Bike plus celebrities.
If you fancy a bike holiday, do not limit yourself to pedalling for several hours per day, ending your tour with a hot shower and an early night. Aim high. The world of cyclo-tourism has reached new levels of sophistication.
What about going by bike in the Marche region (a lot of hills, your tights will be instantly toned up) in the company of an Olympic games athlete? Yuri Chechi won the men’s ring gold medal at the Atlanta’s games in the 90s. He was dubbed ‘The Lord of the Ring’ but now has turned his attention to his legs. He owns a resort called Colle del Giglio (www.colledelgiglio.com) and accompanies his guests up and down the hills of Ascoli Piceno by bike. The tracks are not too harsh but they can satisfy even the most demanding of the grimpeurs. Yuri himself suggests the best paths and check that you have enough of your energy breakfast before starting.
Girolibero (www.girolibero,it) specialises in tours on bike. Among their offers (for beginners, for experts, for families, including a tour for ‘lazy people’, where you tour a little but go back to the comfort of your hotel every afternoon) we were particularly attracted by the Bike + Boat offer. While you pedal along a river, a boat follows your path becoming a floating houseboat where you can rest and have your meals.
Funactive (www.funactive.info) cares a lot about your wellness and organises tours that ends every night in a hotel with a spa. Nothing sounds better that a massage and a sauna after a day on a saddle.
They also organise handbike tours if you’d rather be eccentric than mainstream.
With so much on offer, are you still sitting on your sofa?
