How to Use this Book
Route Descriptions
The distance of each daily stage is set out in miles and
kilometers along with the degree of difficulty. The daily routes
are described in narrative form giving specific road directions
where necessary, intermediate mileage, and riding conditions. If
there is a hill, I will tell you how long it is and how steep. If
there is a quaint village or a ruined castle along the way, I will
point it out. Each daily route includes an altitude profile and a
TCI map excerpt with the route marked on it. There is also a
table listing each town you will be passing through with their
respective distances and amenities.
Unfortunately not every ride is perfect despite my best
efforts. Generally, any large town with its attendant traffic and
suburban sprawl doesn’t offer perfect riding. But if you want to
see Lucca, Pisa, Firenze and Siena, you have to put up with it.
There are no really good rides in or out of these towns, but I
think I have found the most reasonable routes.
You are of course free to deviate from the routes described.
They have all been worked out to achieve the maximum quality
ride, but you may hear of or discover a better ride. A few words
of caution: First, beware of doing the daily routes in reverse
order. Many of the climbs are much steeper going the other
direction. Second, do not succumb to the temptation to take the
more direct highways marked in red on TCI and Michelin maps.
With few exceptions these routes are terrible for cycling. They
usually have no shoulder and are plagued by heavy, high speed
traffic.
