PART ONE
INTRODUCTION……………………………............……...7
Travel by Bike……………………………………………..…..8
Bike Tour Options…………………………………………….11
The Commercial Tour
The Self-supported Tour
The Rental Car Tour
The Train—Bike Tour
Bring, Buy, or Rent………………………………….………..13
What Kind of Bike……………………………………….…...13
The Best Bike for Touring
The Hybrid
The Racer
Mountain bikes
Gears…………………………………………………………..16
Tires…………………………………………………………...16
Panniers, Racks, and Trailers…………………………….…...17
Panniers
Racks
Trailers
What to Bring………………………………………….……...20
Tools
Spares
Clothing
Toiletries
First Aid Kit
Miscellaneous
Maps
The Bike Box………………………………………………….25
When to Go Where………………………………….………..27
Accommodations……………………………………………..28
Safety: The Rules of the Road……………………………….29
Signs……………………………………………………….….30
Security………………………………………………….…....31
Money………………………………………………….…..…32
Preparation……………………………………….…………...33
Nutrition…………………………………………….………...34
Beware of the Bonk
Water
Carbo-loading Italian Style
How to Use this Book…………………………………….…..37
Route Descriptions
Degree of Difficulty Ratings
Altitude Profiles
Distances
AIRPORTS………………………………………................41
Roma/ Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport……....….….42
Pisa Galileo International Airport………………………….....44
Firenze Amerigo Vespucci International Airport………....….46
PART TWO
TOURS 1-8 Map …………………………………………....47
TOUR 1: Firence—Siena—Firenze………………………….49
4 Days, 250 km/ 155 mi.
TOUR 2: The Garfagnana……………………………………67
6 Days, 353 km/ 219 mi.
TOUR 3: Pisa—Firenze—Pisa.………………………………93
8 Days, 397 km/ 246 mi.
TOUR 4: Roma/ Fiumicino—Orvieto—Roma/ Fiumicino….125
8 Days, 476 km/ 295 mi.
TOUR 5: Firenze—Montalcino—Firenze………………..….155
8 Days, 458 km/ 284 mi.
TOUR 6: Pisa—Elba—Pisa……………………………...…..187
9 Days, 490 km/ 304 mi.
TOUR 7: Firenze—Urbino—Firenze………………………...219
9 Days, 700 km/ 434 mi.
TOUR 8: Roma/ Fiumicino—Norcia—Roma/ Fiumicino.......241
12 Days, 845 km/ 524 mi.
PART THREE
APPENDICIES…………………………………….…......…307
Appendix A: Further Reading…………………………….....307
Guide Books
Other
Appendix B: Internet Sites…………………………….....….308
General Tourism Sites
Italy
Tuscany
Umbria
Marches
Lazio
Airports
Hostels
Camping
Bicycle Touring
Miscellaneous
Appendix C: Touring Equipment Sources………………………..312
Appendix D: Bicycle Rental Shops…………………………313
Appendix E: Sources for TCI Maps………………………..315
Appendix F: Roma/ Fiumicino Airport Hotels…………..….316
Appendix G: Vocabulary for the Bike Shop………………..317
INDEX……………………………………………………....319
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………...327
