Road Cycling in Italy for the Middle Aged Cyclist
Good Rides that are Great for Your Heart!
If you are a Moderate Cyclist in Midlife Who Doesn’t Get Hung Up on Strava KOM’s But Wants To Notch Up Your Performance, to Add Health to the Years of Your Life and To Feel Really Good About Your Cycling, Then It May Turn Out That You Want to Book this Holiday
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Ride Hard, Ride Fast and Stay Healthy!
🙋♀️ Ask about the Non-Cycling Partner Package
Prices from $2,236 per person – View Prices
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I Love Road Cycling in Italy Because I am a Middle Aged Cyclist
“Sometime after turning 55 I could see life in my rearview mirror and it seemed to be catching up with me.”
by Tim Hudson
I have always been active, well nearly always.
But now it seems that I need to get more active and to take a little more care.
In the last few years both my parents passed away and they were only 23 years older than me. Coincidentally I had my blood pressure checked around the same time and it was a tad high, my cholesterol was okay-ish and I was overweight, despite my activities, so I decided to change a few things.
And one of those things was a wonderful Lapierre Xelius SL600 carbon road bike - a present to myself for my 60th birthday. This was the first road bike that I had owned in many a long year and my first ever carbon bike!
I really fell in love with my bicycle and not just riding it but riding it hard. I rather surprised myself!
Other changes mean that I do my best to stick to a plant-based diet, I ski with guests for 3 months every winter and ride my bike in the summer. When I can I love to swim in the sea. So all good! But then I read the Midlife Cyclist by Phil Cavell after a guest recommended it [thanks Stephen].
It’s about keeping healthy for longer.
It’s about a personal challenge, riding a little faster, a bit further and maybe taking on rides that you wouldn’t normally consider.
It’s exploring your older body and having a good heart!
So that's what this cycling holiday is about, people like me, middle-aged health and good rides that are great for your heart.
If you'd like know more or book this holiday, do get in touch.
Tim.
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Summary
- Maximum 14x Cycling Guests Per Week
- On Ride Coaching by Resident Coach, Roberto
- 🏋️♂️ Personal FTP Test & Analysis
- Ride Varied Terrain: Mountains, Flat & Time Trial
- Non-Cycling Activities ... 🍕Pizza Making +🍷Wine Tasting + 😎Tours
- Post Ride Discussions, Talks & Stories
- Exclusive Country Hotel with Pool & Spa 👙
- Super Half Board: Breakfast; Post-Ride Lunch & Dinner with Water & House Wine 🥂
- Full Service Bike Facilities & Storage ⚙️
- Based on the Tuscany Umbria border 🇮🇹
- Inspired ITALY Cycling Jersey 👕
- 🙋♀️ PARTNER PROGRAM: Ask about the None-Cycling Partner Program from £976
Statistics
- 🚴🏻 CYCLE DAYS: Up to 6
- 😎 REST DAYS TO SUIT
- 📍📍 DAILY RIDES From 30Km to 100km+
- 🚴🏻💨 CYCLING SPEEDS: 25Km/h to 30Km/h on flat ground
- ⏱ DAILY SADDLE TIME: 3h to 5h
- EXPERIENCES & SKILLS:
- - Time Trial
- - Climbing & Descending
- - Long Rides
- READ INSPIRED ITALY's 100+ 5⭐️ GUEST REVIEWS ON Tripadvisor & Google.
Itinerary
Day-to-Day
8:00 Breakfast & Briefing
8:30 Bike & Ride Prep
9:00 Depart for Daily Ride
c13:00/14:30 Return to Hotel & Lunch
14:30 to 19:00 Relax & Recover - Pool, Spa, Relax
19.00-20.30: Dinner
- EXAMPLES of RIDE ITINERARIES -
EASY: Città di Castello
Good-paced flat ride through the Umbrian valleys of Niccone and Upper Tiber.
We stop for a light Sunday lunch and refuel in the heart of Citta di Castello before returning.
Highlights
Mainly Flat Valley Ride with a good pace to warm up the week
Statistics
72.7Km; Ascent 692m with no CATEGORISED climbs; Lowest point 247m highest 318m
The roads around the Tuscany Umbria borders offer quiet country cycling and a wide variety of terrain from long steady climbs to long flat valleys wrapped in a moderate Mediterranean climate.
TIME TRIAL: Niccone Valley Loop
The Niccone Valley has a perfect 13.2Km road circuit to explore your Time Trial skills.
A pre-event ride around the course to offer tips and advice on how to use aero bars and how to get the best out of your body and bike.
We provide clip-on aero bars for you if you wish.
SKILLS
- Sprinting
- Get the Best from Your Gears
- Pacing
- Group Riding Techniques
- Riding a Pace Line
- Drafting
- Riding in a group with crosswind/headwind
🔴 Check out the Niccone Valley Time Trial Course here
Highlights
Individual and Team Time Trial
Statistics
Description … Flat, right had loop course. Distance … 13.2Km Height Gain … 80m↗︎ Estimated Ride Time … 27m 51s
This is a unique opportunity to experience rides that we can only dream about. It's a huge amount of fun!
Lake Loop
As the name suggests the Lake Loop is largely flat & fast, but with two categorised climbs at 16 & 71km this ride has enough spice!
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The 2021 Giro d'Italia Wine Stage used part of this route.
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Spectacular views throughout this ride and with a lot of flat terrains to test your speed.
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SKILLS
- Riding Out of the saddle
- Climbs
- Sprints
- Looking BACK & Riding One-Handed
- Fueling - Eating and Drinking
- Balance
- Get the Best from your Gears
- Pedalling Technique
- The Right Cadence
🔴 Check out the Lake Loop here.
🔴 Watch the Giro 2021 Wine Stage here.
Highlights
Lake Views, Coffee in Castiglione del Lago; Tales of Hannibal.
Statistics
Distance … 84.54Km Height Gain … 1,198m↗︎ Average Speed … 25km/h Estimated Ride Time … 2h 52m
Cycling around this wonderful natural feature is delightful. Lake Trasimeno is a hidden gem of the Tuscany Umbria countryside and is perfect cycling terrain.
MODERATE: San Leo Climb
Pretty much a sustained 23Km climb plus a c6.5Km climb to finish!
Dig in and grind this one out! Long climbs are the making of a good cyclist. This is one of the longest in the area.
SKILLS
Climbing
- Riding out of the saddle
- Looking BACK & Riding One Handed
- Get the Best from Your Gears
- Pedalling Technique
- The Right Cadence
Descending
- Cornering
- Breaking
- Emergency stop
- Skidding
- Rider Position
- Fueling - Eating and Drinking
- Bike Balance
- Pacing
🔴 Check out the San Leo Climb here.
Highlights
Val di Chiana vistas; Coffee in Cortona.
Statistics
Distance … 84.54Km Height Gain … 1,198m↗︎ Estimated Ride Time … 2h 52m
Former pro-cyclist and legendary Italian domestique Alessandro Vanotti rides these roads with us as part of his Cycling Master Class. Look elsewhere on the website for more information. The Giro and the Tirreno-Adriatico came through the region in 2021.
MODERATE: Montone 1000/100+
Largely Flat & fast with one easy categorised climb. Montone is worth the effort.
This fast-paced ride has two climbs only one of which is categorised. That said, you'll bag a hefty 1,350m vertical today.
SKILLS
Group Riding
- Moving up in a group
- Riding a paceline
- Drafting
- Riding in a Cross/headwind
🔴 Check out the Montone 1000/100 here.
Highlights
Quiet country roads & a stop in the Piazza at Montone.
Statistics
Distance … 104.50Km Height Gain … 1,350m↗︎ Estimated Ride Time … 3h 10m
Breaking the 100km mark for your first time or the first time in a while is hugely satisfying. Let us help you do it! we know the roads, we know the terrain.
HARD: The Fiorentino Peaks
Flat-Climb-Descend [Repeat x3).
Tough day!
- Fueling - Eating and Drinking
- Pacing
- Descending
- Group Riding
- Climbing
🔴 Check out The Fiorentino Peaks ride here.
Highlights
Quiet country roads & a stop in the Piazza at Montone.
Statistics
Distance … 90.4Km Height Gain … 1496m↗︎ Estimated Ride Time … 4h 15m
Riding through rural Italy on quiet country roads is good for your heart! Locals wave as you pass, bar owners dig deep into the fridge for the coolest water, and the climbs are rewarded by the most outstanding views.
Area Map
Give Yourself More Time in the Saddle
The Non-Cycling Partner Program & Super Half Board free you of daily chores meaning more time to relax and ride
Eat well and healthily, take time to relax and allow yourself time to focus on your ride.
This is what Super Half Board means. And if you wish to bring a non-cycling partner, do so because we have a week of really great shared experiences.
The decks are cleared and you can focus on your next ride.
… And Even More Time to Rest
Rest is key and is why good training camps work.
The right amount of rest and recovery allows your body to benefit from your training efforts.
Take the afternoon by the pool, head to the spa or just relax in the sunshine.
Ride more and rest well – it’s key.
Mediterranean Weather
Cycling in rural Italy is delightful.
That is why in 2021 the Tirreno Adriatico and the 2021 Giro d’Italia came through here.
The Mediterranean climate of central Italy means warm air, sunshine, and little wind. A perfect cycling environment.
And with warmer weather come the benefits of less clothing and a significantly reduced risk of catching a virus or cold!
Longer Climbs for Better Training
The terrain is critical to a good cycling training camp.
The foothills of Italy’s backbone, the Appennine mountain range provide ample opportunity for cyclists to engage in long challenging climbs.
And for you, the greater the amount of time you spend on longer climbs the longer you maintain your training zone sweet spot which in turn, helps you improve your power to weight ratio.
We have many categorised climbs for you to test yourself during your week with us.
Don't Blow Your Biscuit!
Know Your Numbers!
What if you knew, I mean, if you really understood how you ride your bike?
If someone could show you in the simplest of terms how your physical effort is transferred into your bike, it would help you train, become a better rider and improve your cycling enjoyment no end!
The Magnetic Days Autotest [FTP] measures your…
CADENCE (Revolution Per Minute) | PEDAL FORCE in Newton/meters | MOMENTS of RESISTANCE | HEART RATE
… all of which add up to your POWER = Watt.
We all have different riding styles and no doubt we can all improve our fitness and techniques. But then, we are all different, have different bikes, ride different terrains etc. But the way you apply your body through the pedals and into the bike is the only way to power it and the better you are at it, the greater your enjoyment.
Take the test and understand far more about your body, how you apply your power and ride for longer.
Good Rides that are Great for Your Heart!
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Road Cycling In Rural Italy
More Road Cyclin in Italy Experiences for the Middle Aged Cyclist
Price
$2,236 per person
Your adventure includes:
Your adventure includes:
- ☀️ 8 Days, 7 Nights, 6 Great Rides through Rural Italy
- Super Half Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 🍝
- 🚌 Private Taxi Transfer From & To Pisa & Firenze Airports
- 🏨 Bike Hotel with Exclusive use including Private Pool & Spa
- 💪 FTP Test & Results Analysis
- ⏱ Time Trial Experience
- Non-Cycling Activities ....
- 🍕 Pizza Evening
- 🍇🍷 EXCURSION: Local Food & Wine Tasting at I Girasoli di Sant'Andrea
- 🍷🍝 EXCURSION: An evening in Preggio with dinner
- 🚴♂️ Guided Daily Group Rides
- 🚴♂️ Inspired ITALY Cycling Jersey
- 🚴♂️ Water, Mineral Salts & Banana for Your Rides
- 🚴♂️ GPX Files of your Rides
- 🚴♂️ Bike Room
- WELLNESS SPA for 2 hours per day
- Fitness Room 🏋️ 💪
- 🔧👨🔧 Technical Assistance in case of accidents or faults
- BIKE RENTAL OPTION 🚴🏻♀️ 🚴🏻 🚴♂️
- 👰🏻♀️ Non-CYLING PARTNER PROGRAM