Faq

DO I NEED TO BE TRAINED?

Take a look to our logo: it is a snail! Our tours are designed to be travelled by everyone, even those who don't cycle every day or train little. The average kilometers per day is between 40 and 60 and you have plenty of time to stop, relax, sightseeing, swimming, enjoying a coffee cup or a glass of wine.
Then, if you really think you are not going to make it, we provide E-bikes.

WHAT KIND OF ROADS I CYCLE ON DURING THE TOUR? ARE THEY BUSY? ARE THEY SAFE?

70% of the tour takes place hinterland, 30% on the coast. When you are inland you ride on secondary roads, with very low traffic, through characteristic villages and countryside; 90% of these roads are paved, only a small part is unpaved but still easy to follow. On the coast - during the weekend - you might find a bit more traffic, but since most of the tours are organized out of high season (spring, fall) also there is normally quite.

…AND MY LUGGAGE?

We take care of it! The only thing you should do, before starting your cycling day, is to bring it at the reception of your Hotel or B&B and make sure it has a luggage tag (if you don’t have it, we provide one). You find your luggage again at your next accommodation. If your luggage hasn't arrived (never happens!), we'll buy all the beers you can drink (in your bathrobe) until it does!

WHAT KIND OF ACCOMMODATION YOU BOOK?

The accommodation differs from place to place and from the type of tour. We - generally - book 3*** or 4**** hotels, characteristic B&Bs, farmhouse, historical palaces, and villas. On request, we can provide you a list of accommodations that we normally use and you can check them out. All the accommodations, at any level, are clean, have an unsuited bathroom and provide a breakfast suitable for cyclist.

IN WHICH PERIODS DO YOU OFFER TOURS? WHICH IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT YOUR REGION?

Definitely spring and autumn are the best seasons: the temperature is mild and above all, there are not many tourists around (except you!). So the best months are April, May, June, September and October. Until mid-July we still offer our tours in Salento, thanks to the fact that in the hottest hours you can stay on the beach or anyway in the cool spot. November and December are normally very good periods (temperatures during the day between 15 and 20 degrees), but days are short. February and March (especially) can give great satisfaction.

CAN I CUSTOMIZED MY TOUR?

Sure! The tours we offers are un idea of what can be done but, normally, based on your desires and needs, we can designed a tailor made tour. You can stay more days or less days in one place, change the itinerary, do it backwards, split a stage in two. Everything that is possible we can do it... for the impossible we are getting ready! Just ask!

IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS?

For both self-guided and guided tours, even one person can participate. Of course, in the case of guided tours, they will be part of a larger group.

ARE YOUR TOURS ALSO SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

It depends. Let's say that a well-trained child over the age of 13, with a good desire to ride, can easily take our tours. For children between 10 and 13 it depends on their resistance (at that age there are many differences). In any case, we have a tour designed for families, with stages of 20-30 km per day and totally flat. "Family bike tour"

IF I WANT TO ARRIVE 1 OR MORE DAYS BEFORE O DEPART ONE OR MORE DAYS AFTER THE LAST DAY, DO YOU TAKE CARE OF BOOKING THE EXTRA NIGHTS?

Yes, we can book extra nights for you at your arrival or at your departure, both in Lecce and Matera.

IS THE CITY TAX INCLUDED?

The city tax - a tax that has to be paid at the hotels - is not included in the price. The cost is normally € 1 or € 2 max per person depending on the season and location. Take it as a small contribution to the life of the local community.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING FOR THE TRIP?

Sunscreen, swimwear, comfy clothes (there is not a need of “technical clothes)…but manly the desire to pedal and discover one of the most beautiful regions in the world and get to know its people.

WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUIDED TOURS AND SELFGUIDED TOURS?

Guided tours have fixed departures dates (check on the website to find them out!). The self - guided tours can depart any time (preferably on Fridays and Saturdays, but - on request – also other days). The guided tours are in groups (from 6 up to 16 participants), meanwhile the self-guided tours are autonomous. In the guided tours there are a local guide, a van support meanwhile in the self-guided you have a GPS with tracks to follow and the assistance in case of technical problems.
 

ARE THERE DEPARTURES DATES?

Every year, we propose 5 guarantee departure and you can find the dates in the guided section.

IS THE DEPARTURES OF THE TOUR GUARANTEED ?

Yes, we guarantee the departures of every tours with a minimum of 2 people. Nevertheless, in case the minimum number of 6 is not reached, we propose a “semi-guided” tour where our guide will stay with you 3 days out of 6, while the rest of the time you are autonomous using the GPS.

WHO ARE THE GUIDES?

For our own internal policy we only use local guides. In addition to guiding you along the route and setting the pace of the day, he/she will give you information on the culture and habits of our region.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN A GROUP?

Minimum 6 and maximum 16. Beyond this amount we divide the group into two and assign a guide to each subgroup who will move independently.

WHAT LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN DURING THE GUIDED TOURS?

Normally the language used is English. However, should there be a majority of French or Spanish speakers, that language will be used as the first and English as the second. However, all our guides speak English and some of them also speak French, Spanish and German.
 

WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLASSIC TOUR AND THE FOOD AND WINE TOUR?

They are quite similar: the itinerary and the type of roads are the same. The main difference is the level of the accommodation: in the Food and wine tour there are 4* accommodation (villas, farmhouses and charming hotels), while in the classic tour, we book 3* hotels and B&Bs. Moreover, in the Food and wine tour, there are 4 dinners in gourmet restaurants and 4 tastings (directly from the producers of cheese, wine, baker, etc.. ). The food and wine tour in Salento has one day more.

IN THE SELF GUIDED TOUR, HOW DO I GET AROUND?

If you choose the self-guided tour, we provide free access to the RIDE WITH GPS app with the tracks of the booked trips inside. These are tracks that we have studied over the years, mainly on secondary roads and passing through the most beautiful parts of Puglia. During the briefing, on the day of your arrival here, we will teach you how to use the app-it's a pretty easy thing even if you're not tech-savvy (but who isn't by now?). Along with the tracks, we will also provide you with a road book containing cultural-historical information and gastronomic suggestions, and a detailed map of the region. We can also send the tracks via email, if you want to download and use them on the preferred device.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A PROBLEM DURING THE ROUTE?

We guarantee 24-hour assistance. You will be provided with an emergency number that you can contact during your stay. If you have a problem during the day in a few tens of minutes we are able to be there. For punctures you should be able to repair them yourself (we provide you with a repair kit), while for the rest of the mechanical problems we step in.

ARE THERE FIXED DAYS OF DEPARTURE? CAN I START THE TOUR ON ANY DAY I WANT?

For environmental (i.e., not having to carry luggage just for you) and logistical reasons, it would be better if your arrival day were Friday or Saturday (for the Salento tour) and Sunday (for the tour from Matera). If you really can't, we can also organize it in different days, but it has an additional cost (normally 75€ per person).
 

HOW CAN I BOOK?

Ask for a personalized quote by e-mail or using the dedicated form. Normally, within 48 hours you receive the detailed program via email. Once you receive it and you agree, to confirm the reservation, we ask for a deposit of 25% of the total cost. After few days, you will receive your hotels’ list.

HOW CAN I PAY?

The deposit of 25% via bank transfer. The balance (75%) has to be paid before arriving (always via bank transfer) or once on the spot (by cash). It is also possible to pay by credit card, but only on spot and the fees will be on you.

HOW IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK?

Normally, we suggest to book at least a month before the desired departure period; if it is possible even before then a month. This makes it easier to find availability in the hotels and allows us plenty of time to organize your trip with care. We are, also, flexible in confirming last-minute requests, but this can compromise the choice of accommodations due to the availability - especially when the chosen date is close to the high season.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CANNOT COME AFTER HAVING BOOKED THE TOUR?

First of all, we are always sorry when someone cancels the tour, but we know sometimes it can happen. Everything depends on how long before the arrival date you cancel:
- 90 days before the arrival the cancellation cost is 25% of the total cost;
- 30 days before the arrival, the cancellation cost is 50% of the total cost;
- 2 days before the arrival, the cancellation cost is 75% of the total cost;
Anyway, if you are unable to come, we can issue a voucher worth the amount paid, to be used within next 24 month.
 

WHICH KIND OF BIKES CAN I RENT?

We mainly provide hybrids bikes, which are totally suitable for all the type of roads paved and unpaved. Our fleet is mainly composed by Velodeville Sport L100, Bianchi Spillo and Specialized. We do also provide, on request, Ebikes. If you want to learn more about our fleet, have a look at the specific page "Our Bikes". On request, we rent also road bike, MTB and Gravel.

HOW MUCH AUTONOMY DO ELECTRIC BIKES HAVE?

These are bikes that have an autonomy of 80km. So, always higher than our longer routes and if used wisely can last much longer. It is impossible for them to run out of power during the journey.

WHICH ACCESSORIES YOU PROVIDE WITH THE BIKE?

Along with the bikes we provide helmets, pannier, locks and a pouch to be put on the handlebar. For the tours, these accessories are always included in the bike rental cost.

DO YOU PROVIDE REPAIR KIT WITH YOUR BIKES?

It is always included in the bike rental a repair kit in order for you to do a basic repair.

HOW MANY LITERS IS THE PANNIER?

Normally 20 LT, so it’s enough to bring what you need during the cycling day (can be towels, swimsuit, camera and a spare t-shirt).

DO YOU PROVIDE TANDEM BIKE?

Yes, we have one available.

CAN I BRING MY OWN BIKE?

Yes, you can. But normally it is not worth it, unless you are very attached to it. We have excellent bikes that are reviewed every week by our staff and that are very suitable for the type of trip we organize.

CAN I BRING MY PEDALS?

Yes, you can just tell us in advance.

WHEN WILL I GET BIKES AND GPS?

The day before starting your tour, you will meet somebody from our staff in your first hotel or in our office for a briefing - where we give you bikes, GPS, bikes bags and cultural and logistic information regarding the tour and a detailed map of the area.

IS THERE A BIKE INSURANCE?

No, unfortunately we have no insurance against theft. But as you will notice, a bicycle is not very attractive for local people, so during the day just lock it (we will provide you a lock), while during the night you can keep them in the dedicated and safe areas of your hotels and B&Bs.

DO YOU PROVIDE KIDS BIKE?

We have bicycles of sizes 20, 24 and 26, suitable for children and teenagers from 130cm to 160 cm. For the little ones we have the following options: the bike angel , the trolley or the bike seat. If you want to do a family bike tour in Italy, have a look to our tour proposal. "Family bike tour"
 

HOW TO GET FROM BRINDISI/BARI AIRPORT TO LECCE?

If you fly to Brindisi there is an air shuttle to Lecce town (40' - 6€), you can check the timetable here: Aeroporti Di Puglia Once at the bus station in Lecce you should walk 20' or take a taxi there (Around 10€) to reach the historical centre and therefore your accommodation. Another option is to take a bus from the Airport to the train station of Brindisi (10 minutes, 1,20€) and then a train to Lecce (30',from 5€). We can also organise a private transfer (40’, 30€ each).
If you fly to Bari it's quite comfortable come to Lecce by train. There is a direct train from Bari airport to Bari Central station (15' - 5€) and then a direct train from Bari central station to Lecce train station (1h45' - 10€ if you get a regional train, 1h20' - 19€ if you catch an high speed train). Normally, the accommodations we use are 10 minute’s walk from the train station. In total it could take 2h30' to 4h depending on the train's coincidence. We can also organize a private transfer for you from the airport to your first accommodations (1h30’, 75€ each).

HOW TO GET FROM BRINDISI/BARI AIRPORT TO MATERA?

From Bari airport you can get a bus just out of the airport “Pugliairbus” (1h15’ - 3€). You can check the time-table here: Aeroporti Di Puglia Another option is to take a train to Bari central station (15’, 5€) and from there take a direct train to Matera (1h50’, from 5€) and you can check out here the timetable: Ferrovie Appulo Lucane N.B. IT DOESN’T WORK ON SUNDAY!
We can - also - organize a private transfer from the airport to your accommodation (1h ca, 55€ per person). From Brindisi airport you should take a bus to Bari Airport (1h40’ - 10€ one way with Pugliairbus) and from there another bus to Matera “Pugliairbus” (1h15’ - 3€ one way) and you can check the time-table here : Aeroporti Di Puglia. In alternative, there is the train from Brindisi to Bari and then you can change for a local train to Matera (1h 50’ from €5.) and you can check out here the timetable: Ferrovie Appulo Lucane . We can also organize a private transfer from the airport of Brindisi to your accommodation in Matera.

IF I COME BY CAR, IS THERE ANY PARKING SPOT IN LECCE?

There is a private indoor parking that costs € 18 per day. There is another parking - near the university - that costs €8 per day. It is also a guarded parking lot but outdoor.
 

HOW IN ADVANCE I SHOULD BOOK THE EXCURSION?

At least one day in advance, because we need to organize the logistic of the excursion and in some cases book the tasting.

HOW CAN I BOOK THE EXCURSION?

You can book the excursion by using the calendar form, chose the available dates and proceed to the payment. We will send you a confirmation email. Or you can send us an email or use our dedicated form. We – normally – reply within 24h.

ARE THE ESCURISONS PRIVATE?

Our excursions are open so more people can sign up, If you want to organize a private excursion, with your friends or family, you can contact us by email and we will give you a quote.

WHAT LANGUAGE ARE THE EXCURSIONS IN?

Our guides are native Italian speakers and speak English, Spanish, French and German. The language spoken during the excursion depends on the majority of participants coming from a specific nationality. But, our guides always make sure that the information is clear to everyone.

IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS?

Yes, there needs to be at least 2 participants for the excursion to start.