cycle tourism Archivio - Fiera del Cicloturismo

11 November 202316 November 2023 By redazione

Explore Türkiye by bike with fully supported cycling holidays

Imagine a holiday where you cycle along the stunning landscape of Türkiye, surrounded by a community of passionate cyclists. Expert guides lead the way, ensuring an unforgettable experience, all within the lap of luxury.

Recently, Boostcamp, revered as Türkiye’s leading cycling holiday provider, is gearing up for a series of cycling “Camps&Vacations” that promise an immersive journey through the diverse landscapes of Türkiye. Tailored for amateur cyclists, these holidays are distinguished by their luxurious accommodations, providing a stylish and comfortable exploration of Türkiye’s scenic beauty. The driving force behind Boostcamp consists of some of Türkiye’s most skilled and experienced cyclists, offering a unique opportunity for participants of all levels to enjoy challenging rides and glean insights directly from the country’s cycling pros.

Boostcamp’s cycling holiday packages pledge exhilarating rides through Türkiye’s spectacular landscapes. With approximately five cycling retreats organized each year, participants can choose from daily routes that wind through captivating destinations, tailoring their experience to their own capabilities. Accompanied by an expert trainer and a support vehicle, cyclists can enjoy the journey with peace of mind, knowing mechanical or emergency assistance is readily available. While no specific skill level is mandated, participants are expected to be proficient in riding with SPD pedals and have prior experience cycling in groups.

Boostcamp organizes cycling holidays in the Turkish Riviera, Aegean, Gallipoli, Cappadocia, and the Black Sea region. Each program spans four to five days and unfolds in a five-star hotel setting. Beyond the exhilarating cycling experiences, these vacations encompass daily recovery sessions, yoga, strenght training workshops, seminars, and evening dinners. Offering more than just a cycling adventure, these vacations provide an opportunity to forge connections with like-minded enthusiasts from around the globe, all against the backdrop of Türkiye’s enticing destinations.

Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist seeking a new challenge or a leisure rider yearning for a luxurious exploration, Boostcamp’s cycling holidays are a unique blend of physical activity, relaxation, and cultural immersion. Join the upcoming series and let the pedals lead you through an unforgettable Turkish journey.

Marmaris, the revenge on the mountains

The “Revenge on the Mountains” program, starting on March 26, kicks off the series with a five-day cycling extravaganza along the southern coast of Marmaris. Covering 500 kilometers and challenging climbs reaching 8,000 meters, the courses range from coastal roads to mountain ascents flanked by the region’s distinctive pine trees.

Each day, cyclists cover approximately 60 to 100 kilometers to different destinations surrounding Marmaris. For instance, the first day’s ride leads to Orhaniye, the second day offers options between a long ride on Sakar Pass or from Marmaris to Gökova. The full program includes afternoon yoga and mobility sessions, workshops, nightly dinners, a Saturday evening party, and daily Boostcamp meetings to discuss the rides and all things cycling.

Boostcamp’s cycling holidays cater specifically to urban cycling enthusiasts seeking challenges, new routes, and exploration. These trips provide a unique blend of exercise, regional cuisine, and top-notch accommodation, along with daily recovery sessions, workshops, seminars, and shared dinners – fostering genuine connections among like-minded individuals from around the globe.

organized bike tours for groups in turkey

For information about Boostcamp Marmaris, March 26-30, 2024, visit: boostcamplive.com

is more than a bike tour

Kerim Sukan, the owner of the Boostcamp affirms “I envisioned Boostcamp as more than just a cycle tour. It’s a fusion of sport and pleasure, a harmonious blend that brings together the cycling community and local heritage. Through active holiday packages, we aim to provide an opportunity for those seeking to discover new territories, guided by experts both on and off the bike. It’s not just cycling; it’s an immersive experience, where every pedal stroke creates a new memory of exploration and connection.” Kerim is also the founder of the race “Queens” together with Santini and he is the organizer of “Istanbul 24h”, the 24 Hours Cycling Race. Kerim is also the founder of the “Queens” race together with Santini and is the organizer of the“Istanbul 24h.”

Create your own bike trip in Türkiye

Boostcamp provides cycling holidays for those who are seeking personalized tours aligned with their preferences: meticulously tailored, including non-riding activities, and travel preferences.

For more details on upcoming tours, visit boostcamplive.com

Castello di Proh Briona NO ph Antonella Sebastiani

20 October 202316 November 2023 By redazione

“In Bici a Pelo d’Acqua,” slow and sustainable tourism in the Novarese area.

The Interreg In Bici a Pelo d’Acqua project was created with the aim of enhancing a vast territory through its bicycle paths, which have the element of water as a common thread.

Along the way we encounter rivers such as the Rhone, Toce, Ticino, Sesia and Agogna, lakes such as Mergozzo and Orta, and an intricate system of canals that irrigate rice fields.

The route passes through Canton Valais, where it follows the Rhone among majestic mountains, and continues through Ossola along the Toce and Cusio on the shores of beautiful Lake Orta, then up into the Novara hills along the Agogna.

These are territories to be discovered calmly, savoring their beauty made up of nature, culture, landscapes, scents and flavors, pedaling quietly to Novara, a city rich in museums, monuments and art, dominated by its imposing Dome that rises above the rice plain.

Here we cycle among canals and irrigation ditches that bring water to the rice fields: in spring the water reflect the rows of poplar trees, historic farmsteads and mountain contours, and are home to several species of birds that nest and feed here. The landscapes and colors of the rice paddies change with the seasons. From the blue of the water to the green of the seedlings to the golden yellow of the rice ready for harvest in autumn.

Pedaling in the Ticino Park, Mulino Vecchio Bellinzago ph.Alessandra Miglio

This bicycle touring route is not intended as the creation of new bicycle paths. In fact, it involves the networking of existing routes or the development of new routes on low-traffic municipal and provincial roads.

You travel by bicycle between the Alps and the Po River, following the official bicycle paths of the Piedmont Region and Canton Valais in Switzerland. You can admire the landscapes, traditions, history and discover the flavors of these lands.

The four routes of the In Bicycling by Water project.

GPX tracks of the four suggested routes for travelers can be found on the In Bici a Pelo d’Acqua project website.

Vigne del Boca NO ph ATL of the Province of Novara — Vigne del Boca NO ph. ATL of the Province of Novara

One route, Via del Mare, begins in the Swiss Valais, in Brig, and runs downhill along Lake Orta. Via del Ticino, runs along the Ticino river from Sesto Calende to the heart of the Ticino Park on the opposite side of Turbigo. Pedemontana starts from Sesto Calende too, but arrives among the vineyards of Gattinara. The Rhone Route crosses the Canton of Valais and partially skirts Lake Geneva.

This project stems from a feasibility study sponsored by the Piedmont Region in 2016 to enhance regional cycling routes. Novara ATL has joined and received the necessary funding. On this basis, work was done to turn the study into a concrete work by participating in calls for proposals that would enable its implementation.

Foto Fiab: La presentazione al TTG con Antonio Dalla Venezia, Paola Piacentini, Monica Price, Daniele Crotti

16 October 202311 November 2023 By redazione

Cycle tourism on the rise: the needs of Italian cycle tourists

Bicycle tourism in Italy is growing steadily, revealing a phenomenon with strong upward potential. This is the outcome of the second edition of the national survey titled “What Type of Cyclist Are You? Places, Transportation, Safety, Habits, Trends, Needs, and Expectations of Cyclists,” conducted by FIAB (Italian Federation of Friends of the Bicycle) in collaboration with the University of Insubria, Active Italy, and CIAB (Club of Bicycle-Friendly Enterprises). The survey took place between June and September 2023 and involved 2,500 cyclists who responded to a series of online questions.

The results of this survey were presented on October 12 at the TTG Travel Experience held at the Rimini Fair within the conference “The Metamorphosis of Cycling Tourism: From a Simple Bicycle Vacation to an Opportunity to Reconnect with Natural Spaces.”

Favorite destinations and essential services

The data collected reveal that more than 70 percent of bicycle tourists reach their travel destination by train, demonstrating the growing importance of sustainable mobility in this sector. Moreover, over 80% of cyclists consider it crucial to be able to transport their bicycles on trains and buses even during their trips.

The preferred destinations of cyclists are primarily found in Italy, with a preference for northern regions, including Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Nevertheless, 23% of cyclists also opt for international travel.

Source Fiab cycle tourism on the rise — Source Fiab

Despite preferences for rural areas, 68% of cyclists seek the pleasure of a cycling vacation in cities and urban areas. Furthermore, the significance of infrastructure and bicycle-friendly services is evident, with 88% of cyclists considering the possibility of loading bicycles onto trains and buses very important and 90% attaching crucial importance to the maintenance of areas adjacent to cycling routes.

The quality of cycling routes (95%) and the presence of technical services along routes (78%) are also crucial factors in itinerary selection.

Ebikes and bicycle touring

An interesting fact is that about 31% of bicycle tourists travel by electric bicycle (ebike). 88% of regular cyclists were already taking cycling vacations regularly before using e-bikes, while 22% of occasional cyclists were introduced to cycling tourism through e-bikes, underscoring their significance for a segment of the industry.

E-bikes allow for undertaking routes with greater elevation changes (83%), choosing longer routes (81%), increasing the number of trips throughout the year (72%), and engaging a not exclusively young audience (48%).

Occasional cyclists prove to be more demanding than regular cyclists when it comes to accommodation choices and services. The ability to have energetic meals suitable for an active vacation (77%), launder clothing (59%), access maps (68%), rent bicycles (41%), and join guided excursions (43%) assumes increasing importance.

Accommodation and Services Connected to Lodging Facilities

The research indicates that 92% of regular cyclists prefer to organize their trips independently. Conversely, among occasional cyclists, 28% find support from cycle-ecological associations such as FIAB and/or tour operators.

These findings are corroborated by the experiences of tour operators within the Active Italy network. This suggests the need for agencies to increase promotional efforts in creating attractive and cyclist-friendly itineraries.

Road safety as a critical element

An important aspect that emerged from the survey is the perception of road safety. Both regular and occasional cyclists express concerns related to coexistence on the roads with motorized vehicles. However, occasional cyclists suffer more from the perception of poor road safety, negatively affecting their intentions to engage in cycling tourism.

In summary, cycling tourism in Italy is continuously evolving, with cyclists seeking more attractive itineraries, suitable services, and sustainable mobility solutions. Interest in e-bikes is growing, and road safety remains a key concern for cyclists, especially occasional ones. Interest in ebikes is on the rise, and road safety remains a key concern for cyclists, particularly occasional cyclists.

31 March 202311 November 2023 By redazione

Flanders by bike: choose your route

How do you imagine cycling in Flanders? To this question, the answers can be very different. Slowly follow a stream through the green countryside, or push on the pedals to conquer the cobblestones and reach the top of one of the legendary walls of the Tour of Flanders. Pass through the orchards of Belgian Limburg, or towns with historic centers dotted with centuries-old buildings. Tackle the slopes of the Flemish Ardennes or relax along the North Sea coast. Pedaling lapping the treetops, or below the water level.

What is the right answer? None, because they are all valid.

In Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, cycling is culture that lives on in the daily lives of the inhabitants and those who visit them. The dense network of bicycle paths, whose intersections are called “nodes,” makes an excursion of a few hours or a multi-day vacation an easy and varied experience. Different lengths, different gradients, endless combinations: whether it’s your first biking vacation, or you have hours of training in your legs, you’ll find the road in Flanders that will satisfy you.

To help you choose, the Iconic Cycle Routes, or the iconic cycle routes of Flanders (at www.fiandreinbici.com all the information, includes GPX tracks). These routes connect the best of the region and have different lengths and difficulties, from one to three. So they are suitable for everyone, modular if you don’t want to complete them completely or if you want to take detours, and they carry signs in both directions. You can then choose which direction you want to ride, where you want to start or end, like those who have been there before you.

The easiest routes: waterways

Water distinguishes the four simplest iconic Flanders bike routes, with difficulty level one. The coastal route, 85 km, takes you along the beach overlooking the North Sea, through dunes and forests, and explores the vast flat polder landscapes, discovering the history of coastal life. Sixty-three, on the other hand, are the kilometers, partly pedaled on the banks of one of Europe’s great rivers, of theMeuse route, where you can meet migratory birds and animals in the wild, and visit picturesque villages. Nature and iconic architecture also alternate along the 181 km of theScheldt route, the river that connects Ghent and Antwerp and is crossed several times by ferry along the way, offering moments to rest the legs but not the eyes. And finally, the water of the bathing lakes touched by theKempen route, with extremely varied landscapes: moors, forests, desert dunes and ancient mining sites. But the real treat along this route is the possibility of pedaling suspended from the ground, at the height of tree canopies.

The intermediate routes: through history

The iconic routes with difficulty two are those that best tell the story of Flanders, starting with the Flanders Fields, the territories that were the scene of World War I. Bunkers, trenches, craters left by bombs, underground tunnels, but above all the touching silence in military cemeteries: the 100 km of the’14-’18 itinerary are a ride through memory. Theart cities itinerary on the other hand, is significantly longer, 342 km, but it is one of the most attractive iconic itineraries for first-time visitors to Flanders: the cities of Brussels, Leuven, Antwerp, Mechelen, Ghent, Bruges, and Ostend in one route rich in art and culture.

The most challenging routes: gradients and lengths for those with legs

The gentle landscapes of the Flemish countryside may fool the mind, but not the legs. Hills and slopes create unique vistas that must be mastered. The green belt route surrounds Brussels with 126 km of continuous ups and downs, through Bruegel and hop country, past castles and stops for a beer geuze. The 459-kilometerHill Route reflects the name: a challenging ride through southern Flanders, from east to west to the famous Flemish Ardennes of champions, always dotted with tasty stages. Last, but first in length, the
Flanders route
: 962 km from the countryside to the sea, passing through cities of art and small historic villages, is the long-distance route that combines the iconic bicycle routes throughout Flanders.

Accessibility

Flanders has the ambition to be a destination for pleasant vacations suitable for everyone: from the youngest to seniors, for tourists with or without disabilities or those who need special attention. A cycling vacation is no exception: bike paths can also be the destination for those with special needs, for a complete experience of Flemish culture!

REFERENCES
To learn more visit VisitFlanders’ website www.visitflanders.com/it

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