ExperienceIT adventures- FAQ

Here are a few of the questions we are often asked, if your question is not answered below drop us a line!

Whats included and not included in the tariff

Whilst we can suggest activities outside of the riding time, they may not suit everyone. For this reason the tariff for the tour is not all inclusive. If you decide that you cannot face another 10 course meal and want to stay at home instead with a book, we don’t want you paying up front for something you don’t get.

For this reason the tariff includes all the stuff you need:

  • Transfers to and from Barolo for the rides further afield ( sea and mountain pass)
  • Unique ExperienceIT riding kit
  • Bilingual local guide
  • Experienced ride captains
  • Entry in a Gran Fondo
  • Accommodation and home cooked “cyclist” breakfast
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • Most lunches
  • Support vehicle and private transportation for you and your bike
  • Cycle routes and elevations including points of interest on the way
  • Access to specialist bike mechanics and spare bikes if required
  • Winery visits and tastings

What’s not included:

  • Airfares
  • Transfers to and from airports
  • Lunch each day
  • Dinners on open nights
  • Items of personal nature laundry telephone etc
  • Costs of major bike repairs

How do we get to and from Barolo from the airport/train?

Experience has shown us that trying to organise a transfer to pick up the whole group does not work. People fly into different airports at different times and long waits are often neccessary. For this reason we have not included this in the tariff but we will do everything to help you organise and co-ordinate your transfers from your point of entry into Italy. The closest airports to Barolo are Torino ( 1 hour away), Genova ( 1 hour)  and Milano ( 1 1/2 – 2 hours) and there are many transfer companies that can get you and your bike direct from these destinations to your door here in Barolo. Once the group and travel details have been finalised we will assist in organising these transfers to ensure the minimum of fuss and also reduce costs by co-ordinating group transfers if possible. If you are hiring a car we will provide details for arriving from your destination

How should I prepare for the riding?

As we said these rides are not for people who have not been in the saddle for a while. Look at the profiles and the distances, you will be doing some serious riding. Riding in Europe is all about up, up, up so you need to get some time doing some climbs, you also need to be out on your bike at least a couple of times a week and doing some 2-3 hour rides. Remember if you want to make the most of it you need to come at peak fitness

What is an “average” day like?

We have provided profiles and rough outlines of routes, but an average day will include a relatively early rise, breakfast and then a briefing about the ride with accompanying route maps given to all riders. We will set out directly from Barolo by bike or hop into the van to be transported to our departure point for the days riding. The morning will be spent sweating it out in the saddle and depending on the length of the ride lunch will be organised upon the finish in surrounding Barolo region or our destination. Most afternoon out of the saddle experience will be available for you to partake but the choice will be yours. Again in the evenings activities will be organised and recommendations made however whether you attend or not is up to you. A debrief will be organised each night so that you can share highlights, issues etc with the experienceit team.

I am travelling with my partner who does not ride, will they be accommodated?

Absolutely! It would be very difficult to come to such a beautiful area of Italy and leave your partner at home. For this reason we off a partner package as well and will have alternate activities for the non riders organised for when the others are sweating it in the saddle. These experiences range from golf, horseriding, spa visits, winery visits, cooking classes, walks through the vineyards, shopping visits to outlet centres…the list is endless. If this is the case we will communicate with you prior to the tour and outline the non riding itinerary based on participants and their preferences. A 500 euro discount on the tour price is offered to non riding participants

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, It is mandatory that all participants have relevant travel insurance designed for sporting holidays. It is also recommended that participants obtain a race licence previous to coming to Italy. To participate in the Gran Fondo this is a must but it also will give you additional cover if something were to happen whilst you are out riding. For insurance needs look at www.velosure.com.au they cover you for riding, travel and racing

I would like to do some travelling before or after the tour can you help me with suggested itineraries and bookings?

We would hope after a week with us you feel that you have had a chance to really see some of the great sites in the region and Piemonte. If however you are fortunate enough to have a couple of extra days or weeks is situated perfectly for exploring some of the other amazing areas in Northern Italy and into France. These include;

  • Cinque Terre, Portofino
  • Lago di Como, Verona, Venice
  • Torino, Milano
  • Chamonix

For bike enthusiasts it is close to the challenging Alp d’Huez

We really want to come but the dates don’t suit

If you have a group of four or more people we would be more than happy to organise a tour for your group at a time that better suits the group. let us know what dates would be more suitable and we will do our best to accomodate you.

What is the local currency?

Like most places on the continent the Euro is the currency in Italy and the surrounding countries. Barolo has two banks and ATM’s and therefore access to local currency should not be a problem.

What is the local language?

Whilst Italian is the local language, if you listen to the conversation in the bar in the morning you will realise that what they are speaking is not Italian! It is a local dialect Piemontese which is a mixture of French and Italian. Whilst this is spoken everybody speaks Italian. In this area of Italy very little English is spoken but don’t worry you’ll be accompanied in most instances with an English speaking guide and if all else fails just smile…the Italians are famous for their hospitality and good humour and they will always do their best to help you.

What will the weather be like? What should I bring?

Here in the Langhe we get the full four seasons with yearly temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees!. Snow in winter makes this place a magical white winterland. Springtime is a magical rebirth of colour and life with temperatures starting to climb int the high 10’s by March. April and May the weather continues to warm into the 20’s into June when summer and the warm weather kicks in. July, August and September are the height of summer with temperatures ranging between 25-40 degrees. October brings the magical season of Autumn to the Langhe when the hills are dappled with the reds, oranges and golds of the autumn leaves

May spring time in the Langhe sees the blossoming of colours in the Langhe, after the winter the plants are reborn in a vivid rush of green. May can be a changeable and can see some rain so you must come prepared for all weather conditions ( apart from snow!)

July however is the height of summer and the weather is usually warm between 25-35 degrees and rain is uncommon. We will however be undertaking some altitude riding where the weather is changeable and the temparatures can drop to close to 0 degrees. For this reason riding gear for these conditions should be brought

Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?

Visitors from the EU move within the EU for up to a period of three months without obtaining special permission to stay. Australian and New Zealand visitors to Italy for a period less than three months are not required to obtain visa. If you have a passport from a country not mentioned it is worth checking with your local embassy regarding visa requirements

Packing and servicing before you leave

It is mandatory that your bike is serviced prior to coming on tour. This will ensure that we decrease the likelihood of mechanical issues that can be a real drag on the tour. If you are confident packing your bike, do so, but otherwise contact your local bike shop about packing your bike for airtravel.

Riding in a group

As we will be riding as part of a group it is important that group experience is obtained by all participants. This would require riding with a group of min 6 people, try contacting your local cycling shop to get in touch with a group.

What if you are not happy with the way the tour is going?

Whilst we have worked hard to put together a tour that we hope will satisfy everyone we are aware that issues often arise. For this reason we will have a debrief every night and a morning review of the day ahead. These are all opportunities to voice any problems issues etc. Whilst we will do our best to accommodate we cannot ensure that personal opinions regarding routes etc can be taken on board. But please remember as with any group activity it is hard to please everyone and often there will be differences of opinion.

Spare Bikes if disaster strike

As well as this we also have a range of spare bike available such that if disaster strikes and the bike cannot be fixed on the road you are able to complete the course for the day.

Access to mechanical support

Another of the advantages of having a base is the access we can offer to mechanical support for your bike. Whilst on every ride we will have a support team equipped to assist with simple mechanical issues, having a base enables us to be close to a range of expert mechanics that have both the knowledge and the equipment to fix the most complex of issues. Again our local knowledge and contacts serve us well here as we have agreements with two of the most well renowned bike shops in the region for priority repairs. On the day of arrival we will have a mechanic available for you to assist with the bike build.

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