🚴 How our levels work
Our tours are designed to offer different levels of difficulty, so you can choose the experience that best matches your fitness, riding style, and expectations.
We use two simple references:
- Tour difficulty — the physical level of the route
- Rider type — your personal cycling habits and preferences
This helps you find the right balance between challenge and enjoyment.
📊 Tour Difficulty
Our tours are designed with different levels of difficulty, depending on terrain, distance, and elevation.
Destinations also play an important role.
Some regions, such as Puglia or coastal Sardinia, offer gentler terrain, while areas like Tuscany involve more rolling hills and elevation.
You can explore all our regions on the Destinations page to better understand what to expect.
🟢 Easy
Mostly flat routes or gently rolling hills, with no strenuous climbs.
Ideal for riders who prefer a relaxed pace and want to enjoy the landscape without too much physical effort.
You should be in good health and ready for full days outdoors, but no specific training is required.
🟡 Moderate
Rolling terrain with regular hills and some longer climbs.
Recommended for riders with a moderate level of fitness and some cycling experience.
We suggest preparing with regular rides for a few weeks before your trip to fully enjoy the experience.
🔴Challenging
Varied terrain including hills, longer climbs.
Suitable for experienced riders who enjoy more demanding routes and are comfortable riding for several hours.
A good level of fitness and preparation is recommended.
⚖️ Flexible levels
You will often see combinations like Easy to Moderate or Moderate to Challenging, because most routes include a mix of terrain and riding conditions rather than fitting into a single fixed category — and that’s part of the experience.
👤 Rider Types — Find your style
Your riding experience is not only about distance or elevation, but also about your personal approach to cycling.
Use these profiles to understand which type of rider best describes you.
🌿 Leisure
Lifestyle
You ride your bike regularly for pleasure, light fitness, or daily commuting. You enjoy being active, but cycling is not the main focus of your routine.
You enjoy
Gentle routes with some rolling hills, without long or demanding climbs.
You like to take your time, enjoy the scenery, and stop whenever you feel like it.
If needed, you are happy to take a break or hop into the support van.
⚡ Active
Lifestyle
Cycling is an important part of your lifestyle.
You ride regularly and are comfortable with rides of a few hours at a steady pace.
You enjoy
Varied terrain with hills and moderate climbs.
You like a physical challenge and enjoy tracking your progress, including elevation and distance.
You feel confident riding both uphill and downhill
🔥 Avid
Lifestyle
Cycling is a key part of your life.
You ride frequently, often for longer distances and at a stronger pace.
You enjoy
All types of terrain, including long climbs and mountain passes.
You are comfortable with sustained effort and enjoy more demanding rides.
You like pushing your limits and improving your performance.
💡 A cycling holiday, not a race
“The goal is always the same: to enjoy the ride.”
Our tours are designed as a vacation experience, not a race.
At every level, the pace is relaxed and focused on enjoying the landscape, local culture, and food.
However, you will be cycling regularly during the trip, so some preparation before departure is always recommended.
For more practical advice on how to prepare, you can also visit our Travel Tips
⚡ What about e-bikes?
E-bikes have made cycling tours accessible to a wider range of riders and can significantly reduce the physical effort required, especially on climbs.
(And just to be clear — an e-bike is still a bicycle, not a moped. You still pedal — just with a little boost when you need it 😉)
Distance, time in the saddle, and terrain still play an important role in the overall experience.
An e-bike can make a moderate or challenging tour more approachable, but it’s still important to choose a tour that matches your comfort level and expectations.
If you’re unsure, we’ll be happy to help you choose the right combination of tour level and bike type.
You can learn more about the different options on our Bikes page
🪨 Gravel riding
Gravel riding adds a different kind of challenge — not necessarily more climbing, but a more technical riding experience.
Unpaved roads require a bit more balance, confidence, and bike handling, both on climbs and descents. Even with a gravel bike, e-gravel or an e-bike, the terrain can feel more demanding than smooth pavement.
At the same time, gravel riding is often incredibly rewarding: quieter roads, beautiful landscapes, and a stronger sense of immersion in the countryside.
If you enjoy adventure, scenery, and riding away from traffic, gravel can be one of the most memorable ways to experience Italy, especially Tuscany! Explore our Gravel Tours
Cycling Tour Riding Levels FAQ
How do I know which level is right for me?
If you’re unsure, consider how often you ride and how comfortable you feel spending a few hours on the bike.
You can also contact us — we’ll be happy to share distance, elevation gain and loss, daily routes, and the Ride with GPS event, so you can compare it with your usual rides, better understand what to expect, and choose the most suitable level.
What if the tour feels too challenging?
On guided tours, the support van is always available if you need a break.
With e-bikes, climbs become much more manageable, making many routes accessible to a wider range of riders.
Do I need to be very fit?
No — you don’t need to be highly trained, especially if you choose the right level or ride an e-bike.
However, being comfortable spending a few hours on the saddle will make your experience much more enjoyable.
Do I need to train before the trip?
We recommend some light preparation, especially for moderate and challenging tours.
Regular rides in the weeks before departure will help you enjoy the experience more.
Can I choose a challenging tour with an e-bike?
In many cases, yes — but it depends on the type of e-bike and the tour.
E-bikes can make climbs easier, but longer distances and time in the saddle still require endurance. For more demanding tours (70–100 km per day), we generally recommend a good level of fitness or a more performance-oriented e-bike, such as an e-gravel bike.
Standard e-bikes are generally better suited to easy or moderate levels.
If you’re unsure, we’re happy to help you choose the right combination.
You can also find more answers in our FAQs page