Garfagnana/Northern Tuscany

[andy from embsay]

Posted this over on bike radar to little effect, so thought i'd try here! Going to the Garfagnana (north of Lucca) in northern tuscany next year, and want to try out some of the very wiggly roads i can see. Anyone been? Suggestions/recommendations for rides I should do? And anyone hired a decent road bike in the area? Thanks!!

 

[Fnaar]

've not cycled there, but been there on hols... it's beautiful, and I'm sure some of the wiggly roads would provide a great challenge.

 

[ASC1951]

There is a roadie club in Lucca - Auser Velo Club. Uncle Google may be able to find you some contact details.

 

[Julesh]

First time I've posted here I think.

I lived in Bagni di Lucca for two years and still have a house there.

It's hilly and a lot of the roads you will see on a detailed map might not be surfaced - strada bianca - white roads.

The best local shop IMHO is Poli in Lucca. If you look at


http://www.biciclettepoli.com/noleggio.htm


You will see that they do NOLEGGIO BICICLETTA DA CORSA - rent road bikes so I'm sure they can sort you something out. They are very nice but don't speak a huge amount of English. If you have any questions about particular roads get back to me by pm I'll try to remember to look back here or seek me out on YACF

 

[gillan]

ahhhhhh........tuscan roads

where are you staying?

I know Barga very well (as do a lot of Scots) and have pedalled on virtually all the roads in the Garfangnana valley and to the north of Lucca on the coast side e.g. Camioare and Pietrasanta. The valley is great and there are some nice roads over the hills (including very scary unlit tunnel) or down to Bagni Di Lucca and down to Lucca is the easy option. Roads round about Fiano on the coast are also great. Wee climb up to Stiava is everything you would want in a climb and a nice surface

great wee shop on the main street in Fornaci Di Barga (just before the train station) where you could probably get a bike. Also in Castelnouvo.

Poli's is good as well. They do a nice red white and blue top as well..

happy to point to great gelateria/coffee and pastry shops as well

Very jealous

 

[andy from embsay]

Hi Gillan - sounds like you're the expert! We're staying in a little place called Pianacci about 15 minutes out of Castelnuovo towards the north. The shop in Fornaci sounds good, although the rental company reckon there's a bike hire place in Castenuovo too.

Is Poli's in Lucca? I say a couple of guys riding in a Poli's kit on Sunday but didn't get round to askign them about it. I think one option is to hire from Lucca by going down on the train - not sure what sort of car I'll have yet, nor how long it'll take to drive down and back twice to pick up/drop off, so somewhere more local will be better.

If anyone knows the name of the shop in Castelnuovo or Fornaci that'df be great!