Slow Cycling: The new Rock & Roll
Slow Down and Experience More
Slow cycling is about noticing the details, enjoying the landscape and squeezing every ounce from your Italian journey.
Peter Sagan or Mark Cavendish would probably disagree, but slow cycling is a great way to squeeze every ounce out of your ride in Italy.
Like life, if you slow down, you’ll notice details that you would normally miss out on. Instead of keeping a check on your cadence, drink in your surroundings and enjoy the harmony of cyclist and landscape.
Slow the pace right down, take your time and you’ll really appreciate the beauty of this stunning country, its plentiful vineyards and winding, meandering roads.
Slow cycling is a growing phenomenon in the world of cycling, and we’ve designed a number of tours that comprise quiet roads, fabulous scenery and enchanting cycle paths.
As ever on our curated tours, our slow-cycling holidays also include hand-picked accommodation, restaurants and rest stops that give a taste of the real, authentic Italy.
Whether it be exploring the Adriatic coast at your leisure on our Treasure On Two Wheels tour, or our Wellness on 2 Wheels trip around the Lake Iseo area, our slow-cycling range provides the perfect combination of memorable landscapes, world-class cuisine and a pace that suits everyone.
Slow cycling is not about how quickly you arrive. It is about everything you experience along the way.
Take It Easy
Thanks to the growing success and popularity of the sport at the Olympics and on the road at the Grand Tours, cycling has become synonymous with speed: getting from one place to another as quickly as possible.
Dressed in Lycra and wearing aerodynamic helmets, these speed merchants have rightly become heroes.
But getting from A to B as quickly as you can isn’t for everyone, nor is it recommended for everyone.
Slow cycling is all about properly taking in your surroundings, breathing in the fresh open air and being at one with the landscape.
Furthermore, slow cycling is inherently social and is perfect for riding with friends. Because of the pace you pedal, you’ll still have plenty of breath left to chat while you ride.
Forget the numbers, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the harmony between cyclist and landscape.
Treasure On Two Wheels
Explore the Adriatic coast at a relaxed pace, travelling along quiet roads while discovering local landscapes, cuisine and authentic Italian life.
Wellness on 2 Wheels
A gentle cycling experience around Lake Iseo, combining beautiful routes with hand-picked stops, memorable food and time to enjoy the region.
Exercise Is Exercise
Forget what your power meter says. Those numbers are for riders who want something different and who want to test themselves physically and mentally.
Slow cycling isn’t like that. The good news is that you can forget about RPM and watts, ditch the Lycra and cycle on your own terms.
But make no mistake: just because you’re pedalling at a much slower pace doesn’t mean that you aren’t exercising.
Low-intensity exercise still elevates your heart rate and is a great way to remain active while enjoying the experience around you.
Forget RPM and watts, ditch the Lycra and cycle on your own terms.
Mind How You Go
Due to its low-impact nature, cycling is a great way not only to get the heart going but also to help reduce stress and anxiety.
When it comes to mental wellbeing, slow cycling can also have enormous benefits.
If the link between slow cycling, cycling as a whole and meditation sounds far-fetched, it really isn’t.
Dr Patrick McCartney, an anthropologist working in Japan, describes cycling as an activity capable of creating a meditative state through its rhythm, repetition and surrounding aesthetic elements.
I think when you talk about cycling as a form of meditation, cycling helps to create meditation through an assemblage of aesthetic elements. The monotony of cycling allows one to enter a truly blissful state of mindlessness where the thoughts begin to recede and appear to have disappeared completely.Dr Patrick McCartney
The Social Network
Our small-group slow-cycling tours are perfect for experiencing Italy’s glorious landscapes with friends or family.
Whether it’s the rhythm of the wheels, the side-by-side nature of cycling or the abundant coffee and cake stops, many people feel relaxed and open while talking and riding.
Chatting-pace rides are where friendships are formed and deepened, and nowhere more so than on an Italy Bike Tours holiday, where you’ll remember the bonds as much as the landscapes.
Experience Italy at the pace it deserves
At Italy Bike Tours, we pride ourselves on offering a world-class service for cyclists of all abilities. Get in touch with our team to discuss your trip and discover how slow cycling can reveal the most authentic, memorable and beautiful side of Italy.
Contact our team