2013 Bari to Rome ITALY

Those cyclists that have travelled with us on Leg 20 across Turkey & Greece will arrive on the ferry today from Corfu. Other cyclists will be flying into Bari from different parts of the world. We suggest that you arrive today to get settled before our registration day tomorrow.

Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari (of the Apulia region) situated on the Adriatic Sea. Bari is made up of four different urban sections, the north is a closely built old town on the peninsula and home to the magnificent Basilica of Saint Nicholas, and the Swabian Castle, now a major nightlife district. The south is the Murat quarter, the modern heart of the city, with a promenade on the sea and major shopping district (the via Sparano and via Argiro). Tonight's accom is an optional extra for all cyclists.

Spend today exploring the area and enjoying the Italian lifestyle. This afternoon cyclists will be registered, fitted to their bikes and fully prepared for the ride of their life. Dinner to meet and greet tonight ready for the start tomorrow.

Leaving the coast, it's always up, then through lovely little Italian villages, hundreds of years old with quite original buildings. Tonight is in Altamura, a town famous for its bread, also for the discovery of a 400,000 year old calcified 'Altamura Man' found in a nearby limestone cave. This ancient city has many tumuli mounds (graves) and walls, some built in the 3rd century BC. The Altamura Cathedral is also the pride of present day.

We leave this fascinating city and pass through Gravina, an important town for the Greeks, Apulians, Normans, Byzantines and Lombards in the Western Murgia. Murgia is a cast plateau that is a subregion of Apulia, making for a desolate and beautiful cycling haven with olive groves as the only plants hearty enough to live here! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravina_in_Puglia). This afternoon we arrive in Venosa, named after Venus or goddess Aphrodite. In 190 BC the Appian Way was extended from Rome to Venosa. Lots of history in and around the hills.

Leave Venosa this morning to pedal through small towns at the base of an extinct volcano (one of these gives us the warm thermal waters we'll find at our hotel). This is agricultural and pastoral land so you may see herds of sheep or goats as you pedal. We're also now in Irpinia, a subregion between Basilicata and Apulia that was hit very hard by an earthquake in the 1980's. You'll still see signs of the earthquake as well as abandoned farmhouses as locals fled the area for larger cities. We're in a thermal town this evening, famous for it's plethora of hot springs harnessed for beauty and relaxation treatment spas in all the local hotels.

When you cross Italy from side to side, you have hills that take you through fabulous country before the seaside. This is no exception, as we head down to Salerno, in Commune of Campania. You will see the boats and jetties, extending out, and the start of the Amalfi coast. This city also has many memories, however manufacturing and harbour play a big part in todays city.

Today's ride is exciting as you cycle along the coast; mansions overlooking the sea below, sheer drops to the left, luckily on the other side of the road to us. This road is so spectacular, it is listed as a UNSECO World Heritage Site. About half way along the coast road is the township of Amalfi and has spectacular sightseeing - everybody should stop here for a while and make sure you have your camera with you. The area is also noted for limoncello (lemon) liquer, bambagina which is hand made thick paper and handmade ceramics. After the coast road we cross the peninsula to Sorrento and catch the ferry to Naples for a well earned rest day.

This is a busy place and not for bikes. Today you can take the train to Pompeii to see the incredible discoveries of remnants of Mt. Vesuvuis Volcano destruction. Other attractions are the harbour, architecture, Palace, the actual historic city centre, another World Heritage Site. Naples is also recognised as the birth place of the Italian pizza. A great place to relax and share the culinary delights with friends. Other things to do in Naples: Castel dell’Ovo, Maschio Angionino, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples), Il Chiostro Maiolicato - Convento di Santa Chiara, Spaccanapoli e I suoi presepi (Spaccanapoli quarter and its creches).

After making our way through the high density city of Naples we ride parallel to the coast along a relatively quiet road through quite a dirty industrial area. It is not too long before we get to some more appealing scenery along the coast and the town of Baia Domizia where the beach here was created by a Volcano. This is a new tourist town, with lots of greenery and pine trees, part of the Regional Park. A swim would be hard to resist.

We cross the plains of Campania to the massive Abbey de Montecassimo. This abbey was badly damaged in the 2nd World War after surviving since 584 BC. We cycle backroads to Anagni, an ancient town in the hills outside of Rome. Bounded by Roman walls it is compact, with narrow streets and steep lanes. This is an archaic town, with servian walls dating back to 3rd century BC. A great place for our last night before Rome.

We pedal through Colli Albani, south of Rome and also part of the ancient Appian Way. This is the original cobble stones, very rough on a road bike, but we persevere for a short distance before weaving our way through little villages to this amazing city. Congrats, welcome to Rome.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do and like most other travellers, visit St Peters Basilica, Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, all part of this structural marvel, the dome beautified by Michaelangelo. The Colloseum is another Italian treasure, its size and history is fascinating, where you can sit down and try to imagine the scene of many deadly gladiatorial and wild animal duals to the death, amid the roar of the crowd. The Pantheon, built around AD118-125 and the Piazza is spectacular.

AllTrails is a proud Australian owned company with a great reputation in the bicycle tour industry. We have earned that reputation through hard work and dedication and we sincerely care about every person on every tour. Our large community of loyal AllTrails riders that keep coming back year after year are testament to the high standard of tours that we provide.

On Cycle Legs Europe 2013 Phil and Susan McDonald, the owner-operators of the business, will be on tour with you as riders, organisers and tour leaders along with our local tour operators & guides from Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy & France. The safety and confidence that comes with that is one of many great reasons to book your cycling holiday with us.

Our tours are not bargain basement tours. We do not cut corners or take short cuts and we genuinely care for each cyclist's experience with us. We are not always the cheapest, but we consider ourselves the best in the business and we always make sure that our tours represent great value at a fair price.

This is your chance to be on a once in a lifetime tour, cycling through these countries and areas that are off the beaten track and offer a cycling experience like no other. Being part of of our Cycle Legs Australia to London is not just a bike tour but your chance to do something so different and out of the ordinary that it will give you stories to tell for years to come.

Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email. We love what we do and want to get you on the best bike ride for you. Speak to us about what's on your mind and we'll help you make your decision.

This is your chance to be on a once in a lifetime tour, cycling through countries and areas that are off the beaten track and offer a cycling experience like no other. Being part of of our Cycle Legs rides from Australia to London is not just a bike tour but your chance to do something so different and out of the ordinary that it will give you stories to tell for years to come.

On Cycle Legs Europe 2013 from Turkey to Italy, Phil and Susan McDonald, the owner-operators of the business, will be on tour with you as riders, organisers and tour leaders along with our local tour operators & guides. The safety and confidence that comes with that is one of many great reasons to book your cycling holiday with us.

AllTrails is a proud Australian owned company with a great reputation in the bicycle tour industry. We have earned that reputation through hard work and dedication and we sincerely care about every person on every tour. Our large community of loyal AllTrails riders that keep coming back year after year are testament to the high standard of tours that we provide. We consider ourselves the best in the business and we always make sure that our tours represent great value at a fair price.

Most of our Cycle Legs tours will average around 100km per day - a few longer and a few shorter. In most cases we will head out early after a good breakfast and finish the full day's ride by early to mid afternoon. Try to get to a point in your training where you are comfortable riding 20-25/km per hour on the flat which is the speed that we will cruise at under good, flat cycling conditions.

Remember that practice makes perfect so if you have not ridden much do not be disheartened if these goals seem a long way away – keep training and you will get there. Remember that we have a support vehicle to pick up those riders that decide to ride only part of any day.

We suggest that you do most of your training on the bike, on the road – not indoors on a trainer. On the road you are getting the goods and the bads of cycling, especially passing traffic, potholes, people and other obstacles. Try to get up to a level where you can ride a 115+km distance for 2 days in a row or more including some good hills. A training schedule will be sent to you in your welcome pack after you make your deposit - let us know if you would like to see this today and we will send you one.

Always a big part of any cycling holiday! Our emphasis is on fresh food and a balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and vegies catering for a cycling holiday. We successfully cater to most dietary requirements, however feel free to contact us with any questions. We provide daily quality breakfasts and most dinners. You will be required to purchase some meals however there are plenty of great bakeries and cafes along the way for you to pick up lunches and snacks as you wish. See the 'Day to Day' tab for more details, or click the 'Generate Itinerary' button.

Comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels and country estates.

Accommodation of the most suitable standard is chosen on research trips of the route. All rooms have en suite facilities, and are usually at least at a 3 star level but in the bigger towns we can source great 4 star properties. In the smaller villages or more rural areas we often get lovely and interesting accommodation full of character and personality, or a country estate to enjoy for the evening. On occasion we travel through some very small towns where accommodation is extremely limited. If for whatever reason, such as limited options, the accommodation one night is below normal standard, we strive to improve this with an extra good room the next night or nights following. We choose accommodation that is bicycle friendly, with good restaurants and near to town centres.

On the online entry form you can nominate any travelling companions that you would like to share a room with and/or be accommodated close to so that couples or friends can be roomed together. This can be in a double bed or in twin beds. If you are travelling alone like many of our riders, you can choose to 'twin share' where single riders are paired with other riders of the same gender and sometimes changed at each accommodation to create interest in sharing rooms. Single Supplement is also available for those that would like their own room for the whole trip. If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow room-mates we suggest booking your own room.

Not a problem! You’ll find other like-minded cycling companions taking part in our rides. If you’re a solo traveller we will pair you with other solo travellers of the same gender in twin share accommodation or you can opt for Single Supplement (additional cost) to receive a room of your own.

If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow room-mates we suggest booking your own room (single supplement cost). This is not just a courtesy to your fellow travelling companions, but will also give you the space & privacy you need to enjoy your sleep after a long day on the bike.

European motorists have a great reputation for being cyclist-considerate. We at AllTrails have a great safety record however cyclists have to play their part in keeping well over to the side of the road where possible. You will also be briefed before each day's ride pointing out parts of the road that may get narrow or have any known hazards.

Our tours have been specifically scheduled to take into consideration the best time of year to travel to that destination. This takes into account the temperate range, possible rainfall and the prevailing winds. Of course, we can’t ever control the weather however this only adds to the adventure and excitement of your travel experience!

For more specific weather and climate information visit www.bom.gov.au or for our international tours visit www.worldweather.org

Yes, you can hire a bike and we encourage you to do so. Hiring a bike will help you avoid some of the hassles that arise on occasion when travelling on airlines with bicycles. You can also bring your own seat and/or pedals to give you that little bit of 'home comfort'. When you make your booking just select the 'optional extra' for bike hire and we will put the process in place.

Hire bikes available:

Road Bike: with 'drop' handle bars, 30 speeds and 700 X 25 tires. Lightweight, responsive and comfortable Van Nicholas Titanium frame bikes. Bikes come with a combination of Shimano Ultegra and 105 components.

Hybrid Bike: flat handlebars, 700 X 35 tires and an innovative internal hub gearing system that offers you the same range as a traditional 27-speed hybrid. Originally designed as a compromise that blended the efficiency of a road bike with the trail-worthiness of a mountain bike, hybrids have become a popular choice with riders who prefer a flat handlebar and a more upright position.

Hybrid Mixte Bike: (sometimes called 'womens bikes') hybrid bikes with a step-through frame for shorter people or for people who don't want to swing their leg over a standard frame's top tube. Internal hub gearing system that emulates 27 speeds and 700 X 35 tires.

When you make your booking just tick the box for bike hire and we will organise it for you.

A tour guide with bike mechanical knowledge will be part of our crew and will have most items that are required, including a good stand-pump for different valves. Cyclists with rare or different bikes are asked to contact us at AllTrails as parts can often be very difficult to obtain.

Road bike is best but you could also choose a hybrid or mountain bike with slick tyres. Contact us to discuss the terrain of your chosen leg(s). In some places that we go to, bike shops and spare parts can sometimes be difficult to find so you need a good reliable bicycle. We can organise bike rental through our local contacts in Europe.

Hire bikes available:

Road Bike: with 'drop' handle bars, 30 speeds and 700 X 25 tires. Lightweight, responsive and comfortable Van Nicholas Titanium frame bikes. Bikes come with a combination of Shimano Ultegra and 105 components.

Hybrid Bike: flat handlebars, 700 X 35 tires and an innovative internal hub gearing system that offers you the same range as a traditional 27-speed hybrid. Originally designed as a compromise that blended the efficiency of a road bike with the trail-worthiness of a mountain bike, hybrids have become a popular choice with riders who prefer a flat handlebar and a more upright position.

Hybrid Mixte Bike: (sometimes called 'womens bikes') hybrid bikes with a step-through frame for shorter people or for people who don't want to swing their leg over a standard frame's top tube. Internal hub gearing system that emulates 27 speeds and 700 X 35 tires.

ALL BIKES NEED:

- Good braking system

- New tyres (smooth road surface tyres, no nobby tyres)

- New tubes

- Rear-vision mirror. Cyclists often deviate a metre or two out on to the roadway when turning their neck around to see what is behind them, so a mirror is very helpful to see who and what are behind you and how close. When you get used to using one they are great.

- Triple chain ring. There are a few hills that are quite steep and a triple chain ring on the front set is a handy helper when you have run out of gears when climbing.

We also strongly suggest:

- Allen key set (self serve)

- Bike computer to keep track of your distance, speed, elevation etc.

- Bum bag for your camera and other valuables.

We suggest you carry a spare tube, a full water bottle and your own personal goods such as camera, wallet and perhaps rain gear if it’s threatening. We transport your luggage, day packs, food & extra water. A detailed list of what is required and provided will be sent to you in your pre-tour info pack.

People from all parts of Australia and overseas. Ages generally range from 30 - 70 with the average age about 50 years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples.

In many cases you will need a visa to enter countries on our Cycle Legs route. A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country. We do not issue visas for overseas travel and cannot provide definitive information on visas. Only the representatives of the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their visa requirements. For all countries, contact your nearest embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit well in advance of travel. For Australian passport holders, additional advice can be found on the Smartraveller website www.smartraveller.gov.au.

Yes, yes, yes. Make sure that you are covered for every country that you are travelling to and ensure that you are covered from and including the day you leave and arrive back home. Due to the nature of our rides we are sometimes in remote areas during the course of a ride. Ensure that you have medical insurance that would cover the cost of a helicopter ambulance to transport you to the nearest hospital.

We also recommend getting your travel insurance in place immediately after you book your ride so that you are covered for any events which may lead to you having to cancel your trip.

We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for all our Australian rides at the time of deposit and ensure that it includes coverage for cancellation fees if for some reason you are not able to travel. For our international tours we require all participants to have Travel Insurance to assist you in the event of a medical emergency, lost baggage, personal liability, cancelled tour or any other trip related issues.

Should you wish to change your booking with AllTrails to a different tour, there will be a very reasonable service charge. We try to keep this figure as low as possible to allow flexibility where we can as we want to make sure that you get on the right tour for you.

For cancellation and refund policies for your tour click the ‘Terms & Conditions’ button on the relevant tour page of our website.

We recommend you bring a soft bag or backpack. We advise against bringing a suitcase as they are bulky, difficult to stow on board vehicles or trailers and heavy. You may be required to lift or carry your own luggage from time to time, e.g. into accommodation. Any excess luggage may need to be stored or forwarded on to your final destination at your own expense.

Information about what to pack is included as part of your Pre-Departure information. Generally we advise that you pack as light as possible.

Phil and Susan McDonald, owner-operators of AllTrails, will often be a part of the leadership group on each of the Cycle Legs rides but we also have some very impressive and knowledgeable local bike tour operators that we partner with in each region that we visit on our Cycle Legs route. These local partners will be helping us navigate through their countries assisting us in understanding and appreciating the local cultures and people and also helping with communications and guiding. You can find more information about our local partners in the information section of each ride.

Part of the appeal of a holiday is to get away from the hassles of everyday life! If you can’t leave home without your mobile phone, check with your service provider to see where you will have coverage overseas and also that global roaming has been activated on your phone.

As you may not always have mobile phone coverage, particularly if you travel into remote locations, it is sometimes good to purchase a phonecard or calling card when you arrive at the start of your tour, as many public telephones do not take coins. Otherwise it may be cheaper to purchase a local SIM card on arrival at your destination, or you can purchase a 'Travel SIM' which is SIM card that you put in your phone and works in many overseas countries. For more info see: www.travelsim.net.au.

Some towns may have an internet café or access to an internet terminal, so you may be able to check your emails from time to time while you’re away. If you don’t already have a web-based email account, it is a good idea to set one up before you leave, e.g. Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail.

BE VERY CAREFUL WITH USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET OVERSEAS. PHONE PROVIDERS CAN CHARGE EXTREMELY HIGH RATES.

Full reconnaissance trips are done along the route of our Cycle Legs tours before we host a tour on that route and we avoid any places that we deem to be too dangerous to ride through. Safety is without question our number one priority. Phil and Susan, owner-operators of AllTrails are often part of the crew and riding group on the legs to London so safety will be constantly monitored before and during the trip.

In saying that, a Cycle Legs ride is more like an expedition than an average bicycle tour, so there may be times when we are faced with unexpected and unavoidable difficulties. We will tackle these hurdles with the utmost consideration and professionalism as we have always done. We recommend that you visit your local government travel advice website such as www.smartraveller.gov.au (Australian passport holders) to learn more about your destinations, and feel free to contact us in regards to any specific queries that you may be concerned with.

If you are purchasing a new bike for this ride or wanting to make some upgrades here a few points to consider:

Bike set up: Unless you are accustomed to riding long distances or are very flexible set your bike up for comfort rather than optimum aerodynamics. A more comfortable upright position is most easily achieved by raising the handle bar and moving the seat forward.

Wheels: Do not go too light. High-end road bikes often allow you to choose different wheel sets or if you are considering upgrading, the lightest wheels might be the fastest, but they are not always the strongest. The heavier you are the more important this is. Cheaper wheels are heavier and generally have more spokes, but are also quite robust and easy to repair, so if this is your price bracket then there is not too much to worry about. If you looking at getting some fast wheels and you are over 90kg ask your bike shop for advice and even do some research online or within your bike community.

Tyres: Durability is the most important feature for long distance rides. When choosing your tyres look for features like anti-puncture and Kevlar lining. A harder rubber also allows you to get more kilometres out of each tyre. A popular choice amongst our cyclists are the Continental Ultra Gatorskins in either the 23mm or 25mm width.

Gearing: As a rule; the more gears you have the easier it is to climb hills. The standard configuration of gears found on road bikes does not suit everyone. If you find yourself running out of gears while climbing, needing to get out of the saddle to get over a hill or ride with a high cadence it might be worth considering one or both of these options. Replace the cassette with a larger one (more teeth)and/or get a compact crank. A compact crack tries to do what the triple chain ring crank does in just two chain rings. If you already have a triple, this is not for you. The compact crank slightly reduces your big chain ring size and significantly reduces your small chain ring size making it much easier to climb hills and spin your legs faster rather than harder.

• Airfare and transportation to and from the tour pick-up/drop-off locations

• Accommodation before and after the tour other than stated on the 'day to day' inclusions (pre & post accom can often be booked by us - check the ‘Optional Extras’ under the ‘Pricing’ tab)

• Personal accident or travel insurance

• Personal items purchased during the tour

• Some meals may not be included allowing you the opportunity to explore the regional cuisine and choose your own meal. Check tour details for more information.

• Optional activities and sightseeing

You can download an AllTrails brochure from our homepage, otherwise contact us with your postal address and we will mail you a copy.

Absolutely. We will be happy to give you the names and telephone numbers of people who have participated in the ride or a similar ride that you are considering. Where possible we will provide you with the details of someone within your city or state.

Another good place to look is our ‘Testimonials’ page.

Contact us if you would like to find out about booking an info session for your group of friends, or if you would like to find out about a travel talk happening near you in the future.

Be inspired, hear from the experts, learn more about a destination and even book your tour on the night.

Right here, right now. Click the 'Book Your Place Today' button, or call us in the office on +61 3 9645 3355 or email alltrails@alltrails.com.au for more information.