A little guide for electric bikes to experience in Tuscany during your holiday.
Are you planning an electric bike or a Gravel experience in Tuscany?
If you say no then you can still do it by foot 🙂 but if you think YES then have a read about this itinerary I designed for guests.
First, do you know the differences between electric bikes ?
There are many types of e-bikes in the market. You can have a look to understand which one suits you the most.
Different types of electric bikes
I found this article on wheel world site, very explicative to male you understand the different types of Electric bikes.
https://www.wheelworld.com/articles/buyers-guide-to-electric-bicycles-pg278.htm
“Understanding the different Class/Types of E-Bikes
There are three basic Class/Types of electric bikes:
1) TYPE 1 E-Bike: Pedal Assist, is an electric bicycle on which you must pedal in order to use the motor. It’s just like a conventional bicycle except that there’s a motor that senses that you’re pedaling and kicks in to aid the pedaling effort. It feels like you have the best tailwind of your life on a permanent basis. This class/type of E-bike may or may not have a throttle. (Pedal Assist, may or may not also have a throttle, Max. Speed 20mph, no need for driver’s license, no age limit.)
2) TYPE 2 E-Bike: Throttle Only, is an e-bike equipped with a motor controlled by a throttle. On these electrics, you don’t have to pedal to benefit from the motor. When you want power, just crank the throttle and away you go. You’ll be able to accelerate in the middle of a corner thus increasing traction. Of course, the less you pedal, the sooner you run out of juice in the battery. (Throttle Only, Max. Speed 20mph, no need for driver’s license, no age limit.)
3) TYPE 3 E-Bike: Pedal Assist 28mph. this Class/Type is the fastest “legal” E-bike with a maximum speed of 28mph. Still considered a “bicycle” and does not require a driver’s license, license plate, ect. It’s legally considered a bicycle….. and man is it fun! By law a helmet is required. Typically this category would be best for someone commuting on their bike. (Pedal Assist, may or may not also have a throttle, Max. Speed 28mph, no need for driver’s license, must be 17 or older, helmet is required.)”
Wheelworld©
Where will I use my electric bike?
Where I would focus the attention is where am I going to use my electric bike? City, road, Gravel, off-road.
Let’s start from my favourite, The gravel ones.
The gravel bikes are for the majority normal push bikes but there are out there some electric gravel ones.
They are built as road bikes with the road professional handles and they are suitable for white little stones roads as we call them here “strade bianche” .
Wheels are bigger than a normal road bike but not as big as a mountain bike. So it’s still a bicycle designed for speed in semi-off road conditions.
Perfect for a large part of the off roads in Tuscany but not adapted for downhill, paths, muddy roads and fields crossing.
Here you need an electric mountain bike, known as E-MTB.
With an electric mountain bike you can go anywhere, slower but anywhere. They are by far the slowest bikes in the market. Perfect though for real challenges off road like the one I have done for my guests.
The electric mountain bikes have a straight handlebar, wide to always have a secure and study grip on it.
Wheels are large to go over any terrains, especially muddy ones. In contrast, they are slower than any other bikes out there. When you end up on tarmac roads or white roads you struggle to put some speed on these bicycles.
They are the best for mountain paths, downhill and muddy terrains.
Last category of electric bikes is the road bikes, the fastest ones or the city bikes
The road bikes have thin speedy wheels and professional round handlebars ready for road adventures, instead the city bikes are the basic ones with straight up position, a place in the back and in front for a basket and normal wide wheels.
Prices and models between categories are infinitives, you can really find any kind of electric bikes for any budget. The entry level bikes cost around 1.000 € up to 7/8.000 € or more.
E bike Experience in Tuscany
E bike experience in Tuscnay, Lajatico-Volterra round trip
Tuscany is perfect for any kind of outdoor experience and electric bikes suit perfectly in Tuscany for its constant up and down roads.
First recommended e-bike experience in Tuscany is on the hills around Volterra, Lajatico and Montecatini Val di Cecina. Electric mountain bikes in this case are needed.
You have the chance to ride and experience one of the most amazing countryside that Tuscany has to offer.
Add a stop in San Gimignano if you fancy it.
In Lajatico you will pass through the theatre of Silence by Bocelli as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lajatico
Start with your e-MTB bicycle or rent one from Lajatico and you will cross lots of muddy fields, beautiful rolling hills and calanchi before arriving in Volterra where history forged a unique town with a great charme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volterra
Have a rest and a sandwich before heading back to Lajatico and if you want you can pass by Montecatini val di Cecina as well.
The itinerary is not signed, you have to plan the itinerary before to be sure you have the path ready.
In case you are looking for a place to sleep you can stay here:
I will be very happy to share mine with you or do it together with me guiding you.
I can hire an e-mtb for you as well. Contact me at:
outoftheboxflorence@gmail.com or info@outoftheboxflorence.com
E-bike experience in Tuscany, along The Crete Senesi
Another perfect area to have fun with an electric bike in Tuscany, is along the Crete Senesi.
They are perfe for an e-bike experience in Tuscany, full of white roads used for many bike competitions and magnificent landscape.
To ride a bike in this area you can choose either way an e-MTB or an e-gravel bike. But the e-gravel bike are bettter for this iteneray.
Especially in March, April and May where you can admire fields covered in green grains and calanchi hills.
Here there are some paths but still many are not signed. My suggestion here is to get lost and have fun.
The other of the Crete senesi to ride with an electric bike is this one, around Asciano, Monteroni d’Arbia etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crete_Senesi
There is an hiking path int here really cool, La via lauretana: https://www.terredisiena.it/en/trekking-and-outdoor/the-via-lauretana/
This can be done even by bike.
In the Crete senesi you can use either a gravel electric bike or an E-MTB one, they both suit perfectly on these roads.
Have fun and contact me
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