Not Ordinary Ways Tuscany Bike Tours
Not Ordinary Ways Tuscany Bike Tours
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Not Ordinary Ways Tuscany Bike Tours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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bfgd
New York10 contributions
We knew we'd be looking for a little activity during our 10-day gastronomic fest through Italy and came across a bike ride/wine/olive tasting trip in the medieval city of Lucca. Not Ordinary Ways provided a 24 kilometer (round trip) bike ride through Lucca on mostly back roads to a family owned winery and olive oil farm. We were led by David, an Italian bike enthusiast and historian, who narrated throughout the trip, and accompanied by Andrea, one of the owners of the small travel specialty company. The trip ran from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and we were on our bikes for more than 2 hours of it, with an hour long stop at the winery in the Tuscan hills. It was a beautiful hot afternoon, most of the bike riding however, was done on shady lanes. The winery and olive oil tour was quick, David carried back a few bottles of the olive oil we bought in his backpack and we decided to forego buying any wine as it was too expensive to ship home.
Two caveats. If you're a stickler for a helmet (and you probably should be since a sizeable portion of the ride is straight downhill) make your request obvious to Andrea or Chiara. When we arrived at the bike shop in the afternoon, there were no helmets left. The other caveat, though it's billed as an easy ride, my husband and I workout on cardio machines 4 days a week, found the final 1.5 kilometers to the winery straight uphill on a hot summer day difficult. In fact, we walked our bikes up.
Two caveats. If you're a stickler for a helmet (and you probably should be since a sizeable portion of the ride is straight downhill) make your request obvious to Andrea or Chiara. When we arrived at the bike shop in the afternoon, there were no helmets left. The other caveat, though it's billed as an easy ride, my husband and I workout on cardio machines 4 days a week, found the final 1.5 kilometers to the winery straight uphill on a hot summer day difficult. In fact, we walked our bikes up.
Written August 8, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jlavin07
Fort Washington, PA19 contributions
Sep 2011
Our family of four adults biked from Lucca to Pisa. I wasn't sure I'd be able to bike 33km but the route was mostly level along bike trails and back roads with minimal cars. The route was gorgeous going along the river and past farmlands and mountains. We stopped midway at a village and had drinks and pastries at a cafe, It was a very hot day for September so the break was perfect. The bikes were comfortable and easy to handle.Andrea was our guide of only 5 riders and he was very nice and patient. He took care of changing a flat and gladly took our photo. The waterbottle we got is my trophy that "old Mom" made the trek!
I would definitely recommend it no matter what your age.
We left the bikes in Pisa and took the train back. It was a long walk to the train station. I found out afterward that there is a bus to Lucca right next to the sites which would have been easier.
The bike shop was a bit tricky to find. They need a sign out on the main street cause it's off up a little alley.
I would definitely recommend it no matter what your age.
We left the bikes in Pisa and took the train back. It was a long walk to the train station. I found out afterward that there is a bus to Lucca right next to the sites which would have been easier.
The bike shop was a bit tricky to find. They need a sign out on the main street cause it's off up a little alley.
Written October 15, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kazzy-magoo
manchester5 contributions
We recently booked a wine tour with Andrea and Chiara from a new tour company called Not Ordinary Ways based in Lucca. They both speak excellent English and are very helpful and we had a wonderful day visiting different oil/wine tasting Osterias and had a lovely typical tuscan lunch. They also do bike tours for all different levels of ability and I would definately recommend them to anyone.
Written June 29, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barb1322
Clearwater, FL431 contributions
Sep 2011 • Couples
Be sure you have the same meaning for "easy" bike tour as the tour guide. We ride regularly for recreation (not hard, avid bike riders) and took bike tours almost everywhere we went in Europe, and this is the only one we had any problems keeping up (or wanting to keep up). It is described as "easy" and it certainly could have been easy and enjoyable. However, the rest of the riders (all very nice) made it clear they were avid riders and they set a very brisk, fast pace. And, the tour guide sped off with them without regard for the rest of his group. Right off, I missed getting across traffic at the first busy street (red light changed) and was left behind. It was very difficult to catch up with the group which was winding its way in and out of streets making our way to the river trail. (This is the first bike tour we have taken that the leader did not stop on the other side of an intersection and make sure his or her entire group made it across.) It was hard to take in the beautiful scenery and as for stopping to snap a photo along the way, forget it. At one point, the chain came off my bike and my husband repaired it before the leader realized part of his group was missing and circled back. There was no schedule, no orientation before the ride, no instructions regarding the bikes, and no explanation of where we were or what we were seeing. It was just Follow the Leader, the best you could. I finally decided I was going to enjoy the countryside and set my own pace. The winery visit and farmhouse lunch were both delightful. They did run long so do not have a definite time you need to return or a train schedule to keep. When we returned from this tour, we rented bikes (from another vendor) and rode the Lucca wall which was great. Don't miss riding the wall and explore Lucca.
Written September 25, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Barbara
thanks for your review.
I'm glad you liked the main attractions of the tour, the winery and the farm.
I'm also happy that all your negative opinions were just about me and not about the itinerary that is very good. We have other guides and I could decide to stop as guide if in the future other persons will express your same feelings. But for the moment it did not happen in last four years. I'm Andrea, the person who sent you the information about the tour and who guided the group. But I would like to add some considerations that could be useful also for others readers and maybe future riders. "Easy" is not an absolute concept, like many others, because something easy for me could be very hard for you. What I mean is that "easy" doesn't mean anything without some "numbers" and we know it and we always send that kind of information. That is precise, real, not subjective. The webpage I send when a person show his interest says also: Km: 27; Accumulated H: 90 m; Terrain: asphalt - dirt road ;(information that come from the gps softwares). I usually also write that "we reach one winery not far from Lucca but consider that is always a bike tour (a total of 27 km and a couple of short climbs) so it means a good skill and fitness level and sports wear. Not like real cyclists but to be ready to sweat under the sun". You asked me about the tour of the walls as alternative and I answered "the walls are about 4 km (3 miles) so very short confronting to the bike tour that is about 20 miles with 2 short climbs, and they are not an alternative to the bike and wine tour. But we don't visit the town by bike. Usually our guests are a little tired when we come back and they prefer to seat in a bar or have a walk" (copy and paste). So I usually try to do my best to describe the itinerary because is not my aim to have unhappy people in the group because I'm honest and because they could reduce the amusement of the other guests. I'm sorry if you expected a bike tour like a guided visit to a town with many stops to have a lot of information but that is not possible in this kind of tour. About the judgement as guide I think my answers won't be interesting for next people reading, because specific cases that they couldn't understand without knowing that group composition and every places you mentioned. I'm sure I changed a flat tire to you and one to your husband and I never lost anybody in my tours and I tried to do my best also that time. The "first busy street" you wrote was a traffic light along the bike path, we were not on the street, nobody was an avid biker and the group was mixed as usual, and their pace was not fast, because I set the pace. I'm sorry, since you and you husband looked friendly to me, that you didn't speak with me at the end of the tour to have explanations instead of writing a subjective negative review about me and that you are giving not precise information that give no answers to you but could only cause a damage to the company.
Andrea
Written October 18, 2011
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
married_toronto_guy
Toronto6 contributions
Sep 2011 • Couples
My wife and I visited Lucca in early September 2011. Unfortunately we hadn't booked a tour in advance but visited Not Ordinary Tours and met with Paolo. He was very helpful and contacted a number of wineries and was able to arrange a couple of tours for us on short notice.
The tours were wonderful and well chosen. We first visited Buon Amico in Monte Carlo. We had a great tour of the facilities and learned a great deal about their processes. The lady giving the tour was very friendly and seemed to really enjoy talking about the making of wine. The wine tasting was the best part and also involved some bread with olive oil, cheese, and some meat.
We then visited a much smaller winery after a beautiful scenic drive in the countryside. In an incredible setting, sitting in the backyard overlooking the vineyard, we discussed the various wines that we sampled as we snacked on olives and bruschetta. We were also able to see the harvest in progress and tour the facilities.
Paolo was an informative, personable and friendly host throughout. He showed a real sense of pride when speaking of Lucca and it's history and showed us a great time. This was certainly the highlight of our visit to Lucca.
The tours were wonderful and well chosen. We first visited Buon Amico in Monte Carlo. We had a great tour of the facilities and learned a great deal about their processes. The lady giving the tour was very friendly and seemed to really enjoy talking about the making of wine. The wine tasting was the best part and also involved some bread with olive oil, cheese, and some meat.
We then visited a much smaller winery after a beautiful scenic drive in the countryside. In an incredible setting, sitting in the backyard overlooking the vineyard, we discussed the various wines that we sampled as we snacked on olives and bruschetta. We were also able to see the harvest in progress and tour the facilities.
Paolo was an informative, personable and friendly host throughout. He showed a real sense of pride when speaking of Lucca and it's history and showed us a great time. This was certainly the highlight of our visit to Lucca.
Written September 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Watfud
Herts, UK27 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
Whilst having a short trip in LUcca and surrounding arae myself and partner decided to explore the countryside by bike.
Paolo could not have been more helpful from the pre planning, having 2 bikes made up with GPS and a "personal" trip/circuit already setup, to the help provided when we picked up top notch equipment and set off on our adventure for the day and seeing the real Tuscan countryside....a top service supplied by a top gent at a very affordable price
Our trip was over 5 hours following mostly tracks and very quiet countryroads
many thanks
Paolo could not have been more helpful from the pre planning, having 2 bikes made up with GPS and a "personal" trip/circuit already setup, to the help provided when we picked up top notch equipment and set off on our adventure for the day and seeing the real Tuscan countryside....a top service supplied by a top gent at a very affordable price
Our trip was over 5 hours following mostly tracks and very quiet countryroads
many thanks
Written July 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChasBe
Glasgow, UK9 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
Andrea and staff helped us get organised to cycle along the sercchio river to Pisa. We had a gps system from the bike shop which showed us the way. The route was lovely and fairly easy to follow. Just the right length (33km) for our family and leaving the bikes at the tourist info in the main square in Pisa worked like a dream! Thanks Andrea and staff.
Written April 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy R
Rickmansworth, UK6 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
Heartily recommend NOW's Van Wine Tour. Six of us new to Lucca had a great day out, helped by knowledgeable and entertaining guide Paolo. Organization was very last-minute on my part, but NOW staff were helpful and patient.
Written July 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kari
Masko, Finland58 contributions
Sep 2011 • Couples
We went on the same tour as Barb in sept -11. I have to say that I disagree with her. First of all, the pace was quite slow. Ok, we are used to riding bicycles because we live in Finland and everyone cycles here more or less. But still, it was 25 degrees and I didn't even sweat. We had pretty much time to look at the scenery and me and my husband even took photos while waiting this one couple. I think that if we would've ridden at the same pace as the slowest couple we wouldn't have had time to do that and the reason why we didn't stay on schedule was that the couple was soooo slow.
The guide stood and waited for the bikers on intersections, as much as he could. The streets in Lucca are narrow and crowded so you just cant tell 12 people to stop and wait in the middle of the road while someone has left behind. That would be dangerous. This trip was sold as a "bike and wine" -tour and I think almost all of the members of the group were there because of the wines and had a bit rush to get to the vineyard. As i recall this couple wasn't so much in to wines (they didn't even come to the tasting) so I don't understand why they even wanted to participate on a "bike and wine" -tour.
After all I think that the trip was Excellent. Views, wines, food and everything was perfect. And if we ever go back to Lucca we will most certainly participate on a Not Ordinary ways trip.
ps. We even bought 4 bottles of wine to take home and my husband rode his bike all the way back with this huge cardboard box in his armpit. So you can make your own conclusions about the riding speed.
The guide stood and waited for the bikers on intersections, as much as he could. The streets in Lucca are narrow and crowded so you just cant tell 12 people to stop and wait in the middle of the road while someone has left behind. That would be dangerous. This trip was sold as a "bike and wine" -tour and I think almost all of the members of the group were there because of the wines and had a bit rush to get to the vineyard. As i recall this couple wasn't so much in to wines (they didn't even come to the tasting) so I don't understand why they even wanted to participate on a "bike and wine" -tour.
After all I think that the trip was Excellent. Views, wines, food and everything was perfect. And if we ever go back to Lucca we will most certainly participate on a Not Ordinary ways trip.
ps. We even bought 4 bottles of wine to take home and my husband rode his bike all the way back with this huge cardboard box in his armpit. So you can make your own conclusions about the riding speed.
Written October 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
italy31
milan534 contributions
Take a Tour into the deep of the Apuanian Alpes: with a van you reach (after 600 meters of ride through a tunnell) the center of the mountain where a marble quarrel has been created and is still operating. Everything around you, the floor, the roof and the basement are made of the precious white marble of Carrara. The tour is in 2 languages: italian and english. The guides are very friendly. I did it 2 times. The second time the quarrel housed an exposition of sculptures
Written May 8, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaulSnSydney
Newtown, Australia32 contributions
Hi - are you still managing a holiday rental property - Palazzo della Croce di Malta?
Andrea G
Lucca, Italy23 contributions
no I m sorry they did sell it. Andrea
Not Ordinary Ways Tuscany Bike Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Not Ordinary Ways Tuscany Bike Tours Information
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