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Cycling Regions
The first step to planning an Ensemble Cycling Vacation is to choose the region most appropriate for your group's cycling interests and skills. We know all the regions and properties personally and so can guide you but here are some guidelines to help you start the process.
The first step to planning an Ensemble Cycling Vacation is to choose the region most appropriate for your group's cycling interests and skills. We know all the regions and properties personally and so can guide you but here are some guidelines to help you start the process.
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Our Rating System
We use a scale of 1 to 10 to rate each region on five key factors. For example, the Saint-Emilion region:
Route Variety – How many different routes – both hilly and moderate – does this region afford?
(Note that we don't do grade inflation. So, no perfect 10/10 ratings. 8s and 9s are outstanding scores.)
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FRANCE
Of the three three great cycling nations in Europe (in our opinion, France, Italy and Spain) we feel that, overall, France is the most cycling-friendly.
The primary reason is that the system of paved roads goes five levels deep right down to paved vicinal virtually traffic free, single lane tractor paths (Italy by comparison maxes out at three levels deep before you hit the strada bianca white gravel roads.) Furthermore, the network of roads is denser which allows for a greater variety of routes, both difficult and moderate.
Of the three three great cycling nations in Europe (in our opinion, France, Italy and Spain) we feel that, overall, France is the most cycling-friendly.
The primary reason is that the system of paved roads goes five levels deep right down to paved vicinal virtually traffic free, single lane tractor paths (Italy by comparison maxes out at three levels deep before you hit the strada bianca white gravel roads.) Furthermore, the network of roads is denser which allows for a greater variety of routes, both difficult and moderate.
Provence (8.5/10)
The advantages of Provence as a cycling destination are many: the reliable weather (cycling in April and even November is not unreasonable), a wide variety of lightly trafficked routes some of which are among the worlds' greatest (such as the Mont Ventoux) and the wonderful non-cycling diversions such as markets, food and wine.
The advantages of Provence as a cycling destination are many: the reliable weather (cycling in April and even November is not unreasonable), a wide variety of lightly trafficked routes some of which are among the worlds' greatest (such as the Mont Ventoux) and the wonderful non-cycling diversions such as markets, food and wine.
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Southwest France
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Like St. Emilion, Burgundy combines natural beauty, a deeply ingrained food and wine culture, centuries of history to offer up an outstanding cycling destination. Hosted Villas' roots (both in tourism and in cycling) were in Burgundy and so it is a region we know and love well. Read More...
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Our Catalonia cycling region is around Girona, north of Barcelona. Girona has long been the winter base camp for many pro riders and so you can expect to see them training in the surrounding hills. Again, what's suitable for pros is not always ideal for enthusiasts and in our opinion there is a little more finagling required to stay safe and to find good routes. Read More...
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SPAIN, Majorca
General: 9/10; cycling 9/10 |
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Even though it would make the locals scream, we are combining Tuscany and Umbria in terms of cycling regions as they are very similar.
Cycling is huge in Italy of course but their road structure is less suitable for recreational cycling -- there are fewer paved small roads and so cyclists are forced onto the slightly busier routes. Read More... |
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