Cycling and Bike&Boat
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2014 E-BIKE? YES, PLEASE! 11 MORE ON P. CYCLING AND BIKE&BOAT Self-guided and guided tours in Italy and France Girolibero viale Margherita, 95 - I - 36100 Vicenza - tel. +39 0444 330724 - www.girolibero.com BROCHURE OVER FURTHER TOURS AND DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE 2014 50 ON OUR WEBSITE: DESTINATIONS IN ITALY, FRANCE, REST OF EUROPE www.girolibero.com DK GB NL PL B D CZ SK A H F CH R SLO HR I E AL GR KATALOG INDEX 4 A bit of history, a bit of philosophy and a bagful of gures Bike and Hotel 6 A… cycling holiday?! The classic bike trip: landscapes and the Great Outdoors, without the hassle 8 Which one’s for me? of logistical issues. You ride and soak in the views; we do Our bikes the rest. 10 p.37 12 Our workshop – the engine room of Girolibero 14 Accompanying material and backup 16 Greens, our bike guides Bike and Boat A bike to get around during 18 Girolibero Roadbike – just the challenge the day and a boat for accommodation and meals. 20 Our boats in Italy Your oating hotel follows your journey along the waterways and gives you the 22 Our boats in France option of a lazy day on board. 24 Life on board doing “bike&boat” in style p.29 26 Exclusive chartering your own rivercruise 72 General conditions Roadbike 74 How to book Racing bike tours through some of the most scenic 75 Booking form regions in Italy. Glorious views, legendary ascents, unforgettable food and wine, inspirational historic towns. Adrenaline, cuisine and culture rolled into one. p.65 GIROLIBERO Contact us Monday to Friday 8.30 to 13.00 and 15.00 to 18.30 Tel (+39) 0444 330724 Fax (+39) 0444 167930 [email protected] www.girolibero.com Graphics: www.noparking.it 3 PIERPAOLO ROMIO Hello as ever at the helm 3 km by family tandem to take the kids to school and get himself to work MICHELA ROMIO all under control 6 km by e-bike to get to work A BIT OF HISTORY A BIT OF PHILOSOPHY AND A BAGFUL OF FIGURES AS A TOUR OPERATOR WE’VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR YEARS SPECIALISING IN EASY CYCLING HOLIDAYS AND ACTIVE TOURS. WE PROGRAMME, ORGANISE, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND TEST ALL OUR TOURS, MAKING SURE THAT THE ROUTES ARE QUIET, THE FOOD TASTY AND THE BEDS COMFY. NO. OF STAFF NO. OF BIKES ANNUAL TOTAL KM OUR ITALIANS ON HOLIDAY SALES CLIENTS HAVE WITH GIROLIBERO COVERED BY BIKE Year 2 24 912.045 € 200.000 700 2002 Year 7.500 2013 42 3.400.000 1.200 10.426.000 € 4 BROCHURE BECAUSE WE ARE CYCLISTS TOO We believe that cycling is one of the best ways to enjoy a holiday, and that the perfect ingredients are curiosity, a touch of initiative and the right dose of comfort. ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE Year after year, back at our home base in Vicenza, we leave no stone unturned as we fi ne-tune your favourite tours and carve out new itineraries. For us, fulfi lling your requests is a matter of pride – whether you’re occasional cyclists or accomplished riders. LET’S FACE IT We love feeling the breeze on our cheeks and we’d urge anyone to enjoy the Great Outdoors by bike: the views, the towns, the local people you come across… they all give you that special feeling of discovery. OUR FAVOURITE COLOUR … has got to be green. But we also love a blue sky or a lavender fi eld. FOREIGN VISITORS IN NO. OF COUNTRIES ITALIAN REGIONS YOUR ITALY WITH TRAVELLERS EXPLORED BY BIKE VISITED FAVOURITE GIROLIBERO BY BIKE & BOAT BY BIKE TOURS Bolzano–Verona– Venice, Loire Valley, Bike & Boat in Italy 12 40 4 1 OUR VERY FIRST TOUR Veneto, from 2002 3.800 26 10 WHERE DO ITALIANS CYCLE ON HOLIDAY? 7.500 Netherlands Germany Austria 5 Program- ming NICOLA BOARIA at our ofces since the beginning of time 2 km by Girolibero bike (+ child seat) to get to work A... CYCLING HOLIDAY ?! IT’S THE EASIEST THING! 6 © Enrico Caracciolo EASY CYCLING HOLIDAYS GOOD REASONS OFF THE BEATEN TRACK We strive to ensure that you enjoy a manageable FOR CHOOSING In the tracks of Holland, Germany and and carefree cycling holiday, and we’ll go out of A HOLIDAY Austria, other European countries have our way to coordinate our services like ON TWO followed suit and developed their own clockwork. We select the most suitable hotels cycling networks. That is certainly the along the route; lay on a baggage transfer WHEELS case in Italy and France, where we have system that is punctual and ecient; we supply crafted our own itineraries. Ours are There are plenty of up-to-date background information and cycling travellers, both Italian and freeform routes which use the guides; provide the best bikes; guarantee our foreign, who year after established networks as much as assistance 7 days a week. year choose a cycling holi- possible – as well as other safe and quiet Our services, in a nutshell: day – and many of these backroads and country lanes, well away have already travelled from busy trac. with Girolibero. SELECTED HOTELS Biking it means: OUR FLEET OF BIKES We appreciate that after a day in the Over 1,200 citybikes, assembled by our Great Outdoors, there’s nothing better 1 own mechanics specifically with your than finding a welcoming choosing a needs in mind: light but tough frames; home-from-home in which to relax. “human-powered, puncture-resistant tyres; responsive We personally handpick all the hotels pedal-driven vehicle” breaks and gears; gel saddles in various which gets on our tours, mindful of your comfort as (Wikipedia) heights; plus mudguards and saddlebag the oxygen and blood well as their proximity to cycling paths racks. flowing – along with and any relevant local sites. For our Bike warmheartedness and a Our e-bikes are increasingly popular: & Boat tours we use boats that are either good dose of humour they’re up-to-scratch, reliable and brand new or up-to-scratch, with benefit from high-capacity batteries for adequate cabin space and excellent 2 even the longest of days. service on board. (See also pp. 10-11) staying in the Great Outdoors for 70% of BAGGAGE TRANSFER the time ASSISTANCE Most of our tours are itinerary-based, Can’t find your hotel? Trouble following and we personally take care of the 3 the route? Mechanical snag with your baggage transfer from hotel to hotel – hire bike? – No problem: Girolibero’s taking a holiday, not a a service that is included in the price. package trip Helpline is available 7 days a week. We supply you with tough luggage (we’ll be there but This enables us to sort out any issues labels, and let you cycle on ahead – free you’ll hardly see us) ourselves and, in trickier cases, to reach of luggage, unnecessary weight or and help you on the spot. worries. 4 discovering lands, the BACKGROUND MATERIAL local people and their Our main job in winter is to prepare all ways at a “human” pace the background material you may need: – and without worrying maps, itinerary directions and a wealth about the summer rush, of local information are all essential parking, the weight of traf- tools for the independent cyclist who fic or the fastest road needs to find his or her own way. Our background material is detailed and 5 allows you to get from A to B with ease refuelling body and soul, (see also pp. 14-17). away from the madding We are also happy to supply up-to-date crowd GPS readings for anyone who prefers to navigate with a GPS. girolibero - tel. 0039 0444 330724 - [email protected] - www.girolibero.com 7 Options KATIA BRUSTOLON our latest recruit, but already part of the furniture 2 km by Girolibero bike to get to work WHICH ONE’S FOR ME? SELF GUIDED / IN A GROUP / TAILORMADE, IT’S YOUR CHOICE! SOME LIKE CYCLING UNDER THEIR OWN STEAM, OTHERS PREFER A CAREFREE GUIDED TOUR, WHILE SOME MAY ASK FOR A TAILORMADE HOLIDAY... WHAT DOES NOT CHANGE IS OUR WILLINGNESS TO PLEASE ALL AND SUNDRY. SELF GUIDED For the independent rider – whether solo or with friends and FROM OUR GUEST BOOK: using our maps and detailed family – following our own set route “We have just returned from an amazing trip through directions for each stage. No group, no Tour Leader: just rider Tuscany! The routes were well thought out, the maps and bike. Girolibero will book your hotels, transfer your luggage and directions very clear and easy to follow, and the from stop to stop, and provide you with all necessary information hotels were nice and in great locations. Thank you to material and assistance. You will be spoilt for choice: discover Girolibero, this was the very best way to experience Italy on two wheels, head to toe – or why not head for France and Tuscany. We look forward to our next trip!” discover some of its most beautiful regions? Doris, Tuscany Pisa–Florence, p. 54 8 girolibero - tel. 0039 0444 330724 - [email protected] - www.girolibero.com BROCHURE IN A GROUP WITH A TOUR LEADER FROM OUR GUEST BOOK: The ideal holiday for the cyclist who enjoyes the company of others and meeting like-minded people. Plus, the peace of mind Hello, We just wanted to write to let you know how impressed we of travelling with a Tour Leader: they guide the group along the were with both the tour and tour guide on our recent cycling route and are informed about all things local; they are also there WHICH ONE’S holiday.