Frequently Asked Questions
There are two types of Tour:
- Instant online booking: many tours can be booked independently through the BookingKit system, with automatic confirmation — you’ll find them on the [Tours] page of the site.
- Booking on request: some tours — particularly those requiring the coordination of several activities (guides, accommodation, tastings, art experiences) within the same period — need prior confirmation. In this case, simply contact us directly: we’ll reply within 24/48 hours to check availability for your chosen dates and arrange everything together.
It’s a distinction designed to make your online booking simpler.
- SMART Package — includes the tour in its basic structure. Ideal for those who want more independence and already have their own equipment.
- TOP Package — includes everything that makes the tour complete and worry-free: all necessary services are covered in the price. The perfect choice for those who want to book, arrive, and ride — with nothing else to organise.
In both cases, you can always count on the organisers’ support, add services, or customise your experience.
Every tour offers a range of services tailored to the type of route being planned. The standard services provided are: bike rental, a cycling guide (or a group leader in the case of Trekking), insurance, mechanical assistance, and luggage transfer.
Yes, we provide rental bikes in various sizes, selected to suit your physical build. They are light and easy to handle, designed for comfortable riding without compromising on sturdiness and reliability. Rental is included in TOP packages, or available as an additional service with the SMART package.
Yes, you can bring your own bike. Each package adjusts the price according to whether a rental is needed or you’re using your own bike. The cycling guide and mechanical assistance are always included, whichever bike you ride.
We offer several types to suit every need:
- City bike — light and comfortable, ideal for flat routes and a relaxed pace
- MTB (Mountain Bike) — for those who prefer a sportier setup and want to tackle hill routes too
- Racing bike comfort — a frame designed for a comfortable riding position, handlebar brakes, ergonomic saddle, reinforced tyres, kickstand and lock
All bikes are also available in children’s sizes, with tag-along attachments for the little ones — because nobody should be left behind.
And for those who’d rather not work too hard?
We also have electric pedal-assist bicycles (e-bikes): all the freedom of cycle touring, with an extra helping hand on the more demanding stretches.
Yes. First of all, we’ll help you find the right bike for you: get in touch to check the available frame sizes and how to set up your bike, including panniers (travel bags that attach to the bike) and their cost.
On request, we also provide additional accessories, at a rate to be agreed:
- Helmet
- Repair kit
- High-visibility vest
Yes, every package includes a printed route guide: road book, map, and all the kit you need to ride independently, always knowing where you are and where you’re heading.
Yes. A cycling guide is included in most tours and packages, but you can request one as an additional service even if your package doesn’t include it — just get in touch to customise your tour.
Our cycling guides are passionate riders who know the area inside out: not just the route, but the stories, the places, and the flavours that make it unique.
Our cycling guides (or group leaders in the case of Trekking) have completed dedicated training courses and are fully qualified to accompany you through every aspect of the journey. Specifically, they are experts in:
- Route planning — they choose the most beautiful and safest paths, away from traffic
- Mechanical assistance — ready to step in if technical problems arise along the way
- First aid — trained to handle any emergency
- Local knowledge — hidden corners, local stories, traditions and flavours you wouldn’t find on your own
The result is a complete experience: not just cycling, but discovering the area through the eyes of those who live here and love it.
Many multi-day tours include luggage transfer in the package: ride light and find your bags already waiting in your room at each stage destination.
For tours where it isn’t included, you can add it as an additional service. We recommend contacting us in advance so we can organise it properly.
Yes. In the event of a puncture, a broken chain, or any other technical problem, you’re never on your own. Assistance is guaranteed on two levels:
- Cycling guide — if included in your package, they’re right there with you and step in whenever needed
- PuntoBici — partner assistance centres are located along the routes, where you’ll find replacement bikes, accessories and technical support. You can also return your bike to a different PuntoBici from the one you started at
- Telephone support — where a cycling guide isn’t included, you always have a dedicated number to call in case of any emergency
The payment process depends on the type of tour you choose.
Tours with online booking (BookingKit)
You can book directly on the website. The tour goes ahead once the minimum number of participants is reached: by booking, you submit your request to join, and as soon as you receive confirmation that the tour will take place, you can complete your payment online using the methods available for that particular Tour.
You will never be charged anything before confirmation.
Tours on request
Some tours don’t have fixed dates: they are organised and confirmed based on the number of requests received and the time of year, as they require the coordination of several activities. In this case, the process is:
- You contact us to express your interest and preferred dates
- We check availability and coordinate the activities
- Once the tour is confirmed, payment is made directly through our agency
In both cases, you don’t pay until the tour is confirmed.
Absolutely — customisation is part of our DNA.
Slow Bike Tourism is a network of businesses born from a passion for cycling and for this land. We don’t offer rigid packages: every traveller has their own pace, their own curiosity, their own needs. That’s why every tour can be adapted — in length, in services, in the level of support, in the experiences included.
Whether you want to ride independently with nothing but the road book in your pocket, or be accompanied by a cycling guide who reveals hidden corners and takes you to the best trattorias in Romagna: we build the journey around you.
Write to us or give us a call — tell us about your wishes, your pace, and your preferences. We’ll take care of everything else.
