Bicycle Italy's Piedmont Region

Dreaming of designing your own bike tour of Northwest Italy around Turin? The region is ready for you! The region's new web site "Piemonte Ciclabile" (Cyclable Piedmont) lists thirty some bike tours and routes you can do on your own. Each tour has an interactive map that shows lodging options along the route. This is a great service for those planning their own tour.

The Piedmont is one of the best areas for bicycling in Italy. It enjoys a mix of mountainous (indeed, Alpine) terrain as well as great vineyard riding through the hills of Monferrato and flat rides across the rice paddies of the Po Valley. Piedmont cuisine is also excellent - a mixture of the best Italian food and more refined cuisine of France.
Of course, if you prefer to take an escorted bike tour there are plenty of those as well. Click here for one example.

Rent a Bike for a Day in Santiago, Chile

There is nothing better after that long, overnight flight to Santiago than to explore by bicycle. In Santiago, Chile "La Bicicleta Verde" offers rates on single speed cruiser bikes,multi-speed mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. La Bicicleta Verde also offers half-day bike tours. These are a great introduction to any city! Tours cost $30 and include a green bicycle, helmet, 1 bottle of water and a local snack (and, of course, a bilingual guide.)

So if you are headed for a bicycle tour of Chile's wine country, think about exploring Santiago by bike during your layover day!

Despite the photo, helmets ARE available and recommended with tours and rentals from La Bicicleta Verde!