Ospitainbici – on your bike!

Cyclists are welcome and, as well as magnifcent roads on which to ride, here they find people who consider the specific needs of those who tour around on pedals. Precisely for this reason, the APT of Siena has selected a series of structures that are able to offer useful services to the cyclist – farm-holidays deep in the countryside, accommodation in little villages, or in the heart of Siena itself - all you have to do is choose, thus taking the first step towards a holiday on your pedals in the 'Terre di Siena'.

Deposit for bicycles: a closed and covered area where bicycles may be kept. An essential requisite is security, so ideally it should only be accessible to clients. Those who do not have an adequate space to dedicate exclusively to bicycles must optimize the space they have by organising it well; a space may have more than one function but it is important to designate it specifically – bikes on one side, all the rest on the other. If you cannot close the place under lock and key, then you must provide padlocks suitable for locking all the bikes up. It is a good idea to provide a small closet or shelves where customers can deposit their shoes or the objects that one usually takes when going out for a ride (wind-stop jackets, helmets, galoshes or covers for shoes).

Workshop/tools: an area designated for workshop / repair shop can be integrated into the deposit area if you have a sufficiently large room at your disposal. Alternatively you can furnish the client with a little box containing a tool-kit to make small repairs when out. Ideally, a workbench and a trestle-table would be useful, in order to work on the bicycle safely when raised off the ground. The tool-kit consists of spanners of various dimensions (8 – 12 – 15 – 17 are all essential) as well as an adjustable spanner. Also valve seat wrenches, Philips and ordinary screwdrivers and pliers are handy. Necessary equipment includes a vertical pump, spoke wrench (or spoke key) chain tool, chain lubricant, degreasing liquid (naphtha, paraffin or petrol will do), bowl and brush for cleaning and puncture repair-kit, consisting of levers to take out the tyres, glue, sandpaper and patches. It is also advisable to have with you a little box with ready-to-use material such as inner tube spares (road bikes and mountain bikes) brake and gear cables, screw clamps or clips.

Adequate refreshment: after a day out on the bike, dinnertime becomes rather sacred for those who have pushed hard; as well as the quality, there are also expectations to respect regarding the quantity. Balanced meals are preferred, that exalt the flavour of the ingredients: little or no frying and animal fats, plenty of seasoning with extra vergine olive oil, greens and pulses. Cheese and cold meats are appreciated as long as they are produced locally. The lion's share of the menu is taken up with the pasta dish, furnishing the necessary intake of carbohydrates. Also liquid intake is important for those doing physical activity . Loss of mineral salts must be compensated for, and sometimes the organism requires easily-assimilated sugars such as fructose and honey.

Breakfast: pastries and coffee or cappuccino are only a part of this meal; as a rule fresh fruit and cereals are served, with honey and jams, cheese and cold meats with fresh bread, melba toasts and homemade cakes and pastries.

Lunch: generally the cyclist eats out and not necessarily at table either, preferring often to have a packed lunch. For this reason it is a good idea to provide picnic baskets, specifying the preference of booking the day or evening before. Sandwiches, fresh fruit and drinks are ideal while energetic food bars are also considered useful.

Snack: after a cycling trip it is likely that most cyclists will enjoy a snack so a good rule is to provide snacks of bread, cold meats, cheese, biscuits and slices of cake.

Dinner: the evening meal is a moment of great conviviality and generally cyclists come to table with clear intentions……. one idea is the "cyclist's menu", thought up specially for those who go out on their bikes, offering more substantial portions. Local wines are always most appreciated.

Laundry service: generally technical clothing is used when on the bikes which can become impregnated with sweat when in contact with the skin; it is advisable to either deal directly with the washing of clothing used for an excursion or perhaps provide a washing/drying machine for the clients that works with tokens (a more practical solution), to be used at specific times.

Washing of the bicycles: washing down the bikes may be necessary after a day out on muddy roads with a mountain bike or simply a road bike on a rainy day. To wash the bikes you need buckets, sponges, degreasing detergent and old cloths or towels for drying, as well as a water pump.

Bicycles for rent: the bicycles rented out to clients must not be of poor quality, in perfect working order and well-kept. If you do not deal with this aspect yourself, then it is advisable to rely on a specialised cycling shop, both for actual purchase of the bikes and possibly their maintenance.

Guides: many itineraries, above all when out on mountain bikes (woodland tracks and paths in the countryside) need an expert guide who knows the terrain well. It makes good sense to rely on specialised and authorised guides who offer this kind of service, often affiliated to associations and/or schools (AMI Bike, Simb, Gae, Fiab).

Excursionist's corner: this is basically a space where the biking tourist can find objects of interest relating to his hobby. As well as generical guides (historical, geographical, photographical) of the surrounding territory, also specialised magazines on cycling tourism and guides dedicated to those who practise this sport are advisable. Also a small library and video-library of cycling culture or travelling and tourism in general can turn out to be very useful on occasions when the weather is too bad to go ou,t or simply for moments of relax. The excursionist's corner may also be an area where the client can find spare inner tubes, puncture repair kits, small pumps, energy bars and hydro-saline integrators.

Internet: in 'Terre di Siena' the bike tourist can download in just a few minutes the route he prefers, with a detailed map, a detailed description of the route and geographical characteristics of the terrain. A vast wealth of information, easily accessible on the net, is available regarding the territory and the possible activities to do. There are also some websites which "create" the ideal route in a few seconds, for travelling in Italy and other European countries, recommending the most convenient or the most atractive etc. internet also provides the most efficient way of checking up on timetables for trains, aeroplanes etc, buying travelling tickets or simply obtaining information. A portable PC connected up to a printer is always useful.

Emergencies: another service to offer the client is that of a 'motorised' pick-up along the route in case of a mechanical accident or particularly adverse weather conditions. Ideally you can provide clients with a number to call only in cases of extreme and /or urgent necessity.

Not all the businesses collaborating with the 'Terra di Siena' project offer all of these services but it is possible to consult a complete list of all the structures and the services they offer. In any case, all businesses guarantee a deposit for bicycles, tools, information on routes and refreshment (those who have a restaurant).