Advice for a first time ride in Italy

[DrD]

Thanks for all your input.  Dot and I had a great time.

The riders who ended up behind us and wanted to go faster found an OK place to pass.  Only one boneheaded rider who almost took out the tour guide.  The drivers were OK, too, with only a couple requiring some of the lane an approaching car wanted to use at the same time.  OTOH, there was no issue when we went to pass a vehicle.  In fact, I was was amazed and very pleased when cars would pull off to the shoulder to let us pass safely in short, straight sections.

The food issue Dot mentioned was a mixed bag, though mostly good.  She learned the phrases to convey her condition and we didn't have a single case where a waiter had no clue what she was talking about.  Some places had more of a gluten free selection (including gluten free pasta) while others would simply advise her what items contained gluten.  Overall a much better experience than dining in the USA with celiac disease.

[Global Rider]

OTOH, there was no issue when we went to pass a vehicle.  In fact, I was amazed and very pleased when cars would pull off to the shoulder to let us pass safely in short, straight sections.

Yup, we're not talking North America, which is why I love driving there.

So, where are the pics?

[DrD]

So, where are the pics?

I posted a report in the Ride Report section.

Next time, I will go through some of your links and put together our own tour.  However, I'm glad we went this way for the first one.

[Orson]

Next time, I will go through some of your links and put together our own tour.  However, I'm glad we went this way for the first one.

That's the way I felt.

There's no harm in spending extra bucks to let someone who knows the best hotels and roads, to show you around the first time to get yer feet wet.

It also frees you up from the paperwork and hassle involved in securing a bike in Europe.

[Ant]

I got lost in Italy following Ant.  It was a little annoying at first mostly because I wasn't sure how far away we were from the night's destination (which we had reservations) and it was late afternoon.

 
Now don't you wish you'd just kept on riding past those two bikes by the Fiat garage  

it was most likely one of the best days of the entire trip.

You're mad   Riding with two Brits, one of whom gets you lost at every opportunity and the other who caused even longer delays when we had to push start him every traffic light, train crossing and roundabout, not to mention u-turn (necessary after the whole getting lost bit).

Gaz and I decided that it was probably one of our best days as well, it must have been the heat getting to us.

[Mr Sunshine]

That's the way I felt.

There's no harm in spending extra bucks to let someone who knows the best hotels and roads, to show you around the first time to get yer feet wet.

It also frees you up from the paperwork and hassle involved in securing a bike in Europe.

When I rented the bike this past June in Switzerland I found it to be a VERY good and positive experience.  I actually dread renting from someone else with the fear it won't be as simple and easy.