Mental Winter Wanderlust to La Bella Sardinia

Even though here in Lake Placid on winter break with my family, I am immersed in the world of snow sports (and winter Olympic history) a trip to Lake Placid’s premier bicycle store, High Peaks Cyclery gets my imagination quickly spinning towards spring cycling and my plans to ride again this summer Sardinia with my family on our Mediteranean Multi Sport (join us!)

My guests and cycling friends inevitably always ask me what is my favorite place to ride and although I am reluctant to respond (as if I had to choose a favorite child), my answer is alway Sardinia. We currently have three Ciclismo Classico tours there ( Swept Away in Sardinian, Mediterranean Island Hopping and Mediterranean Multi Sport). We plan to expand our offerings and with the guidance of our Native Sardinian expert, Simone Scalas, who can also create a custom tour for you. Backpedaling for a moment, I love cycling almost anywhere as it pedaling outside always puts me in a better frame of mind no matter where I am. It’s a fact that, for the record, I have never had a bad bike ride ANYWHERE!

Having made that grand proclamation, there are cycling destinations that simply make my heart, soul and body soar and our focus at Ciclismo Classico is to take you to the world’s absolute BEST cycling destinations such as Italy, France, Ireland, Austria and Spain.

So why do I pick Sardinia as my ultimate favorite place in the world to pedal? It fulfills the following TOP TEN list on what makes a premier Ciclismo Classico cycling destination:

1. Smooth, untrafficked, varied network of roads with many terrain options
2. An abundance of gorgeous views and scenery
3. Abundant opportunities to connect with the local culture
4. A balance of pristine nature and indigenous culture, a high local respect for sustaining both
5. Friendly, welcoming locals who respect cyclists
6. Gastronomically delightful. Delicious fresh food, markets, local eateries, enolologically intriguing
7. Abundance of historic and cultural options
8. Adventure options in addition to cycling (swimming, hiking, kayaking, caving)
9. A nice variety but not overwhelming choices of accommodations
10. A tourist culture that is affordable, friendly, sustainable and professional

Sardinia passes every one of this TOP TEN list with flying colors. Here’s how:

1. Silky Smooth Roads: Sardinia’s tourism is mainly in August and on the Northern Coast which means on the rest of the island for the rest of the year, Sardinia’s silky smooth roads are cycling heaven. My favorite ride in the world is the descent to Cala Ganone (one of my favorite places in the world) and the gradual 20 mile ascent from Dorgali to the Barbagia Mountains with the sea on one side and the mountains on the other. My favorite cycling is along stunning coastline and Sardinia has more than anyplace I have been.

2. Gorgeous Scenery: Sardinia is is defined by its abundance of gorgeous views and variety of scenery, especially abundant are a wonderful blend of mountain and seascapes. Unlike the rest of Europe, Sardinia is rural, and underdeveloped. One of the last off the beaten path destinations Europe has to offer. It is like Wyoming surrounded by an amazingly beautiful blue waters. If you love to swim or simply experience some of the world’s most gorgeous blue water than Sardinia is the place for you.

3. Culturally Fascinating: The Sardinian indigenous and native culture is alive and thriving. Sardinia with its own unique language, many distinct cultures and rich craftsmanship offers the cyclist Abundant opportunities to connect with the local culture. It is difficult to find a musical heritage so varied and full of expression as the one you can find in Sardinia. Sardinian traditional music is in every sense one of the richest and oldest in the Mediterranean. The expression of this heritage can be found in polyvocal or monodic songs and in the use of instruments, some of which are typical of the island. Undoubtedly one of the most original forms in the island’s polyvocal heritage is the CANTO A TENORES (Tenors song). http://www.sardi.it/sardinia/artig1.htm

4. Natural Wonders Abound: Sardinia has the cleanest waters and most pristine natural areas in the world and is working harder than most of Europe to preserve and protect them.

5. International Cycling Destination: Although Sardinia is still emerging as a cycling destination for Americans, this amazingly varied island attracts thousands of pedaling Europeans who flock to Sardinia every year.

6. Delicious, healthy cuisine: Howard Hillman’s in his World Cuisine Guide calls Sardinian cuisine “the most distinctive of Italy’s regional cuisines, mainly due to the island’s geographic isolation from Italy’s mainland.” That’s why Ciclismo alumni and master chef Micheal Romano of the Union Street Cafe chose to join our Swept Away in Sardinia tour. For a cyclist Sardinian specialties such as Pane Carasau, Culingiones (fresh stuffed pasta) Bottarga (spaghetti with a tuna roe sauce) and so many other delicious others make all those miles worthwhile!

7. Historically Intriguing: Sardinia is a living museum! While there is not the abundance of museums as on the mainland, any Sardinian itinerary historical Abundance of historic and cultural options including roaming around ancient nuraghi villages or stopping to explore a romanesque church.

8. Sardinia is Europe’s Adventure paradise: The second largest island in the Meditteranean, with thousands of mile of pristine coastline and gorgeous protected natural areas, there is plenty of adventure for non-cycling days. Kayaking along Sardinia’s gorgeous coastline, hiking through the lush barbagia, sailing around La Maddelena, snorkeling, rapelling and caving are a sampling of this outdoor paradise.

9. Charming, tasteful, historic accommodations. The Sardinians have been very careful in developing their tourism as a result most hotels are small, family run and connected to their local culture. My favorite hotel in the world (and used on our Sardinian tours) is Sul Gologone nestled into the the Barbagia mountains near the famous muraled village of Orgosolo. Literally a gallery of Sardinian fine art and crafts, the rooms, cuisine, and spa make this a family-run hotel a place you’ll want to call home!

10. Welcoming, friendly and caring! On my first bike tour around Sardinia in 1992, I was welcomed into the Fonteduus home in Siniscola (northwest Sardinia), treated for three nights to abundant local specialties and even dressed up in the traditional wedding clothes of our hosts! I could tell that I had landed in a very special place where I would be honored to bring cyclists. We have been running tours there for over 15 years and have expanded our guide team to include Sardinian specialist, Simone Scalas

As one of my favorite Italian web sites, Italy Online writes: “Small enough to be classified as an island but big enough to be a universe unto itself, Sardinia lies about 120 miles west of the Italian peninsula. Its coastline is probably Europe’s most spectacular. Its waters teem with fish and shellfish. Its broad valleys turn into golden oceans of wheat in summer. Its rugged mountains, pocked with caves, are home to large flocks of sheep that feed on pungent wild herbs and produce a cheese your palate will never forget. Nestled into its silent olive groves are some of the continent’s oldest archeological remains, dating back to 1700 BC. Its people speak a language incomprehensible to all other Italians, celebrate more saints’ days than anyone else in the nation, and love to dress up in elaborate costumes at the drop of a finely-embroidered hat. ‘ “

Interested in joining my family and I for a very special week in Sardinia this July? email me at lauren@ciclismoclassico.com

Favorite Sardinian Links:
Best overall Site: http://www.mondosardegna.net/index.php, http://www.sardegna.com
Sardinian Photo Album: http://www.initaly.com/regions/sardinia/sardinalb.htm
In Italy Online: http://www.initaly.com/regions/sardinia/sardinia.htm
http://www.sardi.it/indexuk.htm