Discovering Umbria by bicycle, why not? Two wheels are today the slow means of travel par excellence, the means with which to get to know a territory in depth, to savour to the full the colours, scents and emotions a place can offer, to travel in close contact with nature, authentically and genuinely, far from the stress and frenzy of everyday life.
And Umbria, in turn, is an ideal place for cycling, thanks to the diversity of its landscapes and its artistic wealth, which offer extraordinary opportunities to every kind of cyclist. Within a few kilometres you pass from the lake to the Apennine peaks, from the medieval village to the pasture, from the green of the woods to the geometric shapes of the vineyards.  Environments quite different from one another, yet unspoilt and authentic, where good wine and good food are to be found, and where a rhythm on a human scale still exists.
For these reasons it is ever more common to see groups of cyclists, Italian and foreign, riding the roads of our region, using the bike to visit the small villages or to reach an osteria for bread and prosciutto with a good glass of wine, pedalling for a whole week or simply for a weekend out of town.

Beginner or expert cyclist: routes for everyone

Umbria gathers into a relatively small area a great diversity of landscapes and terrains. This conformation represents a great opportunity for bike lovers, since everyone can find the route suited to their own characteristics.
The fittest cyclists will get great satisfaction climbing the peaks of the Apennines, or organizing an excursion in the area of the Monti Martani or, leaving Assisi behind, conquering the summit of Subasio by the steep climb of the Eremo delle Carceri.
Those who ride less assiduously, purely for the pleasure of discovery, perhaps together with the family, can pedal in complete tranquillity and without much effort along the shores of Lago Trasimeno, across the plains of the Valle Umbra, or following the course of the river Tevere, alternating stretches on dedicated paths with lightly trafficked roads. In short, Umbria by bike offers something for every taste…

By mtb or road bike

The complexity and variety of the Umbrian landscape, besides offering routes of every level of difficulty, satisfies both the needs of the cyclist who loves the road bike and those of the mtb enthusiast. With a road bike, in fact, you can cover kilometre after kilometre on roads with very little motor traffic, ideal for enjoying the landscapes and the artistic and natural beauties met at every bend; in most cases even the historic centres and small villages can be reached by quiet alternative roads, which make the bike the ideal means of visiting them, pedalling among ever new lanes and views.
Even more numerous are the opportunities awaiting mountain bike enthusiasts, since Umbria is marked by a multitude of small unpaved roads, mule tracks and trails climbing up the hills or running along the rivers. The most coveted destinations are the peaks of the Apennines, from Monte Cucco to the Monti Sibillini, to name just two places very dear to bikers; but the Subasio, the Monti Martani, all the hills around Lago Trasimeno and the whole Val Nerina are rich in trails too. And why not consider the mountain bike for visiting the region’s many Natural Parks as well? To be honest, there is not a single corner of Umbria that cannot be covered by Mtb…

The long-distance routes

Besides single-day routes, which every cyclist can “build” to the measure of their own needs, for some years the Region of Umbria has been working on the development of several great cycling axes, capable of making the whole region rideable by bike, from North to South and from East to West. Great “motorways” for bicycles, on the model of the cutting-edge ones in northern European countries. There is still much to do, but the path taken, towards gentler mobility and a tourism on a more human scale, as well as more respectful of the environment, is the right one. Below we describe the great routes under development.

Tevere
Distance:  246 km
Suggested stages: 8
Elevation gain: 1700 m
The Tevere route, like the great cycleways of Europe, runs along the course of the river and offers an evocative journey from the springs (thus also touching Emilia Romagna and Tuscany) down to the Lago di Alviano, with the option, for the boldest, of contemplating a continuation as far as Rome.
A journey rich in history and scenic beauty, which along the way touches or skirts important towns such as Sansepolcro, Anghiari, Città di Castello, Umbertide, Perugia, Todi and Orvieto.
The route is long but within everyone’s reach, since the climbs are very limited. The only really demanding stage is the one leading from Todi to Corbara, where the route winds up into the hills overlooking the narrow gorge that guards the Lago di Corbara: there is a long climb to get over, but the beauty of the landscape will amply repay the effort.

Via di Francesco
Distance: 296 km
Suggested stages: 8
Elevation gain: 4780 m
The cycling route runs parallel to the more famous walking route, starting from Citerna and, passing through Assisi, reaching Piediluco, from where, here too, you can continue south to Rome. The recommended itinerary alternates asphalt and dirt roads, and the ideal type of bike for riding it is a hybrid, though a Mountain bike will also do.
The route retraces the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and is therefore rich in spiritual resonance, but it is also marked by unspoilt landscapes and works of art of great beauty.
This route, which stays as faithful as possible to the walking one, is rather demanding, since it is marked by a succession of hills and rough stretches to overcome, hardly ever too hard but liable, in the long run, to make themselves felt in the legs of the less trained. When tackling it, equip yourselves with the right dose of training and of Franciscan spirit:  the emotions it can offer are worth the effort on the pedals.

Anello del Trasimeno
Distance: 70.5 km
Suggested stages: 1 or 2
Elevation gain: 440 m
An unpaved route that for the most part skirts the shore of Lago Trasimeno, without significant rough stretches, ideal for enjoying the lakeside nature in the company of family or friends, but also alone, immersed in the tranquillity of the place.
The most evocative part is probably the stretch from Castiglione del Lago to Passignano, but the rest of the route is not to be missed either. The section leading from Sant’Arcangelo back to Castiglione del Lago has yet to be completed, but to avoid ending the route on the busy lakeside road you can head into the surrounding hills: it takes a little effort, but you avoid the cars.
And do not forget the chance to board the ferry with your bike and enjoy a short ride on Isola Polvese or Isola Maggiore as well.

Ciclabile Assisi-Spoleto
Distance: 52.7 km
Suggested stages: 2
Elevation gain: 250 m
A short, easy journey linking two magnificent cities of art and touching or skirting, within a few kilometres, villages such as Bevagna, Montefalco and Trevi. A route to ride in one or two stages, ideal for a Sunday outing or for the tourist who wants to discover some of Umbria’s finest things in two days: a few kilometres holding faith, cities of art, waters (the Fonti del Clitunno), wine and oil.
The first part of the route, from Assisi to Bevagna, runs mostly on quiet secondary roads; from Bevagna to Spoleto, on the other hand, the route is almost entirely on a dedicated path and completely free of difficulty. For now, the entry into Spoleto has to be made on ordinary roads, but a connection with the city centre and with the Spoleto-Norcia is under study.
The former Spoleto-Norcia railway indeed deserves a chapter of its own: this marvellous route has been under restoration for years, and the first part of the course is now almost ready to be handed over to the hundreds of keen cyclists eager to ride it. When the last stretch, reaching Norcia, is also completed, and the Assisi-Spoleto-Norcia link comes into service, Umbria will be able to boast one of the most fascinating cycleways in Europe.

Social networks and web 2.0

All the information and details on the routes are just a click away by visiting the site www.bikeinumbria.it, where you can find and download elevation profiles, route maps, useful info and gps tracks.
For those who use mobile devices the Bikeinumbria App is also available, free to download.
If instead you want to share emotions, photos and ideas, or simply keep up to date on the latest events and routes, you can consult the Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages of Bikeinumbria.
Finally, for personalized requests and information on hospitality, the Umbria&Bike consortium has been created; you can ask for info through the social channels or by visiting the site www.umbriabike.eu

Nicola Ceccarelli graduated in Communication Sciences in 2004. A lifelong lover of sport and cycling, he was an under-23 cyclist at national level. He began his career working for the magazines “Bicisport” and “Cicloturismo”. He later specialized in the field of sports tourism, working with the Region of Umbria and with Sviluppumbria on the promotion of green tourism and bike tourism. He created the site www.bikeinumbria.it and numerous cycle-touring guides to the Umbria region.