BikesPlus

We have travel in our roots. It all began in 1972 with a young international couple: Rick Price (from Oregon USA) and Paola Malpezzi-Price (from Forlì Italy) who had met during Paola’s high school study abroad year. Longing to return, they made it back to Italy in 1972 with the first commercial bicycle tourists – four groups of enthusiastic young Americans ready to pedal across Italy from Pisa to Forlì. In time, Rick and Paola decided to make this their life’s work. Today,  with a team of dedicated experts and tour leaders, their daughters Monica and Maria Elena run two active travel tour operators: one based in the US, and one in Italy acting as incoming European tour operator — BikesPlus srl, leader in active, sustainable and experiental travel, proudly based in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna!

Cycle Europe

Premium bike rental services and tour operator support, in Italy and Europe.

If you are planning a bike tour for a group of cyclists, we offer superior group and tour operator support, high-quality bike and touring van rentals and guide services, as well as some of best bike tour itineraries in Italy and beyond on our guided and self-guided trips. We also specialize in creating custom-tailored active packages with our high-touch, personalized service. Cycle Europe has you covered throughout the continent, since 1972!

Pedaliamo in Italia

From our headquarters in Emilia-Romagna, our Italian-language brand serves Italian bike and active travelers as well as tour operators and groups, from one-day escapes to complete cycling vacations; on our premium titanium bikes, top of the line e-bikes and even e-mountain bikes; or using our extensive bike and van infrastructure and active tour and event organization services.

Projects and Partnerships

In collaboration with Ravenna Incoming, we’ve developed and run various road, gravel and mountain bike itineraries connecting Ravenna and Florence and following the places linked with the life of Dante Alighieri,  The itineraries vary depending by terrain, duration and locations, on group tours led by our expert guides, or self-guided packages where we provide premium bicycle rental, luggage transfers, and selected accommodations.

 

In the Faenza area we collaborate with Riolo Terme Cycling Hub, a network of bike friendly services and hospitality for all levels and all types of cyclists – 1700 km of diverse routes, offering an extraordinary cycling area full of charm and history.

In this partnership between service providers and local excellence, we offer an experience tailored to cyclists, marrying unique countryside (chalk cliffs and gullies), culture, wellness, and wonderful dining.

 

Local Projects and Initiatives

With a hub of operations in Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, we are the local experts in active travel. In addition to offering some of the best routes and active travel experiences in Emilia-Romagna, we have collaborated extensively with local projects:

 

 

Romagna Toscana Turismo is the first inter-regional Italian tourism system between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Born along the Via Emilia, an ancient Roman road flanking the Apennines, we support the promotion of this unique destination straddling two Italian regions. Wine and food, nature and sport, thermal spa towns and active travel make this a blessed travel destination.

The historic “Il Treno di Dante” is an original train built in the 1920s which runs between Florence and Ravenna. On board, passengers are provided with audio guides and can listen to professional stewards who narrate the culture, landscape and the historical accounts of Dante during his exile. Along the journey the train will cross the heart of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennine and four medieval towns (Borgo San Lorenzo, Marradi, Brisighella and Faenza) as well as nature, art, history and food culture.

Network founder​
Co-Organizer​