All of your routes
tailor-made and all the rest taken care of: you can just do the riding
Cycling routes, based on your personal wishes and crafted with local knowledge
— those are always a good idea. And in case you want more: I can also deal with the logistical part of your trip to Sardinia, including travel, hotels, luggage transport and rental bikes. And did you consider a guide or having your trip photographed?
1. Streetwise
Sure, you can use Strava, Komoot or yet another platform to map out your own bike rides on foreign soil. But no matter how smart technology may be, experience shows that you often end up in places you don't want to be. On a far too busy highway. On a hill that turns out to be impossible, while the gradients online seemed quite doable. And that beautiful, winding road — didn't the computer say it was paved? You can avoid situations like these by putting me to work. Since moving to Sardinia in 2020, I have explored the roads here with my own eyes and legs. I know exactly where to find perfect new asphalt or areas where you can enjoy some of the finest gravel riding. Where you get the most spectacular views and the best coffee. For you, I can combine this local knowledge into one or more routes, exactly according to your wishes. That means not only the desired distance and elevation gain, but also plenty to see and taste along the way. Tailor-made.
2. Logistical puzzle
Getting to Sardinia may seem a bit of an undertaking. However, especially during the tourist season, it really is very manageable: from April to the end of October direct flights from all over Europe get you to the airports of Olbia, Cagliari and Alghero. During low season, you might just need a stop-over. Another option, available year-round, is to drive your own car (or take a train) to Southern France, Northern Italy or Barcelona and catch a ferry there. Bear in mind that connections are scarcer during the quieter months. Especially then, it can be both pleasant and reassuring to outsource this logistical puzzle. Just tell me when your Sardinian cycling adventure should start and I will design your itinerary. You want all the bookings also taken care of? My pleasure. Having trouble figuring out where to stay? Let me help, for example by contacting accommodations directly. And, of course, I'll ensure those personalised routes end right on the terrace of your hotel or agriturismo.
3. Bike and luggage
Obviously, nothing beats your own equipment, also when you're cycling abroad. But not everyone is keen on driving a considerable distance with a bike carrier behind the car and parking on the ferry deck. Let alone dismantling your precious bike and handing it over at the counter for odd-sized baggage at the airport, only to have to wait, pray and see the condition it will be in when the both of you are reunited. No need for any stress in that department, because Sardinia offers plenty of excellent companies to rent a bike from. They generally deliver their road bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes to the arrival airport or to your accommodation, at the time of your choice. This is usually easy enough to arrange yourself online, even though you shouldn't be surprised when the delivery guy who brings you your temporary machinery speaks nothing but Italian. If you prefer to leave this matter to me: I’d be happy to take care of it! If you are considering a tour of the island but want to do your rides without taking luggage on your bike, I can also arrange for the transport of your stuff to your subsequent accommodations.
4. Helpline and guide
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily. In terms of land surface area, it is just a fraction smaller than Belgium and well over half the size of countries like Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Yet it's a very different story when it comes to the number of inhabitants. Especially inland, there are mainly sparsely populated areas where, as a cyclist, you will barely encounter any other traffic. Besides wonderfully peaceful rides, this also means that in the event of mechanical failure or physical mishaps it may take a while before assistance arrives. In that case, it is nice to have an English, Dutch, German, French and Italian-speaking helpline at hand. In addition, I can also be hired as an accompanying guide: to provide you with information about the surroundings along the way, to warn you about a poor stretch of asphalt or a tricky bend ahead, to bypass the language barrier at the lunch spot or simply as either a chatty or a silent companion during your rides.
5. Picture perfect
Cycling in Sardinia is an unforgettable experience that guarantees wonderful memories. Still, it can be nice to also have a tangible souvenir to take home. That is why Rotte Sarde offers a special service: we can capture your cycling adventures on the island on camera, so afterwards you will have an envy-inducing visual report to show the folks back home. Imagine: action shots of you in full climb, with a rugged mountain landscape in the background or cruising along one of the stunning panoramic coastal roads, with incredibly blue water in the backdrop. A photo of your cycling club waiting for a crossing flock of sheep. Or your group of friends posing together at a viewpoint, in front of one of the traditional and colourful murals, or during a coffee break in the warm January sun. If you choose to let our photographer ride along and capture your experiences, it will make a photo album that evokes all the beautiful memories of a fantastic biking trip.