GLOSSARY

Cycle tourism glossary

  • Cycle tourism:
    In the simplest terms, cycle tourism is tourism by bicycle, the sole protagonist of this
    way of seeing the world. You can opt for a cycle tourism itinerary lasting days, or
    even weeks, and also day or weekend trips. People who choose bike travel are not
    interested in physical performance, journey time and athletic training. On the
    contrary cycle tourism is a way of travelling that allows closer encounters with
    places or people at a much slower, more human pace, letting you visit but most of
    all fully experience your destinations. The benefits of cycle tourism speak for
    themselves. It costs a lot less to get around and you have more freedom to create
    your own on the road travel programme. It is a more authentic way of travelling and
    exploring, without considering how it contributes to environmental protection and environmentally sustainable tourism.
    (blog.bikenbike.com)
  • Slow tourism:
    Slow tourism is a style of travelling that has been gaining in popularity all over the
    world in recent years. A few tourist segments can already be defined as Slow
    Tourism, particularly trekking and walking, cycle tourism, birdwatching, horse-
    trekking, river and water tourism. These types of tourism impact less on the
    environment. They definitely do not exploit the area for a simple quick getaway.
    Their slow pace instead gives you a better understanding of the place you are
    visiting.
    (siviaggia.it)
  • Slow bike:
    The term “slow bike” highlights the most important value of cycle tourism, taking
    things slowly, visiting interesting, charming places steeped in history and tradition,
    natural landscapes and stunning scenery.
    Routes that are challenging on foot turn
    out to be perfect for amazing bike rides.
    Cycle tourists keen on local food and drink can choose to head out on their bikes
    along wine route itineraries. The Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano e
    Valdobbiadene, Strada dei Vini del Montello e dei Colli Asolani and the Strada dei
    Vini del Piave wine routes combine outdoor activity with stops for tastings at wine
    cellars or typical farm stays.
    People who want to see historical artworks in art cities and quaint little towns and
    villages can find a whole host of ideas to meet their requirements in “Bici in
    vacanza”. The stops along the itinerary are all connected and let individual tourists
    choose which part of the Treviso area they want to discover, but also to plan a route
    for several days.
    For people who want to cycle in protected conservation areas, there’s the GiraSile
    greenway through the River Sile Regional Natural Park, home of Europe’s longest
    resurgence river. In the section south of Treviso, the 40 km E4 – GiraSilecircular
    trail links the city of Treviso with Casale sul Sile for an ideal weekend excursion.
    (visittreviso.it)
  • Bike hotel:
    This term is generally used to indicate bike-friendly accommodation. In other words, these
    hotels specialise in hospitality for cycle tourist guests and appeal more because
    they offer cycle-tourist oriented services like laundry service, bike repair workshop,
    allowing bikes in rooms, and so on.
  • City bike:
    Designed for urban use, with a comfortable riding position and often very basic features.
    They do not even have gears, so they are the cheapest on the market. Increasing
    numbers of urban cyclists have led manufacturers to produce more elaborate city
    bike models, combining a good range of features and sharp design.
    (www.bikeitalia.it)
  • Mountain bike:
    Bikes for unpaved or off-road trails and rough terrain. They have a more compact design
    than a city bike for practical reasons and bike handling (with a less upright riding
    position too) and short gearing to take on the steepest gradients.
    (www.bikeitalia.it)
  • E-bike:
    Electric bike, or a bike with a motor to assist pedalling. This is why they are also known as
    pedal-assist e-bikes. It is not the same as a moped or an electric scooter, because
    an electric bike motor only activates when you pedal. It differs from a regular bike
    because it is a lot less effort to use, especially when riding uphill. The motor gives a
    boost when pushing off or taking off (e.g. from traffic lights) and when riding uphill.
    On the flat it helps maintain a good cruising speed. The motor cuts out at 25 km/h, a
    decent speed for a bicycle and much faster than the average speed of cars in cities
    (15 km/h according to recent statistics).
    (www.bikeitalia.it)
  • Bike gravel:
    If a road bike is for use on asphalt and a mountain bike is designed mainly for off-roading,
    when you have to alternate between asphalt and trails and ride dirt tracks or go
    cyclo-crossing, you need hybrid solutions, which are what gravel bikes offer. Gravel
    bikes should not be confused with cycle touring or trekking bikes, also part hybrid
    themselves but above all designed to carry weight and baggage, and are therefore
    more comfortable and less geared up for speed.
    (sportoutdoor24.it)
  • Muscle-powered bikes:
    Muscle-powered bikes are all those regular bikes with no pedal-assist motor, propelled
    only by the rider's own muscle power.