Club Toscana has designed all of it's trips to appeal to everyone, from the casual occasional biker or walker with lots of other travel interests, to the experienced biking or hiking enthusiast looking for that extra challenge. The following list of Activity & Terrain Levels are ranked on the daily biking or walking time, distance, amount of rise per mile measured in feet, the terrain conditions encountered and the total average daily cumulative elevation gains.

On all of our guided trips; no matter what your fitness level, we are always ready and willing to offer you a lift in the trip vehicle to overcome or bypass any section or hill. In this way, you get to enjoy the great European outdoors without worrying about the trip's average effort & terrain level. On the other hand, if you wish to add to your daily ride or walk, we have a list of special optional longer routes with increased effort levels to give you that extra challenge. Typical trip daily routes usually contain a combination of effort & terrain levels.

BIKING ACTIVITY & TERRAIN LEVELS

We use the latest lightweight "Made in the USA" 24 speed TREK hybrid bikes, with upright handlebars, and TREK road bikes, with dropped handlebars and narrow tires, all in several sizes and frame types (male and sloped downtube) that are light, comfortable, easy to operate and perfectly suited to the roads and country laneways in Europe.

BIKING TERRAIN LEVELS
All Club Toscana biking routes are conducted on paved roads with the occasional hard packed gravel laneway, for example, to arrive into a villa or historic hotel. All daily routes are designed for the least exposure to vehicluar traffic possible. When entering into larger towns, we use a combination of residential streets, paved park trails and bicycle paths to minimize traffic exposure.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 1 - EASY
(sometimes referred to by bicycle clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 1A or Beginner)

This effort level is recommended for those who cycle infrequently, but enjoy the occasional spin at a leisurely pace. Level 1 riding is mostly conducted on flat smooth paved roads with unnoticed elevation gains, and include gentle downhill slopes.

Average daily biking time is around 2 to 3 hours with distances in the 10 - 20 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth paved road surfaces with no uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains from no noticeable gain to 500 feet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 2 - MODERATELY EASY
(sometimes referred to by bicycle clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 1B or Athletic Beginner)

This effort level is recommended for those who cycle occasionally, perhaps on the weekends with family or on jaunts around the town. Level 2 riding is mostly on flat to slightly rising smooth paved roads with slopes not exceeding a 1% rise for elevation gains of up to 50 feet per mile.

Average daily biking time is around 2 to 4 hours with distances in the 20 - 30 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth paved road surfaces with a minimum of uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains of up to 1000 feet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 3 - MODERATE
(sometimes referred to by bicycle clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 2 or Intermediate)

This effort level is recommended for those who perhaps cycle to work, to shop or on social rides in town and its recreational parklands. Level 3 riding is mostly on rising smooth paved roads with slopes not exceeding a 3.5% rise for elevation gains of up to 200 feet per mile.

Average daily biking time is around 3 to 5 hours with distances in the 30 - 40 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth paved road surfaces with a minimum of uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains of up to 2000 feet. A section with a long level 2 climb will become rated as a level 3 climb.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 4 - MODERATELY CHALLENGING
(sometimes referred to by bicycle clubs and other active travel outfitters as levels 2 - 3 or Intermediate/Advanced)

This effort level is recommended for those who cycle often, perhaps to work, with friends on the weekends or who generally ride as part of a daily exercise program. Level 4 riding is mostly on rising smooth paved roads with slopes not exceeding a 7% rise for elevation gains of up to 400 feet per mile.

Average daily biking time is around 4 to 6 hours with distances in the 40 - 55 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth paved road surfaces with a minimum of uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains of up to 3500 feet. A section with a long level 3 climb will become rated as a level 4 climb.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 5 - CHALLENGING
(sometimes referred to by bicycle clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 3 or Advanced)

This effort level is recommended for cycling enthusiasts. Those who probably belong to a cycling club, those who like good equipment and the thrill of meeting cycling goals. Level 5 riding is mostly on rising smooth paved roads with slopes exceeding a 7% rise for elevation gains greater than 400 feet per mile. Club Toscana generally includes level 5 riding only on requested optional daily routes.

Average daily biking time is around 5 to 7 plus hours with distances in the 55 plus mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth paved road surfaces with hairpin curves and short intense climbs and total daily cumulative elevation gains of up to 5000 feet. A section with a long level 4 climb will become rated as a level 5 climb.

WALKING ACTIVITY & TERRAIN LEVELS

On our walking trips, your walking comfort is first on our mind. That's why we have designed our daily walking routes with options for easier, shorter daily walking up to longer more involved hiking. Our support vehicle is always located at a convenient spot to shuffle you along to the next small village, provide you with some well earned snacks or perhaps a water refill. In our trip departure package, we have a list of suggested clothing and accessories best suited to the specific trails, pathways and weather you'll encounter on each of our walking trips.

Most walking trips have a combination of effort & terrain levels from easy to challenging. Where a trip participant wishes to reduce the effort or terrain level on a given part of a trip, the Club Toscana trip leader would be more than happy to give them a lift to bypass that section. In this way, the participant will be able to maintain a walking level at a desired pace.

To help determine if your personal walking & terrain level is compatible with your preferred trip level, please consult the following:

ACTIVITY LEVEL 1 - EASY
(sometimes referred to by clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 1A or Beginner)

This effort level is recommended for walkers that do not have a walking routine as part of their daily exercise, perhaps due to a busy schedule. Level 1 walking is mostly conducted on flat smooth trails and farm laneways with unnoticed elevation gains of up to a 1% rise for elevation gains of up to 50 feet per mile, and include gentle downhill slopes.

Average daily walking time is around 2 to 3 hours with distances in the 2 - 5 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth paved or hard packed gravel surfaces with a minimum of uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains from no noticeable gain to 250 feet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 2 - MODERATELY EASY
(sometimes referred to by clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 1B or Athletic beginner)

This effort level is recommended for walkers that include walking as part of an regular exercise routine, perhaps while playing golf or going on jaunts through town parks and nature trails. Level 2 walking is mostly on flat to slightly rising smooth surfaced trails and farm laneways with slopes from a 1 to 5% rise for elevation gains from 50 to 250 feet per mile.

Average daily walking time is around 2 to 4 hours with distances in the 5 - 7 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is smooth to slightly uneven paved or hard packed gravel surfaces and trails with few uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains of less than 500 feet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 3 - MODERATE
(sometimes referred to by clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 2 or Intermediate)

This effort level is recommended for walkers that take long walks or hike often, perhaps walking to work, to shop or on social walks or hikes in town and its recreational parklands. You might not consider yourself a "hiker" but long walks or hiking are part of your daily exercise program. Level 3 walking is mostly conducted on rising smooth surfaced trails and farm laneways with slopes from a 5 to 10% rise for elevation gains from 250 to 500 feet per mile.

Average daily walking time is around 3 to 5 hours with distances in the 7 - 9 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is slightly uneven paved or hard packed gravel laneways and trails with some uneven sections and total daily cumulative elevation gains of less than 1000 feet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 4 - MODERATELY CHALLENGING
(sometimes referred to by clubs and other active travel outfitters as levels 2 - 3 or Intermediate/Advanced)

This effort level is recommended for walkers that consider themselves, walkers or hikers. Recommended for those that walk to work, take long walks into hilly or mountainous forests for recreation, and those that are comfortable with steep inclines and without fear of route surfaces, stepping over streams and rain soaked pathways and long flights of stairs. Level 4 walking is mostly on rising slopes from a 10 to 25% rise for elevation gains from 500 to 1,250 feet per mile.

Average daily walking or hiking time is around 4 to 6hours with distances in the 9 - 11 mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is hard packed to uneven gravel trails and footpaths with some short climbs through vineyards, forest trails, and little used entrances to hilltop villages and total daily cumulative elevation gains of less than 2000 feet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 5 - CHALLENGING
(sometimes referred to by clubs and other active travel outfitters as level 3 or Advanced)

This effort level is recommended for walking and hiking enthusiasts. This effort level is recommended for those with a great cardiovascular system. Perhaps belonging to a running, walking or hiking club, they enjoy the thrill of reaching the top for that perfect view. Level 5 walking is mostly on rising rough surfaces and slopes exceeding a 25% rise for elevation gains exceding 1,250 feet per mile. Club Toscana generally offers level 5 walking only by request.

Average daily hiking time is around 5 to 7 plus hours with distances in the 11 plus mile range. Typical terrain encountered at this level is uneven gravel trails and footpaths with long uphill and downhill climbs on steps through vineyards, olive groves, forest trails, and isolated hilltop villages and total daily cumulative elevation gains greater than 2000 feet.