January 6 2026
Tuscany On Two Wheels: A Mountain Biking Dream
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Electric Toscana
This post is written by guest author and bad-ass rider Sarah Tippie, who joined us on our Electric Toscana e-bike adventure in September, 2025.
I recently travelled to Tuscany to mountain bike with Big Mountain Bike Adventures, a premier mountain biking company with over 20 years of experience delivering their guests unforgettable, deeply considered adventure vacations. I eagerly arrived alongside two of my very best friends—between us, decades of riding, many laughs, and ready to explore what lay ahead for us.
We arrived two days early, intentionally, for time to recover from travel, find our rhythm, and explore the incomparable city of Florence before the journey began. We ate our way through the city while taking in the sights of the Duomo, the markets, the bustle of the streets and the endless galleries, gelato stands, and various vendors showcasing their wares. We gazed through windows to watch fresh pasta being hypnotically folded endlessly into sheets, and then ringing the little mysterious bell and ordering a glass through one of the famous “wine windows” of Florence.
Florence has a way of gently demanding your attention. Terracotta rooftops stretch endlessly toward the horizon, the Arno River catches the light just right, and every turn reveals art, history, and human ingenuity layered upon itself for centuries. We wandered slowly, soaking in Renaissance architecture, marble façades, and the knowledge that beauty here is not rushed—it is lived with and has been for centuries.
The first official morning of our trip, we were greeted by our chipper and friendly guide Stefano, a young, bright-eyed entrepreneur who thankfully owns an e-mtb business in the region for all of us to enjoy. Our new crew consisted of 7 Canadians and 3 Americans, of all ages and abilities. We fiddled with the various ebikes that had been supplied for us, bike-fitted them to our needs with help from Stefano, and hopped in the van to set off for Siena, a place I’ve always wanted to explore. And if Florence is refined elegance, Siena is something altogether more mystical. Medieval walls, winding streets, and sun-warmed stone give the city a timeless, almost enchanted quality. It feels protected from modern urgency, a place where history lingers in the air and stories echo underfoot. Siena was majestic and magical in a way that’s difficult to put into words—but unmistakable when you’re there. Stefano rounded us up after settling us into our hotel in the city center to introduce us to the evening sunset, and then onwards to enjoy dinner at a restaurant reserved for us by Big Mountain Bike Adventures. Every mouthful was met with the whole table unable to momentarily speak as we were lost for words, and found in delicious flavour.
Then came the riding.
On the first day I realized I was glad I had trained somewhat. Even on an e-bike, the warmer weather and new terrain took some getting used to. The climbs were steep at times, some technical, and at the top, greeted with the most rewarding view. Over the next two days, we did a few rides of what I would describe as more gravel, or country roads, through olive groves leading to incredible vistas, and an organised wine tour after a 50km day. The views were astounding. Breathtaking. The kind that makes you stop mid-ride, just to take it all in.
We then rolled out toward the coast, eventually reaching Castiglione della Pescaia, where the trails meet the sea. We checked into our ocean front (and ocean view!) hotel and geared up for more vertical. Riding along the coastline felt surreal—salt air, shimmering light, and yes, flamingos gliding effortlessly along the estuary. It was hot, unapologetically so, and when we finally reached a private beach with impossibly clear water, the contrast between effort and reward could not have been more perfect. I felt I had landed in my own version of heaven. My friend Lee-Anne was greeted with a playful crab clamping itself firmly on her foot to say hello; even she accepted this as a gift from Italy.
Every stop along the way was thoughtfully planned. This is Tuscany, after all—where culinary culture is sacred, and lunchtime unfolds at its own unhurried pace. But it was the evenings where food truly took center stage. Long dinners with our new friends from the bike trip stretched into the night, filled with laughter, classic Italian dishes, and always something fresh, unexpected, and deeply delicious.
I drank wine—often. Normally, I would expect at least a whisper of a hangover the next morning, but instead I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, eager for for what was in store for the day, even in the warm heat and a 5 hour ride! (during our trip it was slightly warmer than usual for the time of year). Maybe it was the Tuscan air, scented with olive trees, citrusy thyme, or wild lavender. Maybe it was the joy of movement, good company, and days spent fully engaged. Whatever the reason, I felt alive in a way that lingered.
The riding itself was as varied as the landscape: rocky and technical sections, leg-burning climbs, thrilling descents, and a few days on some flowing, dirt-filled ribbon singletrack that begged you to let go and trust the trail. As a seasoned rider, I still found plenty to challenge me—but the beauty of this trip was that even the more sedate climbs were gifts. They offered time to look around, to absorb the rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, and ancient farmhouses that define Tuscany.
The final leg of our journey brought us to Massa Marittima, and everything felt perfectly complete. Another impeccable wine pairing awaited us, followed by an evening stroll through the ancient village, its stone streets glowing softly as the light faded. This is one of those places that seems quietly untouched by time. Perched on a hill between the Tuscan countryside and the sea, it feels intimate and a discovery, a medieval town that reveals itself slowly. Its narrow stone streets wind up and over to small piazzas where life unfolds at an unhurried pace.
The heart of the town is the magnificent Duomo di San Cerbone, its Romanesque façade anchoring the main square with a sense of calm permanence, and the golden stone structures reflect the warm Tuscan light in a way that feels both grounding and luminous.
We found ourselves sitting on the stone steps of the Duomo in the main square, listening to live jazz drift through the warm night air—one of those moments that feels entirely unplanned and utterly perfect.
Our last ride of the trip was perfection, endless loops of what the Tuscans proudly call their bike park, and then cycling back to our pool for a post ride dip, replaying the stories, rides, and unforgettable moments of the week gone by. It was a beautiful ending to an extraordinary adventure.
Tuscany by mountain bike is not just about the riding—it’s about rhythm. About effort and reward, food and friendship, challenge and joy. And with Big Mountain Adventures guiding the way, it became something far more than a trip.
It became a memory I’ll carry with me—etched in dust, laughter, and golden Tuscan light.
And with this, I’m already hatching a plan to follow a long-held dream of exploring the Croatian Islands by boat on the turquoise mosaic of the Adriatic. Island hopping with an e-bike, another dream come true made possible courtesy of Big Mountain Adventures and their exquisitely tailored adventures. My friend Lee-Anne will be coming with me. I wonder what the crabs in Croatia are like?
So for now my friends, Arrivederci, Ciao and Alla Prossima,
Sarah
