Cycling for Change Through Sicily

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CYCLING FOR CHANGE
Through Sicily

From October 21st to 28th
2023

BOOK NOW

 

IN SICILY FROM 21 TO 28 OF OCTOBER 2023

Let Us Change was founded in 2009 by the Ethiopian Aynalem Wolde Amanuel and Leuven (Belgium) resident Johan Vandenbossche. Today the organization provides a home and future for children in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian NGO does this through care and education for almost 100 former street children in 3 homes, support for 40 families through jobs, basic services and medical assistance.

The children are no longer defined by their past, but grew into empowered, strong children and young adults, with a promising future ahead.
Let Us Change grew thanks to the effort of local management and staff, and the support of many volunteers, sympathizers and partner organizations in Belgium, the Netherlands, the USA, Australia and Italy.

Sicily Cycling Club will take you to some of the most beautiful places and roads in Sicily from the Sea to the Mountains to the magical volcano Etna. You will ride on the same roads of the Giro d'Italia as well as other roads that not even locals know. We have a deep knowledge of the Sicilian lifestyle and culture. Our guides will take care of all your needs. Nothing can connect souls like cycling together and sharing the same effort. 

 

"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything."

J.W. Goethe

 

BIKE PARADISE

For the cyclists, Sicily is known for the volcano Etna but there are so many attractive places to ride. Besides taking you to Etna we will show you many beautiful places with exciting climbs, breathtaking views, and charming villages.

Sicily is a demanding place to ride your bike. The flat roads are the exception so be ready to do some climbing! Don't worry about your speed... just enjoy the view!

On the south part of the Island we will have the chance to discover the world-famous Ortigia and Noto 

 

 

HOTEL

The first hotel is situated in between Catania and Taormina, surrounded by a large Mediterranean Garden, and perfectly located to start our rides

The property is the result of the renovation of an eighteen-century lava-stones "Palmento". This was the building where farmers pressed their olives to produce extra virgin olive oil.

After the ride, you will have the chance to jump inside the swimming pool and just relax.

The second hotel will be in the southern part of the Island. In Ortigia (Siracusa). Another scenic location that will allow us to ride in an area mostly unknown to tourists.

 

CULTURE

There are riches and mysteries galore in the Sicilian history from the ancient Greeks to the Normans. This migration of different cultures has given Sicily its own special character.

Riding here you will experience all these different historical and cultural layers that Sicily consists of, from the beaches to the beautiful Baroc cities to the churches and castles and the distinct kind of warmth and humor of the Sicilian people.

 

FOOD

Sicilian food is contradictory, just like the Sicilian culture. It is an odd mixture of Italian, Greek, Arab, French, Spanish, and North African. Its dinner plates are living odes to the number of peoples that have conquered, colonized, settled, ruled, and emigrated here.

The vegetables and fruit grown here are known as some of the best in all of Europe and the fish from the ocean is a story of its own. Food is very important to Sicilians and they always talk about it.

THE SPECIAL EDITION JERSEY EXPLAINED

Every Sicily Cycling Club Jersey has something hidden that has inspired us. Sometimes it can be the Lava Flows of Etna and "her" black roads, sometimes the iconic Giro d'Italia Jersey or the deep blue sea that surrounds the island.
When we started thinking about the design of a jersey to promote a fundraising event like our "Cycling for Change Through Sicily" we focused on connections.  The strong connection between Sicily and Africa (the southern part of Sicily is below the north part of Africa!) is of course the starting point. So we wanted to mix a bit of Africa and Ethiopia and a bit of Sicily.

The importance of Connection is one of the founding principles of Sicily Cycling Club. We always say that there is nothing that can connect two souls more than riding a bike and sharing the same effort together. One day Tommaso met Bill Devany on the road to Taormina. After 5 minutes of talking Bill accepted to come to our camp that was supposed to start in a couple of days. 

Bill is from a guy the Bronx who can easily connect with everyone! He has 5 children (biological and adopted) plus about 100 kids he is taking care of in Ethiopia through the "Let us change" organization. He had the idea of the camp and that's why we ask for your support!

Our special edition jersey has all this inside. That's why we are really proud of the result! 

Green, Yellow, and Red are the colors of the Ethiopian National Flag

Yellow and Red are the colors of the Sicilian Flag

The pattern on the sleeves is taken from the Ceramics of Santo Stefano di Camastra

A little heart with Italian national colors stands for "Italy Loves Ethiopia"

 

TRAVEL CAMP PROGRAM

21 Oct // Pickup from the Airport every second hour from 8.00 to 13.00 and transfer to Hotel.

Bike unpacking, "Aperitivo", Presentation of the Camp and First Ride. We will start the ride at 15 sharp and it will be an easy 3 hours one just to evaluate the level of the guests in the group and to know each other. Dinner at 20.00.

22 Oct // We will climb up to Savoca, a small town famous for the Godfather movie (of course a stop at the Bar Vitelli Cafe is a must!), we continue up to the Nebrodi Mountains where we reach Limina and then up to Roccafiorita where we will have a light lunch. Finally, we ride down to Letojanni. 

23 Oct // We will climb up to the Linguaglossa on the Giro 2020 climb to Etna on the North Side (Piano Provenzana) and then down from the "Strade del Vino", an area that is famous for the best vineyard in Sicily. 

24 Oct // Today we will ride up to Randazzo and then, with one of the most amazing landscapes on Nebrodi, we will reach the old town of Montalbano Elicona with its Castle and the Altopiano dell'Argimusco.

25 Oct // It's now time to pack your bags to move to the Southern part of the Island to Ortigia (SR).

26 Oct // Today we ride in Noto Area visiting Noto Antica and Avola Antica and the Unesco City Center of Noto.

27 Oct // Today a flat road will take us to Vendicari and Marzamemi.

28 Oct // Ciao e Arrivederci!!! Today we bring you back to the Airport. Tell us what time is your flight or if you want to stay some extra day with or without your bike. We will try to arrange everything for you all!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

AIRPORT We recommend that you fly to Catania airport from there we arrange transfer to/ from.

To and from Catania airport there are several connections from airlines like Norwegian, Alitalia, SAS, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair etc. If you have questions regarding the booking of tickets please contact us. We are ready to help you. IT IS IMPORTANT to have minimum 2 hours between connections if you are flying with a stopover so the handling people have time to put your bike on the plane. In the unlikely event that your bike is not delivered to the airport on the same flight as you and arrives the day after we will give you one of our bikes (if the size is available) so you can ride as planned with the rest of the group. We suggest you bring your pedals, shoes, helmet and one cycling kit in your handbag.

TRANSFER We will arrange your transfer to and from Catania Airport and the hotel. When you arrive we are ready to receive you and bring you and your bike to the hotel. The pickup will be every 2nd hour starting from 8.00 AM. In case you arrive one day before the first day we can arrange the pick-up for free and you can add an extra day at the hotel.

SCC will be responsible for the daily bike rides. All Customers will ride with SCC every day. SCC guides will give insight into the special location and the history of the different towns and places we pass through.

LEVEL OF FITNESS This trip is suited for all people who ride the bike 2 times a week or more. SCC is the guarantor that clients of all levels will succeed in this cycling journey. If necessary, we will divide people into groups by fitness level. You must be able to ride around 70/80km a day with 1500hm.

BIKE RENTAL SCC If you don’t care to bring your bike you can rent, for €220, a full Carbon bike delivered directly to the Hotel.

DBL OCCUPANCY We will pair you with another guest of the same gender. Please inform us if you want to stay with another guest.

COVID19 CANCELLATION POLICIES In case you cannot travel because of COVID19 restrictions (so you cannot travel to Italy) we will credit you the deposit and you can use it for future camps or to buy our SCC Cycling Gears. The balance will be refunded to your account.

Giro d’Italia 2020 Memories – What to expect when you decide to come to our camp

 

THE PRICE FOR CYCLING FOR CHANGE 2023 CYCLING TOUR PER PERSON IS

€1.890
+€500(or more)
Donation to "Let Us Change" through "EMPOWER ETHIOPIA"

HOW TO BOOK?
3 SIMPLE STEPS

1. CLICK ON BOOK NOW

2. INSERT YOUR DETAILS

3. YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PAY (the process changes depending on your country of residency)

 

 

INCLUDED

  • Transfer from the airport to the hotel T/R.
  • 7 nights in hotel (country resort) in a single room. 
  • Half board (Breakfast and dinner in Alcantara and Breakfast in Ortigia).
  • Secure Bike room.
  • Route program of 80/100 km a day and 1500/2500 hm. (adapted to the participants).
  • Guides will ride with you every day and will split the group into smaller ones with different fitness levels. At least 1 guide every 6 guests.
  • Special Edition SCC Let Us Change.
  • Follow-car with our Soigneur and Mechanic Danilo.
  • "Aperitivo" after each ride with local food.

 

EXCLUDED

  • Cafe and snacks during the rides.
  • Wine, Beer, and other alcoholic drinks.
  • It is possible to have a single room for an extra payment of $250. 
  • Travel Insurance. You can get a Gold Coverage with SportsCoverDirect.com for less than $50.
  • If we cannot find a guest for you to share the double room with, we will offer you a single room fee discount of 50%.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is trip-300x139.png

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
The magic place with the magic group
I took a week tour in Sicily with them, I saw beautiful places and magnificent roads, the guides take you to unique and typical places, the guides are friendly.
  
 
 
 
 Aldo T 
 
 
 Aldo T 
 
October 12, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
What a ride!
Challenging scenic rides, amazing food, temperate weather, quiet roads and experienced fun guides made for the perfect week of riding in Sicily. I can’t recommend Sicily Cycling Club enough.  Tommaso treats everyone like family.
  
 
 
 
 Jennfromvan 
 
 
 Jennfromvan 
 
October 12, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Tempo perso  Tommaso
Our second trip to Sicily with SSC so we knew what to expect , a first class friendly service  and we weren't disappointed. 

Tommaso booked our accommodation , organised our airport transfers and when not guiding us personally ( a must do experience ) supplied us with a variety of the best best routes to do .

If you are thinking about visiting Sicily for a cycling trip i strongly recommend  contacting Tommaso at SSC whose  local knowledge will  help make you trip a trouble free &  more enjoyable experience .

We'll be back !!!
  
 
 
 
 PETER N 
 
 
 PETER N 
 
October 12, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Sicilian Cycling  Godfather tour....lol
Awesomeness  see you again  asap xxx
ScC and Tommaso were awesome and their knowledge  so welcoming 💯💯💯💯💯
  
 
 
 
 Road_trip_2020au 
 
 
 Road_trip_2020au 
 
October 12, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Sicily Godfather Cycling Tours
Hello from  Australia    Looking Forward tASreturning asap....Tomasso And Scc Were Awesome  And  Ongoing  Friendship  is truly..special..
..will be  back asap...obviously Covid us keeping  me from returning...any sooner Cheers
  
 
 
 
 John M 
 
 
 John M 
 
October 12, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Excellent cycling camp, faultless
I absolutely loved every part of my trip, from being collected at the airport, right through the week of wonderfully planned rides, amazing food, fabulous knowledgable Guides, fantastic hotels, and great people who have become friends for life. The whole thing was faultless, I  can't recommend Sicily Cycling  club highly enough, and can't wait to return for an exciting bespoke trip next year. Tommaso truly runs and excellent service, and is extremely patient 😂
  
 
 
 
 specialek71 
 
 
 specialek71 
 
October 11, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Sicilia in bicicletta!
Sicily Cycling Club è la miglior scelta per scoprire la Sicilia a bordo di una bici. Un tour organizzato ad hoc per tutti gli appassionati di sport e cicloturismo. Consigliatissimo inoltre per chi vuole vivere un'esperienza a contatto con la natura, condividendola con persone di nazionalità differenti. Il leader Tommaso è un professionista attento ai minimi particolari, pronto a risolvere in tempi brevi possibili imprevisti e a rendere le giornate uniche ed indimenticabili. Il divertimento è garantito!
  
 
 
 
 Damiana Jane T 
 
 
 Damiana Jane T 
 
October 11, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
The best!
I can’t recommend Sicily Cycling Club and Tommaso enough - look no further! I got in touch with Tommaso before my trip to Catania as I was looking to rent a bike just for 1-2 days. Not only did I have a chance to ride up Etna on a top bike (Bianchi) but he also helped me to plan the best route and offered to come and pick up the bike from my place when I no longer needed it. He is super helpful and so easygoing and friendly. Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to ride with the club this time but booking a ride with them will be the first thing I’ll do when I plan another trip to Sicily. 100% recommend. Grazie!
  
 
 
 
 martag 
 
 
 martag 
 
October 11, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Fantastic cycling camp!
We had a wonderful time cycling with Tommaso and some of his friends from the Sicily Cycling Club for the last 6 days! Great rides, interesting stories, wonderful scenery, lot’s of amazing food (thank God we did a lot of cycling!), lovely hotel. We will come back for sure!
  
 
 
 
 Petra L 
 
 
 Petra L 
 
October 10, 2020.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Verified 
Fantastic experience with real cycling lovers
I had a great time up Etna thanks Sicily Cycling Club the pace was perfect. we set off fairly steady as it was a long climb, but when i wanted to up the tempo towards the top, Fabio was more than good enough, i think he still had plenty left in the tank 🙂 Great spin, Great Company, i will definitely be back! Thanks for fixing my bike too!
  
 
 
 
 TommypNY 
 
 
 TommypNY 
 
February 22, 2020.

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