CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Dear Non-Stop:
I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know why the Giro de Romagna this summer was the best of my frequent European cycling trips.
Based on past experiences, I knew the roads and climbs would be great, the people would be friendly and of course the food should be...well, it is Italy! But I also wanted to have a closer, more personal contact with with the locals and the Italian culture. I wanted challenging four or five hour rides with great climbs but not relentless hammer sessions. I wanted to experience the area but not just be a tourist on a bike.
Although my expectations were high, they were greatly exceeded.
When someone on the Saturday ride asks me about the trip, I sometimes summarize a typical day:
Three hours along great roads tracing part of a Giro stage, homemade pasta at a cafe with a menu just for cyclists, another hour ride back to our rooms at a small family Agriturismo and a dip in their pool. And, following a gellato stop, off to watch the finish of a pro bike race, a bike shop stop to ogle the latest stuff, then back to an exceptional five course home cooked Italian dinner. Variations on that theme include: That great 120 k ride with your friends Ricardo and Nicolo including a stop at Ricardo’s 16th century villa for fruit and juice; The post ride excursions to the hilltop Republic of San Marino or to see the mosaics in Ravenna; Riding and talking with local club riders during the medio fondo and leaving with a couple of trophies.
This trip was exceptional for me for a couple of reasons. It was really well organized but there was flexibility to tweak the rides, the post-ride outings and just about anything else. Although the places we stayed were unique and more than cycling friendly, our “hosts” treated us like close relatives or friends from across the “pond” rather than tourists. And your Italian friends often joined us for rides, meals and sight-seeing trips and helped make the trip even more memorable.
Thanks for a really great trip, Keith.
Ciao,
Jim Loree

Dear Nonstop,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for organizing such a fantastic tour. The first day set the tone for the rest of the trip: unpacking at a beautiful agriturismo, short ride to catch the end of a Giro stage, dinner with Fassa Bortolo and Lampre. The next day was equally amazing: a six hour ride (the most beautiful of my life!) with lush climbs and playful roads, another beautiful agriturismo nestled in the mountains of Mugello, and an incredibly friendly cycling host that made the most amazing foccacia bread. The third day… This tour put a new meaning to the words “nonstop” and truly reflects the passion for cycling and culture by the ride organizer, Keith Neu. For the cycling fanatic, I could not recommend a better cycling and cultural experience.
Thank you,
Chris Abbott, M.D.