Friend of Shutt & Ribble Factory Racing Team member Dan recently took part in the Tuscany Trail bike-packing event, kitted out in his Shutt Custom Ribble kit & Shutt Gravello collection, made by us. He's written about his experience on the trails cycling through the finest scenery Italy has to offer!
The Tuscany Trail is a well-known bikepacking event held every May across the scenic region of Tuscany, Italy. Riders embark on a self-supported journey, starting from the west coast and travelling to Siena before looping back. As one of the oldest events of its kind, it offers a fun and accessible experience for cyclists of all levels, covering a challenging 470 km with nearly 6,000 m of elevation gain.
Packing for this event was straightforward, thanks to the excellent gear I received from Shutt, who also supplies the Ribble Factory Racing staff kit. For this adventure, I wore the Shutt gravel cargo shorts, which proved invaluable for comfort on rough terrain. Their roomy cargo pockets made it easy to keep snacks and small gear items accessible, enhancing the overall experience. The large zipped pocket of the Shutt gravel jersey became my go-to for stashing supplies like croissants and Haribo—a true lifesaver on those long climbs.
The event has a two-day window for starting, and I chose to set off on Day 2 since flying in and preparing meant it was the only day that worked for me. Quietly sneaking around the lodge in the dark, I got dressed, applied some bum butter, and slathered on sun cream. It was just a 5 km ride to the start, where I doubled back to begin the route. There was little fanfare—just a quick nod from the organiser wishing me well before I set off.
Tuscany is known for its hamlets perched atop steep hills. Before long, the track pointed sharply upwards, and we quickly formed a small peloton—a mix of Germans, Italians, a French Canadian, and one skinny guy from Lancashire. It’s amazing how cycling transcends language barriers. Regardless of where we came from, we communicated effortlessly, sharing the unspoken rules of group riding and small acts of kindness. Whether it was a fast group signalling me to 'jump on' and catch their draft, a friendly offer from a hip flask (which I happily accepted), or just a cheerful 'Ciao' or 'Salve' when passing by, the camaraderie was universal.
The hills were relentless as we followed the coast and headed inland, but despite the heat, I made steady progress, slowly catching up to riders who had set off on Day 1. Soon, we reached the famous strada bianca roads, where the short, steep climbs gave way to much longer, gruelling ascents. With heavy legs, we pushed on as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the Tuscan landscape. A brief rainstorm swept through, cooling us down momentarily before passing. I had hoped to cover over 200 km that day, but the punishing terrain and intense heat made it impossible. As night approached, I found a small village where other riders were setting up camp on an astro turf football pitch. Already feeling the chill, I set up my bivvy bag and settled in for the night.
Day 2 started at 4 a.m. with an Italian man talking to me while wearing only a vest as I rose from my bivy bag. I quickly got onto my bike before I made a cock-up of anything potentially lost in translation. We were high up in the hills by then, and the sunrise—straight out of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator—was absolutely breathtaking. Low-lying fog and cloud inversions added to the surreal beauty as I began my descent in search of breakfast.
I eventually found a town just waking up, though it was already overrun with cyclists—thanks to l’Eroica happening in the area that same weekend. But hey, it’s Italy, and bikes are everywhere. With help from a friendly Dutch rider, I managed to not only order but also pay for my breakfast, despite being completely exhausted after three hours on the road. After a brief rest, I plodded on, determined to make more progress. I stuffed some extra food into my cargo shorts and hit the road again, already on the lookout for another café as yesterday’s effort really started to catch up with me.
The heat from yesterday began to take its toll on the 9 km climb to Siena. A small peloton formed as we slowly trudged up the hill—there was no aero advantage here, just mutual encouragement as we plodded our way to a supermarket and then into the city. By this point, I was cooked and splurged on ice cream, juice, and fruit, the only foods my body seemed willing to accept. I strolled into the square, taking in the scene of beautiful, well-dressed locals with their exquisite cake boxes, while I, my kit, and my bike were caked in a fine layer of gravel dust.
As I started to climb out of Siena—still climbing—with two more significant ascents looming in the midday heat, I quickly overheated and had to stop. Each time I tried to ride again, the heat became unbearable. I was acutely aware that Lancashire was likely still bloody cold, and my body was struggling to cope with the heat and the distance I had covered in the past 36 hours. Realising that this was supposed to be a holiday, especially with the forecast predicting even hotter temperatures, I decided to grab a train back, vowing to learn from this experience and return next year in a better, stronger place.
The kit held up great, even if I didn’t. All the kit help up exceptionally well, the changes in temperature and terrain did put extra strain, the waterproof performed flawlessly as a extra warmth layer and kept me dry. The Shutt cargo shorts are always my go-to for all riding; you know when kit works well when you don’t notice it, and that’s very true here.