Superbly tailored, wonderful day out Alex and I exchanged emails to discuss options for my partner and me. His replies were swift, courteous, charming and delivered in excellent English. I mentioned activities we were interested in and Alex committed to some planning and research. Within days, he proposed a bike tour of several hours, including... read moreAlex and I exchanged emails to discuss options for my partner and me. His replies were swift, courteous, charming and delivered in excellent English. I mentioned activities we were interested in and Alex committed to some planning and research. Within days, he proposed a bike tour of several hours, including a visit to a vineyard - with wine-tasting and food - which suited us perfectly so we booked. I offered to pay half of the fee in advance but Alex was happy to wait for payment on the day. I always had absolute confidence in his professionalism and reliability and he was a joy to deal with. On the day, Alex was waiting for us cheerfully at Gorizia station. He drove to a quiet area, 10 minutes from Gorizia, where we spent 2 or 3 minutes getting used to the e-bikes which Alex provided before setting off. The bikes were comfortable and of a high specification. We'd never previously ridden e-bikes but found them very easy to use, with the options of three levels of - or zero - electric power to boost the rider's own work-rate. The mechanics were very straightforward. Reassuringly, Alex was always at hand, checking that we were okay. Having mastered the bikes, we rode along a series of attractive country roads, including some inclines which - without the electronic assistance - would have been beyond us. It was so simple to switch between zero power and the three different power settings that we glided along without any issues. I really liked the fact that I could work as hard as I wanted to by using one of the three power settings or no power. In parts, the terrain was so demanding that I used some power but still had to work really hard to get up a hill. If I was really struggling, I just adjusted the mechanism to get more power. The experience of climbing a hill - via a combination of personal effort and mechanical assistance - while savouring some breathtakingly beautiful scenery was sensational. Even though we adjusted quickly to the bikes and felt comfortable immediately, Alex kept checking that we were okay. The wine-tasting / food was a welcome break and Andrej the vintner was charming, hospitable and fascinating, while offering an authentic snapshot of an independent wine-maker's life and challenges. Alex and Andrej were both wonderful company and our RockVelo day was the highlight of our holiday. For a day out with a difference, we recommend them without reservation. read less - 7/23/2019
