On yer bike: Soothing scenery and Prosecco-fuelled pedalling in idyllic Italy

For many, the mere mention of an 'exercise holiday' is - ironically enough - all that's needed to get them sweating.
So you can understand my being a little suspicious at the prospect of an allegedly 'relaxing' cycling break in the heart of the Venetian countryside. Throw in the fact that I've probably spent more time cycling with stabilisers than without, and my cycling proficiency level is definitely more Chris 'Oy' than Hoy.

Scenic stop-off: Matt stops on his cycle tour to consult a questionable Italian map

But as I lay back with sparkling prosecco in hand, freshly-made pizza on my plate, and survey a pastoral panorama from up high with nothing but a couple of passing horses, the tolls of a village bell tower, and some gesticulatory Italians to disturb the peace, I begin to grasp the appeal.

Such is the mission statement of a Headwater holiday, a company that specialises in crafting cycling and walking holidays to your requirements. While the expertise is always on-hand to guide you through any troublesome planning or organisational quibbles, the pace and exertion level is completely down to you.
Considering said proficiency and track record with wobbling and/or falling over, I opted for one of their less mountainous itineraries and headed off to the lesser-travelled countryside surrounding Vicenza. A mere 40-minute train ride from the heart of Venice, it's a region so architecturally impressive and environmentally serene that the entire city and its surrounding areas were deemed an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Classic countryside: As he pedalled past vineyards and pastoral scenes, one thing Matt didn't encounter was a fellow British tourist

With countless villas and monuments designed by Palladio (one of Italy's most influential architects), 10th and 11th century castles (two of which allegedly inspired the feuding families within Romeo & Juliet), anthropological secrets galore (palaeontologists have found prehistoric bones amongst its caves), and a mouth-watering array of local produce all nestled within the area's verdant hills, it's a region ripe for exploring.
Having set up base at a cosy, family-run farmstead on the outskirts of the field-flanked village of Villaganzerla, my friend and I chose a route from the numerous pre-set circuits on offer. Then we loaded up our bikes with maps and directions and were given a much-needed car lift to the start of the 37km course atop the Euganei Hills.
While the option's there to cycle the initial 450ft climb (over a staggeringly windy 3km ascent, I should add), it points to the commitment to taking each route at your own pace that you're encouraged to start on a physical and metaphorical high. After a gradual 1km ascent from the drop-off point, we parked the bikes and looked back at lush, undulating greenery, only permeated by the occasional red slatted roof or hillside steeple.

Well-deserved break: Matt and his travel companion made sure they had frequent food stops along the way

For the first day, we'd decided to navigate by map alone, and while the initial freewheeling descent was glorious in its velocity-laden, child-like abandonment, the real fun began as we entered our first township.
In retrospect, deciding to take Italian cartography at face value was never going to be the most enlightened decision, but even we were highly amused when a map-based shortcut took us in a straight loop, and immediately back to the town we'd just left. Ordinance survey maps, I'll never judge you again.
After a hearty lunch, a few glasses of prosecco and several subsequent wrong turns, we hopped onto a couple of rural backroads, and came upon the Abbazia di Praglia - a stunningly grandiose 11th century monastery - for a picnic stop and snack-laden refuel before continuing on back to the farm via a host of rural farmland and a serene, hill-nuzzling sunset.
Our second day's peddling was just as eye-bogglingly beautiful, as we set off from the farm and made our way to the foot of the Berici Hills, a series of volcanic peaks hidden amongst fertile farm landscape. Fields of maize, barley, cherries and striped vineyards whizzed past as we began another 32km cycle through narrower, more countrified roads. With the traffic all but non-existent, there's simply nothing but the sun on your face, wind in your hair and occasional hairpin turn to worry about.

Quiet life: Vicenza province is full of idyllic villages such as Bassano del Grappa

Following our, shall we say, 'experimental' approach to navigation on the first day, we chose to focus on the Headwater-approved notes and directions for our second route. Thankfully they were as detailed as they were simple, guiding us neatly through tiny pastoral villages and woodland groves until we reached another magnificent monastery.
On our forest-laden descent we stopped by another remote restaurant, and whiled the afternoon away experimenting with local wines, teasing the taste buds over a choice of 42 pizzas on offer, and merrily - if occasionally unsuccessfully - attempting to bridge the language barrier. This was the moment I realised that in my entire time out and about on the bikes, I hadn't heard one other English speaker. If you're after a truly authentic Italian experience, look no further.

Rolling landscape: As a novice cyclist Matt avoided more mountainous routes

Back at our lodgings, we were treated to another truly local welcome thanks to the farm's close-knit, very family affair. Not only is the family as warm and welcoming as you'd hope, but you're also treated to a selection of wines, cakes, bread, jams and meats - all of which are sourced and created off their own land.
In short, not only is your culinary experience as fresh and mouth-watering as you'd hope from the promise of a home-cooked Italian culinary offering, but you'll get the added pastoral pleasure of being able to play with their array of cows, donkeys, goats, chickens, and ducks on-site.
As communal chatter, cheeseboards and grappa continued on into the night, I sat back and re-assessed my initial opinions when it came to exercise holidays.
I may have cycled over 60km in two days, but that just made the indulgent rewards even better.
Who needs to watch the calories when you're burning them off as you holiday?

Travel Facts

Headwater (www.headwater.com 0845 322 4672) has a self-guided, seven-night Heart of Venetia Cycling trip from £978pp, including flights, transfers, breakfasts and evening meals.