Puglia weather in October for VBT bike trip, rain?
 

I do a yearly cycling trip in Europe with VBT and would like to travel to Puglia in October 2011. I save money by signing up early, and am looking at a trip beginning on 10/19/2011. My research shows the temps to be around 61-68, I like cooler weather, but what about rain? Some websites show more rain in October/November, so I am wondering if this is a bad choice of timing. The last departure is on 10/31 and there are many to choose from in Sept./Oct. but more costly.
We travel in Saveletri, Alborello, Otranto, Ostuni, Monopoli. Salento, to Lecce, stay in 2 Masserias, and Hotel Ostuni Palace.
I understand that most stores, etc. are closed on Sundays, so I am also looking at timing my departure day.

Any VBT people out there that have done this trip and would like to comment?

Any suggestions about the timing would be appreciated. I know that one cannot predict rain, but I was just wondering if this is a particularly rainy time of year there, Thanks!

Here are the facts in Otranto---Oct. and Nov. are the rain months---what can I say?
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w...=163321&refer=

I ran across the VBT bikers on my recent Trip to the area. They were very enthusiastic about VBT. The properties they stay in seem to be excellent, as they were in two of our hotels and both were fantastic properties.

I did inquire about weather when I was there and was told that November was the most rainy month. I would not take that chance in Puglia, especially since you will be biking and also because it is a scenery driven area with not too many inside sights.

Not all stores are closed on Sundays but if you let me know what kind of stores you mean maybe I can be more specific.

I can give you more details if you like.....I am in the midst of writing a report about my trip so you can see that to get an idea. Suffice to say that we are planning to return next year.

ekscrunchy, thanks so much for your response. I have just been reading your trip, report, and I want to go NOW! LOL. I have reconsidered my timing, and will go in Sept. although it will be more costly. Yes, VBT is wonderful. I lost my partner to cancer in 2001 and this was a way for me to continue cycling vacations. We had always done self guided trips prior to that. I know right now it is an area that I would like to return to on my own, and be able to wander through the villages at my leisure after reading your descriptions. I love to cook, so I loved the food descriptions. Sounds like you had a magical time, it brings a smile to my face and heart just reading it. enjoy! life is short! Thanks again.

You have courage and curiosity. You cannot help but fall in love with this area. And the people are some of the most welcoming I've encountered in Italy. So the VBT tour will give you a taste of the area and I think it is certainly an easy area to explore on one's own. I hope that was just the first of several visits for me, too. I remember being very surprised that the VBT tour would stay at those properties because they are not at all what I would think of as typical hotels for any kind of tour group.