Cycling Holiday Tours - Any Recommendations?

[Elisa Francesca]

I find myself dreaming at my workdesk of a cycling holiday around some beautiful region of France or
the UK or Middle Europe. I would need fairly easy riding wih a good backup system in a relatively
cool season (the 40 degree summer of 2003 NO THANK YOU!) and would be going for comfort not
competition. A little afraid to go on my own but rather hostile to the schmoozy
"family-friendliness" of so many organized tours. I prefer the company of quiet, cultured Childfree
grown-ups.

I've been doing some internet research and will continue to come up with some leads. But does anyone
have any recommendations? Or is anyone thinking along similar lines?

Elisa Francesca Roselli Ile de France

 

[Trg]

How about the Loire Valley in Spring? (Go in May when you can profit from all the jours feriés) I
don't know what exists as far organized bike tours, but having done quite a bit of motorcycle
touring in the area, I've always thought it would make for great cyclotourism. An easy train ride
from Paris. Lots to see (chateaux and vineyards abound, never had a problem finding accomadations.)

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:
> I find myself dreaming at my workdesk of a cycling holiday around some beautiful region of France
> or the UK or Middle Europe. I would need fairly easy riding wih a good backup system in a
> relatively cool season (the 40 degree summer of 2003 NO THANK YOU!) and would be going for comfort
> not competition. A little afraid to go on my own but rather hostile to the schmoozy
> "family-friendliness" of so many organized tours. I prefer the company of quiet, cultured
> Childfree grown-ups.
>
> I've been doing some internet research and will continue to come up with some leads. But does
> anyone have any recommendations? Or is anyone thinking along similar lines?
>
> Elisa Francesca Roselli Ile de France

 

[Gary Smiley]

About two years ago I was sitting at my workdesk thinking of exactly the same thing. I found another
member of my bicycle club to come along with me, and we toured through Province, the Riviera, and
Tuscany (in early June,
2002). We saved a lot of money by not going with a tour company. My tour's site is here:
http://biketour.garysmiley.com . My suggestion is to join a local bicycle club- that would be a
good place to find fellow cyclists who would want to tour with you, and you will benefit from
their experience as well. There are a lot of self-supported tour sites on the Web. The
best-known is "Trento Bike Pages" at http://www-math.science.unitn.it/Bike/ . Good luck!

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:

> I find myself dreaming at my workdesk of a cycling holiday around some beautiful region of France
> or the UK or Middle Europe. I would need fairly easy riding wih a good backup system in a
> relatively cool season (the 40 degree summer of 2003 NO THANK YOU!) and would be going for comfort
> not competition. A little afraid to go on my own but rather hostile to the schmoozy
> "family-friendliness" of so many organized tours. I prefer the company of quiet, cultured
> Childfree grown-ups.
>
> I've been doing some internet research and will continue to come up with some leads. But does
> anyone have any recommendations? Or is anyone thinking along similar lines?
>
> Elisa Francesca Roselli Ile de France

 

[Elisa Francesca]

May would be ideal with all the jours feries, but I lived for 10 years in Tours, and have pretty
much "done" the Loire Valley to death, albeit not by bicycle. I'm game for some other part of France
(particularly Cathar country, as I have some ideological points of affinity with Cathars, and feel I
should pledge my solidarity ...) or the UK, Scotland, Germany, Middle Europe, Scandinavia.

I found these links that excite me:

http://www.firstlightbicycling.com/ They have some great British tours and tours through Romantic
(with a capital R) Durmstrang type of country (Austria, Bohemia, Transylvania ...)

http://www.cycletreks.com/ Unspoilt temperate rain forests of British Columbia

http://www.valac.nl/biking-france.html Cathar territory, but it might be a little rigorous for me.

http://www.bikecentral.net/Links/Tours/index.shtml Links to other sites

But what I'm really looking for is not so much the Internet links as lone, civilized ladies or
even gentlemen who might want to come with me. Thought this would be as good a place to enquire
as another.

EFR

trg wrote:

> How about the Loire Valley in Spring? (Go in May when you can profit from all the jours feriés) I
> don't know what exists as far organized bike tours, but having done quite a bit of motorcycle
> touring in the area, I've always thought it would make for great cyclotourism. An easy train ride
> from Paris. Lots to see (chateaux and vineyards abound, never had a problem finding
> accomadations.)

 

[Trg]

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:
> May would be ideal with all the jours feries, but I lived for 10 years in Tours, and have pretty
> much "done" the Loire Valley to death, albeit not by bicycle. I'm game for some other part of
> France (particularly Cathar country, as I have some ideological points of affinity with Cathars,
> and feel I should pledge my solidarity ...) or the UK, Scotland, Germany, Middle Europe,
> Scandinavia.
>
> I found these links that excite me:
>
> http://www.firstlightbicycling.com/ They have some great British tours and tours through Romantic
> (with a capital R) Durmstrang type of country (Austria, Bohemia, Transylvania ...)
>
> http://www.cycletreks.com/ Unspoilt temperate rain forests of British Columbia
>
> http://www.valac.nl/biking-france.html Cathar territory, but it might be a little rigorous for me.
>
> http://www.bikecentral.net/Links/Tours/index.shtml Links to other sites
>
> But what I'm really looking for is not so much the Internet links as lone, civilized ladies or
> even gentlemen who might want to come with
> me. Thought this would be as good a place to enquire as another.
>
> EFR

In that case, I suggest Ireland (again, I've done it on motorcycle, but not on bicycle). It's
georgeous, the people are super, there are reasonably priced B&B s everywhere. No mountains that
can't be avoided. Only problem is that it has been known to rain on occasion.

Denmark is cyclists paradise. Pretty flat, bike lanes everywhere, very bike aware (drivers too),
no language problem. Wind can be a problem, especially on the west coast. Go only between July and
mid August.

 

[Elisa Francesca]

trg wrote:

> In that case, I suggest Ireland (again, I've done it on motorcycle, but not on bicycle). It's
> georgeous, the people are super, there are reasonably priced B&B s everywhere. No mountains that
> can't be avoided. Only problem is that it has been known to rain on occasion.
>
> Denmark is cyclists paradise. Pretty flat, bike lanes everywhere, very bike aware (drivers too),
> no language problem. Wind can be a problem, especially on the west coast. Go only between July and
> mid August.

Two good ideas. But why Denmark only between July and August? I am intolerant of any temperature
over 30 Celsius.

EFR

 

[Trg]

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:
> trg wrote:
>
>> In that case, I suggest Ireland (again, I've done it on motorcycle, but not on bicycle). It's
>> georgeous, the people are super, there are reasonably priced B&B s everywhere. No mountains that
>> can't be avoided. Only problem is that it has been known to rain on occasion.
>>
>> Denmark is cyclists paradise. Pretty flat, bike lanes everywhere, very bike aware (drivers too),
>> no language problem. Wind can be a problem, especially on the west coast. Go only between July
>> and mid August.
>
> Two good ideas. But why Denmark only between July and August? I am intolerant of any temperature
> over 30 Celsius.
>
> EFR
It never really gets over 30 in Denmark even in the middle of summer. (This August a Danish friend
boasted that the weather forecast that it might get up to 30. I responded that in Paris it was
forecast that it might get down to 30.) It can be rather cold and rainy anytime, best bet is in july
to end of august.

 

[Bill]

Recommend Austria - particularly the cycle trip down the side of the Danube; seven days of easy
cycling, magnificent views and culture. Great food and the beer is unforgettable. German border to
Vienna; is a well known and advertised route.

trg wrote in message ...
>Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:
>> trg wrote:
>>
>>> In that case, I suggest Ireland (again, I've done it on motorcycle, but not on bicycle). It's
>>> georgeous, the people are super, there are reasonably priced B&B s everywhere. No mountains that
>>> can't be avoided. Only problem is that it has been known to rain on occasion.
>>>
>>> Denmark is cyclists paradise. Pretty flat, bike lanes everywhere, very bike aware (drivers too),
>>> no language problem. Wind can be a problem, especially on the west coast. Go only between July
>>> and mid August.
>>
>> Two good ideas. But why Denmark only between July and August? I am intolerant of any temperature
>> over 30 Celsius.
>>
>> EFR
>It never really gets over 30 in Denmark even in the middle of summer. (This August a Danish friend
>boasted that the weather forecast that it might get up to 30. I responded that in Paris it was
>forecast that it might get down to 30.) It can be rather cold and rainy anytime, best bet is in
>july to end of august.

 

[Pablo Muñoz]

I recommend Spain with www.bravobike.com great tours at a very reasonable price

"Elisa Francesca Roselli" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
news:[email protected]...
> May would be ideal with all the jours feries, but I lived for 10 years in
Tours,
> and have pretty much "done" the Loire Valley to death, albeit not by
bicycle.
> I'm game for some other part of France (particularly Cathar country, as I
have
> some ideological points of affinity with Cathars, and feel I should pledge
my
> solidarity ...) or the UK, Scotland, Germany, Middle Europe, Scandinavia.
>
> I found these links that excite me:
>
> http://www.firstlightbicycling.com/ They have some great British tours and tours through
> Romantic (with a
capital R)
> Durmstrang type of country (Austria, Bohemia, Transylvania ...)
>
> http://www.cycletreks.com/ Unspoilt temperate rain forests of British Columbia
>
> http://www.valac.nl/biking-france.html Cathar territory, but it might be a little rigorous for me.
>
> http://www.bikecentral.net/Links/Tours/index.shtml Links to other sites
>
> But what I'm really looking for is not so much the Internet links as lone, civilized ladies or
> even gentlemen who might want to come with me. Thought
this
> would be as good a place to enquire as another.
>
> EFR
>
>
> trg wrote:
>
> > How about the Loire Valley in Spring? (Go in May when you can profit
from
> > all the jours feriés) I don't know what exists as far organized bike
tours,
> > but having done quite a bit of motorcycle touring in the area, I've
always
> > thought it would make for great cyclotourism. An easy train ride from
Paris.
> > Lots to see (chateaux and vineyards abound, never had a problem finding accomadations.)

 

[Mark]

"Elisa Francesca Roselli" wrote ...
> I find myself dreaming at my workdesk of a cycling holiday around some beautiful region of France
> or the UK or Middle Europe. I would need fairly easy riding wih a good backup system in a
> relatively cool season (the 40 degree summer of 2003 NO THANK YOU!) and would be going for comfort
> not competition. A little afraid to go on my own but rather hostile to the schmoozy
> "family-friendliness" of so many organized tours. I prefer the company of quiet, cultured
> Childfree grown-ups.
>
> I've been doing some internet research and will continue to come up with some leads. But does
> anyone have any recommendations? Or is anyone thinking along similar lines?
>
> Elisa Francesca Roselli Ile de France

Take the plunge and go on your own. The Salzburg region of Austria is scenic, not too expensive, and
laced with bike paths. Lots of hotels, pensions, and hostels, most of which are packed with skiers
all winter long, and offer cheaper rates in the summer. A very common tactic is to take a train to
the upper end of a mountain valley and bicycle back downhill to the lower end.
--
mark