Family tours in Europe?

[A. Cassel]

Looking for suggestions for a family cycle tour in Europe or the UK this
June-July. We're
four including our 13 & 15 year old kids, and we'd like a 1 or 2-week,
easy-to-moderate route someplace with decent food & hotels. Looking for a
touring co. or group
to hook up with, or just somebody to run a sag wagon. Any experiences or
thoughts to share?

[Tim McNamara]

"A. Cassel" > writes:

> Looking for suggestions for a family cycle tour in Europe or the UK
> this June-July. We're four including our 13 & 15 year old kids, and
> we'd like a 1 or 2-week, easy-to-moderate route someplace with
> decent food & hotels. Looking for a touring co. or group to hook up
> with, or just somebody to run a sag wagon. Any experiences or
> thoughts to share?

Check out the Cyclists' Touring Club of the UK:

www.ctc.org.uk

[Chuck Anderson]

A. Cassel wrote:

>Looking for suggestions for a family cycle tour in Europe or the UK this
>June-July. We're
>four including our 13 & 15 year old kids, and we'd like a 1 or 2-week,
>easy-to-moderate route someplace with decent food & hotels. Looking for a
>touring co. or group
>to hook up with, or just somebody to run a sag wagon. Any experiences or
>thoughts to share?
>

>
>
>
>
I know, .... you want support, ... but riding the German and Austrian
river trails is "as easy as falling off a log." Add some panniers to
carry your own stuff (easy with four of you) and you've got a plan.

That's my thought.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

[Mark Boyd]

On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, Chuck Anderson wrote:

> A. Cassel wrote:
>
> >Looking for suggestions for a family cycle tour in Europe or the UK this
> >June-July. We're
> >four including our 13 & 15 year old kids, and we'd like a 1 or 2-week,
> >easy-to-moderate route someplace with decent food & hotels. Looking for a
> >touring co. or group
> >to hook up with, or just somebody to run a sag wagon. Any experiences or
> >thoughts to share?
> >
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> I know, .... you want support, ... but riding the German and Austrian
> river trails is "as easy as falling off a log." Add some panniers to
> carry your own stuff (easy with four of you) and you've got a plan.
>
> That's my thought.

I agree with Chuck. There is literally nothing easier than touring on
those radwegs. Most of the folks riding them are middle aged or older and
riding city bikes with panniers. There are many bike tourists and lots of
services right on the radwegs. The scenery is great and the riding is easy.

Another, slightly more adventuresome , option would be the River Lot or
some of teh other river valleys in southern France. Lots <grin> of
history, lots of beautiful country, no hills, small roads with little
traffic and no way to get lost. And don't forget French food...

Mark <http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/bicycling.html>

[Ken Roberts]

Yes, I've thought the Dordogne and Lot valleys in France would be a great
place for a family vacation -- with canoeing / kayaking, hiking,
sightseeing.
http://roberts-1.com/t/b02/france/doi
The children I ride with have _no_ interest in being forced to bicycle every
day, so I would have to make a plan that includes lots of other activities.
Renting a van would be way cheaper than than some guide service.

The big problem is that lots of _other_ families with children already know
about wonderful regions like that -- so I'd be concerned to find a time when
it's not crowded -- and hot. Like not August. I think the ideal would be
to somehow take the kids out of school for a week in late September /
October.

Ken

[Fred Roses]

Mark Boyd > wrote in message u.edu>...
> Another, slightly more adventuresome , option would be the River Lot or
> some of teh other river valleys in southern France. Lots <grin> of
> history, lots of beautiful country, no hills, small roads with little
> traffic and no way to get lost. And don't forget French food...

I truly love the Lot/Dordogne/Vezere region but I can't agree with
your "no hills" description. Sure, it's easy cycling along the rivers
but most of the towns and chateaux are atop the cliffs adjoining the
river valleys, with climbs aplenty.

Fred Roses

[Mark Boyd]

On Sat, 6 Dec 2003, Fred Roses wrote:

> Mark Boyd > wrote in message u.edu>...
> > Another, slightly more adventuresome , option would be the River Lot or
> > some of teh other river valleys in southern France. Lots <grin> of
> > history, lots of beautiful country, no hills, small roads with little
> > traffic and no way to get lost. And don't forget French food...
>
> I truly love the Lot/Dordogne/Vezere region but I can't agree with
> your "no hills" description. Sure, it's easy cycling along the rivers
> but most of the towns and chateaux are atop the cliffs adjoining the
> river valleys, with climbs aplenty.
>
> Fred Roses
>
I do remember the climb to Domme, but I didn't remember any other hard
climbs, so I checked my ride reports. Here is what I had to say about the
hillier sections along the Lot:

" These are not the hard climbs with 10% grade for hundreds of meters
vertically, but rather 3 or 4% grade for 50 or a 100 meters vertical. I
saw some tourists in this section as well, and some of them were having a
hard time with the hills."

Fred is right: folks looking for no hills should look elsewhere.

Mark <http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/bicycling.html>