Biking around French Castles / Loire Valley with Teens?

[Anonymous]

Interested in adding some biking around the French castles / Loire Valley to a summer itinerary.

I think we might like some guiding but don't want to be on an all inclusive tour. Maybe more like day excursions with a guide.

Anyone have any recommendations for this? The rest of the family is pretty sporty, but I am kind of nervous.

Planning a 2 week trip that will end in London. So would also go to Paris. Any other suggestions?

[Anonymous]

The Loire is essentially a malarial swamp. It will be hot, humid, and buggy in July or August.

[Anonymous]

I think you can do this by yourself. rent bikes from Saumur Bike Hire. We did it a few years ago in july and it was fun. I can't remember which bike app we used, but definitely research that and then you put in your route and it is easy. Do NOT use google maps as we tried that and it was unreliable. I think there is a bike train too if you want to train between stops and then do day trip on bike to castles. there are tons of resources on internet for biking the loire valley.

[Anonymous]

you can also take the regular train with bikes between stops.

[Anonymous]

I think you are better off renting a car. It's not like it's not scenic, but it's like Connecticut scenic: just nature, trees...not anything "wow" about it, and it will feel repetitive on a bike if doing it beyond just a bike ride for a couple half-days. There is too much to do and see to do it all on a bike: some beautiful towns like Tours, Angers, Saumur, mushroom caves, cheese farms, Cheverny Chambord, Amboise, Usse, Azay le Rideau...Also make sure to plan to be in various towns on market days. It's often Saturdays but not always.

[Anonymous]

We did the Loire by car. Super easy and pleasant. I would only bike with very good and very enthusiastic bikers, if at all. It will be hot.

[Anonymous]

Rented bikes by the day, years ago. It was fun, but it was spring, so not too hot.

[Anonymous]

We biked with teens and it kept them interested and gave them a sense of independence. Driving in the back seat of a small car around the Loire is not their idea of fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interested in adding some biking around the French castles / Loire Valley to a summer itinerary.

I think we might like some guiding but don't want to be on an all inclusive tour. Maybe more like day excursions with a guide.

Anyone have any recommendations for this? The rest of the family is pretty sporty, but I am kind of nervous.

Planning a 2 week trip that will end in London. So would also go to Paris. Any other suggestions?

The challenge for me would be that I can literally no longer keep up with my teen for any kind of biking. Learned this during Covid. He’s an athlete. I’m middle aged. He would have to pedal backward for me to keep up.

[Anonymous]

make him carry all the stuff! lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Loire is essentially a malarial swamp. It will be hot, humid, and buggy in July or August.

WTH are you talking about??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interested in adding some biking around the French castles / Loire Valley to a summer itinerary.

I think we might like some guiding but don't want to be on an all inclusive tour. Maybe more like day excursions with a guide.

Anyone have any recommendations for this? The rest of the family is pretty sporty, but I am kind of nervous.

Planning a 2 week trip that will end in London. So would also go to Paris. Any other suggestions?

The challenge for me would be that I can literally no longer keep up with my teen for any kind of biking. Learned this during Covid. He’s an athlete. I’m middle aged. He would have to pedal backward for me to keep up.

Rent an electric assist bike for yourself