We take our bikes along for day/weekend trips where the idea is to ride them. This fall, we are planning a trip to France and plan to rent bikes for a short 2-day (with one overnight) tour through the Loire Valley. The cycling looks quite easy and only the equivalent of 1.5 hours ride time each day. The idea, of course, is for it to take all day while we stop and see the chateaux and taste wine along the way.