Late Spring in the Loire Valley

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Overview: Since 2001, the leader has offered this trip through BAC, and over 250 riders have participated!  Come join the “club Loire”!  Meet Saturday morning, May 13, 2017, at Charles de Gaulle Airport, for group bus transfer to our first hotel in Tours. Trip finishes after breakfast on Friday, May 26, 2017 in Le Croisic, and there will be a group transfer by bus back to Charles de Gaulle Airport arriving there about 5pm.   Pure Adventures, a commercial tour operator, will make land arrangements, hire the van and driver to transport luggage and provide emergency support.   We will follow the Loire and its tributaries from Tours to the sea, stopping in medieval villages and Renaissance gardens, riding through fields, forests, vineyards and island marshes. Chateaux en route include Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon, Le Rivau, Usse, Langeais, Saumur, and Angers. Explore the ancient Briere Marsh in the Western Loire, finally reaching the Atlantic shores of Brittany with two nights in Le Croisic.  Weather in May will be cool, in the 50’s to 70’s range with some possibility of rain.  If the 2017 spring in France is kind, then the gardens in the Loire will be resplendent with roses and early summer flowers.

RIDE RATING is 1A but note that there are some climbs on cliffs near the Loire River. We are on small roads and occasionally on gravel bike paths.  Daily mileages for the nine obligatory riding days are: 24, 22, 21, 43, 16, 47, 28, 43 and 25 miles respectively, with very little elevation gain. To address the technicality of mileage rating, three days do exceed the 35 mile limit for level A, but they are not difficult days.  This is a relaxed trip with plenty of time for sightseeing and wine tastings, but also with options for more mileage each day. We will have 3 lay-over days (i.e. two nights) in each of three towns: Chinon, Champtoceaux and Le Croisic. 

NOTES: the van is for luggage and emergency help only; riders are expected to do the distances!  If you need "concierge" service, this trip may not be for you!  BAC tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable ride, for carrying their own luggage at hotels and for helping load and unload the van as necessary.

ADMINISTRATION: Price for May 2017 is estimated at $3200. This covers 13 nights in 2, 3 and 4-star hotels, double occupancy; 8 dinners and 13 breakfasts; van for the luggage with English-speaking driver, bike box shipping from first hotel to last. AND bus transfers with bikes from CDG Airport to our first hotel, then BACK to CDG and gratuity for the van driver. Does NOT include entrance fees, lunches, or wine or other beverages at dinner. Except for the welcome aperitif at our first hotel, all happy hour map meetings will be cash bar because of French hotel restrictions on bringing in wine or beer.  Group dinners will be 3-course gourmet events. There will be bike rentals available directly through Pure Adventures.  Singles are most welcome and I will try to help find roommates. A solo room may be available at extra cost (estimated at $650).

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $100 BAC ride registration fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour's remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report is completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the canceling roommate may be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase personal trip cancellation insurance.

SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the links displayed above this ride description. When you are accepted, the ride leader will move your name from the Waitlist to the Pending List, and you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability and pay the BAC ride registration fee online. Then you will send your deposit check of $1000 per rider, made out and sent to Jane Holahan (not BAC), at 5716 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75214. When your deposit check has cleared the bank, the ride leader will move you to the Participants list. Future payments will be scheduled later in 2016 and in 2017.