If you go

COST: VBT Bicycling Vacations has 10 Loire Valley trips scheduled this year. Ten-day trips in August start at $3,295 including round trip airfare from Chicago; $3,395 for September and October trips. Shorter, less expensive land-only options are available, too. Price includes some meals, use of bike, lodging, guides and more. Groups range in size from 14 to 20 people. Booking early gets you a 10 percent discount. Your trip is free if you sign up 10 people.

FITNESS: You can find cycling trips tailored to all ability levels. VBT rates its Loire Valley trip as "easy," with participants cycling between 19 and 35 miles a day, which usually means at least two hours on the bike. (It's often possible to ride more or less, depending on what you want.)

VBT BICYCLING VACATIONS: In addition to its Loire Valley trip, VBT Bicycling Vacations offers 24 cycling tours in 16 countries. Call (800) 245-3868 or visit www.vbt.com.

OTHER OUTFITTERS: Other tour companies that run cycling trips in France include Backroads (www.backroads.com), Trek Travel (www.trektravel.com), Butterfield & Robinson (www.butterfield.com) and REI (www.rei.com/adventures).