European Bicycle Tours

A watchdog guards a bicycle in Italy's Veneto region.

Bicycling can be a great way to travel in Europe, especially when you're touring rural areas. Fuel costs are non-existent, unless you regard lunch as another form of gasoline. You meet the countryside up close, and every sightseeing detour adds to your cardiovascular fitness.

The challenge is in knowing where to find lightly trafficked roads, how far you can expect to travel in a day, where to rent a bicycle, and how to get your luggage from one village to the next without hauling it along. That's where bicycle-touring operators come to the rescue: They take care of the planning and logistical details so you can simply pedal along and enjoy the scenery.

In general, you'll find three types of bicycle touring in Europe:

• Guided tours, usually with a van to carry baggage and provide emergency bike repairs.

• Self-guided tours, where you're given a bicycle and a pre-planned itinerary that includes accommodations along the way.

• Local excursions, which range from short city tours to rural day trips.

 When selecting a tour, ask yourself the following questions:

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