The BIG difference between ours and most other bike tours is that, instead of carrying loads and having a new destination every night or two, we stay a week in each of two villages doing day rides. It is our feeling that much is missed on the "ever onward" tour with the necessity to reach a distant inn by nightfall. Our approach lets the 90 miles-a-day guys indulge that peculiar impulse and likewise for the smell-every-flower- people.

Our format doesn't change much. We have a half dozen places which we know intimately and can present competently to our participants.

One of the weeks is on the Danube in a wine region known as the Wachau. All Europeans know and love it but few Americans ever get to see its beauty and rich flavour. Gorgeous flat riding on paved bike path along the river or strenuous climbs up through the vineyards and into the hills beyond. We even worked as migrant labour once; four hours on the sunny hillside followed by a marvelous party given by the grower. We were toasted and told that, even with the party, we were cheaper than the Rumanian pickers!! A lovely, close-to-the-culture experience.

A typical day: cross the Danube on the tiny, cable/drawn ferry to the South Bank. Then, twelve miles of country road riding to the ruin at Aggsbach. Lock the bikes to a tree and climb a half hour to the ruin where, we were told, undesirable guests were thrown to their death from the parapet. At least they waited until after dinner. Then back to our own fairy-tale village in time for a glass of the local wine before dinner.

Then, like moving from Vermont to the Rockies, we move to the Tirol for the second week. Flat riding in the river valleys for the non-climbers but bone-crushing ascents for the more masochistic. Again-almost all riding is on bike paths;the traffic , when there is any, tends to be bovine in nature.

About $2000 per person usually covers EVERYTHING!! Not too early too ask questions if it looks interesting.