There are many tracks and quiet roads ideal for cycling excursions.

Even her 68-year-old uncle, who had pedaled 20 miles on the family cycling excursion that morning, got into the spirit of the activity, Rowe says.

In addition to the complimentary mountain bikes available to guests, the hotel offers a choice of two escorted cycling excursions.

However, candidates must understand the rigors of an extended cycling excursion and must share a passion for bringing understanding to children through experience.

Tour operators have jumped on this faster than you can say santé, offering a litany of wine-centric cycling excursions around the world.

Jenny McCloskey led a small group of fit and able cyclists on various early morning cycling excursions and all returned to tell the tale.

My wife and I had heard about this particular cycling excursion when we were on a short HF walking holiday on Dartmoor.

The wide-open roads and picturesque vineyards of Paso Robles are the perfect recipe for a memorable cycling excursion.

Specialist operator Just Sardinia offers a wealth of walking and cycling excursions, as well as yacht charters and rural retreats (01202 484858; justsardinia.co.uk).

From Siena there is an opportunity for a fairly long one-day cycling excursion taking in the interesting borgo (fortified village) of Murlo and the celebrated monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore.

"It's a very easy ride," said John Hayes of Dedham, Mass., a tour operator whose company, Student Travel Vacations, leads trips to Montreal every year that include Lachine Canal cycling excursions.

During the summer, many of the ski trails are used as dedicated bicycle paths, making it possible to undertake day-long or week-long cycling excursions through unspoiled areas, from one resort area to another, without sharing the right of way with motorized vehicles.