Bike/Barge trip in Europe

[ptaylor]

I am considering a bike & barge trip in 2011. It would be about one or two weeks long. I would meet up with about 6 - 9 family members. Our family ranges to highly experienced to casual cyclists. Has anyone had particularly good or bad experiences with bike & barge touring outfits?

[FredHiltz]

Hi Paul! Long time no see. I will ask some neighbors who are definitely casual cyclists. This sounds like fun, and probably waistline-increasing <grin>.

Fred

[rvklassen]

Try searching on CrazyGuyOnABike.   Got to be something there.

[hem]

My wife and I did a Bike-Barge trip in the Netherlands out of Amsterdam in 2001. The riding was was good as well as was the sightseeing. Barge life was cramped and food was so-so. I would suppose that has a lot to do with the barge and captain running it. I had toured the same area solo and felt that that was a better trip with out the barge and et al.

However if you are with those who are not into biking, like my wife, they can stay on the barge and do sightseeing while the bikers are biking to the next overnight site. In my wife's case she did that a couple of times. This may be good for your group.

Another possibility to think about is doing a base tour where everyone picks out their own ride but come back together at night.

[tonythomson]

Hi
which country are you planning to do your trip in?  I have a narrow boat on the English canals and it's great as other family members don't cycle so I can ride and meet up with them at any point - don't have to carry much gear.  You can ride on some of the tow paths but most of the roads are fairly small and quiet.  Just need to to do a little planning. 
There are many boats you can hire and you don't need a "captain" as they are pretty straight forward to sail.

Oh and if they stop some way from a pub or shop you always get sent to fetch the beer or fish n chips 

[Tourista829]

There is an outfit in either Germany or Austria that does a barge tour down the "Blue Danube." I can't remember the name but one of the best tours. I will get back to your with the name. Bob