recommendations for a summer cycling holiday

You could try some cycling trips in Transylvania, Romania.  Martin Adventures provides guided & supported, group cycling tours here. Maybe you've heard about the Transfagarasan, it's one of the most epic and lesser known cycling roads in Europe. 

Here are some road cycling ideas on our blog.

<p>I went on a trip with Rather Be Cycling last summer from Geneva to Nice.</p>

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<p>It was an incredible trip some great mountain passes, classic tdf climbs and great views.</p>

<p>The company were without fault! Full support from at least one bike guide on everyday and a van with all luggage driving between each nights accomodation. Breakfast and Dinner provided by each hotel for every full day of the trip and lunch provided picnic style from the support van each of those days. Various nutrional and energy products provided daily and a great atmosphere created by the team.</p>

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<p>http://www.ratherbecycling.co.uk/cycling-holidays/europe/</p>

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South of Germany perhaps?

CycleBavaria do some great supported cycling holidays through the Bavarian lakes region.  Great countryside, swimming in the lakes, gorgeous cycling

I would highly recommend Saddleskedaddle. I have done 4 trips with them, 2 end to end trips, St Malo to Nice and San Sebastin to Tarifa; I loved the mountain trips I did in Asturias in Northern Spain and Moroccan Mountains. They are fully supported trips, you can take your own bike or hire one from them. They also grade the trips so you can choose something appropriate to your fitness level. We needed their mechanical support when my husbands rear dérailleur sheared. Very challenging when you are in the middle of the Cevennes... Check their website.

Thanks, some interesting links there.

Cheers,

My friend owns this place:

http://chaletmorville.com/

Near Col du Lauteret, Col du Galibier, Col du Croix de Fer, Col du Glandon and of course Alpe d’Huez

Unfortunately I can't recommend a particular service or destination with any conviction.

The route I have most wanted to ride for the last few years (I am also with family) is the length of the Outer Hebrides, from Barra to Lewis, perhaps taking in Skye on the way back. It's easy to get the train to Oban, ferries are low cost from there with an island hopper ticket, the bike is free and the roads seem good, though without any major mountains :(.

Coincidentally, I managed to catch these travel diaries of a similar journey on the iPlayer this week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b06w1n0r
They are largely in Gaelic (with subtitled English) and feature some mountain bike trails too, but the scenery looks fantastic.

The last few years I've found a cycling bed and breakfast in the Pyrenees and used that as a base for a weeks cycling. Often you'll find other people there, individuals or small groups, who wouldn't mind some company whilst getting some miles in. The B&Bs are usually run by British ex-pat cyclists. There's quite a few in the Pyrenees (especially around Luchon and Bagnères-de-Bigorre) where all the famous TdF climbs are;

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=U...

There are plenty of these sorts of places in the Alps too;

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=U...

Some of them can even arrange the hiring of a decent Shimano equipped full carbon road bike.

Abruzzo is fantastic - east of Rome, over the mountains. I can put you in touch with a bike shop near Pescara that hires bikes, but you need to be able to speak some Italian. 2200 m high mountains 50 km from the sea, beautiful countryside, fantastic food, good value.

Interesting topic, a slight tangent question - 

Has anyone found anywhere (ideally northern Italy/Austria/Slovenia part of the world - love it around there) where you can rock up with the family, hire a decent bike and disapear to do 2-3 good rides over a week (ideally organised group stuff) - while the family have enough to do that they don't get bored being left behind?

There are lots of organised things like this, usually advertised on here.  There is a bike hotel in Tuscany (I think) where you turn up and go out on organised rides each day, see below - 

http://road.cc/content/news/159492-come-roadcc-italy-week-2016

Mallorca ?  lots of cyclists over there apparently. 

In the UK or elsewhere? Are you looking for hotels, hostels or camping? Where are you traveling from? Do you own a bike box? Are you credit carding the journey or packing panniers?

Le-Jog charity event. My brother in law did it a few years ago. There is a great atmosphere he said.