Everyone at the gym knows your name? Try...
1 The Kasbah Trail (Morocco) Wildcat Bike Tours (01786 464 333; www.wildcat-bike-tours.co.uk)
Off-road mountain biking with scenery as varied as the level of exertion it requires. Starting at the coast and making its way through remote Berber villages to end up at the High Atlas Mountains, John and Maggie Fulton of Wildcat have designed this tour to highlight the best of Morocco. The route aims to build up your fitness over the course of the trip. Easy days alternate with moderately difficult ones and there are optional rest days every fourth day.
Cost: £675 for seven nights accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. Bike hire extra at £15 per day. Departs 6 October.
2 Karakoram Highway Red Spokes (020 7502 7252; www.redspokes.co.uk)
Red Spokes was formed in 1990 when a collective of like-minded cyclists began to take small groups of friends and acquaintances to interesting destinations. Now you can join them on one of their tours that are commit ted to supporting local economies and respecting local cultures. The tour follows the ancient trade routes used by merchants travelling between China and the Middle East. Spectacular scenery combines with challenging cycling to make this an unmissable trip for adventurous travellers.
Cost: £749 includes all meals, internal transport and accommodation but not international flights. Bike hire extra. Departs 27 September for 18 days.
3 Iceland Discover Adventure (01722 741123; www.discoveradventure.com)
A great way to see the island's volcanic craters, hot springs, thundering waterfalls and spouting geysers. Around 80% of the trip is on dirt tracks so the cycling is challenging. But you can always soak your weary limbs in the hot waters of the Blue Lagoon on your return to Reykjavik.
Cost: The 10-day trip costs £1,060 including flights from Heathrow, accommodation and most meals (apart from three). Bike hire (£95) and insurance (£25) are extra. Departures on 4 August.
4 Bangkok to Saigon Charity Cycle Challenge
Symbiosis Travel (020 7924 5906; www.symbiosis-travel.co.uk)
This is the chance to do a good deed as you pedal. The expedition starts just outside Bangkok and continues over 800 km of rugged road and track through Cambodia and Vietnam. If it all sounds a little taxing, there is a two-day rest stop at Siem Reap to explore the ancient temples of Angkor. About £130 of the tour cost is donated to local charities and participants are encouraged to raise more through sponsorship.
Cost: £1,750 for accommodation, flights and breakfast and evening meals. A special luggage allowance lets you bring your own bike, or you can hire them in Bangkok for an extra £130. Departs 9 November for 14 nights.
Like to exercise but not too often? Try...
5 Snowdonia Beano Bicycle Beano (01982 560 471; www.bicycle-beano.co.uk)
Bicycle Beano tries to make its tours as enjoyable as possible, with tea and cakes after each ride and detailed daily route sheets The Snowdonia Beano has its base in the Nantlle Valley, to which the cyclists return each night to enjoy organic vegetarian meals.
Cost: £440 per person en suite not including bicycle hire, which can be arranged locally for £65. Departs 1 September for 7 nights.
6 Prague to Budapest Bike Tours (01225 310 859; www.biketours.co.uk)
Prague is always a popular destination for city breaks, but its attractions are no reason to ignore the beautiful countryside surrounding it. This tour aims to rectify that with a journey that crosses the borders of the Czech Republic and passes through Slovakia into Hungary. With 50km of cycling every day, this isn't for the weak-willed, but ancient forests and medieval villages on the way make it worth the effort.
Cost: £625 based on seven nights camping and four nights' hotel accommodation including afternoon tea, evening meal and breakfast. Departs 5 August for 11 nights. Flights not included. Bike hire £100 extra.
7 The Blue Danube Freewheel Holidays (01633 681 997; www.freewheelholidays.com)
A gentle tour that follows the meandering River Danube through Austria from Linz, ending up in Vienna, mostly on the flat. There is cycling on only four of the eight days and your luggage is transported for you between hotels en route. There are pretty sights and interesting ways to relax on the way - local vineyards have guaranteed pick-me-ups for tired cyclists.
Cost: £695 including flight, bike hire, seven nights' hotel accommodation and breakfast.
8 The Bordeaux Wine Trail The Chain Gang (020 7323 1730; www.thechaingang.co.uk)
There has to be some payoff for all the virtuous exercise and in this case it's frequent and generous stops at Bordeaux's many vineyards. The seven-night tour, cycling through mainly flat terrain, starts at the edge of the Medoc region. Visits to the vineyards are prearranged and any entry fees are included in the tour price. Luggage is transported between hotels en route.
Cost: £630 including bikes, accommodation and breakfast and dinner. Eurostar from Waterloo and transfer from Paris to Bordeaux by TGV is available at £180. Departs 11 and 25 August.
9 Pedal and Paddle in Costa Rica The World Outdoors (08000 150497; www.theworldoutdoors.org)
The American company which runs this tour describes this as moderately easy to moderate as the majority of rides are downhill. Costa Rica is an unspoilt, tropical paradise full of volcanoes - both extinct and active - and dense rainforests. One day of the trip is devoted to whitewater rafting down the Pacuare River.
Cost: An eight-night holiday for departures on 8 or 22 September costs from £1,029 per person. Bike rental is about £100 extra. Flights from Heathrow to San Jose via Miami start at £657 plus tax with American Airlines. Accommodation, transport, a guide, most meals, drinks and snacks are included.
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? Try...
10 La Venise Verte Cycling for Softies (0161 248 8282; www.cycling-for-softies.co.uk)
A seven-night 'Gentle Tour' through France's 'Green Venice' region in the west of the country, this holiday gives you the chance to appreciate the picturesque villages of the region without overexerting yourself. The time is divided between three hotels in Celles sur Belle, Vallans and Coulon. Gentle daily tours go through numbered cycle paths along canals and peaceful lanes. Cycling for Softies know how to mix exercise with pleasure and there are frequent gourmet stops and the option of a day's punting with picnic.
Cost: Departures between 12 August and 21 September cost from £635 including accommodation, dinner and breakfast and cycle hire.
11 Short break in the New Forest Rough Tracks (07000 560749; www.roughtracks.com)
For the gentlest introduction, Rough Tracks has a short break to the New Forest. Two days' mountain biking is complemented by some tuition, and all cycling takes place over flat heathland and woods. Recommended for families with younger children.
Cost: £125 including hotel, breakfast and Saturday evening meal. Bike hire costs £35. Departs 21 September for two nights.
12 Bruges Eurotours (0870 333 0889; www.eurotours.co.uk)
The bike is king in Bruges. Bizarrely you can even cycle down 50 one-way streets in both directions. However, if you venture out of the city be warned - strong winds could turn your easy trip into a far more strenuous experience. Bikes are available for hire from numerous locations from about £5 a day.
Cost: A two-night B&B break starts at £159 in September. Return Eurostar travel from London Waterloo is included in the price.
