Great cycling getaways

3. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
You don't have to be a Tour de France contender to sign up for one of Steve Bauer's bike tours. The former Tour de France champion and Olympic medallist runs a bike-touring company called The Yellow Jersey with his wife, in southern Ontario's Niagara-on-the-Lake region. Day trips through the Niagara region with stops at local wineries are popular excursions. One to try is the 25 to 30 km guided tour of the orchards and vineyards surrounding Niagara on the Lake's Peller Estates and Marynissen Estates.

In the historic town of Queenston visit Laura Secord's estate and Queenston Heights Historical Park for views of the Niagara River. A gourmet lunch is served at Peller Estates, followed by a lesson in wine making and a wine-sampling session. Visit The Yellow Jersey's website at www.stevebauer.com/index2.cfm for information on day tours and extended trips.

4. Kananaskis Country, Alberta
Hop on a mountain bike and follow the trail of Olympians. Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country, Alberta is the site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games Nordic Ski Events and will host the 2005 Cross Country World Cup in December. Stunning rocky mountain views, including Mount Rundle, and the fresh mountain air make this an exhilarating mountain biking experience. Bike rentals, skills lessons and guided tours are all available.

Visit www.trailsports.ab.ca for more information.

5. Halifax's Lighthouse route, Nova Scotia
Freewheeling Adventures, a cycling and multisport touring company based in Nova Scotia, offers many creative cycling adventure getaways across Canada. The South Shore Secrets tour promises to be a magical and memorable trip. This is an action-packed six-day itinerary along the Lighthouse route, beginning in Halifax. You will cycle to quaint villages, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenberg, the fishing town of Liverpool and seaside hamlets of Vogler's Cove and Little Harbour. Enjoy an afternoon cruise on St. Margaret's Bay, croissants in the village of Chester and a visit to the sea-caves reached through underground tunnels at Ovens Natural Park. Choose guided or self-guided tours.

Visit www.freewheeling.ca for more information.