Oh, I would not ride out of the airport. I plan on spending a week in Paris (getting there from the airport by metro) and riding around the city and the Bois de Vincennes. Then I plan on taking a train to Brittany, riding around for a week or so in the environs of Quimper and maybe even up to the north near Roscoff and back, then getting myself to Catalunya north of Barcelona by train or car or both and riding around for a week or so in Girona, and then flying back to the US from Barcelona.

Getting back to Paris at the end of the trip is an option, but I no longer have connections there who can hold a bike box for me (my ex-MIL would not be amused).

At this point, though, my financial priorities really should be placed elsewhere than on another bike, so I think I'll lay low and figure out a way to use the wonderful bike that I already have. I'm still going to do the trip, but just not with a new bike. Maybe next year...

Thanks for all your great and wonderful perspectives and advice.