I don't know about renting a bike in Melk, but you can rent a bike from Pedalpower: http://www.pedalpower.at/
near the Prater in Vienna, take it on the train to Melk, and then either take it back with you on a train from Krems (easily done, we have done it before) and return it to Pedalpower the next day. Rick at Pedalpower is an expat American and is very helpful. Riding a bike arounfd the Ring in Vienna is very nice as well. To be honest, you may want to overnight in Durnstein and enjoy this wonderful village, Stockingerhof: http://www.stockingerhof.com/
is a great place to stay while there...enjoy the fine wines of the Wachau and hike to the castle on the top of the hill overlooking Durnstein where, according to legend, Richard Lionheart was imprisoned on his way back from the third Crusade.

Scryde, we picked up our bikes in Krems at a gas station right across the street from the boat docks and rode to Spitz. I think the scenery between Krems and Spitz is prettier than between Spitz and Melk, but you could certainly bike from Krems to Spitz. Check out this information, from the Rick Steves website. It also has links for two boat companies.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti...chauvalley.htm

Tracy

Hi I am jumping in on your post because I was thinking of exactly the same trip for early April 2007. (our spring break). We would be traveling with two young teens and our active mother in law. We would need to alot for visiting relatives about 2 hours from Vienna. I like the fly into Munich, go to Salzburg and then onto Vienna. Can all of this be done by train travel? Also, is the weather nice this time of year or is it still too cold?

I'd fly into Vienna and out of Munich. I prefer bigger cities for getting over jet lag. There's more to do at more times of the day. Plus you won't have to organize a trip onwards. If you fly into Munich, you have to get yourself from the airport to the train station, then get the train to Salzburg, then get yourself from the Salzburg train station to your hotel. All in a fog of jetlag.

And I'd add a day to Salzburg, so you'd have one day for the town, a second day for the SOM tour or whatever to see something of the countryside.