The Bonjour France website indicates that there are several trains from Cahors to Figeac daily (http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/train...on_57_675.aspx) but if I try to book from there, it tells me there is no schedule.

Can someone confirm that there is a train? If not does anyone have any suggestions on how to get 5 people plus bikes from Cahors to Figeac?

Thanks!

www.sncf.com

Yes, there are trains from Cahors to Figeac. See www.sncf.com or www.tgv-europe.com for timetable.
Bikes : I would advise you to check first with the station in Cahors. Rules are different according to day of travel and type of train (TER, Intercités, etc...).
See this page to get an idea : http://www.velo.sncf.com/page3.htm

Disregard my first post. I forgot that www.sncf.com will direct English speaking people to Rail Europe site where you will pay more for tickets.

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ is a much better website for buying tickets on line. It is in French but very easy to navigate. To determine if a particular train allows transport of bicycles click on "train details" under each listed train. For the particular route Cahors-Figeac nearly all the trains are not trains but buses and you cannot take a bicycle. When you click on "train details" if bicycles are permitted you will see a bicycle icon. As information you can always take a bicycle on any "TER" train.

"For the particular route Cahors-Figeac nearly all the trains are not trains but buses and you cannot take a bicycle."

However your bicycle can travel on a train without you. You check it at the station in Cahors on week days between 7 and 9 am or 4.30 and 6.30 pm and pick it up at Figeac station when you get there.

Thanks all! Pvoyageuse - so we can check in our bikes at Cahors, and they will go to Figeac by train (I presume the long way) while we go by bus?

I did find the trip on the tgv-europe site, and just put in GB as the country so I didn't get redirected to Rail Europe. Quite a big difference in the prices!

If you ship your bike as freight be aware that you will pay a substantial shipping charge as the SNCF ships most small freight by a trucking company in recent years.

"so we can check in our bikes at Cahors, and they will go to Figeac by train (I presume the long way) while we go by bus?"

Yes. See : www.velo.sncf.com/img/memo_train_velo.pdf
I would enquire at the station first, especially since you have 5 bicycles to check. As indicated in the link above, rules vary according to type of train. Some need reservations, some don't. Some accept disassembled bicycles for free.

Thanks all! I have asked a friend in Paris to ring the station to see what they suggest. Alternately, if it turns out to be cheaper, we'll hire a van/truck and drive the bikes over ourselves, and if all else fails, we'll ride one way via the Lot Valley and the other on the Cele Valley.

BTW - If any of you have suggestions on the nicest bike route, or things we really should see/look at, I'd love to hear them. We plan to go to St Cirq Lapopie, but other than that I've just picked a route that looks good on the map.