I love the Loire area. We were there a year or two ago, pottering round this lovely village. It was bathed in that warm, rich, golden evening sunlight, and there wasn't a car to be seen.
All of a sudden, a large peloton of 30 plus cyclists swept through on what must have been a club run. They were going at a fair lick, and there were quite a number of the more mature cyclists amongst them. There was just the swish of tyres and air movement, otherwise all was quiet.
Great stuff, your account reminded me of it!