Cycling Canal du Midi in 7 days with optional detours

Variation on the classic Canal du Midi bike route from Toulouse to Sete on the Mediterranean coast. After some alterations and detours the duration grew from 5 to 7 days, and the total distance from 262 to 361 km (or 425 with two optional detours). Assuming the bikes were rented in Toulouse, this route ends in Bezier (after Sete), from where it's a 2 hour train back to Toulouse. A good bike rental source in Bezier: https://www.relaxbiketours.com/
Ideal season: May or October. Summer is OK but can be hot.
Recommended guidebook by Declan Lyons published by Cicerone.

The classic route starts in Toulouse. If a delivery is an option, consider starting from the source of the canal water instead. This means skipping day 1 completely, starting from Lac st Ferreol (bike delivery), and finishing that day in Carcassonne, then continuing the following plan from day 3 onward.
Day 1: Toulouse to Avignonet Lauragais or Port-Lauragais 52 km
Day 2: Avignonet Lauragais or Port-Lauragais to Carcassonne 60 km
Day 3: Carcassonne to Homps 40 km directly (just along the canal) or 72 km with optional detour to Lastours castles (detour is mostly by car roads and adds ~200m climb)
Day 4: Homps to Narbonne 40 km directly (just along the canal) or 72 km with optional detour to Minerve and Aigne (detour is mostly by car roads and adds ~190m climb). The distances are not a mistake, just happen to be the same as the previous day.
Day 5: Narbonne to Sauvian or Serignan 54 km
Day 6: Sauvian or Serignan to Sete 55 km
Day 7: Sete to Bezier 60km