Anyone ever followed the Tour de France

[Nugsy]

Hi All

With Le Tour de France starting today i just wondered if anyone has ever followed it round in their Earlybay. Always wanted to go and watch it live and include a camping holiday and wouldnt mind planning it for the family for 2013 as its the centenial year.

Not sure how you would fair going up either Col du Tourmalet or Alpe D'Huez presuming theyre in there :shock: 2000 metre plus climbs

Is it right that camping on the continent is no so restricted as here and you can pretty much camp anywhere on the roads, obvioulsy in a safe place offroad?

 

[andewilson]

sat watching it now mate sadly in my front room

would love to drag my family round france for a few weeks eating meat and watching cycling.

just finding the time to keep tabs on it on the tele is a job in itself at the mo.

 

[andewilson]

some dosey spectator just wiped out half the peleton with 8 km to go. what a prat

 

[Nugsy]

Think i started watching it around 84' thanks to early channel 4 (american football, aussie rules football even kabaddi (adult tig))

Watched em all since, every year i say i'd love to go next year. And remember i said it around a week before it starts

 

[geenjay]

got a mate at work well into his bike racing trys to go every year keep ya eyes open for a blue slammed splitty panel van sign written with campanola [used to be an italian sports bike maker i think] lovely chap im sure he would share a beer with you ..oh and have a nice time.. :mrgreen:

 

[Nugsy]

They are still around campagnolo, and i just had to google the bus, how cool does that look (It comes up on google but cant go to the links)

Does he follow the whole tour and how does he get on with the big hills

 

[blogdroed]

I've camped on the Ventoux one year - not in my van, but there were plenty about!

I'll be planning next year's tour trip as soon as the route is announced although I think we'll be doing odd stages here and there rather than following the whole tour - especially on the mountains as they usually get packed a couple of days before the peleton passes through and you need to get there early enough to bag your spot and (in the Pyrenees) make sure your not too close to the inevitable gang of pissed up Basque beer monsters!

 

[Marvel]

Never been but already sky +'ed the tour. 3 weeks of beautiful scenery and hardcore cycling. Been watching just like Nugsy. Kabadi, now there's a sport, "kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi, kabadi" :lol:

 

[Mr Brightside]

I am fortunate enough to have got up close to the tour (the company I works sponsors 8 of this years Tour teams) & have seen things as a spectator also. Its an amazing spectacle, but if you want a half decent view, you have to be in position several hours before & be prepared to sharpen your elbows & jostle for your space 

 

[Marvel]

jostle your space 

:lol: :lol: :lol: Sorry

 

[geenjay]

They are still around campagnolo, and i just had to google the bus, how cool does that look (It comes up on google but cant go to the links)

Does he follow the whole tour and how does he get on with the big hills

..not sure but i will gleen some info of him tomorrow . :mrgreen:

 

[mysteryspots]

I'd love to follow the Tour in my bus....

One day maybe..... 8)

 

[andyh]

This one?

8) 8)

 

[geenjay]

thats the one it belongs to my mate at work ive told him if i get 5 numbers and a bonus ball i will give him a cheque for what he wants for it but he just grins at me he said theres no problems on the hills just take it steady and dont rev the goolies of it just let it putt its way up take some spares without going overboard mainly stuff that is prone to going and could cause a big prolem ie he has straight axles and carrys spare gaiters if one splits he will lose the gearbox oil he said if you can fix it yourself it wiil save you sitting around for a day waiting as some roads get closed to accomodate the race hopefully you wont need any assistance wish i was going myself but he has beat me too it..so go and enjoy yourselves and get some good piccys for us stuck back here... :mrgreen:

 

[strutt]

mmmmmmm, i love that sign writing, is it original campag??? 8)

although i love blingy new bikes bit, the old stuff is still so so awsome!

 

[geenjay]

no he had it sign written but it does look good even got it faded in places.. :mrgreen:

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

some dosey spectator just wiped out half the peleton with 8 km to go. what a prat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4e2e74DGHM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; :lol:

No lycra and performance enhancing drugs for me personally...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRx8jO9DX5c&NR=1&feature=fvwp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[mcvw]

Have been talking about following it every year... but the bus has never been ready Maybe next year

 

[Geeze]

Got to see it by accident on our way to Classic Le Mans a couple of years back: we were happily blinding down a french dual carriageway (sure that's got a posh french name!) when a gendarme walked casually wandered out from a side road into the middle of the dual carriageway :shock: and held out an arm to bring us all to a halt. He then put a bit of that crowd barrier across the road and when we all got out to ask why he just shrugged and muttered 'tourdefrance'.
Beautifully french way to run things! :lol:

 

[Tezzah]

I've followed it but not in a vdub. Worked for the organisers in London a few years back, rode two etapes, climbed most of the climbs on a bike etc. Love it. For fun, i have set up a latebay fantasy league if anyone wants to join for fun). http://www.halfordstdfgame.co.uk/league.aspx?page=league&id=10847" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's me a few years back with some french bloke, i know who it is, do you?