Off to see the TdF, yeeha!

[hamster]

Just booked the ferry tickets to go and see a couple of stages of the Tour de France next week.
I'll catch a boat to St Malo, ride to the Weds finish at Cap Frehel, then ride past Dinan and camp, to see the early bit of the next day. Then back to Poole, arriving at 0100 and ride home via the Bournemouth seafront.

I haven't properly toured on my bike for 3 or 4 years, I'm stupidly excited. :roll:

 

[JohnH]

I haven't properly toured on my bike for 3 or 4 years, I'm stupidly excited. :roll:

No need for the rolling eyes Hamster -- I'd be just as excited if I were in your shoes. Bon voyage!

 

[CAS]

Enjoy!......let's hope for great weather!

 

[hamster]

I'll have to wear my Retrobike jersey...I'll try to be somewhere in the last 5km, ideally after the red kite.

 

[dyna-ti]

Well done chap.Have a great time

Minimum of 30 pictures please and see if you can get the retrobike shirt into the TV pictures

 

[hamster]

Arrived after the night boat and rode (wind on the beak) to Cap Frehel, the atmosphere was great. I stationed myself under the Flamm Rouge, 1km from the finish. Seeing people fight for the freebies was surprising - even over a sample sachet of some French kind of Toilet Duck. :shock:

As usual you only see about 30 seconds of racing, if that - I had no idea what was happening! The field was pretty smashed up though, what with the crashes and strong wind.

Then it was off to near Dinan, felt horribly weak, more wind on the beak, raided a supermarket for sugary things and finally dragged myself into the campsite at around 9:15 totally knackered. 72 miles under my retro wheels with camping kit etc.

Weds was on to an early bit near the start, very quiet. There was a big crash just round the corner after they had passed me - so again whoosh and saw nothing.

Then a leisurely ride back to St Malo and the ferry back to Poole, followed by a two hour ride home including 10 miles along the Poole / Bournemouth seafront. Got back at 0230, having seen only 3 cars on the whole ride.

The bike is a 1990 Marin Palisades, with extra braze-ons for touring by Chas May. I've owned it since 1991.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Well cool. I might go on a weekend trip this year. Just out into Shopshire with an overnight stop and a touch of fly fishing. My bike is a 1990 Saracen. I have gone for the Limpet route rather than extra braze ons.

May your future rides have a tail wind!

 

[hamster]

Usually I don't like doing more than 60 miles per day with camping stuff, it's just too tiring. In 1994 I rode the Pacific Coast of the USA (camping) on that bike.

Fly fishing and camping sounds cool - did you catch your supper? Fresh trout fried by the riverside is unbeatable.