tebo13
July 23rd 03, 10:41 AM
Mike Jacoubowsk wrote:
> > We will be in France & will have time to watch the Nantes Time
> > Trial. I
> had
> > a few questions for those of you who have been there.
> >
> > 1. We don't necessarily want to watch the finish; however, we do want
> > to get towards the end of the course. Also, with a wife and a
> > couple younger kids in tow who don't get excited by watching bikes
> > go by one-at-a-time
> for
> > six hours, it makes sense to me to be in an accessible town. I am
> thinking
> > settling somewhere in Nantes, or one of the towns down the road.
> > Is the finishing town crazy? (I'll have to go back and look at the
> > WCP tapes.)
> Anything near the final 2km is to be avoided, unless you really enjoy a
> massive crunch of people. A massive crunch of people that insists on
> further crunching at every opportunity! I tried to view the finish of a
> road stage at last year's TDF, and had to wrap myself around a light
> pole and still saw nothing more than a few helmets poking out above the
> heads of the crowd.
> I would suggest checking out the map carefully and find a tight corner
> somewhere along the middle of the course. You're not going to have any
> idea about who finished when, but it will still be quite exciting as you
> note the gaps between riders and wait for the next mini-motorcade to fly
> through. With a couple of younger kids, make sure you bring stuff for
> them to do, and lots of cold stuff to drink. In France it can be *very*
> hot in July.
> Last year, it turns out I missed a great opportunity at the final time
> trial to see Lance near the start. We had positioned ourselves at the
> finishing town (Macon) and were concerned about getting back to the
> train station in time for the train to Paris, so we missed Lance (and
> the other GC contenders) going by towards the end. Gee, talk about
> dumb... the course took a road no more than 200 meters from the TGV
> station!!!
> >
> > 2. How early before the caravan do you usually need to settle in
> somewhere?
> > I am thinking in the country there may be a half kilometer walk from
> > the route to where we can park. Or can you go through the route
> > early and
> just
> > pull the car off the side of the road?
> The Caravan comes through about two hours prior to the first rider. It's
> definitely a big deal for the kids, so it's not something to be missed.
> If you settle in towards the middle of the course (or any other
> less-dense area), I doubt you'll have to walk very far. BUT... if you
> choose a spot with very few people, the Caravan is going to cruise
> through at very high speed and not toss out any goodies for your kids.
> >
> > 3. Is there any race radio that is broadcast in part in english? I
> > have a french interpreter along, but I don't think he would handle
> > an "excited", running commentary of sports reporters.
> For a time trial, an "interpreter" will do just fine. There will only be
> a few official time checks on the course and a lot of background banter.
> You'll also find you're quite popular if you have either a radio or,
> better yet, battery-operated TV. French TV signals seem to reach very
> nicely into the countryside, even into the more mountainous regions, in
> a way we don't seem to in the US.
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/h-
> ttp://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
> "Tom I" > wrote in message -
> . ..
> > We will be in France & will have time to watch the Nantes Time
> > Trial. I
> had
> > a few questions for those of you who have been there.
> >
> > 1. We don't necessarily want to watch the finish; however, we do want
> > to get towards the end of the course. Also, with a wife and a
> > couple younger kids in tow who don't get excited by watching bikes
> > go by one-at-a-time
> for
> > six hours, it makes sense to me to be in an accessible town. I am
> thinking
> > settling somewhere in Nantes, or one of the towns down the road.
> > Is the finishing town crazy? (I'll have to go back and look at the
> > WCP tapes.)
> >
> > 2. How early before the caravan do you usually need to settle in
> somewhere?
> > I am thinking in the country there may be a half kilometer walk from
> > the route to where we can park. Or can you go through the route
> > early and
> just
> > pull the car off the side of the road?
> >
> > 3. Is there any race radio that is broadcast in part in english? I
> > have a french interpreter along, but I don't think he would handle
> > an "excited", running commentary of sports reporters.
> >
> > Thank you very much!
> >
> > Tom I. Saint Paul, MN
Tom,
This is a wonderfully helpful message. My wife and I are making our
first trip to the tour this year, and are pretty naive about the reality
of race day. So I like your suggestion of a tight corner for viewing.
I've searched for a map showing the route, but without success. Anyone
out there have a link?
Best regards, John Nicholls
:)
--
>--------------------------<
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com
> > We will be in France & will have time to watch the Nantes Time
> > Trial. I
> had
> > a few questions for those of you who have been there.
> >
> > 1. We don't necessarily want to watch the finish; however, we do want
> > to get towards the end of the course. Also, with a wife and a
> > couple younger kids in tow who don't get excited by watching bikes
> > go by one-at-a-time
> for
> > six hours, it makes sense to me to be in an accessible town. I am
> thinking
> > settling somewhere in Nantes, or one of the towns down the road.
> > Is the finishing town crazy? (I'll have to go back and look at the
> > WCP tapes.)
> Anything near the final 2km is to be avoided, unless you really enjoy a
> massive crunch of people. A massive crunch of people that insists on
> further crunching at every opportunity! I tried to view the finish of a
> road stage at last year's TDF, and had to wrap myself around a light
> pole and still saw nothing more than a few helmets poking out above the
> heads of the crowd.
> I would suggest checking out the map carefully and find a tight corner
> somewhere along the middle of the course. You're not going to have any
> idea about who finished when, but it will still be quite exciting as you
> note the gaps between riders and wait for the next mini-motorcade to fly
> through. With a couple of younger kids, make sure you bring stuff for
> them to do, and lots of cold stuff to drink. In France it can be *very*
> hot in July.
> Last year, it turns out I missed a great opportunity at the final time
> trial to see Lance near the start. We had positioned ourselves at the
> finishing town (Macon) and were concerned about getting back to the
> train station in time for the train to Paris, so we missed Lance (and
> the other GC contenders) going by towards the end. Gee, talk about
> dumb... the course took a road no more than 200 meters from the TGV
> station!!!
> >
> > 2. How early before the caravan do you usually need to settle in
> somewhere?
> > I am thinking in the country there may be a half kilometer walk from
> > the route to where we can park. Or can you go through the route
> > early and
> just
> > pull the car off the side of the road?
> The Caravan comes through about two hours prior to the first rider. It's
> definitely a big deal for the kids, so it's not something to be missed.
> If you settle in towards the middle of the course (or any other
> less-dense area), I doubt you'll have to walk very far. BUT... if you
> choose a spot with very few people, the Caravan is going to cruise
> through at very high speed and not toss out any goodies for your kids.
> >
> > 3. Is there any race radio that is broadcast in part in english? I
> > have a french interpreter along, but I don't think he would handle
> > an "excited", running commentary of sports reporters.
> For a time trial, an "interpreter" will do just fine. There will only be
> a few official time checks on the course and a lot of background banter.
> You'll also find you're quite popular if you have either a radio or,
> better yet, battery-operated TV. French TV signals seem to reach very
> nicely into the countryside, even into the more mountainous regions, in
> a way we don't seem to in the US.
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/h-
> ttp://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
> "Tom I" > wrote in message -
> . ..
> > We will be in France & will have time to watch the Nantes Time
> > Trial. I
> had
> > a few questions for those of you who have been there.
> >
> > 1. We don't necessarily want to watch the finish; however, we do want
> > to get towards the end of the course. Also, with a wife and a
> > couple younger kids in tow who don't get excited by watching bikes
> > go by one-at-a-time
> for
> > six hours, it makes sense to me to be in an accessible town. I am
> thinking
> > settling somewhere in Nantes, or one of the towns down the road.
> > Is the finishing town crazy? (I'll have to go back and look at the
> > WCP tapes.)
> >
> > 2. How early before the caravan do you usually need to settle in
> somewhere?
> > I am thinking in the country there may be a half kilometer walk from
> > the route to where we can park. Or can you go through the route
> > early and
> just
> > pull the car off the side of the road?
> >
> > 3. Is there any race radio that is broadcast in part in english? I
> > have a french interpreter along, but I don't think he would handle
> > an "excited", running commentary of sports reporters.
> >
> > Thank you very much!
> >
> > Tom I. Saint Paul, MN
Tom,
This is a wonderfully helpful message. My wife and I are making our
first trip to the tour this year, and are pretty naive about the reality
of race day. So I like your suggestion of a tight corner for viewing.
I've searched for a map showing the route, but without success. Anyone
out there have a link?
Best regards, John Nicholls
:)
--
>--------------------------<
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com