crazypete13
07 Jul 2009, 11:19 AM
Didn't see a thread about touring so I though I'd start one up.
In June-July 2006 my brother, two friends and I rode from Amsterdam to Paris over eight days (with six days split in Paris and Amsterdam at the end) during the World Cup and just before le Tour started. Other than a return flight and a hotel the first night we didn't book anything, suffice to say this made for a very interesting trip. Highlights include:
- Riding through the Netherlands with only a road map. Especially the first day, this was a huge mistake, the 40km to Den Haag ended up being a 80km python-esque farce of a ride (I lost my share of peloton leader duties after leading us into a petting zoo) especially considering our flight over was a red eye and we were going on 30+ hours with no sleep by the time we hit the hotel in Den Haag.
- Continuing our mapless inanity the next day during the rain and riding 140km with a hovercraft ferry ride thrown in for good measure (don't ask). Though we ended up watching Portugal/Netherlands card fest in the town square in Breda, after riding through a farmer's field and getting directions from a couple on horseback.
- Crossing into Belgium, where thankfully the bike routes follow the roads for the most part. The paths along the Schalde river from Ghent to Tournai were awesome, breifly allowed to lead the peloton again.
- Running into several regiments of Canadian soldiers in Douai and Arras - in town for Canada Day celebarations at Vimy Ridge. The irony of seeing the most canuck soldiers we've ever seen in France was not lost on us. Vimy Ridge was very powerful as my grandfather fought in the Battle of Arras around that time.
- Hearing random shouts of 'Allez, Allez, Allez' as we rode by people in the French countryside, must have been the yellow jersey my brother was wearing.
- Watching France beat Brazil on a giant screen in the town square of Beauvais, then sleeping through the subsequent riot outside our hotel. Awoke the next day and rode a few km of le Tour route (Beauvais was the end of a stage that year) and riding into Paris -- though not on the Champs Elysee, that sucker is 10 lanes of traffic.
In June-July 2006 my brother, two friends and I rode from Amsterdam to Paris over eight days (with six days split in Paris and Amsterdam at the end) during the World Cup and just before le Tour started. Other than a return flight and a hotel the first night we didn't book anything, suffice to say this made for a very interesting trip. Highlights include:
- Riding through the Netherlands with only a road map. Especially the first day, this was a huge mistake, the 40km to Den Haag ended up being a 80km python-esque farce of a ride (I lost my share of peloton leader duties after leading us into a petting zoo) especially considering our flight over was a red eye and we were going on 30+ hours with no sleep by the time we hit the hotel in Den Haag.
- Continuing our mapless inanity the next day during the rain and riding 140km with a hovercraft ferry ride thrown in for good measure (don't ask). Though we ended up watching Portugal/Netherlands card fest in the town square in Breda, after riding through a farmer's field and getting directions from a couple on horseback.
- Crossing into Belgium, where thankfully the bike routes follow the roads for the most part. The paths along the Schalde river from Ghent to Tournai were awesome, breifly allowed to lead the peloton again.
- Running into several regiments of Canadian soldiers in Douai and Arras - in town for Canada Day celebarations at Vimy Ridge. The irony of seeing the most canuck soldiers we've ever seen in France was not lost on us. Vimy Ridge was very powerful as my grandfather fought in the Battle of Arras around that time.
- Hearing random shouts of 'Allez, Allez, Allez' as we rode by people in the French countryside, must have been the yellow jersey my brother was wearing.
- Watching France beat Brazil on a giant screen in the town square of Beauvais, then sleeping through the subsequent riot outside our hotel. Awoke the next day and rode a few km of le Tour route (Beauvais was the end of a stage that year) and riding into Paris -- though not on the Champs Elysee, that sucker is 10 lanes of traffic.