Etape 2009

altyteacher

Anyone know how much hair weighs?

Popette - I am now thinking about the toenail option. Did a TdF rider once proclaim, when told he would have to loose a toe, 'At least it will make me lighter'? Hmmmmmmm?????

Slightly more serious note - I have felt like total cr%p all week. Even drove to work today and yesterday! First time to work without the bike since the end of January!!! Hopefully just a down week like I have been having about once a month or so. Hope for a biggish weekend, then a couple of days out spinning before finishing school friday lunch and heading down to Dover for the 2030 ferry.

VVV EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BMCCbry

BMCCbry wrote:

TomF wrote:

joesteve wrote:

*My significant other will be "watching" in Bedoin, and she have spares for me to stock up with before hitting Ventoux. She'll also have clothes (gilet/jacket/arm warmers) if I need any of them for the Géant.

Sounds like a cunning plan...but how can you guarantee seeing each other? I might do the same with mine.

had a similar thought with mine too. He's doing Ventoux the day before so we could drive to Bedoin and try to pick the spot. I might have to bring the blow up banana so he can wave it about - he could be doing that for a few hours though. Yehhh, great idea - he's bound to go for it

I thought yours was riding the event, Popette? Or have you got more than one?!

elastigirl72

I'm staying in Bedoin! I'm hoping to ride, but left it a little late to get my entry in for various reasons! If I don't ride, I'll be watching in Bedoin too - would be good to have a way of recognising people amongst the thousands! But fingers crossed to the person who offered me a mate's place....haven't heard any more yet! (I'd hope to register a reasonable time for your friend!)

popette

BMCCbry wrote:

BMCCbry wrote:

TomF wrote:

joesteve wrote:

*My significant other will be "watching" in Bedoin, and she have spares for me to stock up with before hitting Ventoux. She'll also have clothes (gilet/jacket/arm warmers) if I need any of them for the Géant.

Sounds like a cunning plan...but how can you guarantee seeing each other? I might do the same with mine.

had a similar thought with mine too. He's doing Ventoux the day before so we could drive to Bedoin and try to pick the spot. I might have to bring the blow up banana so he can wave it about - he could be doing that for a few hours though. Yehhh, great idea - he's bound to go for it

I thought yours was riding the event, Popette? Or have you got more than one?!

he he - no just the one. Unfortunately, he is not riding any more as he just hasn't done the training. I still put it around the 400 mile mark for the year - not ridden since 7th of June. He's going to have a crack at Ventoux but I think he's going to find that hard too.

If anyone's interested in the place - let me know.

elastigirl72

Popette, Me ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!!!!

PLEASE!

popette

elastigirl72 wrote:

Popette, Me ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!!!!

PLEASE!

sorted - will email you sometime today 8)

elastigirl72

Cool beans!! Thank you Popette!

BMCCbry

popette wrote:

BMCCbry wrote:

BMCCbry wrote:

TomF wrote:

joesteve wrote:

*My significant other will be "watching" in Bedoin, and she have spares for me to stock up with before hitting Ventoux. She'll also have clothes (gilet/jacket/arm warmers) if I need any of them for the Géant.

Sounds like a cunning plan...but how can you guarantee seeing each other? I might do the same with mine.

had a similar thought with mine too. He's doing Ventoux the day before so we could drive to Bedoin and try to pick the spot. I might have to bring the blow up banana so he can wave it about - he could be doing that for a few hours though. Yehhh, great idea - he's bound to go for it

I thought yours was riding the event, Popette? Or have you got more than one?!

he he - no just the one. Unfortunately, he is not riding any more as he just hasn't done the training. I still put it around the 400 mile mark for the year - not ridden since 7th of June. He's going to have a crack at Ventoux but I think he's going to find that hard too.

Ah, ok. 400 miles prob not quite sufficient

I might tell my boyf to try and stand near the blow up banana then....as a means of locating him!

le_patron

I'm in need of an etape entry, if anyone knows of someone who may have pulled out. I am going anyway to watch the tour, so everything else sorted.

cheers

craigenty

craigenty wrote:

Map of waterstops here
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12626648

Anyone who has downloaded this water map please note that the Standpipe tap at Cost (just before the Col de Fontaube) has been removed.

Cheers

FransJacques

why do all you guys bring chain tools?

when's the last time you broke a chain in your road bike?

when's the last time you got your bike serviced or the chain replaced?

best way to lose 200grams

crown_jewel

Agree FransJacques. You also have the Mavic cars everywhere if you have a mechanical.

sportbilly1976

Frans Jacques - I have been on club runs where I have snapped a chain, another where a colleague has broken one, and a sportive where 2 fellow clubm mates broke theirs...so to me it is 200g of essential weight - I'd rather carry that 200g than end up with a DNF.

on a seperate point....the route on mapmyride looks superb.....but it does also show the steady ascents on the approach to the foot of Ventoux

Having watched the highlights of todays stage, 'm seriously jealous of you all doing it....will have to settle for the Marmotte next year

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/france/+ ... 3191265395

weeve

just back from cheeky week training - alpe d'huez x1 galiberx3 izoard x1 lauteret x2 and something else x1 over 4 days with the mrs. Weather perfect. Now back for a week of work (not so perfect) then fly out to meet her and her bro end of week. Maybe see/hear all the collective anglais at the pasta party - if youre in the 8300 numbers she and I'll be there in that pen with you - if youre in the 4200 numbers look out for a 6'5" swede with 95kg of sweat on...he's the only one I have to chase down and Ingrid will be on my wheel - aaah family rivalry - I love it - better than the TdF
have fun all ..and fear not...it not so hard..just chuck that 34/27 on and you shouldnt fail

weeve

oh..and chain tool...if you run a campag 11 its impossible to carry one without a trailer - but if you run a sram - do ....the mrs broke a force one without err much force

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IanTrcp

Here's a good link weatherwise. Enables you to look at what it might be like at the top as well as on the climb. 6 days forward plus wind speed/direction also.

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Mo ... x/6day/top

Note the temperature difference from Malaucene;

http://weather.yahoo.com/Malaucene-Fran ... tml?unit=c

CheerOn

Joe Friels book is good, also Chris Carmichel's book gives good advice.

Basic advice - train harder and for worse than you plan to do on the Etape; might be hard if you don't know what to expect. Get some solid trianing rides in well before the event itself. Remember that doing it on closed roads might be one happy thing but doing it in >30degrees heat is another. Prepare yourself in training with good foods you get used to, power carbs (like High5 or something), energy bars (Mule, Torq, Clifbar are some of the best)
Good hydration is crucial even in training rides and will stop cramp - you'll really need this in the heat and after distance (things like Zym or Nuun replace your electrolytes to aid faster re-hydration)

If you're interested, there's a decent training schedule for the end to end posted on http://www.TheRaceAgainstTime.com website

popette

phips wrote:

Out in Bedoin right now, just done first ascent of Ventoux today - easy way, from Sault. If it's this hot a week on Monday I'm going to melt. 35 today, it was disgusting even on the last 7km.

Take jerseys with full length zips people.

hi Phips,
Excellent! i wish I was there too - just want to be doing the Etape tomorrow.
How did you find the temp at the top compared to the bottom? Did you need to add extra layers as you went up or for the descent? I've got my jersey with full zip not sure what extra stuff to take with me though on the day (I think I will have all my kit with me in my suitcase). I've got everything possible to choose from just not sure if it's going to be gilet & armwarmers or thin jacket. Would prefer to take as little as possible really. Did you need full finger gloves?

Wow - you've done it. That must feel brilliant!

Karen

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diarmuid

le patron wrote:

I'm in need of an etape entry, if anyone knows of someone who may have pulled out. I am going anyway to watch the tour, so everything else sorted.

I think a friend can't make it so pm me and we can sort something out

As for what to take, the usual for me

2x500ml bidons
1xspare tube
1xCO2
6xgels + 3xpowerbars + 2-3x water mixes + maybe other food. Have to work this out.
shades + helmet

Unless the weather forecast is bad no extra clothing

TheStone

Was thinking of buying a gilet as jacket seems a bit much, but weather is so good, I'll probably won't take anything extra. Free up some room for food.

For me:
- tubes x2
- co2 x2
- multitool
- tiny emergency pump.
- 700ml bottle x2 (with High5)
- gels x6 (mixed)
- bars x2 (mixed - not sports bars)
- nuun tablets x2 (looks like it's hot)
- iPod (for Ventoux)
- cards and money

LikeUStoleIt

Hi all.

first post here, but this thread has made great reading, so thanks to everyone for some great advice for a first time l'etape-er.

i have seen lots of posts about people swapping places over to others.

how easy is it to do this? do they check for photo ID at registration?

i ask because we now have one spare place after a drop-out from our group.

thanks for any help!

altyteacher

Should be concentrating on other aspects of preparation but this will not go from my mind:
Is it 'Etaper' or 'Etapist'? I like the look of 'Etapist' myself and it can always be feminised with an added 'e' at the end.

Rev\'d Gatlin

Good luck to everyone riding. I'm green with envy. I'm looking forward to sitting down with a cup of tea and reading tales of triumph against all odds. I hope the sun shines, the wind's behind and the tarmac is wide and smooth.

freddy2

Looks like we'll be going out in groups of 1,500 unlike last year when it was groups of 500. It will therefore pay to be early to get to the head of the queue. I'll be in pen 6.

http://www.letapedutour.com/2009/ETDT/p ... Depart.htm

richa

TheStone wrote:

iPod (for Ventoux)

iPod :?:

Why? Soak up the atmosphere.

TheStone

RichA wrote:

TheStone wrote:

iPod (for Ventoux)

iPod :?:

Why? Soak up the atmosphere.

You're probably right. There were some nice sections last year with plenty of support, but I think the weather put people off. The Tourmalet and Hautacam would have been nicer with a bit of music for company.

(I wouldn't think dangerous at 5kph?)

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le_patron

phips wrote:

Sat in Malaucene with a much deserved beer. Crikey, I'd forgotten how tough the climb is from Bedoin! 1:33, with a coffee break at Reynard. On the day it's gonna be muchos tougher with 150k already in the legs.

iPods an atmosphere? The only sounds you're gonna get on the day is that of hundreds of people dying around you. I'm gonna soak it up - shared pain, an all that

1.33 including a coffee break