just got back from the Alps

northernneil
northernneil Posts: 1,549
edited July 2010 in The bottom bracket
saw the tour in morzine, 8)
did some amazing cycling off and on road :lol:
met a crazy dutch family and watched the world cup final :roll:
did a couple of fantastic walks :P
ate some great food :D
drank some great beers :?

awesome week,

I did observe however that 'downhill' mountain bikers could also just be called 'lardy and fat' mountain bikers, :wink:

Comments

  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Sounds great northernneil.

    Would you recommend making the effort to see the tour in person? I watch it on the box and, when the peloton is together and bunched, figure that it could all have flashed by in 10 seconds which may be an anticlimax after waiting for a few hours in the hot sun. I guess I could prolong the experience by running alongside an unfortunate pro whilst dressed in a devil's outfit, waving a plastic trident until my legs gave way but it just doesn't appeal... and would take some explaining to my family.
  • northernneil
    northernneil Posts: 1,549
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    Sounds great northernneil.

    Would you recommend making the effort to see the tour in person? I watch it on the box and, when the peloton is together and bunched, figure that it could all have flashed by in 10 seconds which may be an anticlimax after waiting for a few hours in the hot sun. I guess I could prolong the experience by running alongside an unfortunate pro whilst dressed in a devil's outfit, waving a plastic trident until my legs gave way but it just doesn't appeal... and would take some explaining to my family.

    yes .... and no

    it was a lifetime ambition for me, and the only way to really see it is on a mountain stage. That way they are going slow enough and the action is over a period of about 30-45 minutes rather than flashing by within seconds. However having said that you have to get there early ... we were on the mountain at 1pm and the riders came by from about 5:20pm onwards... and it was 35 degree heat !

    the atmosphere was amazing though... you could hear the helicopters coming up the valley and building up, building up till the riders arrive. The caravanne is overated and just rubbish though.

    if you have a family a rest day would be good, we were in morzine and you could really mix well with the stars, met sean kelly etc etc etc

    the alps in summer would make a great family holiday though, theres loads to do I was surprised (I have only ever been in winter -skiing)
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,154
    sounds like my dream holiday :)

    I have seen the tour a couple of times & worth it for the build up alone imho
  • northernneil
    northernneil Posts: 1,549
    matthew h wrote:
    sounds like my dream holiday :)

    I have seen the tour a couple of times & worth it for the build up alone imho

    yeah but the wife (and to be fair me a little) was getting bit bored from about 1pm to 3:30pm just sat on the mountain waiting. There is a lot of hanging about in watching the tour !
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    A time trial stage is good as well as you get to see riders over several hours. I went to the TT stage at Annecy last year and it was great - we found a quiet spot half way round the course next to a bar and a picnic area.

    I don't know what stage starts are like at the Tour but I've done a couple at the Dauphine and it's fab being able to wander around amongst the team buses, see the riders warming up and check out all their gear.

    Northernneil, sounds like you had an awesome time. :) . We are about to go on our 4th Alps summer family holiday - you are right, there is loads to do in summer. Our children are quite young so mainly like swimming (which is stunning under the back drop of snow-capped mountains), riding in cable cars, and cycling!! But there are loads of sports/activities available. A lot of the resorts I have been to have both summer and winter brochures in toursit information.
    Cannondale Six Carbon

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