Riding a Tour de France Legend..Le Puy de Dome

Redsteveb

Just got back from a fortnight in France. We stayed 2 hours drive from the Puy de Dome which has featured in the TDF over the years, so last Sunday me and my mate drove over from where we were camping to tackle it (and leave our wives to soak up the sun without us constantly talking cycling & bikes )

After a long drive we parked up in a nearby village that required a long(ish) and steep ride to the volcano before starting our climb....only to find 1km later that the road was shut to all traffic including bikes

Bit of a shame but the ride there and back in glorious sunshine was still great. We were also lucky enough to be camping 30kms away from the Lac de Vassiviere where the TDF held time trial stages back in 85, 90 & 95
In 85 it was The Badger v Le Mond.

46 kms in total we rode it but not at speed, just to enjoy the beautiful landscape, oh and stop for a beer midway too.
http://www.lelacdevassiviere.com/dmdocu ... ulidor.pdf

A few pics of the area :

declan1

Looks like fun! I'd love to go to France for a ride sometime (once I get a nice bike...)!

Redsteveb

I usually get over once a year with the bike. The roads are so much easier to cycle on with what cars you do see always giving you plently of room when then pass, usually with a friendly wave too.

The weather is usually great, although this year we had a very hot fortnight so made sure we set off early doors to be back by midday...early to mid afternoon and it gets too hot (well for me at least). I wouldn't worry about the bike...a lot of cyclists we saw were riding really ancient and heavy looking mountain bikes and still enjoying it.

declan1

Redsteveb wrote:

I usually get over once a year with the bike. The roads are so much easier to cycle on with what cars you do see always giving you plently of room when then pass, usually with a friendly wave too.

The weather is usually great, although this year we had a very hot fortnight so made sure we set off early doors to be back by midday...early to mid afternoon and it gets too hot (well for me at least). I wouldn't worry about the bike...a lot of cyclists we saw were riding really ancient and heavy looking mountain bikes and still enjoying it.

Perhaps I could have a double holiday - one cycling down to Dover to get the ferry (currently in the Highlands), and another in France! I suppose all the people there are passionate about cycling with the tour and everything...