Tour de Yorkshire, Cambridge...and oh yes France as well!!

[Panwearsjaune]

T minus 35 days and counting, to the Grand Depart from Leeds 5th July, with two stages in the White County, and then a third from Cambridge to the Mall in London. It's just soo exciting! It's the biggest biking event in the world, with approx 190 professional riders in about 20 teams racing across tarmac and cobbles, up mountains and down Dales and ending on 27th July on the Champs Elysee, Paris in the now traditional sprint finish there. So here's the thread to share in it all, swop info about accommodation for Tour watchers, road closures, the parcours (courses), peloton gossip, potential meet ups, tv coverage, who's got the nicest legs etc.. and everything to do with the thrills and occasional spills with the event that is a game of poker played out every day on 380 wheels. OF course if you are a newbie to all of this and are curious about the whys and hows of racing then ask and someone will pop up to answer questions. Hopefully.

So I'll depart here next with the routes of the UK 3 stages being taken so no-one gets lost and ends up in the dreaded broom wagon.

Today at work I met someone who we contract out work to. He saw my "Allez Hadfield" poster on my wall, and we got chatting. He actually saw Pantani ride, in France! He did Stage 1 last week, in 7 hrs of pelting rain and is utter bonkers about riding.

A query of mine is whether one takes photos as they go by, or...just watch them for the experience. His answer was to watch. The memories will remain and photos will never catch the experience. Seems a good plan?

Pan that does sound bonkers

My DP has watched the tour in France every year since he was a bairn until he was 18, and has told me some great stories about it all (especially all the freebies from the caravan!). He said he feels like you don't properly experience it if you're taking a photo/video and the best thing is to just watch and take it all in. It's a lot of build up and a long time to wait to be fannying around with a camera as they go past unless you can multi task very well and hold it in the right position but still physically watch as they go past. If that makes sense!!

FelixFelix - I'm glad I'm not alone . I'd love to cycle more but it's just so dangerous around where I live (SE). I used to run loads but hip injures got in the way, cycling would be ideal but I'm not willing to risk life and limb. Meanwhile my fat body and I will watch the wonderful scenery on TV.

It makes sense. I'll save the photos for the periphery. The riders get my attention.

No-one is too fat to cycle. You could get an exercise bike and use it while watching TV.

I live near a good cycling trail, and because the TDF is within a few miles of our house I have seen so many cyclists on the trail over the past few days. I must admit it has got me cycling more. I did 8 miles yesterday and am planning a 14 mile ride on Monday. Pretty weedy compared to the TDF guys, but one step at a time.

I have never been into the TDF, but I am beginning to get caught up in the excitement of it all, and even DD wants to come and see it with me on Sunday.

I like pootling around on my bike and seeing how fast I can go downhill, does that count for anything? Probably not . I've loved watching it for years though, it beats any other sport out there IMHO.

When I was on the Alpe d'Huez (may I use my allotment of one mention per thread please Pan?) I put my phone's camera on to video to get the peloton going past whilst I watched but unfortunately the whole thing is ruined by a hysterical sounding woman shouting 'CAAAAaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvvV' like a groupie. Never did work out who it was .

Sorry Pan.

lapsed I can't even ride a bike, I'm here to drive the team car (or shout encouragement out of the window)

SDTG that translation is brilliant, I'm printing it out for work.

Pan - the Mont is going out tomorrow I'll put some pics up. Good idea about the photos, I always think people who view everything through a camera lens / ipad are missing out.

Insane in-laws are arriving here tomorrow night, they said "we'll leave on Sunday afternoon and drive down to Grandma's". Grandma lives in Rotherham. Not sure they fully understand.

Boys are looking forward to the caravan as we've told them there may be sweets.

Oh and I keep forgetting these too, here's a few to be going on with

Excitement.
I know I've said it before..

. Better.
I'll put the notebook away now.

SDTG thanks for posting the translation, made me

I go through phases of cycling lots then not getting the bike out for months. Certainly I'll be an armchair cyclist for the next three weeks.

yes DA, wide eyes seem better than wide camera lenses, n'est-ce pas?

- if didn't know you all better I'd think you are slightly taking the piss now.

Moi?

Pan it is surreal! It definitely won't feel real on Saturday when I'm watching.

And I am definitely too large for cycling. No one wants to see my size 16 arse clad in Lycra

yes Felix having Jensie, Cav, Spartacus, Chavanel, Contador, Schlecks, Sagan et al all riding through is absurd.

Latest Harrogate gossip is that all the supermarkets have been emptied of food as if it was a zombie apocalypse - the ASDA man who delivered my shop tonight said they're busier today than they were at Christmas.

I am SO jealous of all of you, just watching the people in the audience on Eurosport go mad earlier with their white rose flags made me feel almost teary, I think because it's the wrong side of Yorkshire for me (I grew up on the coast and in the dales around Scarborough) it's ok to watch without being there to see it myself but for you lot to have Cav and Jensie and Contador and Froome and G and Bernie and all of them there on your very own roads. Wow.

Oh and Spartacus

I'm in love with the idea that Becks went for a run in Valley Gardens tooin his pants I was at school in Harrogate and we went for our after chapel walks there on Sunday in our cloaks .

I feel so proud that Yorkshire is my adoptive county.

Becks is defo in Harrogate and did visit Bettys...not sure the rest is true

Have also heard on good authority that Brangelina are around Eccup somewhere, in a house rather than a hotel!

Thanks for advice re Sheffield. Another armchair road cyclist here, been watching Le Tour for a looooong number of years, got my DH into it and now each July it is the highlight of our day to sit down and watch the highlights once the DCs have gone to bed. (We know how to live )Only trouble with the rise in popularity is the risk of spoilers with the winner of that days stage being announced on the radio on the way home from work. Never used to hear a thing on the news! I do have a but nothing flash. Gets me to the shops and back

My Spesh

Sorry, just popped in as I am too almost on the route and will watch the official start on Saturday! Thought I'd share my sleb gossip as I don't know too much about all the teams and what not. Have learnt a bit from this thread

Its all very exciting though