Shockee
07-29-2004, 09:20 AM
Here's the link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/sross148
We toured during the last 8 stages, but didn't see the race until the Depart at Valreas. (We missed the crucial attack in the Pyrenees as we were in transit!!). Most of my pics from the Tour were at D'Huez. We were given VIP tickets for the finish line in Paris, but didn't get in because it was overbooked (ah, Paris) ... argh.
Being on an organized tour has its advantages and disadvantages. It was nice having the hotels booked and not having to drive so much. The downside was that getting to the stages and getting in enough riding on the course was very difficult. I'll never do an organized bike trip to the Tour again. Though we were promised the opportunity to ride up Huez, the company had us booked 100km away, and arrived at Grenoble to find a 4 hour traffic jam blocking the road to the l'Oisans at 5 pm on the eve of the TT. (2 of our group actually jumped out and rode the Alpe - only to beg a place on the floor of a d'Huez hotel lobby). The only convenient option was to spectate on foot, taking the TransIsere bus to l'Oisans. Other tours had coordinated better access to riding the famous Alpe, but I still say the best way is how I did it in 1991: arrive early the day before and camp out right at the Alpe.
The company (www.Great-Explorations.com) we were with was probably the worst of the lot, but the price was a lot cheaper than the rest and we did manage to work out a decent vacation with them. A word of caution: BRING YOUR OWN TOOLS, PARTS AND EXPERTISE (nuff said)
The people in our group were a great bunch - wew enjoyed their company and were impressed with their equipment!
Of course, France is fantastic for riding, eating, wine and night life - there are few places as much fun on the planet. I'll be back!
http://community.webshots.com/user/sross148
We toured during the last 8 stages, but didn't see the race until the Depart at Valreas. (We missed the crucial attack in the Pyrenees as we were in transit!!). Most of my pics from the Tour were at D'Huez. We were given VIP tickets for the finish line in Paris, but didn't get in because it was overbooked (ah, Paris) ... argh.
Being on an organized tour has its advantages and disadvantages. It was nice having the hotels booked and not having to drive so much. The downside was that getting to the stages and getting in enough riding on the course was very difficult. I'll never do an organized bike trip to the Tour again. Though we were promised the opportunity to ride up Huez, the company had us booked 100km away, and arrived at Grenoble to find a 4 hour traffic jam blocking the road to the l'Oisans at 5 pm on the eve of the TT. (2 of our group actually jumped out and rode the Alpe - only to beg a place on the floor of a d'Huez hotel lobby). The only convenient option was to spectate on foot, taking the TransIsere bus to l'Oisans. Other tours had coordinated better access to riding the famous Alpe, but I still say the best way is how I did it in 1991: arrive early the day before and camp out right at the Alpe.
The company (www.Great-Explorations.com) we were with was probably the worst of the lot, but the price was a lot cheaper than the rest and we did manage to work out a decent vacation with them. A word of caution: BRING YOUR OWN TOOLS, PARTS AND EXPERTISE (nuff said)
The people in our group were a great bunch - wew enjoyed their company and were impressed with their equipment!
Of course, France is fantastic for riding, eating, wine and night life - there are few places as much fun on the planet. I'll be back!