Archive for Bikers Delight
September 8, 2009 at 8:22 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
The first thing to do before purchasing a bicycle for any reason is to know what your primary riding is going to be. Most people initially purchase a dual use bike, something that can be ridden on road and off road. Eventually, when the bug bites big it’ll be time to invest in a bike that is all muscle for the mountains.
One of the ways that mountain bikes differ from other bikes is that they have very strong, lightweight frames, multiple gears, powerful breaks and wide tires. A comfort bike, or recreational weekend bike, touring bikes and cruiser bikes are built more for comfort than durability. WIthin the mountain bike category there are several types of bikes available; the cross country bike, the trials bike, the downhill bike and the jump/slalom bike.
Generally the largest percentage of mountain bikes sold are in the cross country, or XC classification. These are good dual purpose bikes. They are lightweight and good for riding over tough terrain, but they are also comfortable for road riding.
Jump/slalom bikes are also good dual purpose bikes. They are very strong and have an excellent front suspension.
Downhill and trial bikes are for serious mountain bikers. The downhill bikes have both front and rear suspension, disc breaks and are very strong. A trial bike is for a very skilled rider. Trail riding itself is a very competitive sport demanding a lot of precision. Most riders of downhill and trail bikes build their bikes from scratch, choosing each component individually.
You will want to do a lot of reading about different types of bikes, and you’ll want to visit many bike shops. A cross country mountain bike can cost between $600 and $800 or more. Some bikers say that your first bike should be the best bike you can possibly afford, even if you think that it’s too much bike for you. If you buy a low-end bike initially and then find you want to change components later it can get costly. Before choosing a bike you will want to ride it. Most dealers allow for a 15 to 20 minute test ride. If you do a test ride make sure you go “off road” if you can, even if it’s over curbs and grass. You want to get a feel for the bike.
This article courtesy of www.bicycle-shoppers.com
September 7, 2009 at 10:11 pm · Filed under Bikers Delight
BMX racing is a fun sport for young people. For kids, the basic bike should have 20-inch wheels. Riders under age six can use whatever type of bike they have, even if it’s not a true BMX freestyle bike. These little folks might still be riding bikes with wheels as small as 12-inches. Some tracks even have races for Big Wheel bikes.
A cruiser or mountain bike with 24-inch or 26-inch wheels might be okay, too, but check ahead of time with your local track for advice. Many tracks will let you race a mountain bike in the “Cruiser” class.
Whatever bike you use should be equipped this way. Remove all reflectors. Take off the kickstand and chainguard to prevent injury in a wreck.
The bike should have pads on the top tube, stem and crossbar. Most BMX freestyle bikes already have these pads. If your bike doesn’t have them, adding this safety feature will cost about $5.
The bike should have at least one working brake. A coaster brake is fine if that’s all the bike has. The bike should be in safe working order.
Finally, tie a paper plate to the handlebars. This will be your number plate. When you get to the track, they’ll give you a number to put on it. That number will identify you to the judges and fans as you are racing.
Safety is important
For head protection, a helmet is essential. Depending on the track rules, this may need to be a full-face helmet or a helmet with a separate mouthguard. Other tracks will accept any type of inexpensive motocross-style helmet.
Wear protective clothing. Regular long pants or jeans will protect the rider’s legs. For arm protection, wear a long-sleeved shirt. Since riders will use their feet, they should wear good sturdy shoes they are comfortable riding in.
Although you can race without gloves, wearing them is a good idea. Be sure they fit well and don’t interfere with moving your hands. Finally, bring bike tools and an air pump in case repairs are needed.
Ready to race
To race, a potential rider needs to find a track. Local bike shops may have information on where the nearest track is. Otherwise visit the National Bicycle League (NBL) or American Bicycle Association (ABA) websites. These are the sanctioning bodies of BMX racing. They provide advice and insurance to local tracks. As an NBL or ABA member, you will have some medical insurance if you get hurt on the track during a race and do not have other insurance.
A parent or guardian must accompany the rider to give permission for the child to race. A birth certificate must be shown as proof of age. Most tracks charge between $15 and $35 for a racing license that is licenses good for a year. There is also an entry fee for each race, which is usually between $6 and $10.
For your first visit to a particular track, get there about two hours before the first race starts. Find the registration tent or trailer and sign up.
Then take a walk around the track. Try to remember where the jumps are. Next it’s time to practice. Put your helmet and other gear on and follow the others to the starting gate. Watch what everyone else does and where they go. A beginner should put his front wheel against the starting gate, keeping one foot on a pedal and the other one on the ground. Start pedaling when the gate drops. Go slow the first few times until you feel comfortable.
After practice, the races will be posted. The people at the registration tent can tell you where your particular race will be posted and how the race actually works. You will be in a group or “moto” with other riders about your age. Line up with them in the staging area. When your group is called, go up and race! This will probably happen three or four times, depending on the system the track uses, and then it will be over. If you win, you might get a trophy. Even if you don’t, you’ll have fun.
Jean Feingold is a copywriter for Catalogs.com. Catalogs.com is the Internet’s leading source for print and online catalog shopping - and a growing hub of original content and “how to” information at www.catalogs.com.
July 28, 2009 at 3:05 pm · Filed under Bikers Delight
The Spaniard rider for the Caisse d’Epargne team: Alejandro Valverde has won La Flche Wallonne. At the end of the race at Le Mur de Huy, Valverde left behind his compatriot from the Euskaltel-Euskadi team Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez who finished second. Karsten Kroon and his teammate Frank Schleck from the Team CSC finished third and fourth. T- Mobile’s rider Patrik Sinkewitz ended the run in the fifth place.
Two riders left the group early in the cycling race: Frédéric Finot from Franaise des Jeux and Ag2R’s José Luis Arrieta but around 80 Km to go the pack reached them. Conditions for the race were fine but the hard wind didn’t let some of the riders get ahead from the group.
The next important gap took place when Phonak’s Alexandre Moss and Rabobank’s Oscar Freire gained some distance from the other riders when they were at 63 Km from the end but they got caught by a group of almost 30 competitors on the penultimate climb of the day: Cte de Ahin with 12 km to go.
The circuit consisted of 202 Km from Charleroi to Huy and at the end, riders climb the Mur de Huy. The Flche Wallonne is traditionally one of the most open of the spring classics, where as 2005 champion Danilo Di Luca says: “you need the power to explode in that grueling final ascent to the finish.”
The group of riders climbs the Huy three times during the race, including the summit finish. While stragglers have time to rejoin the leaders after the first two ascents, it is power what it takes at the end and that’s what Valverde proved when winning the race.
About the Author:
Julie Smith is one of the most recognized copy writers on Sports Betting and currently writes for Instant Action Sports. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
June 8, 2009 at 5:09 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
The first thing to do before purchasing a bicycle for any reason is to know what your primary riding is going to be. Most people initially purchase a dual use bike, something that can be ridden on road and off road. Eventually, when the bug bites big it’ll be time to invest in a bike that is all muscle for the mountains.
One of the ways that mountain bikes differ from other bikes is that they have very strong, lightweight frames, multiple gears, powerful breaks and wide tires. A comfort bike, or recreational weekend bike, touring bikes and cruiser bikes are built more for comfort than durability. WIthin the mountain bike category there are several types of bikes available; the cross country bike, the trials bike, the downhill bike and the jump/slalom bike.
Generally the largest percentage of mountain bikes sold are in the cross country, or XC classification. These are good dual purpose bikes. They are lightweight and good for riding over tough terrain, but they are also comfortable for road riding.
Jump/slalom bikes are also good dual purpose bikes. They are very strong and have an excellent front suspension.
Downhill and trial bikes are for serious mountain bikers. The downhill bikes have both front and rear suspension, disc breaks and are very strong. A trial bike is for a very skilled rider. Trail riding itself is a very competitive sport demanding a lot of precision. Most riders of downhill and trail bikes build their bikes from scratch, choosing each component individually.
You will want to do a lot of reading about different types of bikes, and you’ll want to visit many bike shops. A cross country mountain bike can cost between $600 and $800 or more. Some bikers say that your first bike should be the best bike you can possibly afford, even if you think that it’s too much bike for you. If you buy a low-end bike initially and then find you want to change components later it can get costly. Before choosing a bike you will want to ride it. Most dealers allow for a 15 to 20 minute test ride. If you do a test ride make sure you go “off road” if you can, even if it’s over curbs and grass. You want to get a feel for the bike.
This article courtesy of www.bicycle-shoppers.com
June 5, 2009 at 10:17 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
Well the cold weather is upon us again (for those of us in North) and it is time to get layered. For those of us who want to persist that is the best way to stay warm on the bike. Where I cycle in Calgary, Canada it gets quite cold in mornings and then can warm up considerably during the day during this time of year. You can have up to 40F differential; this can present a challenge for staying warm and comfortable.
The key is to find clothing that is breathable yet breaks the cold wind in the morning. For my legs I have tried cheap lined nylon pants with my riding shorts underneath. This didn’t work out to well with my legs being soaked in sweat by the end of my ride. That is not a good thing when it is below freezing, you need to find something that will wick the moisture away. It is worth the money to get something better. I went to the Web to find what I was looking for and I found great deal on some fleece cycle tights. Well that solved the leg issue they were great they cut wind and kept the moisture away. The lower half was doing great now! Two points to remember, one, you should have enough room for your cycling pants underneath the fleece tights. This brings me to the second point it is better to have these over your cycling pants because during the evening when it is warmer you will want to remove these to ensure you don’t get overheated heading home. In temperatures below 20F (-7C) you may want to add some nylon shell pants to cut the wind more.
The upper body poses a problem since it catches most of the wind but is not moving much. What you need here is a full-featured wind and water resistant shell with ventilated pit zips and a breathable fabric so you can get the most protection and ventilation. A shell with pit zips is great because it easily give you more ventilation if you start to over heat. This type of jacket is also great for locations that get more rain this time of year opening up the pit zips allows that extra ventilation you needs without getting to wet! With a good shell I found I only needed two more layers what these two layers are depends on how cold your ride is. I find that down to about 25F (-4C) that a good turtle neck and the shell are enough as long as wind isn’t blowing too hard, if it is blowing you can add a t-shirt under this if you want. When it starts getting colder than this remove the t-shirt, keep the turtleneck and wear a fleece jacket under this, make sure your protective shell has room for this layering process.
The extremities are a real challenge, starting with the hands. At temperatures down to 25F (-4C) a pair of lined leather gloves is sufficient. At temperature below 25F (-4C) mitts are the best, there is nothing like the having your fingers together to keep them warm. The challenge is the thumb, I occasionally have to pull my thumb out and join it with the rest of the fingers for while to warm it up. Those mitt/glove combinations where the mitt flips over the open finger end might do the trick also but I do not use these. Be careful not to get a mitt with to much bulk you still need dexterity for shifting and braking. Another good choice would be those three finger mitts they would still keep some fingers together for warmth and offer you some good dexterity.
Next is the head, this is the toughest. The main reason for the difficulty is that you still need to wear you helmet and keep those ears from freezing. Anybody who commutes without a helmet should have his head examined (and may have to some day) particularly when things start freezing, ice can form anywhere, so be safe. What you need for this is a quickly adjustable helmet, one that has a ratchet type adjustment at back to allow for the layer you will need under it when it is cold and can be made smaller for your ride home when it may warmer. You can find a great selection of cycling helmets on the Web. The best system is to have two types of balaclavas. One should be a thinner polypropylene type with an open face style that will still cover you chin. This one is good for temperature down to 25F (-4C). When the temperature starts sinking below 25F (-4C) a fleece balaclava with coverage for your nose should be used. What is difficult for those of us who where glasses is fogging up when wearing the balaclava. I try keeping my glasses further down my nose to allow for more air circulation, this doesn’t completely eliminate it but it helps.
Kevin Redmond is a senior design supervisor with a major engineering company in Canada. He commutes to work as much as the weather will allow. He also runs a great consumers website at http://www.avoidconfusion.com check it out and find great deals on bicycles, accesories and everything else from A to Z.
June 5, 2009 at 4:51 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
If you want to get into a fun sport that will allow you to get plenty of exercise, get into shape, and offer you challenges that you won’t find elsewhere - all while enjoying an abundance of nature - you might want to start thinking about mountain bikes. Mountain biking is a popular sport that has been around for numerous years, but recently, with the new technology that goes into the manufacturing of today’s mountain bikes, there seems to be a new interest in this sport.
If the sport of mountain biking isn’t something that you know a lot about, you may have the wrong idea about the sport. You’ve seen the mountain bikers on the television sports channels jumping obstacles and racing down dirt trails - and racing is one aspect of mountain biking. However, racing is not required. In fact, most mountain bikers don’t race at all.
Mountain biking for most people can be compared to hiking. The point is to get out, get exercise, and experience nature. Yes, there will be obstacles to maneuver around on them more advanced trails, but many people are just out for the pleasure of riding in nature - just like hikers are out to enjoy the walk and the nature. Some mountain bikers are leisurely riders. Some like the challenges that they face out on the trails - but they aren’t in any hurry. Other’s like both the challenges and the racing! The path you choose is up to you.
With this new light on the sport of mountain biking, you may now be interested in getting involved in this sport. Maybe you want to lose weight. Maybe you just want to get more exercise. Then again, maybe you like the thought of enjoying nature, but you aren’t big on walking, and prefer to ride. No matter what your reasons for your interest are, you will definitely need a mountain bike - finding a place to ride it is the easy part.
As a beginner, you really won’t have any idea what you need in the way of a mountain bike. Therefore, it is in your best interest to buy a very basic, yet sturdy, mountain bike that can be upgraded at a later date. Visit your local bike dealer, and talk to them. Let them know that you are just starting out, and that you want a basic bike that you can upgrade later. If they try to sell you something expensive - more than $500 - walk away and visit a different store.
You might also consider purchasing a used bike from a private individual. Used bikes can be found online, through the printed classifieds, and even through bike dealers. Look around your area - and online - to see what is available.
Before making a purchase, it is always a good idea to talk to other mountain bikers. Ask them what bike they started with, and what they would suggest for you. The best information you will find will come from the people who are already deeply into the sport.
Once you’ve made a purchase, you need to find a place to ride. Are there any state parks or national forests in your area? Are there wooded areas that aren’t fenced off? These are ideal places to ride. However, you should never ride on private property without permission. If you can’t think of any place that might have bike trails, do a little research online. Type in ‘bike trails in Alabama’ or ‘mountain bike trails in Georgia’ or whatever state you live in into the search box of any search engine, and you will find quite a bit of information!
Look for sites that offer reviews of bike trails that you want to visit. These reviews will save you a lot of time, and help you avoid the trails that either aren’t worth your time, or aren’t suited to your skill level. Reading is actually a big part of mountain biking if you are a beginner! You should also consider purchasing a few mountain bikes videos. These videos will help you learn the basics before you set off on a trail!
Mt-bikes.com provides you with information on mountain bike reviews, trek mountain bikes, giant mountain bikes, mountain bike holidays and specialized mountain bikes. In short Mt-bikes.com is your #1 mountain bikes resource! http://www.mt-bikes.com/
June 5, 2009 at 2:51 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
The previous article looked at postural issues and possible muscles imbalances involved with cycling. Now that we have an understanding of the imbalances that arise from a prolonged cycling position, we can develop an effective program for correcting those postural distortions.
The first part of the program is stretching the muscles that were identified as tight in the previous article (calves, quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, pectorals, trapezius, and neck flexors). Stretching returns muscles to their proper length-tension relationship. As stated in the previous article, tight muscles alter joint positions which in turn affect the opposing muscles ability to function properly. Each stretch should be held at least 20-30 seconds.
The next component is five minutes of light cardiovascular activity to increase blood flow to the active muscles and increase the efficiency of the kinetic chain. Treadmill or elliptical are great choices.
Core stabilization training is next. Stabilization training involves improving the ability of the transverse abdominis, internal obliques and the pelvic floor muscles too effectively stabilize the spine and pelvis during cycling. Stabilization exercises involve little to no movement through the lower back, hips, and pelvis. Exercises include a progression of teaching the lower abdominals and pelvic floor muscles to stabilize the spine correctly. Exercises include abdominal bracing (aka “drawing-in” maneuver), bridges, the DOG (quadruped) series of exercises, and planks. These exercises should be performed with 12-20 reps with a slow controlled movement.
Balance is a requirement during any type of riding, (endurance, tempo, sprints, climbing, etc) and involves a series of coordinated actions involving the muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems (aka , the kinetic chain). Balance training is designed to improve the body’s kinetic chain efficiency. Performing simple exercises like balancing on one leg force the muscles surrounding the hip, knee, and ankle to stabilize their respective joints. As you become more balanced, you can gradually add slow controlled movements like single leg reaches and/or single leg squats.
The strength training portion of the program is designed to improve dynamic joint stabilization by performing exercises that are slow and controlled with higher repetitions. The strength exercises are performed using stability balls, dumbbells, and incorporating balance. Each exercise should be performed with 2-3 sets, 12-20 reps and can be performed in a circuit fashion. The speed should be 4-2-2, meaning, 4 seconds down, 2 seconds hold, 2 seconds up. This slow speed allows the muscles to stabilize the joints and increases force production and force reduction. Exercises focus on the major muscles of body (chest, back, shoulders, legs).
Dave Radin, CSCS, NASM-CPT, is a personal trainer with Precision Fitness. Precision Fitness is located in the Lake Norman area. Check out their website at http://www.lakenormanfitness.com. You can contact Dave at 704-662-8664, or by email at davefradin@netzero.net.
May 21, 2009 at 2:52 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
What are dirt bike trails?
While dirt bike racing and motocross is normally done on designated tracks that are set out and predefined, dirt bike trails are the equivalent of free ride. In some areas you can just head off to a decent dirt bike trail and ride how you want and where you want. Obviously there are usually some pretty basic rules to try and encourage safe riding and lower the risks of dangerous accidents but if you see a better route, you can take it.
There are many different difficulties of dirt bike trails; ranging from beginner trails to difficult trails and if you’re new to trailing then you should start at the very beginning and work your way up as you gain more confidence, skill and exposure.
What are trails bikes?
Trails bikes are different to other types of dirt bikes, because they are designed for use both on and off road and while the ride on the road can be quite bumpy the bike gives you the perfect way to get you from one trail to the next. Obviously, this compatibility for both road and track means that the bikes are an all-rounder; they are good for roads and good for tracks but not exceptional at either.
The freedom that trails bikes and trail racing offers means that trail riding has a massive following and many trail bikers will tell you that it’s the only real dirt bike riding there is.
Can anyone try dirt bike trails?
Trails are an easily accessible form of dirt bike riding but in order to ride your trail bike on the road you will, of course, need the same license, tax and certificates as you would with a standard road bike. To ride them on a trail, though, this isn’t necessary although some more organized trails will only consider experienced riders so check before you travel. There are many trails all over the world, and in some areas of the world you don’t have to use the predefined trails, but you should always take care when riding anywhere that there may be unseen obstacles or pedestrians.
There are groups of people all over the world who travel together to find the best trails and even a cursory glance on the Internet can find a plethora of sites offering details, directions and even rider’s guides to some of the best trails in the world. If you’ve got a bit of money to spare you can sign up to a premium site and get new trails added as and when they are opened or discovered. These have details of some of the more obscure trails in the world sourced by professional die-hard trail bikers.
Dirt Bikes HQ, www.dirtbikeshq.com/, for lots of information about dirt biking.
April 10, 2009 at 8:05 pm · Filed under Bikers Delight
There are various types of motorcycle helmets available in the markets and the main purpose of a helmet is to protect the rider from head injury. The well-known and leading motorcycle brands that are available in the market are Bolle, Nolan, Honda, Yamaha, Fox, Vega, Giro, Suzuki, Acerbic, Cobra, Jones and the Icon.
Motorcycle helmets were introduced to cater for safety of the rider on roads. Wearing of helmet is compulsory in most of the countries. With helmet the rider feels secured and protects him from fatal accidents.
The main parameters of helmet are proper ventilation for cooling, technical make, light in weight and design and the shape along with the style. The types of motorcycle helmets include flip up motorcycle helmet, open face helmet, half helmets and the full-face helmets. Nowadays, helmets are available for all types of riding events such as snowmobile events, dirt bike motorcycle events and for automotive motorcycle events.
While choosing a motorcycle helmet, one needs to consider many factors that enable you to select good helmet. Some of the important factors are as follows.
• The color of the helmet should match with your motorcycle; otherwise the different combination will look odd.
• The motorcycle helmet should be of good quality and made of strong sturdy material to protect your head in case of accident.
• It should properly fit and should not either over size or under size.
• The motorcycle should satisfy and be approved from the authorized government agencies.
• The motorcycle helmet should allow you see the peripheral vision so that chances of accidents are less.
• Choose such type of helmet that is bright in color so that it is visible to others in night.
• While selecting motorcycle helmets safety matters are to be concerned first and then style and color.
Doo Rags
Doo rags are as important as the motorcycle helmets. A Doo rag is a piece of fine cloth that is used for covering the head while riding motorcycles. This tying of Doo rags started in 1930 by people of Africa and America. The main purpose of Doo rags during that period was to protect chemically processed hairs. During those days, they were made from cotton or women stocking were used as a Doo rag. But now days they are made from fine quality polyester.
It is believed that civil war slaves in American culture introduced the Doo rags and it is closely related to the culture of Afro-American. The main artist that helped Doo rags to get popular is the LL Cool and Mr. Nelly as they portrayed the Doo rags in their paintings.
The Doo rags are worn under the helmets and they absorb excess sweat in summer and keep the rider’s head cool. Doo rags also enable the motorcycle helmets to fit properly and do not allow moving of the helmet to from its place in case of motor racing. These Doo rags also protect your hairs from hot Sun and allow the rider to have safe ride as hairs does not obstruct the vision of the rider while driving at speed. Doo rags are available in various colors and shapes. The common color preferred in selecting Doo rag is black.
Motor Cycle Helmets and Doo Rags
April 3, 2009 at 3:18 am · Filed under Bikers Delight
What does an HC (hors categorie, or “out of category”) or even a Category 1 or
Category 2 climb feel like? Can I do it, or would I need to get off and walk? How much of the Tour de France will I get to see if I go there on an organized tour? These are just several of the many questions cyclists ask while they are contemplating a trip to France to see the Tour.
Experiencing the Tour de France in person can be the fulfillment of a lifetime dream for many cyclists. Seeing the colorful peleton swoosh by, riding the famous mountains like the Alp d’Huez or Col du Galibier in the Alps, for example, are dreams for many cyclists, both avid riders and weekenders. Watching the Tour on OLN is not like being there, however, and those who have the right expectations will get the most for their time and their money.
How Much Will I See?
One must first realize that being at the side of the road for the Tour is not the same as watching stages on TV. Television has great advantages, of course, due to the cameras mounted on motorcycles and helicopters which follow the riders. In that way one can follow the progress of specific riders for several hours. When one is at the Tour in person, however, the peleton goes by quickly, and many novices seem almost perplexed by the obvious. Some say things like “Gee, that was fast. I didn’t get to see much at all.” And this is true if the location one watches from is on a flat area early in the day’s race. Even if there is a breakaway by then, one would see only the small group of escapees and then the peleton zoom by probably just a few minutes later.
View the Action At Climbs
The best way to combat this problem is to view stages at climbs. Getting to the route hours before the riders arrive, one can ride a favorite climb, like the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees or the Alp d’Huez, for example. Expert cyclists can ride the whole climb, but novices need only ride a portion so that they can get a taste of what it is like for the pros. They can also pick out a good viewing spot, although organized tours may stake out a spot for their group. Some of the best spots are found after climbing several switchbacks and locating yourself where you can look down the hill and see the riders approaching from below. They will take a while to reach you, and since the peleton is often spread out on the climbs, your viewing time will be much longer, perhaps even 20-30 minutes on some stages. You will get a better look at the individual riders as well, as they obviously move slower on the upslopes. The frenzied mountain top finishes one sees on TV can also be misleading for first time Tour viewers. Many of these locations are not accessible on race days, and most of the people who are on the side of the road at the top have been camping there for several days or have hiked miles to see the finish. They are only in a position to see one stage, so for organized tours that wish to view several stages in succession, this situation is not an option. If one is fortunate enough to see a time trial stage, the whole problem is alleviated. Riders pass by one at a time throughout the day, so the “vanishing peleton” problem is not an issue in that case.
The French Police
The French police, called gendarmes, provide security along the race routes, and they can be very arbitrary. The roads upon which the Tour is held will be closed by the police sometime before the Sponsor’s Caravan arrives. This colorful parade of vehicles precedes the riders typically by an hour, and samples of various products are tossed from the vehicles to the spectators. Most of the gendarmes are tolerant of the tourists who ride bikes along the Tour race route before the peleton arrives. Sometimes, however, if one is riding a bike on the Tour route for the day, a gendarme might be strict and will tell that person he cannot ride on the road any longer because it is closed. The best course of action is to get off the bike, walk along until the gendarme is no longer in view, and then take off riding again to get to where you want to go. This technique isn’t always foolproof, however.
On one stage of the 2005 Tour de France our guests were riding on the Tour route, and they returned rather quickly saying that a gendarme would not let them continue on the road. I later rode my bike in the same direction they did in order to investigate. I passed quite a number of gendarmes along the way, and all they did was to tell me to stay well to the side and be careful. At about 10 kilometers from the finish line a gendarme stopped me and asked where I came from. I told him “the United States”. Somewhat exasperated, he sputtered, “no, how far have you been riding on the road, it’s closed!” I said I came from kilometer 3 and passed many gendarmes, none of them stopped me and all just told me to be careful. He said “well, they are not doing their jobs, but I’m doing mine!”
This was the archetypical Frenchman, king of his little plot of turf. He made me go off on a side road for awhile before finding the Tour road again closer to our viewing position. Fortunately the vast majority of gendarmes are more reasonable than this person, but they are responsible for public safety and are doing a balancing act between that and letting the tourists enjoy themselves. Of course when the Sponsor’s Caravan arrives, one has no choice but to stop, as the vehicles zip by quickly and are somewhat reckless at times.
Walt Ballenberger is founder of Beaux Voyages, which provides active tours in France including Tour de France bike tours. He has lived and worked in France and speaks the language fluently.
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