Category Archives: Travel
How to: L’Etape Registration
The L’Etape registration is a very fun part of doing L’Etape. Apart from the necessary registration, the L’Etape registration is a fun few hours hanging out at a mini bike show. Loads of manufacturers like Time, Ridley, Look, Specialized, Trek, … Continue reading
The 2010 Tour de France and L’Etape du Tour Trip Wrap Up
2010 was a doozy of a trip for TDF Tips. I, and my equally loony travel partner, the inimitable Michael J Brown, took off around the world to tackle L’Etape, eat croissants, drink (usually bad) coffee, drink some sneaky Heinekens, … Continue reading
Avoiding an International Mobile Phone Bill Blowout
I wrote a post over on tourdefrancetips.com today about how to avoid an overseas phone bill of $2000. I’ve reproduced it below, as I think it’s useful for all travellers who are taking their smart (e.g. iPhone) phones. This post … Continue reading
France 2010: Final Day – the Aubisque and Marie Blanque
Sadly our last day was upon us. I’d not had anywhere near enough riding so was glad to be heading out for a final long hit out in delightful warm France. I keenly felt the approaching return home as I’d … Continue reading
2010 TDF: Stage 18 from the road
After the let-downs of Stage 16 and Stage 17 (at least in terms of photos, and compared to last year), we headed into Salies-de-Béarn for the start of Stage 18. We dropped Andrew off at the Pau train station (which … Continue reading
2010 TDF: Stage 17 from the road
Well, sometimes you plan and make allowances and things just go wrong. Our plan this day was to get to the Col du Marie Blanque, the first climb of the stage and only 30km from where we were staying, and … Continue reading
Le Tour 2010: Stage 16 live from the road
Stage 16 Well, the irony is impressive. After I wrote in my Guide to Cycling in France, for Tour stages, where you plan to ride up a mountain, you MUST ride up a few hours before hand. I also wrote … Continue reading
Sprint Video from Le Tour
So, our friend Andrew Clark, who rides under the assumed Dutch name of Oondreuw Klook, won a solo sprint into Bielle yesterday, blasting everyone away in the process. It was a sight to behold and the excellent commentary (in Dutch) … Continue reading
L’Etape Du Tour 2010 Report
June 2010: Cold, raining Melbourne. “Boy, I can’t wait to get to France for L’Etape. We should be able to improve on last year’s 1800th position. It’s going to be so warm, with lazy days filled with riding, Le Tour … Continue reading
OhNoze! Tom Boonen Out!
Well, what is certain to cause lashings of sadness, and in deepest, darkest Flemishton, rending of clothes and casting of bodies atop burning pyres, is going to be fodder for our funny cannons. Yes, Tom Boonen is out of the … Continue reading