欧州自転車レース追っかけ日記 2024年12月

Tenet 2020 Max = Neil theory III

I'm continuing my Tenet writing in Japanese.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tenet 2020 Max = Neil theory III]の続きを読む

テーマ:洋画 - ジャンル:映画

Tenet 2020 Max = Neil theory

I am writing rubbish about Tenet 2020 in Japanese.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tenet 2020 Max = Neil theory]の続きを読む

テーマ:洋画 - ジャンル:映画

Is it legal?
I don't know. I'm not sure. I can not tell if the PDF file floating around on the Internet that is said to be the screenplay of "Tenet (2020)" can be downloaded and read legally. Is it?

I found one. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know why and how the "object (first said to be Plutonium 241 but later revealed to be the last part of algorithm)" ended up in Sator's hand. From how I see it, the Protagonist decided to (and intentionally) let it handed over to Sator. The inverted Protagonist had it.

I downloaded (am I confessing a crime?) it and started reading it. I began finding a lot of interesting things in it. I'm enjoying it.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tenet 2020 Max = Neil theory]の続きを読む

テーマ:洋画 - ジャンル:映画

Tenet 2020 and its mysteries to be solved

Tenet (2020) and its screenplay
My questions that I'm tackling right now are;

1. Where and how did the "object (told to be Plutonium 241 but really was the last part of algorithm)" ended up in possession of Sator after the Tallinn car chase?

2. Why and when did the Protagonist decide to let it (object) handed over to Sator?

I know that Sator must have taken it from the Saab (it is the only possibility). And from the conversation between the Protagonist and Neil (at the warehouse in Tallinn) I know that saving Kat was the reason for his decision.

I want to find out exactly how it (handing the object over on a silver plate) happened.

Mr. Christopher Nolan was so mean (or tantalizing) not to visualize the scene where Sator took the object from the backseat of the Estonia registered Saab. Why didn't he? Or I'm just missing the very scene?

I found the screenplay (PDF file) on the net. I'm reading it while watching and comparing it with the subtitle. I hope I'll get the answers soon.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tenet 2020 and its mysteries to be solved]の続きを読む

テーマ:洋画 - ジャンル:映画

Inception (2010) the news articles or Easter eggs?

Inception 2010 news articles
I was looking for some possible Easter eggs in the movie but so far have not found ones. I paused the movie and read the three articles that the team used to come up with their plan for inception. I transcribed as much as I could but they seemed to be just normal news (gossip) articles.

To illustrate the gossipiness (?) of the second article, the forgers of this article went extra miles to show its date, Sunday. Sunday papers tend to be juicy gossip papers, right? A nice touch!

The cut did not the last two articles in their entirety so I decided to fill in the missing parts.

(first article)
SUNDAYBUSINESS
Maurice and Robert
Two generations of Fischer Morrow
Two very different types of businessmen

By Brighton Thomas
Maurice Fischer is, and always has been, known for his aggressive business acumen and a winner-take-all approach to international business. His son Robert, heir apparent of Fischer Morrow, lacks the aggressiveness and killer instinct that many believe to be the reason for his father's success. Shareholders of Fischer Morrow are starting to let their stocks go in anticipation of Maurice's eminent death as his fading health has left him wheelchair-bound since April of this year. In a recent interview, Robert Fischer attempted to restore the shareholders confidence by proposing a restructuring of internal company framework but if stock prices are any indication of the success of his words, then confidence in his leadership is still lacking.
Continued on Page 21

(below a picture of a big airplane in a factory setting. Numerous unknown objects are hanging from the ceiling. What are they?)

(second article)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
War Between Two Fischers
Maurice and Robert cause a scene at trendy Sydney Restaurant
By Jerzy Scott
SYDNEY - On Friday night at a newly opened restaurant that is part of the Morrow chain of Hotel Restaurants, Fischers JR and (..1..) words that turned into (..2..) Robert storm (..3..) Those (..4..)

(third article)
Peter Browning Struggles to Find His Place at Fischer Morrow

Peter Browning, CFO of Fischer Morrow, would be the obvious first line to take the reigns of Fischer Morrow, were it not for Robert Fischer, the son of CEO and company founder, Maurice Fischer. This position, wondering whether he will be soon taking orders from a man half his age with a quarter the experience.

Nepotism has always been a part of business, but it does not make it any easier for those who give their life's blood (..5..) building a company, only (..6..) have a younger person take (..7..) place, not due to merit or (..8..) based solely on his (..9..)

Fill the missing words by guessing.
1. SR exchanged
2. a row that saw
3. out of the restaurant.
4. who witnessed the scene

5. to
6. to
7. their
8. ability but
9. birthright

I'm not good at writing business news articles, gossip articles or any articles at all but I tried.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Inception (2010) the news articles or Easter eggs?]の続きを読む

Inception (2010): The real totem?

Inception 2010
I just found out that Mr. Cobb's given name was Dominick not Dominic as I thought it would be earlier.

Dom turned out to be shorten form of Dominic. I thought that it must be his name on the dotted line.

I was closely watching a scene where a suited man suggested Cobb to take the flight ticket and leave immediately if he wanted to flee from the US authorities (who were coming to arrest him).

Cobb took the envelop and checked the ticket inside. I could see his name just briefly. I had to stop the movie to see it, of course.

Was the last scene real or a dream?
I was a bit puzzled when I watched a YouTube video suggesting that Cobb's supposed totem, top, could not serve the purpose at all. Yes, it was correct.

I read on reddit that it (the top) was just a decoy and the real totem of Cobb's was his wedding ring.

I checked the scenes. He had the ring on while he was married (before the tragic death of Mal) in every scene whether he was in the dream or in his real life.

Now (as a widower) he does not have the ring in his real life. As soon as he enters the dream, he has a ring on his ring finger on his left hand.

Come to think of it, some scenes seem to emphasize the presence of a wedding ring or rings (including Mal's).

It seems that the director went to extra miles to show them in some scenes.

From this point of view, seeing that Cobb had no ring when he woke up in his first-class seat on the plane. In the subsequent scene, as he passed through the Immigration, he was wearing no ring.

In the last scene, just before he span the top, his left hand showed no ring. Thus one can conclude that Cobb went back to reality in the end.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Inception (2010): The real totem?]の続きを読む

テーマ:洋画 - ジャンル:映画

Another movie I watched

Fly Me To The Moon 2024
Kelly Jones: Scarlett Johansson
Cole Davis: Channing Tatum
Moe Berkus: Woody Harrelson

I watched it and wondered what the movie was meant to be. Was it supposed to a comedy, a historical documentary, a romance or none of the above?

This troubled me a lot. Was I supposed to laugh, be enlightene, moved or none of the above?

Initial scenes featuring Scarlett Johansson convinced me that I was watching a comedy and more like a romantic comedy as I had seen the movie poster (or DVD cover) like picture showing her and Channing Tatum close together before watching it. I believed so and who wouldn't?

It turned out to be not a comedy. OK, I did not have any problem with that. Woody Harrelson's character, however, insisted on acting on a comedy line.

Romatic elements (scenes that would see them attracted to each other) seemed to occur repeatedly (a chance meeting and others) but they did not impress me.

When Moe Berkus played by Woody Harrelson suggested that a studio set imitating the moon landing be made in case of ..., I was intrigued. Am I watching Capricon 1 (1977) or something?

Strange I felt. Why didn't they make it a comedy? Or they did?

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Another movie I watched]の続きを読む

テーマ:Mac - ジャンル:コンピュータ

Ochama? WTF!

TEMU and now Ochama? WTF?
Temu, I don't know if it is an anagram of something but it is a shopping platform known for its low prices that would make you feel you are a millionaire or billionaire. It is a disguised Chinese company pretending to be an American (USA) company.

I noticed its annoyingly tenacious presence (a.k.a. ADs) on YouTube. I have never used it or even tried to browse its market. It doesn't seem to have good reputation.

Since this? or last month this new comer, Ochama, has begun to annoy me. What is it? I don't want to know so please someone tell me in layman's term what it is.

The Chinese economy bubble (real estate bubble) has burst for a while. The waves of the burst economy have been felt everywhere by now.

We, who live outside China and don't have any direct connection to it, don't see much of those waves (not ripples anymore, i.e. ripples are simply tiny waves).

In China many (in China many means at least millions, right?) workers (private or government workers) have not been paid for months. People can not withdraw their own money from their bank accounts. Many workers are getting a drastic salary cut if they are paid. People are getting fired and students fresh out of universities or graduate schools alike can not find any employment.

I have seen some ripples of effects myself. Many (not all) merchandises sold on AliExpress are now similarly priced as those on Amazon Germany. They used to be much cheaper or at least I felt I had seen bargains before. They are long gone.

What's gonna happen?

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Ochama? WTF!]の続きを読む

テーマ:日記 - ジャンル:日記

Steamed bread

Steamed Bread
Recently I have been consuming my own house made steamed bread. I would bake it instead of steaming if I had an oven with me.

It is a very cheap way to consume bread in many ways.

First of all, self-made bread is cheaper. I just buy flour and dry yeast power. All I need is water, a pinch of salt (if you want), a bit of oil (I use olive oil) and the two ingredients above dicussed.

It takes short time to prepare the dough and it take way shorter time to steam than baking it. Shorter cooking time means less energy is consumed. This makes the cost down.

So in two ways, making my own steamed bread is cheaper than buying one from somewhere.

I shop at several supermarkets but ALDI and LIDL are among them. I tell you something about them.

The ALDI I use have of course flour. They come in 1 kg paper package and right above them I find small packages of dry yeast power. How convenient! I don't think they have any baking powder.

On the other hand, the LIDL I use have flour, too. I find similar looking packages like the dry yeast power of ALDI but they are baking power (a chemical where as yeast is a microorganism like fungus or fungi).

I'll try to make some experimental dough next time. I'll mix flour, yogurt and yeast to see if it will change the taste for the better.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Steamed bread]の続きを読む

テーマ:映画感想 - ジャンル:映画

Nokon saga continues

Midsommar 2019
I did not know what to expect. I could not anticipate the way the story would go. At the first look, I thought story would be psychological thriller or some kind of horror involving some supernatural power that lead to the tragic death of the parents and the sister of the main character.

Even half past the movie, I did not know what to expect. It had already some grusome scenes and murders but I did not know what to make of them.

As far as I could tell, it looked like a Swedish cult having its traditional annual rites of some kinds. And incidental American youths got entangled or intentionally entangled. It seemed so toward the end.

It was a strange movie. It reminded me of "The Holly Mountain 1973" just a little bit but it was distictly different.

TRLREQ® Fish bone VS MUQZI Fish bone bamboo calbe housing systems?
I was talking recently about the Nokon cable housing (outer) systems for the last couple of entries. I found that Jagwire also had a similar product along the way.

I purchased before knowing that Nokon still lived up to now (2024) and the Jagwire product RISK® product.

Now these products from TRLREQ and MUQZI caught my attention. I want to compare them.

TRLREQ® call those aluminum beads "Fish Bones" and MUQZI seems to call (or just the seller?) them "Fish Bone Bamboo".

I found these names on AliExpress in the description section presented by the sellers. So I don't know if they are official names.

MUQZI does not seems to have ® on its logo but its brand name is all over the place on AliExpress.

Anyway, the shape of these aluminum bamboo internodes (?) are very similar (as long as I can tell from the pictures) between RISK and TRLREQ. The shape of those of Jagwire is slightly different and those of MUQZI is also slightly different.

They all (except NOKON) have a common curved shape found in a typical internode of the bamboo plant.

I searched for "bamboo anatomy" as I wanted to know the proper terms for the bamboo's anatomical sections. The analogy between bamboo and these aluminum beads is clear. I wanted to know what was the exact term for it.

It seems I should call them internodes but I'm not happy. I wanted to find the name for an individual section but soon realized I was an idiot.

The individual section should be called "an internode with a node (with the diaphragm holes) at one end" to be exact.

I noticed that there was a term "sheath" among the pictograms. Some showed that this sheath is the same as internode. Some showed that sheath is the forskin-like stuff wrapping the young bamboo (shoot and young bamboo). They eventually come off.

Fish bones were new. I had to agree with it. Now it troubles me. How should I call the individual section? A vertebra or vertebral body?

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Nokon saga continues]の続きを読む

テーマ:自動車の整備＆修理 - ジャンル:車・バイク

Nokon Lives!

Jagwire Elite Link Cable Set??
I did not know about this product but now I do. It is an obvious Nokon successor. The RISK bamboo link cable set is its Chinese version (legally or illegally?). Are they the same or different? They appear very similar.

I found out about this while I was looking for some winter bike clothing.

A (20 red bamboo links) package (or Elite links, I should say) costs about 6 Euro (€). Surprisingly, the same packages (20 links) of black, gold and silver have totally different price tags! (16, 8 and 10)

Jagwire Elite Link Set costs around 50 Euro. I'm not going to buy the whole set but maybe I will find out by getting the 20-link package.

Nokon lives!!
While I was being surprised to find the Jagwire Elite Cable Set, I also found "Nokon KonKavex Universal Shift or Brake Set" sold at the same online shop. It lives!

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Nokon Lives!]の続きを読む

テーマ:自動車の整備＆修理 - ジャンル:車・バイク

RISK, a Nokon copycat?

Risk® Riding Is My Life (from its package)
I bought this product from China and it arrived this afternoon called Risk®. It is a copycat or ripoff of Nokon® bike cabling system that was popular (was it?) around 20 years ago.

Please Google "Nokon" if you don't recognize the name. I always loved Nokon for its look since I got my first ever road bike back in 2004 (I think). It was Cervélo Soloist (the original aluminum) 2004 model. It was built by an online shop in Germany. It was built with Shimano DuraAce with Shimano cable.

I soon modified the cabling system with Nokon. My second road bike, Cervélo RS is assembled with Nokon, of course and SRAM Red (10-speed).

Since the supply of Nokon has become scarce (I think they stopped operating altogether), I have to find compatible products to keep it going (to maintain my Nokon cabling system).

That's when I found this Risk® product sold on AliExpress. Now they have arrived, I will see if they are really ~~compatible~~ (comparable).

RISK versus NOKON cable systems
I recently bought two sets (since the seller's description said two sets for one bike full system - braking and shifting lines).

I bought black ones. I have not used them yet so this is not a review. I just write down what I have noticed by just fiddling with them.

1. More parts
The kit (as RISK sells other small parts) includes numerous small parts.
1. Bamboo links (1.3 meters) and additional "repair parts" 10 links
2. Oil catheter (3 meters x 2)
3. Seals and Copper sleeves (each 4 pieces)
4. Oil guide cables (0.3 meters x 2)
5. Guide cable end caps (2 pieces)
6. Aluminum cable end caps (6 pieces)
7. Mini-Cable protectors (10 pieces)
8. Rotating S buckles (2 pieces)
9. Cable Adjustment Screws (2 pieces)
10. Catheter dust plugs (2 pieces)
11. Heat shrinkable tail caps (4 pieces)

1. "Bamboo" links
These are the aluminum CNC-milled (I'm guessing) and anodized beads. They call them Bamboo links. How Chinese they are! Bamboo plants (I think they have more than 100 kinds) are very common in Asia and some are main staple of Pandas.

The Germans (where Nokon originated from) could have nicknamed them Baumkuchen. In deed, RISK links are shaped like bamboo stems with a curvy body where as NOKON links are shaped like Baumkuchen without curves. I'm waiting for an Italian manufacturer steps in with Macaroni links or Rigatoni links.

I'm Japanese and bamboo plants are so common in my native country and we eat their young shoots (sprouts).

2. Oil catheter
This is what I really wanted to acquire. I don't find these tubes (Teflon coated inner tube?) in Europe anymore.
I also bought these tubes separately from AliExpress.

3. Seals and Copper sleeves
The seal and Copper Sleeve are used together. It resides at the end of line where lubrication oil (by oil I think they mean substance less viscous than grease) has to be contained as the pictures show.

On the instruction diagram, they are used at the both ends of a brake line but not at the ends of a shifting line. I don't know why.

One important feature of these copper sleeves is that they have outer diameter size of 5 millimeters.

4. Oil guide cable
This is a normal BRAKE cable (5 millimeters of outer diameter) cut in 30 centimeters. They lie quietly under the bar tape. A cable tension adjuster screw (or whatever you call it) operates at one end.

Nokon prepared special cables for this part. They were made of stainless steel and much like a metal chimney duct. I don't think they (Nokon company) had tension adjusters in mind when they designed this.

A cable tension adjustment screw does NOT operates as expected if the outer casings (cables) spin. If you don't understand what I mean here, please stop reading right here.

I think I have to add a plastic cable end (a cap) here to increase the friction between the "Oil Guide Cable" and the "Cable Adjustment Screw".

I'm sure I have some plastic end caps lying around.

5. Guide cable end cap
These come in handy when you decide to forfeit cabl tension adjusters. It has a stopper (narrow choking flange) in the middle so that two outer cables can be joined.

6. Aluminum cable end cap
This is used at one end of an outer cable. It is just like other normal end cap but since it is made of aluminum and anodized, it has less friction than cheap plastic end caps.

There are end caps made of steel (stainless steel?) and those are shiny.

If one decides to put cable tension adjuster on the shifting line (I don't think you need it on the brake line), I think (at least I will) that a plastic end cap to prevent the whole adjuster from spinning.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, I recommend that you stop reading.

I don't know if I will use an adjuster. I have used and failed before.

7. Mini-Cable protectors
Nokon included in its kit, vinyl tubes cut in 4 or 5 centimeters long. I used them. Although they worked, they tend to collect dirt and become murky as they age (from exposure to the elements like ultraviolet ray?).

This cable protector (or more aptly frame paint protector) has some bonus. It is advertized passive luminous! That will make night riding an exciting experience!

8. Rotating S buckles
I don't think I will need these on my bike.

9. Cable Adjustment Screws
Already enough said.

Oh, one thing; I don't know why they include two of them. Do you need one on the brake line?

Oh, another thing; I did find this screw in the installation instructions but its installation method is completely wrong. How wrong? Dead wrong! It won't work that way.

You are on your own if you want to install any (inevitably shifting) cable tension adjuster. Do not follow the instructions from the manufacturer!

I have experience although it was unsuccessful. (After all those struggles and failure) Now I know how to install one on the shifting line.

10. Catheter dust plugs
This is a neat product. It comes at one end of the inner liner (oil catheter) before the exposed end (brake or shifter).

It seems that it is also made of passive luminous silicon rubber.

11. Heat shrinkable tail caps
It is a replacement of normal cable tips (end crimps). I don't know if I use them. The best cable end treatment is soldering. I haven't found the right solution (literally the right solution called soldering flux).

Noticeable differences
1. These bamboo links are shaped in a way that make them stick slightly (firmer than Nokon beads?) to one another. It may be because of the round edges.

2. Nokon provided shorter barrels (beads or whatever you may call them) for tighter curves typically for the curve before the rear derailleur whereas RISK does not. Because of the round edges, they seem to be able to make a tigher curve.

3. RISK provides more gimmicks like rubber seals and copper sleeves than Nokon did.

4. RISK has two slightly different assembly instructions. One for the brake lines and another for the shifting lines.

The Brake line needs the seal and copper sleeve at the shifter and at the brake. On the other hand, the shifting line does not seem to require them. At least no mention of them in the instructions. I don't understand the reason.

Notes
RISK also has plastic cable end caps on its lineup. The product pictures indicate that they fit inside the plastic cable end caps. They should also fit inside the aluminum cable end caps.

Those plastic cable end caps have two kinds, brake line (5 millimeters) and shifting line (4 millimeters). The copper sleeves must have corresponding size.

In the installation diagram, the brake line shows this cable end cap only at the cable stop on the frame but does not show this cable end cap at the shifter or brake. I had to conclude that I could not trust this installation paper.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [RISK, a Nokon copycat?]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

The right stuff or gear for a comfortable camping trip

Camp shower equipment
Yes. There are many types.
1. A simple water-proof bag with a tiny plastic shower head,
2. An air-pressure tank with air-pomp with a shower head on a long hose.
3. An electric water pomp with a shower head on a long hose.

I have type 1. It folds to a size slightly bigger than my fist. It has to be hung from a tree branch or something. Or one of my arms is occupied by this bag.

Later I bought type 2 product. It has a 7-litter solid tank. It is sizable and it is not easy to take it on a camping trip.

Once (2019) I took this type 2 product on the camping tour for 3 weeks. It had to rest in a bag (https://boot-bag.com/store/default/boot-bag-original.html) fixed on the trunk lid. I used it twice or thrice during the Tour de France trip.

Will I take it on the trip in 2025? My 2025 Tour de France trip itinerary is almost done and I expect 10 to 12 nights where I miss the comfort of staying at camp sites. A small bag or a big tank? This troubles me.

Lord! I did not know my camping trip was going to be so hard. I try to find camp sites on my way to the destinations but it is not too easy to find the right ones.

Oh, don't ask me about the toilet situation! It is easy or easier for a man to answer the call of nature. I'm not too concerned.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [The right stuff or gear for a comfortable camping trip]の続きを読む

テーマ:アウトドア - ジャンル:趣味・実用

Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 5

Part 5 of Itinerary

Part IV （The Alps stages）

Rest Day 2 Mon 07/21/2025 Montpellier

16. Mountain Tue 07/22/2025 Montpellier > Mont Ventoux (172 km)

17. Flat Wed 07/23/2025 Bollène > Valence (161 km)

18. Mountain Thu 07/24/2025 Vif > Courchevel Col de la Loze (171 km)

19. Mountain Fri 07/25/2025 Albertville > La Plagne (130 km)

20. Hilly Sat 07/26/2025 Nantua > Pontarlier (185 km)

21. Flat Sun 07/27/2025 Mantes-la-Ville > Paris Champs-Élysées (120 km)

Mon. 21/07 - Rest Day 2
Tue. 22/07 - Stage 16
Wed. 23/07 - Stage 17
Thu. 24/07 - Stage 18
Fri. 25/07 - Stage 19
Sat. 26/07 - Stage 20
Sun. 27/07 - Stage 21

Rest Day 2
Stop: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Transfer: 350 km (Col de Pas du Sant - Montpellier - Mont Ventoux)
Accommodation: sleeping in the tent Mont Ventoux

Because of the timely rest day, I can drive up Mont Ventoux and stay on the side of the road. If I am physically fit I will try to climb down to Bedoin and then climb up to the summit on my bike.

The rest day is Monday. Another shopping day! I'll stock up.

I have slept in the tent on the roadside twice already. It was fun. Once (2007? or 2008?) I was there just one or two hundred meters down the summit. The race was Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré (it was callled this way back then). I saw Christoph Moreau win the stage on top of Mont Ventoux. Because this stage race is (was) a smallish (way samller than the Tour de France) race event, fewer audience were there. That is why I could park my car (Mercedez A Class back then) and stay there.

The second time it was a stage of the Tour de France 2009. I stayed about a couple of hundred meters above Chalet Reynard. I remember from there I rode down to Bedoin and then climbed up on my bike. It was fun. I'll do it again.

The expected road closure time is 16:00 on the eve of Stage 16, which is the second rest day (July 21st).

Stage 16
Stop: Mont Ventoux
Transfer: 75 km (Bedoin to Deiulefit)
Accommodation: camp site near Deiulefit

I have not decided but I might drive to Dieulefit and stay there. It is a short drive.

Stage 17
Stop: Deiulefit
Transfer: 254 km (Dieufit to Moûtiers)
Accommodation: Col de Madeleine / Moûtiers (Bozel)

I have not totally decided on what to do. I may skip this stage or enjoy it. I want to watch the peloton on the climb of either Col de Madeleine or Courchevel. I have been to the former so I am inclined to visit Courchevel this time.

First I thought I would skip this stage. On second thought, thanks to the info Cycle Stage provided, I changed my mind. I found a climb section and thought I might as well enjoy it.

Deiulefit is a village at the foot of this climb section in Stage 17 not far from Bedoin. I see some camp sites nearby so it won't be so bad at all.

Bozel is a village located at around 1,000 meters above sea level in the mountain. There is an alternate path leading to Courchevel and Bozel is located there. The main (?) path from Moûtiers leading to Chourchevel is the race course and will be blocked at Moûtiers (located at the base / foot) around 16:00 while Stage 17 is wrapping up.

The following is totally a working theory (assumption) but based on the numbers below, I think it is a working plan at least.

Distance from the Start (Bollène)
65.5 km : Deiulefit: start of the climb
73 or 74 km : Summit of the climb:
90 km : Saou
92 km : Crossing D613 / D136

The bold yellow line is the route that BaseCamp suggests and, from the summit of the climb to the crossing (above), this section is around 14 km long. The peloton rides (the thinner yellow route D538) about 19 km (93 - 74).

By the time I arrive at the crossing point, the race will be gone. I think I can cross this point soon and continue my route (Dieufit to Moûtiers 254 km using 70 %?? highway) further to my destination.

By the time I cross this point, the time will be 13:00 to 14:00. If I am lucky, I may be able to beat the time limit (the road closure at Moûtiers) and drive up the main route to Courchevel. If not, I can still drive up the alternative route up to Bozel.

If I decide to opt for Col de Madeleine, I get off the highway and make my way to the bottom of Col de Madeleine. There might be road closure there or may be not yet enforced there. Even when the race routee is closed, I can still drive up the alternate route up to a village (Longchamp 1,650 meters) near the summit of Col de Madeleine (1,993 meters). Yes, there is an alternative route.

FYI, St. Fran&cced;ois Longchamp (1,587 meters) is the finish of Stage 8 (the TdF Women) 9 days later.

Knowing that 1. there's a climb in Stage 17 and 2. there are alternative climbing routes to both Col de Madeleine and Courchevel, I started thinking skipping Stage 17 would be a shame.

Stage 18
Stop: Courchevel / Col de Madeleine
Transfer: km (Moûtiers to Aime-la-Plagne)
Accommodation: Aime-la-Plagne (Ma&ccirc;ot)

Aime-la-Plagne is a village at the foot of la Plagne ski resort. Acutally there should be the road block at the small village of Ma&ccirc;ot where not roads join the route to Courchevel.

There are no aternative routes. I will stay there for the night and I won't be along for sure.

Stage 19
Stop: La Plagne
Transfer: 285 km (Ma&ccirc;ot to Thesy)
Accommodation: sleeping in the tent at Thesy

I can not stress enough how much I profitted from Cycling Stages. Usually this kind of detailed itinerary of my camping trip to follow the TdF can not be made possible until late June as the official site (lecout.fr) won't reveal the details until then (around the time of le Dauphiné Libéré). Now I have the complete itinerary and it's still November! Unbelievable!

Cycling Stage site is a godsend!

I don't know the official definition of "Hilly" but I assume that a stage without HC, 1st or 2nd Category climbs but with several 3rd Category climbs and/or its gained alititude sums up to a certain amount (1,000 meters?). This is only my imagination based on my hunch.

Officially the stage (20th) is "Hilly" but almost no details of the stage has been revealed by the organizer. I still can, however, plan exactly what to do from the info provided by Cycling Stage. I found this location, Thesy, from the profile data.

From Ma&ccirc;ot (Aime-la-Plagne) it is a drive of 285 km long to Thesy. I don't believe there will be any road closures on the course of Stage 20. I can drive freely to any locations in the evening.

I saw camp sites in Salins-les-Bains (or is it Bracon?) several kilometers away from Thesy (on the BaseCamp map). I may be able to stay there. If I can not take a shower and refresh, there's no chance. I will check if they really exist by searching them on the Internet.

I checked their backgrounds: At least one was real and the other turned out to be non-existent. Additionally I found more in nearby area (Arbois).

Arbois has a lot of wineries, I noticed. I don't drink wine.

Phantom camp sites?
I often run into this situation where I find ghost camp sites.

Sometimes around 19:00 in the evening I'm driving after the stage somewhere and could not find any "Camping" roadsigns. It's summer and the sun is still high. I get a bit worried not being able to find any camp sites to check in.

Then I look for camp sites on my Garmin navigation device (with "latest" map data update). I find one nearby and drive to it only to find it non-existent, a ghost, phantom, echo of the past or whatever.

This is either because the business has gone out of business or because the map has the wrong address (GPS coordinates).

Most camp sites (their receptions) stay open a bit later during summer. Still camp sites without a bar / restaurant close their reception after 19:00. Camp sites with a bar/restaurant will accept later arrivers like me as one of the active workers can handle the reception work.

In 2024, I ran into one (phantom) and then while cursing my bad luck I found a food truck (pizza, pizza food trucks are very popular in France). I stopped and asked them (two women) if they knew a camp site nearby. They pointed to one by giving me the general direction. I soon found a "Camping" roadsign. I eventually got there (20:00?) but it was not the phantom I was chasing (totally different name and different location). I was lucky as this camp site had a small bar. A happy ending!

This food truck was very close to the phantom but they never mentioned it. This means the phantom camp site must had gone out of business a long long time ago. I could not think of any other possibilities.

I know for a fact that some coordinates (GPS location information stored in the device) are wrong (at least not accurate). This is sometimes inevitable when some businesses are located at places out of a residential area. In other words, you can expect, say, 101 Sesame Street between 99 Sesame Street and 103 Sesame Street. It is so obvious in a residential area.

On the other hand, what kind of address do you expect for a desolate small cafe on top of some mountain? It does not have one. An address is mainly dor delivering mail, thus those desolate locations have a PO Box at the local post office. No postman visits them. The business owner visits the PO Box.

This is an extreme example but it is hard for map data makers to place some businesses at the right location on the map (GPS coordinates) if they only know their address. Many camp sites are located in the woods, on the river bank, on the lake shore or out in the field.

In this respect, Google maps data tend to be more accurate than my Garmin map data as users can contribute to Google if they find some mistakes.

How many times have I run into ghost camp sites? At least 30 times, I'm afraid.

Stage 20
Stop: Thesy
Transfer: 440 km (to Paris)
Accommodation: a brief nap in the car seat ;(

There is a climb located in the middle of the stage near Thesy.

After the stage, I will drive to Paris. A 440 km drive is not too bad at all. This year (2024) I had to drive home 1,100 km overnight from Monaco (Nice) to work in the afternoon.

I have some doubts. Am I going to Paris? I can skip it if ... if I want to. In fact I am planning to continue following women's Tour de France.

Stage 21
Stop: Champs-Élysées???
Transfer: ?
Accommodation: ?

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 5]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 4

Part 4 of Itinerary
Part III （The Pyrenees stages）

Rest Day 1 Tue 07/15/2025 Toulouse
11. Flat Wed 07/16/2025 Toulouse > Toulouse (154 km)
12. Mountain Thu 07/17/2025 Auch > Hautacam (181 km)
13. ITT Fri 07/18/2025 Loudenvielle > Peyragudes (11 km)
14. Mountain Sat 07/19/2025 Pau > Luchon-Superbagnères (183 km)
15. Hilly Sun 07/20/2025 Muret > Carcassonne (169 km)

I read (the Inner Ring site) that the teams are staying at the same hotels in Toulouse for 6 nights. The team bus drivers will be having busy days during the Pyrenees stages. Toulouse is a big city and the hotels may be scattered around the city. I may try to locate them if possible.

Since the hotel listing information has become restricted to those concerned (organizer, teams, and possibly the press), I have to ask someone in the know. I know some soigneurs and I will ask them to reveal the address of the hotels.

Tue. 15/07 - Rest Day 1
Wed. 16/07 - Stage 11
Thu. 17/07 - Stage 12
Fri. 18/07 - Stage 13
Sat. 19/07 - Stage 14
Sun. 20/07 - Stage 15

Stage 11 "Skip"
Stop: Toulouse
Transfer: 200 km (Toulouse to Hautacam)
Accommodation: sleeping in the tent Hautacam

I am planning to reach Toulouse as early as possible

Hautacam will be closed somewhre near Argelès-Gazost. I want to beat the time limit.

Stage 12
Stop: Hautacam
Transfer: 160 km (Hautacam to Peyragudes via Bagnères-de-Luchon)
Accommodation: Peyragudes

Hautacam has only one road leading to the summit. I have been there once. I don't remember how it went. Let me explain.

All the publicity caravan vehicles go up and they can not come down till the race finishes. I don't remember how they came down. I think those caravan vehicles came down once the road cleared. All the people were barred from moving until all those vehicles and riders came down. This happened frequently before.

It did not happen on Plateau de Beille this year (2024). I think all the cars waited for some time and began the descent. We were free to come down immediately after the riders were gone.

I was there on my bike so I did not know what those those people with vehicles were told. Maybe they were given instructions not to move until certain hours.

In 2025 I'll be there with my car, not too close to the finish still I think that I won't be able to get down to Argel&egrve;s-Gazost and driver further to the destination.

By the time I arrive at Bagnères-de-Luchon, it will be late in the evening (21:00?). I hope the route from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Peyragudes is OPEN. There is no reason for closing the route but you never know. I hope also the route (D11&) from Col de Peyresourde to Peyragudes is OPEN. This way

Stage 13
Stop: Peyragudes
Transfer: 20 km (Peyragudes to Bagnères-de-Luchon)
Accommodation: Bagnères-de-Luchon

Altiport of Peyragudes (Peyresourde-Balatestas Airport) is known for its appearance in the 18th 007 movie, so the Wikipedia told me.

"Tomorrow Never Dis 1997" featuring Pierce Brosnan as James Bond is the 18th production of the 007 Franchise.

The ITT is a hill climb event and should be won by one of the climbers. I wonder whether the riders choose a typical heavy TT bike or a lightweight bike with some bars for the aerodynamic position.

Once I was there to watch an ITT where the earlier half was flat and the later half was a hill climb. Many (and all of those who intended to win or gain time on others) riders switched bikes (TT bike complete with a heavy rear dish wheel to lighter bike) at the foot of the climb. I remember Jens Voigt (who did not want to deprive the team of its precious resources by demanding the switch) came on the TT bike all the way without a team car following him but nonetheless upbeat as always. Where was I then? I vaguely remember it was a stage of the Tour de Suisse.

I think all the riders opt for a lightweight bike.

I hope the weather is good, not too sunny, no rain but thin layer of cloud to give spectators some shades.

(If I am already near Col de Peyresourde with my car) After the stage, I can stay here as I'm already on the course of the next stage.

I think I'll drive back to Bagnères-de-Luchon and stay there. I don't remember ever having been to Luchon Superbagnères. If I see the climb, maybe I remember.

Obviously I visited these ares back in 2018 according to the blog entries left by none　other　than me! back then I visited three Spanish towns at the foot of Col de Portillon (1,292 m). I remember now.
1. Les, 2. Bossòst, 3. Vielha.

I don't think I have ever been to uchon Superbagnères.

Stage 14
Stop: Luchon Supersagnères
Transfer: 199 km (no toll: Col du Pas du Sant)
Transfer: 230 km (toll: Col du Pas du Sant)
Accommodation: sleepig in the tent Col du Pas du Sant

I think I'm going to climb the climb. It is a long climb.

After the stage, I will drive to Col du Pas du Sant and try to find a comfortable camp site nearby (I see some around). The transfer is relatively long but this place is not too far from Toulouse.

It is Saturday. I have to shop for some food.

Stage 15
Stop: Col du Pas du Sant
Transfer: Transfer: 350 km (Col de Pas du Sant to Montpellier - Mont Ventoux)
Accommodation: camp site on the way to Montpellier (Mont Ventoux)

I'll drive to (the direction of) Béziers and then continue on the highway. This would be a wiser move, I think. I will check in some camp site on the way. There are a constellation of camp sites at Saint-Pons-De-Thomières (60 km from Col du Pas du Sant).

If I have the address of the hotels that I want to visit in Monpellier, I will push to reach Montpellier early in the morning taking brief breaks on the way. This way I have ample time in Montpellier to shop (nourishment) and visit the hotels.

I know that riders will go out on a cafe ride (relaxed training) around 11:00 or 11:30 and come back around 13:00 or so. On the way out, one may ask for autographs or photo ops and on the way in, one may ask for the bidons on the bike.

After this I will drive to Mont Ventoux. From Montpellier there is still 150 km to go. I need to take the toll way to make the time limit. I try to get to Bedoin around 14:00.

(to be continued...)
In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 4]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 3

Part 3 of Itinerary
Chapter 2. (Transition to the Pyrenees)

8. Flat Sat 07/12/2025 Saint-Méen-le-Grand > Laval Espace Mayenne (174 km)
9. Flat Sun 07/13/2025 Chinon > Châteauroux (170 km)
10. Mountain Mon 07/14/2025 Ennezat > Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy (163 km)

Sat. 12/07 - Stage 08
Sun. 13/07 - Stage 09
Mon. 14/07 - Stage 10

Stage 08
Stop: Nuillé-sur-Vicoin
Transfer: 570 km (to Col de la Croix Saint-Robert)
Accommodation: camp site on the way

Nuillé-sur-Vicoin is close to the stage finish. It means that by the time I leave for the next destination, it's past 17:30 or so. That limits the time before the possible check-in. The transfer is long. I need some prior planning to make the journey less stressful.

How it goes (camp site transactions).
(https://www.camping-lelude.com/emplacements)

A camp site at le Lude (30 km South of le Mans).

I will explain the transactions at a typical camp site using this (Camping Municipal au Bord du Loir) as an example of my accommodation selection method.

The scheduled transfer is 570 km long and it can be devided in two parts.

1. After stage to 19:00 (or 20:00) before a typical reception of a camp site closes.

2. After the checkout (above) to the destination.

As Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin is close to the finish, the peloton passes around 17:00. I will leave for a camp site on the way looking out for the "Camping" roadsign along the route. Usually I don't search them beforehand.

I won't be driving on the highway. I will drive on the normal road. This camp site is located about 90 km from Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin. By the time I get there, it should be 19:00 to 20:00.

Its site tells me that during Summer, the reception is open until 19:30 and 19:00 on Saturdays. It also tells me that it does not have a bar/restaurant facilities. It means that once the reception is closed, no one can let me in.

Sometimes, on the window of the reception I find a notice telling me to call a certain number after the office hours. Sometimes someone comes to the office or I am told the code to open the gate if there's one. The paperwork is done right away or the next morning.

If I make a reservation with the online contact form and tell them that I may be arriving a bit late, they may give me the code and instruct me to stay and come to the office for paperwork the next morning. Or they may wait for me.

The office opens afer 09:00. I would like to leave earlier but it is acceptable. If I can do the paperwork and payment in the previous evening, I can just leave as early as 07:00. Leaving (or making noise) before 07:00 is a no-no at all camp sites. This is how it goes.

This camp site's name include "Municipal" and it means that this site is run by the local commune (town, village or so). The office work is done by a person who is tasked on commission. In this case the office hours are usually limited to morning hours (check-out) and evening hours (check-in). I know this because I have been to these sites.

I found another camp site at Sonzay. I don't go into the details but this site has a bar/resturant. The office stays open between 08:30 to 21:00 nonstop. This is typical because no doubt that the the bar tender can be the owner of the property and double as the receptionist. This is typical for a family-owned camp site. This site charges 2 Euros for Wifi access.

I don't like (or try to avoid) camp sites with a swimming pool as they tend to be more expensive and I don't have time to take a dip. My camping style is strictly like a touch-and-go (I'm the last one to check in and the first one to check out).

After the stage, I will drive to Col de la Croix Saint-Robert but won't be able to reach before the date changes.

Saturday is a shopping day!
One important thing is to stock up this day as almost all the supermarkets will be closed on both Sunday, 13th and Monday, 14th. I have to stock up.

Le Mans 24H is on 11th to 15th of July 2025. When I drive by Le Mans, I will get as close as 5 or 6 km from the circuit.

Severa years ago, I drove past le Mans and I thought I heard very high-pitched exhaust sounds in the air during the TdF. I don't remember how close I was.

Stage 09 "Skip"
Stop: none
Transfer: 570 km (to Col de la Croix Saint-Robert)
Accommodation: Col de la Croix Saint-Robert?

I am considering skipping this stage because otherwise I won't be able to beat the time limit (of the road closure at the foot). I want to reach Col de la Croix Saint-Robert.

If I stay at one of the camp sites described above, the remaining route is around 480 km long using mostly the French highway (tollway). The highway can be busy with families but should be void of big trucks and trailers.

I will reach the destination by 14:00 or so.

It is Sunday, 13th of July. It is the eve of French National Holiday (one of the most important dates, French version of July 4.) of the year. They celebrate it by shooting up some fireworks in the evening. I don't know if people will still do some festivities on Col de la Croix Saint-Robert.

Stage 10
Stop: Col de la Croix Saint-Robert
Transfer: 350 km (to Toulouse)
Accommodation: camp site on the way

It is a French holiday. Col de la Croix Saint-Robert is the penultimate climb of the day. The battle will be fierce as they all know that the next day is the rest day. The riders are aware that they can ride until the gas goes empty this day. Or Tadej Pogacar is simply destroying all French rider's dream to win a stage on their very important day?

After the stage, I will calmly and slowly drive to Toulouse. The transfer is 350 km long.
(to be continued...)

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 3]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 2

Part 2 of itinerary
I am preparing the images for illustration. They are not there yet.

Tiny useful conversion equations (to know the date)
Stage 1 to 10: Date = Stage No. + 4
Stage 11 to 15: Date = Stage No. + 5
Stage 16 to 21: Date = Stage No. + 6

Examples:
Stage 21 is held on 27th of July (Alps stages and later)
Stage 12 is held on 16th of July (Pyrenees stages)
Stage 9 is held on 13th of July
vice versa,
July 14th (French National Holiday) sees stage 10

On which day do they finish on top of Mont Ventoux (stage 16)? It's 22nd of July.
On which day do they finish on top of Hautacam (stage 12)? It's 17th of July.

Chapter 1.（Grand Départ, Normandie and Bretagne）
Stage - Type ------ Date --- Start and Finish (Distance)

1. Flat Sat 07/05/2025 Lille Métropole > Lille Métropole (185 km)
2. Hilly Sun 07/06/2025 Lauwin-Planque > Boulogne-sur-Mer (212 km)
3. Flat Mon 07/07/2025 Valenciennes > Dunkerque (178 km)
4. Hilly Tue 07/08/2025 Amiens Métropole > Rouen (173 km)
5. ITT Wed 07/09/2025 Caen > Caen (33 km)
6. Hilly Thu 07/10/2025 Bayeux > Vire Normandie (201 km)
7. Hilly Fri 07/11/2025 Saint-Malo > Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (194 km)

Wed. 02/07 -
Thu. 03/07 - Team Presentation
Fri. 04/07 -
Sat. 05/07 - Stage 01
Sun. 06/07 - Stage 02
Mon. 07/07 - Stage 03
Tue. 08/07 - Stage 04
Wed. 09/07 - Stage 05
Thu. 10/07 - Stage 06
Fri. 11/07 - Stage 07

Itinerary:
There is this ceremony, Team Presentation that takes place on Thursday, two days before the Grand Départ. All the riders are presented before the audience. Most of the time it is a public event (meaning no tickets required and anybody can attend) and on 'first come first served' basis.

On rare occasions it is held indoors and you need reservation at no cost or purchasing tickets (like the one held in an arena in Leeds Yorkshire UK in 2014 and I was there).

It is not so special but you get to see all the riders and hear some of them talk on the stage. Usualy it is held in the afternoon and if it is held in France, the show is run in French and English.

On Friday, I visit the hotels where the team are staying. Since the first three stages are held in a small area, it is safe to assume they stay at the same hotels until Tuesday morning. I like visiting them on this day because they are relaxed. You can ask for some pictures and autograph.

It was easy to find the hotels before as all the hotels were listed on the detailed version of the roadbook. Nowadays the list of the hotels is gone. I have to guess where they are staying now. Ibis is one of the Partners (suppliers or sponsors) of the Tour de France. Naturally, they (Ibis hotels) are frequently hosting some teams.
There could be some surprises. Once I ran into Cadel Evans (Australian TdF winner of 2011) in 2019 when I visited the hotel where Team Qhubeka (formerly Dimension Data) was staying to see Lars Ytting Bak. I asked him for a photo with me. I had my Hannah (back then only 3 months old) with me so he told me to hold the cat so he could take the photo.

Team Presentation:
The venue is unknown but I assume it would be the square in front of the Mairie de Lille (Lille city hall). I may attend it.

I intend to find a nice camp site not too close to Lille for Thursday and Friday. I don't like crowded camp sites as I am with Hannah (a shy timid girl cat). She plays freely at camp sits. She is used to being outdoors.

Stage 01
a. Stop: Côte de Cassel (Casselberg*)
b. (after stage) Transfer: almost none
c. Accommodation (overnighting): Camp site near Cassel

*Belgian race organizers call it Casselberg (it is not an official name that you would find on a map), which means none other than Côte de Cassel (climb of Cassel).

The course (185 km) is mostly flat except for the three climbs (I think category 4?). One of them is the climb at Cassel. This climb is located almost on the border between France and Belgium. Some Belgian road races feature it on occasions. In fact I may have been there before. I just don't remember.

The beginning of the climb, the crossing of D916 and D933, is a choking point of the course. If you watch the race and walk about 100 meters (110 yards), you will meet the riders for the second time in about fifteen minutes as they make a small loop of 10 km (6 miles).

Even if you wait for the race on top of the climb, you can still watch some of the riders twice by taking a shortcut down the hill for about 700 meters (half a mile) to D916 (though it may not worth the panting and sweating).

Stage 02
a. Stop: Côte de Saint-Étienne-Au-Mont
b. Transfer: 80 km (Back to the camp site)
c. Accommodation: Camp site near Cassel

The second stage is "hilly" according to the organizer. It features numerous small hills (knolls?) not higher than 200 meters. Côte de Saint-Étienne-Au-Mont is about 80 km away from Cassel. I will drive there in the morning and come back to Cassel in the evening.

Stage 03
a. Stop: Côte de Cassel (Casselberg)
b. Transfer: 258 km (Cassel to Belbeuf)
Transfer: 215 km (ditto - No toll)
Transfer: 270 km (Cassel to le Pont-Saint-Pierre)
c. Accommodation: camp site on the way

The second time? I have not decided but the course (178 km) is really as flat as a pancake. I think this place would be popular, literally full of people.

After the stage, I have a long transfer (more than 200 km). I will check in a camp site on the way. I will look out for the "Camping" signs like this.

As usual I drop in on a camp site on the way before 20:00.

Stage 04
a. Stop: Belbeuf / le Pont-Saint-Pierre
b. Transfer: 150 km (le Pont-Saint-Pierre to Rosel)
c. Accommodation: roadside camping?

These are the climbs near Reuen. I will be there.

After the stage, I will drive straight to Caen and inspect the ITT course. The course (parcours in French) is as flat as flitter.

There are two choking points on the course. One is a relatively big roundabout and the other is just an intersection (par Google Street View). I am very sure you will see the riders simultaneously at the latter.

I assume that the course is closed and riders might start riding the course before the publicity caravan. It is possible that the ITT course is closed from 08:00 to 18:00.

For this reason, I would prefer staying on the course instead of seeking a camp site nearby.

Stage 05
a. Stop: Rosel
b. Transfer: 51 km (Rosel to le Vey)
c. Accommodation: camp site near le Vey

Camping les Rochers des Parcs
French (https://www.camping-normandie-clecy.eu/)
English (https://www.camping-normandie-clecy.com/)

Rosel is a small village on the outskirt of Caen. There is a very subtle ascending road (1 to 2 %) there so you don't really call it a climb. I like this location because the road (D126) seems to be a local narrow road.

As expected, this D126 section is a narrow road through patches of meadow pasture according to Google Street View.

After the stage, I will drive only for about 50 km.

Stage 06
a. Stop: le Vey
b. Transfer: 255 km (le Vey to Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan)
c. Accommodation: camp site at Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan

Le Vey is a small town (village) at the foot of small climb. It is located at about 60 km from the start. It seems that this small climb is steep. Since the race will pass around noon or bit later?, I can leave for the next destination early.

Google Street View tells me that the road D133A is a narrow road with no divider lines at all. The road side is narrow. I think I have to park on the farmer's property of some kind (seemingly corn and grass fields, food for the local cattle). I think a lot of people do the same.

The transfer is relatively long. As le Vey is only some 60 km from the start (Bayeux), I'm done with the race early in the afternoon. I hope I reach Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan by 17:00.

I realized something. I have to cross one time or another the race course on my way to the destination. In other words, if I'm lucky I may see the race again. I have to be careful not to run into the race course more than necessary.

Mûr-de-Bretagne (Guerlédan) is a well known name if you love the Tour de France. It is a frequent venue. I have been there twice, I believe. There is a huge free parking space provided by (supposedly) the local city at the intersection of D767 and N164. I usually spend the night there. Only toilets are provided there.

There are many camp sites in the area, too. They can be full (in French 'complet').

Stage 07
a. Stop: Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan
b. Transfer:195 km (to craon / Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin)
c. Accommodation: camp site on the way

Cmping Municipal Montauban-de-Bretagne
(https://www.montauban-de-bretagne.fr/camping-municipal/)
Monday - Friday : 9h to 12h and 13h30 to 17h
(This camp site is not for me as there are too much restrictions)

Camping Municipal Vitré
(https://www.vitre.bzh/camping-municipal)
(This camp site is not so good for me, either)

The last time I was at Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan I stayed at the lower part of the climb. Why not the steeper part of the climb? Because the lower part has trees so I could stay in the shade. The upper part provides almost no shade.

The planned transfer is 195 km long. Stage 8 is desperately flat with no hills highger than 150 meters or so.

After the stage I will drive around 200 km to Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin, maybe. It is located about 17 km from the finish. According to Cycling Stage and Google Street View, there is a slight climb and nice wide roadside with possible shade.

It is likely that I will seek for a camp site on the way or just get to Nuillé-sur-Vicoin and sleep in the tent.

There are camp sites along the way but many are "municipal" sites and their reception hours are not really convenient for someone like me who arrives late in the evening.

(to be continued...)

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Tour de France 2025 and the itinerary 2]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

Luggage carrier for a bike

Front fork luggage carrier rack

(Pet basket)
This basket was very useful on my Brompton after tying an adapter to make it firmly fixed on the Brompton.

(Pet carrier Backpack)
This could be useful when I ride my road bike to carry my Hannah.

(Luggage rack)
These could be useful when I want to carry some paint on my road bike.

(Luggage rack)
(ditto)

(Paint tray)
I don't like one of these but ...

I am planning or I just want to take my bike with me on my Tour de France 2025 camp trip. This year (2024) I took my Brompton with me. I enjoyed it. I took it up Plateau de Beille up to around 4 or 5 km down the finish.

Brompton's carrier system is well designed. The front basket is attached to the bracket fixed on the frame (on the column tube) so that the basket stays stable compared to the one attached to the handle bar or front fork.

I have a pet carrier basket complete with a wire cover. I attached a stay and it attaches to the Brompton. It worked well and I could take a 5L (5 litter) paint pail and Hannah inside the basket.

In 2025 I would like to take my road bike (Cervélo) with me. It takes extra work on my part if I take a road bike. I have to put the Saris Bones hitch rack (2-bike) on my Mazda MX-5. Yes, my Mazda MX-5 is equipped with a trailer hitch (detachable).

I remove the wheels and keep them inside the car while driving. I put the entire bike inside the car when I leave the car for more than 10 minutes or so (while shopping at supermarket).

OK, then what happens to Hannah? How should I take her and the painting kit (paint, roller and tray) with me when I take my road bike?

I don't see any suitable baskets that would fit a road bike. Yes, I can find small (narrow) ones but I don't like the way they look on a road bike.

So I bought this backpack. It is not as roomy as the basket I use on the Brompton. This way I don't need any modification to the bike.

Usually I keep 5 L (5 litter) pail bucket as it can stay in my tiny car and also I can carry it with ease. When I take it on the bike, I mix the paint with water before I leave to save space (as you can see the total weight stays the same).

OK, then what happens to the paint kit? I think I am going to buy these fork mount racks. I think I can tie (fix) large PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles and others (our food and other equipment). I haven't bought them yet. I am still considering.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ

[Luggage carrier for a bike]の続きを読む

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Luggage carrier for a bike

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