Raften
Northern Calfornia
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Joined: 01/27/2003
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If you watch the mountain stages of the Tour you can get an idea of the RV's (they are parked at the tops of the climbs) used in Europe. Not many TC's but I did see two. Waymard, are you one of them? I looked for a grey truck but didn't see one. Today is a nasty one in the rain and the decents are scary.
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weymard
FRANCE
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Joined: 11/07/2008
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No, unfortunately I had not the time to go on the Tour in mountains this year. Next year I hope. It is so funny, a big circus ! These next days will be exciting with Alps mountains ! The TC still rare in Europe (except Germany)
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Raften
Northern Calfornia
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I haven't seen the guy in the Devil costume this year. Our own superman Lance is right up there in third or forth. Gives us old guys a boost.
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weymard
FRANCE
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Ah Ah ! Yes the Devil costume is absentee this year ! However it had been years since he was on all stages, may be he is ill ?
Oh yes, Lance is incredible ! He stay in the race ! he makes me think of an old French runner named Poulidor, but Poulidor was always second , Lance may win one more time this year !
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Raften
Northern Calfornia
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Whoever is awsome as are all those that can do that grueling ride. Levi Lipenheimer is out with a broken wrist, he is from my neck of the woods. I noticed the RV's I see are compact, guess they would have to be to drive those roads. I'm guessing most run on gas instead of diesel.
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sootyme
Cotati California
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Joined: 09/13/2007
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Most euro Rvs run on diesel not gasoline. We rented a class B (Fiat chassis, 5 sp 4 cyl turbo diesel 24 mpg( for two months in 2007, we caught stage 10 of the TDF (Col de Galibier).
We were on the downhill side of the Col, to get a prime spot at or near the top you needed to be there 1 week before.
Many fans follow the entire TDF in their rv's, they set up to see one stage and the next day leapfrog ahead to the following days stage route, to get a good spot.
Nobody really has pickup trucks in Europe, but many people tow small trailers with their small cars.
Even most (90%) of the class a motorhomes are turbo diesel 4 or 5 speed, 95% are 4 cyl.
You hardly ever see someone towing a car behind the rv - most Euros carry bicycles on board.
Euro campgrounds are really packed full in the summer - for that reason we drycamped about 3/4 of our 2 months there.
Best countries for dry (free meaning no money paid to park) are Germany and France.
A big Euro rv is 25 or 27 ft, most (including the class a's) are sub 24 feet and majority are 18 to 22 feet (talking motorized not trailers)/
We have been to Euro twice (one time rented a small class c 23 mpg 5 sp 4cyl turbo diesel) in rvs and New Zealand once (small class c 23 mpg, 4 cyl turbo diesel 5 sp( (rving).
I have owned rvs for the last 25 years including several truck campers, class b's, class c's, class a's including bus conversions and 40 ft diesel pushers.
Jonny
Sonoma CA
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DIYGuy
TX, NY and all points in between.
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The Devil was on the side of the road in Stage 11 for about 3 seconds. I might watch just a little to much tour coverage ever since my wife got to see #5 in Paris.
An awful lot of MB Sprinters on the side of the road there. That would be the big ones. 
I think we'll see Lance and Alberto get to the bottom of Ventoux with Alberto in Yellow by '02. They'll be given the OK to battle it out man to man.
Wish I could get mor emiles out on the '00 Postal bike, just too rainy this year. Next week is going to be 5 days of amazing racing.
Full-Timers, Class of 2011
2002 Volvo VNL770 Toter - Optimus Prime
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Neverhappy
Europe
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Raften wrote:I haven't seen the guy in the Devil costume this year. Our own superman Lance is right up there in third or forth. Gives us old guys a boost.
Don't worry, he's still there & as active as ever, he even appeared the first day in Monte-Carlo
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Neverhappy
Europe
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All you need to know about the Tour de France devil
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McZip
Wisconsin
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Today's Stage 14 results: Poor George.
Weymard, We've been considering coming over next year for the last week of the Tour. Would renting a Motor Home be a good choice?
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