Pedal Dancer®: Guess Where?

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23 February 2012

Guess Where? #7

More Cycling Travels & Sites

Can you guess where we have cycled to now? More sites that a cycling fan might take in as a fan of travel and of the sport of cycling, here we go .......

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©Photo by PedalDancer

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©Photo by PedalDancer

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©Photo by PedalDancer

#1 Crédit Lyonnaise Tour de France Caravan Vehicle

The symbol of the major sponsor of the Tour de France - Crédit Lyonnaise (one of the French Banks, based in Lyons, and owned by Crédit Agricole since 2003) is the face of the modern Tour de France. The large yellow cyclist is often the lead vehicle in the official Tour de France Publicity Caravan. Crédit Lyonnaise places it's corporate brand name on several items throughout the race and is responsible for 26 years of Tour de France Sponsorship.

LCL is printed on the yellow cyclist vehicle in the caravan (seen above) as well as the large Lion vehicle in the Caravan. Each day at the Tour de France, on the podium, the winner of the yellow jersey receives a lion stuffed animal. A team bus displaying the LCL lions in their front window is a very happy team. I'm sure you have noticed the recognizable LCL on the yellow jersey (maillot jaune) marking Crédit Lyonnaise (LCL) as the proud sponsor of the overall winners jersey since 1987.

#2 Tour de France Publicity Caravan

Speaking of the Caravan, this moving wonder has been in full force since 1930! The Caravan actually was devised as a result of the first tour director Henri Desgrange's attempt to create a competition between National teams at the Tour de France. National teams brought national pride, but not financial support for the overall race. The caravan was created as a packaged publicity opportunity and a source of income for the then race organizers. It has now become a long tradition.

Today 39% of spectators come first and foremost to see the caravan. The procession of vehicles lasts more than 45 minutes and precedes the riders and team cars of the Tour de France by up to 2 hours. Those at home may not glimpse the caravan on TV, but to a fan at the Tour de France, participating in the celebration of the grabbing (and dodging) of gifts (promotional items) thrown to fans from the caravan is great fun. Some items are more prized than others especially the shirts and hats, but you might also catch key chains, pens, candy, noise makers, water bottles, cakes, and even sausages! See a list of Sponsors of the Tour de France.

The Tour de France Caravan is:

A 20-km long parade
160 colorful and decorated vehicles
600 caravanists (those are the cray people on the vehicles)
33 brands represented
16 million gifts given away
45-minute long procession
12 members of the republican guard
4 traffic regulator motorcyclists
3 medical cars
€ 200,000 to € 500,000 investment for each advertiser

#3 Rodin's The Thinker

Since we followed the Publicity Caravan all the way in the city of Paris, I thought we'd just stay here and have a look around. This is The Thinker (no it is not Tim Tebow). Auguste Rodin created this sculpture from marble and bronze in 1902. It now rests at the Musée Rodin in Paris, which is on the grounds of the former Hôtel Biron (and in my opinion the location is almost more impressive than the museum).

Did you know, The Thinker was originally titled The Poet? The Thinker originated as one of the figures on The Gates of Hell crafted by Rodin. The detail was first named "The Thinker" by foundry workers who noted its similarity to Michelangelo's statue of Lorenzo de Medici called Il Penseroso, the Thinker.

Rodin's The Thinker ©Photo by PedalDancer

Rodin's Gates of Hell are located meters away from The Thinker and are quite impressive as well.

Rodin's The Gates of Hell ©Photo by PedalDancer

Apparently The Thinker did a lot of thinking in Hell. Rodin worked on The Gates of Hell piece on and off for 37 years (1880-1917), until his death in 1917. The Gates measure 6 m high, 4 m wide and 1 m deep (19.69'H × 13.12'W × 3.29'D) and contain 180 figures.

©Photo by PedalDancer

If you follow the Caravan into Paris to see the finish of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysées, be sure to stop by to see these sculptures at the Musée Rodin, that is after you visit the Louvre and L'Orangerie and so many other wonderful sites of la Cité. You may also see a cast of The Thinker at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, and at the Art Center at Stanford University in California.

View the other Guess Where series:

Guess Where? #6

Guess Where? #5

Guess Where? #4

Guess Where? #3

Guess Where? #2

Guess Where? #1

16 February 2012

Guess Where? #6

Where have we pedaled to now

Another week of adventure and more desktop traveling to France. Can you guess the locations of these 3 sites?

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©Photo by PedalDancer/DRR

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©Photo by PedalDancer

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©Photo by PedalDancer

Answers

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port ("Saint John at the foot of the mountain pass" in French).

Located in Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is one of the major towns in the French Basque area of the Pyrenees. Once razed by Richard the Lionheart, the town was rebuilt in the same spot on the famed route of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela over the Roncevaux Pass. Only 6km from the border of Spain, Basque is still spoken on both sides of the border. The town is situated along the river Nive and is wonderfully picturesque with tiled roofs, rust or brown colored shutters, buildings constructed of pink and grey schist, and cobbled streets typical of the area.

I had read that Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port was a growing center of cycling and so we made a point, on a rest day, to travel to visit the town in 2008. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the old capital of the traditional Basque province of Lower Navarre, and if you have not yet tried a Navarre chilled rosé wine, please do so. Vineyards are increasing in the area, land prices are rising, and the area in a growing trend in popularity. The region reminds me of areas of Tuscany, Italy, and the central coast of California. It is neat and tidy with plentiful cafes and rolling green scenery. Mondays are market days and Sheeps cheese is a delicious local specialty.

River Nive through Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port ©Photo by PedalDancer/DRR

Landscape of Saint-Jean-Pied-De-Port ©Photo by PedalDancer/DRR

Port to Spain ©Photo by PedalDancer/DRR

Gothic church, Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont ©Photo by PedalDancer/DRR

Signs in the area are in both French and Basque

Basque flag

Pic du Midi de Bigorre

It took me until my forth trip to the Pyrenees to understand that there was more than one Pic du Midi along the mountain range of the French Pyrenees. The most well known is Pic du Midi de Bigorre the grand peak above the Col du Tourmalet. The peak (pic) supports the highest observatory in France (Observatoire du Pic du Midi de Bigorre) initially constructed in 1878! NASA placed a large telescope in the building in 1963 in preparation for the Apollo missions to the moon. The observatory now houses a number of instruments and telescopes and has made numerous major discoveries. The road (on the west side) to the top begins just to the left of the souvenir shop on Col du Tourmalet. The road is rocky and rough and not always passable due to snow pack.

Continue past the souvenir shop on Col du Tourmalet ©Photo by PedalDancer

Hike to Pic du Midi de Bigorre ©Photo by PedalDancerr

The rocky road down from Pic du Midi de Bigorre in June ©Photo by PedalDancer

On the other side of this road (seen above) down the east side of the Col du Tourmalet lies the town of La Mongie, from this town you may take a steep cable car ride up to the observatory. This video will give you an idea of the massive area around the Col du Tourmalet, and perhaps why this climb is so magical on a small bicycle. Video: Pic du Midi de Bigorre - Cable Car Ride - All the way to the top!

There is another beautiful mountain peak that is a noticeable landmark on the mountain scape of the Pyrenees named Pic du Midi d'Ossau. This peak is slightly west of the other Pic du Midi with wonderful hiking trails and lakes. I hiked near the base of the peak in 2005, horses and cows roamed among green pastures and lakes, and the sound of cowbells filled the air. It was a rocky steep hike up the hillsides but a very enjoyable hike to Lac de Bious-Artigues. Take the D934 south of Pau and keep going (past the turn left up the D918 to the Col d'Aubisque) until you reach the town of Gabas, park and start hiking.

lake near Pic du Midi d'Ossau ©Photo by PedalDancer

Pic du Midi hiking ©Photo by PedalDancer

Pic du Midi d' Ossau from the Ossau Valley south of Pau ©Photo by PedalDancer

Flamme Rouge (Red Kite)

The red kite is the pennant marking the final kilometer of a bike race. The site of the flag means the race is almost over and the winner about to be determined. The banner inspires the phrase red kite prayer, supposedly naming the gesture of bowing the head as riders pass under the flag, digging deep in their last 1 kilometer of hard effort. I need to start paying better attention because I don't think I've ever noticed a rider actually doing this, but the popular blog Red Kite Prayer, inspired by the name, claims it to be a true tradition. I do know every time I am watching a break away or lone rider in the lead, and the rider passes under that red kite, I find myself cheering "come on you can make it, go!" The red kite is a long tradition in the Tour de France but is also used in other international races. The flamme rouge remains a very happy site for cyclists.

Red Kite at the finish line of the Tour de France ©Photo by PedalDancer

Red Kite being set up at the Criterium du Dauphine ©Photo by PedalDancer

Where we traveled to this week: click map to enlarge

A. Pic du Midi de Bigorre; B. Pic du Midi d'Ossau; C. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

View the other Guess Where series:

Guess Where? #5

Guess Where? #4

Guess Where? #3

Guess Where? #2

Guess Where? #1

09 February 2012

Guess Where? #5

Where have we pedaled to now?

Time to once again take a journey and see if you can guess where these three landmarks are located, ready ....

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©Photo by PedalDancer.com

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©Photo by PedalDancer.com/Kenny Rakestraw

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©Photo by PedalDancer.com

Answers

#1 The Giant of the Tourmalet sculpture (Montée du Géant du Tourmalet)

This enormous silver sculpture sits atop a stone wall on the summit of the Col du Tourmalet. No sooner do you reach the top of the Tourmalet, then the descent quickly begins off the other side, but here, in this narrow ridge of a mountain pass sits this very recognizable landmark welcoming cyclists and tourists. The statue was built in 1999 to honor the first leg of the Tour de France in the Pyreness, and was dedicated to the first winner, Octave Lapize.

The statue used to, for years (please read comments by VeloPeloton), rest for the winter in the garden outside the Laurent Fignon Cycling Center (now closed), in Gerde near the town of Bagnéres de Bigorre, down valley from the Col du Tourmalet (but now rests in Tarbes, 50 km away, according to VeloPeloton). The first Saturday of June the statue re-emerges from it's winter hibernation and is ceremoniously accompanied by a legion of nearly 1000 cyclists back to it's glorious place on the peak. On it's journey back to the top, the statue and participants make stops in the towns along the route including Sainte-Marie de Campan, Gripp, Caderolles, and La Mongie. Locals mark the procession with events and celebrate with local foods of black Bigorre pork, AOC Madiran wine, Tarb beans, local cheeses and more. I think it would be exciting to join in the fun of accompanying the statue back to the top of the Col du Tourmalet, 2012 will mark the 13ème édition de la Montée du Géant du Tourmalet.

The Tourmalet is the most frequented climb in the Tour de France. Read a related post by VeloPeloton Montée du Géant du Tourmalet and Laurent Fignon, Salut au Champion! or more Pedal Dancer posts: Pedal Dancer: Today I saw the Tourmalet bring a man to tears or Pedal Dancer: More Pictures from the Tourmalet

©Photo by PedalDancer.com

#2 Jardins du château de Versailles

The Gardens of Versailles cover 800 hectares (324 acres) of land on the west side of the Palace of Versailles. Late in the 1630's Claude Mollet and Hilaire Masson designed the initial gardens for King Louis XIII. The Gardens of Versailles were further developed in the 1660's by King Louis XIV in the French Garden style and were refined and mostly designed by André Le Nôtre (between 1661 and 1700),. The gardens are most notable for their overwhelming size, broad expanses, and numerous thirsty fountains.

The gardens suffered damage from the 1999 winter storm but have mostly been replanted. You may take a train from Paris to Chateau Versailles using the RER C "yellow" line, 6,80€ for a return trip. See more images of the gardens. The Gardens might be a welcome reprieve from the internal glitz of the palace.

The magnificent hallway of Mirrors at Versaille ©Photo by PedalDancer.com/Kenny Rakestraw

#3 Cormet de Roseland

The Cormet de Roseland is a somewhat obscure climb in the Rhones-Alps region of France. It is one of those climbs that is sometimes included in the Tour de France (the last time was in 2007), but I never knew where this climb was, until I made a point to locate it on a map and go out of our way and climb it in 2007. Cormet de Roseland is a 20.23km steady winding climb to a beautiful lake and mountain pass with little else except for the lovely town of Beaufort at the base of the climb, where cyclists gather in cafes. The descent is screaming fast with recorded speeds of 62mph for riders during the Tour de France. The climb is located east of Albertville, France, the start city of Stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France. If you are in the area, put it on your "to do" list of climbs.

Beaufort, France ©Photo by PedalDancer.com

Cormet de Roseland Profile by ClimbbyBike

"A" marks the location of the Cormet de Roseland climb in the Alps.

The climb and fast descent of Cormet de Roseland from Beaufort (click images to enlarge):

©Photo by PedalDancer.com

View the other Guess Where series:

Guess Where? #7
Guess Where? #6
Guess Where? #5
Guess Where? #4

Guess Where? #3

Guess Where? #2

Guess Where? #1

02 February 2012

Guess Where? #4

Where have we cycled to now?

Today Pedal Dancer continues the Friday travel series titled Guess Where? Here are three more images for you to guess the location, and learn a little more about the famous sites.

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Answers

#1 Eiffel Tower

I am really hoping you were able to guess the famous monument of La Tour Eiffel in Paris, France. Nicknamed La dame de fer, the iron lady, the tower was built over three years (1887 to 1889) by Gustave Eiffel for the entrance to the World's Fair in 1989. The tower was supposed to be dismantled after 20 years, but by the time 1909 rolled around the city had discovered it's value as a communications tower. It requires 50-60 tons of paint every seven years to keep the tower safe from rust. It has escaped two attempts at dismantling the collossal structure and remains arguably the most recognizable landmark in the world.

Impressive by day, beautiful by night. Take an elevator ride to the top of the tower (video), or see the view from the top of the tower (video). The tower is open to visitors every day from 9:00-23:00 in Winter and 9:00-24:00 in Summer. In 2002 the tower received it's 200,000,000th guest and is reported to be the most visited paid monument in the world. The cost of a ticket to the top is € 13.40 (but rates are going up April 1st!) . We just missed the opportunity to ice skate on the 200m ² ice rink located on the first floor of the tower (dates were 5 December 2011 to 31 January 2012).

Ice rink at the Eiffel Tower in Paris

I have two small replicas around my house as fond memories. Not to be confused with this tower below - one of over 30 duplicates or fake towers around the world. This copy is located on the Las Vegas stripe, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the location of the annual Interbike cycling convention. ©Photos By PedalDancer.com ™

In 2003, the day before the final finish in Paris of the Tour de France, I was fortunate to participate in the Centennial La randonnee du centenaire ride for the 100th year of the Tour de France. Thousands of citizens, grabbing anything with 2 wheels, rode the course around the closed streets of Paris. The mood was festive and fun and I was happy to ride with a great group from Arizona. When the riders or announcers on TV describe the Champs Elysees as uphill on cobbles, it really is the truth! "You can't take it with you, memories are all that remain," well this is one memory that still remains with me as pure gold.

#2 Tom Simpson Memorial

Tom Simpson (1937-1967) died at the young age of 29 after amassing an impressive cycling career. His controversial death overshadowed his major triumphs in the sport. Tom Simpson nearly won the Tour de France in his first year of riding as a Pro. He went on to win the Tour of Flanders in 1961, Bordeaux–Paris in 1963, Milan-San Reno in 1964, and the Tour of Lombardy in 1965 before completing the year by becoming Britain's first World Champion Road.

Tom Simpson died on Mont Ventoux of exhaustion while competing in the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France. Suffering in the heat of the day and complaining of a stomach ache, Simpson, after falling off his bike 3km from the summit, famously commanded the fans that rushed to help him, "Put me back on my bike." His effort took him a short 1km upward until he collapsed again and fell unconscious. Post mortem found that he had taken amphetamine and alcohol believed to have complicated the dehydration and exhaustion of the race.

The Tom Simpson memorial is located on the steep slopes of Mont Ventoux. Any cyclist who has climbed this mountain can remember it well. Just as you round one of the last big corners near the top, the memorial is up the hillside on your right, in a field of barren rock. Cyclists and visitors by car routinely leave items to honor the man who never gave up.

Read the story of Tom Simpson, a widely popular British celebrity in his time, by Pro Cycling News. Read my story about my ride up Mont Ventoux in 2010 and the history of the mountain (including why the mountain is bald) I love Mont Ventoux.

A steep climb - Mont Ventoux Profile by ClimbbyBike

There is a second Tom Simpson memorial located at the Harworth & Bircotes Sports and Social Club in his hometown of Hawarth, England. See images of the memorial in England.

Tom Simpson Photo from hdcc.co.uk

#3 Mont Blanc

The White Mountain or White Lady (La Dame blanche) towers 4,810.45 m (15,782 ft) above sea level making it the tallest mountain in the Alpes and Western Europe. The town nestled below this mighty mountain is Chamonix, famous mountain town and the host of the first winter Olympics. A 7¼ mile tunnel runs underneath this mountain connecting France with Italy. The first ascent of Mont Blanc was on August 8, 1786 by two men from Sardinia - Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel Paccard (prior to the French Revolution, the mountain was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia).

In 1886, future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt led an expedition to the peak. In 1990 Pierre-André Gobet (Swiss) set the fastest ascent and descent record from Chamonix in a time of 5 hours, 10 minutes and 14 seconds. Mont Blanc is a serious undertaking, every year almost 300 people die in the massif area, but if you want to learn more about the climbing routes up to the peak read Mont Blanc - mountain focus & routes

The views from the top of Mont Blanc from my trip in 2007: