i plan on bicycle touring france/europe for several months this spring/summer and would like to follow and watch the stages of the tour, particularly in the pyrenees and the alps. i may try to also catch the end of the giro near milano if i am in that area at the end of may. i will be on my mountain bike, pulling a bob trailer, and camping and travelling on the cheap. i have some questions:
1> can i easily hitchhike with other spectators to the next day's stage? i can speak french well enough to approach someone and ask if i can ride with them and share gas and other expenses/chores, but i don't know how many french drive vehicles that can take a loaded bike and trailer. for some reason, i doubt pickup trucks are as common as they are in america, but i have seen a lot of large campers and buses on the roadsides of the tour.
2> if i can't hitch a ride, are there buses or trains that are reasonably close to most of the stages? i understand the sncf allows bikes on certain trains, but i don't know their policy on cargo trailers/additional baggage.
3> will many/all of the campgrounds be full, and can i find a spot for camping sauvage? should i find a hostel nearby and ride/hitchhike/take public transportation to watch the stages?
4> who else plans to do this or something similar? i'd go with a commercial tour but they are out of my budget. this is my low budget attempt at something similar
replies and suggestions are greatly appreciated. thanks
1> can i easily hitchhike with other spectators to the next day's stage? i can speak french well enough to approach someone and ask if i can ride with them and share gas and other expenses/chores, but i don't know how many french drive vehicles that can take a loaded bike and trailer. for some reason, i doubt pickup trucks are as common as they are in america, but i have seen a lot of large campers and buses on the roadsides of the tour.
2> if i can't hitch a ride, are there buses or trains that are reasonably close to most of the stages? i understand the sncf allows bikes on certain trains, but i don't know their policy on cargo trailers/additional baggage.
3> will many/all of the campgrounds be full, and can i find a spot for camping sauvage? should i find a hostel nearby and ride/hitchhike/take public transportation to watch the stages?
4> who else plans to do this or something similar? i'd go with a commercial tour but they are out of my budget. this is my low budget attempt at something similar
replies and suggestions are greatly appreciated. thanks