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Articles

by Tim Marsh    November 22, 2011 4

What to eat on long haul flights (and what to avoid)

Kapai Puku ingredients

Why You Should Eat Well on the Plane Knowing what to eat on long haul flights means you’ll land feeling fresh, bubbly and ready to jump on the bike. Long haul plane trips are not a healthy experience. Your immune system will be compromised, you don’t sleep well, don’t eat well and are exposed to […]

by Tim Marsh    November 11, 2011 2

Car vs Campervan Cost Comparison for Cycling Trip to France

Campervan on the Lautaret

Cost of hiring a campervan versus Car+Hotel for France Do you need a real Car Vs Campervan Cost Comparison for Cycling Trip to France (or anywhere actually)? Is hiring a car and staying in hotels or accommodation cheaper than hiring a campervan for my France Cycling Holiday? This is a question I get a lot […]

by Tim Marsh    November 3, 2011 0

France 2012: Start Planning Now! (Free Downloads Inside)

The 2012 Tour de France ® and Etape du Tour ® have been announced, and it is looking a cracker of a Tour and just as importantly Etapes du Tour 2012. I’ll have a range of posts coming up in the next couple of months that’ll help you plan, however, it’s important you start thinking […]

by Tim Marsh    October 6, 2011 0

Site News and final VeloNomad Reader Trip Reports: Matt C UK, Robbie/Sarah, Will W

Site News This is the final instalment in the 2011 reader trip reports from France. I got some great feedback and reports as well as some good content ideas (David J, Sean M, Mario, John C) I’ll have something in place soon to make it easy for you to submit your own trip reports. Thanks […]

by Tim Marsh    October 2, 2011 0

Getting Prepaid 3G in Spain: The Vodafone Spain Hack

If you’re heading to Spain on a cycling trip, and need internet on your iPhone or smart phone, check out my latest PrePaid Mobile 3G On The Road page – Getting Prepaid 3G in Spain. For 39 Euros, you can get 1GB (valid for 3 months) in a USB dongle. Simply remove the SIM and […]

by Tim Marsh    September 29, 2011 0

VeloNomad Reader Trip Reports #4 – HugeMutha, Australia

That’s right, this one is from Eugene, AKA HugeMutha HugeMutha dropped me his trip report from Etape Issoire, aka Etape II. Upon reading, I am sure glad I did Etape in the Alpes (circa 30 degrees and sunny). Hi Tim I awoke to grey skies and rain on the morning of the 17th July somewhat […]

by Tim Marsh    September 22, 2011 0

VeloNomad Reader Trip Reports #3 – Sean M, Australia

Sean from Australia sent me this great report and some cracking photos. And the best part? He’s only just started and is going back next year. Awesome! Hey Tim, here a few pics from the Etape. I was stuck in the back, pen 11. Pretty cold by the time we moved after 8. Stuck mostly […]

by Tim Marsh    September 18, 2011 0

VeloNomad Readers Trip Reports #2 – Steve M, John H, Hannah & Dave N, Arabella, Will Buchan

Steve M, UK Steve M was one of the hardy individuals who did both Etapes. Pretty good effort considering the weather in Etape 2. Check out his Etape stories here and here. John Hodgart John sent me an awesome email. I love getting emails like this. A new-found love of cycling, raising money and back […]

by Tim Marsh    September 14, 2011 1

VeloNomad Reader Trip Reports #1 – Damien K from NZ’s Etape Alpes Report

Damien is a guy from NZ who emailed me pretty bummed at how far back the Etape had put him at the start. He sent me through his Etape report which is pretty hilarious reading. Thanks Damien! By Damien Kearney – NZ Here’s the email from Damien that accompanied his report. Didn’t end up doing […]

by Tim Marsh    September 11, 2011 3

2011 Trip Wrap Up – Lessons learnt, wins, losses

2011 trip wrap up I always like to do a wrap up after each trip to describe the lessons I learnt and pitfalls from each trip. So, here are the things I learnt from my 2011 trip. Note, many of the campervan-related tips I will cover in the next VeloNomad ebook, Campervanning through France. Make […]

by Tim Marsh    September 8, 2011 13

How to do Les Cingles de Mont Ventoux – the Ventoux 3-peat

Cingles du Mont Ventoux - velonomad.com

In this post you’ll learn how to do Les Cingles de Mont Ventoux. I’ll show you exactly how to prepare for an attempt at smashing Ventoux 3 times in one day. Whilst this post focusses on Ventoux, the training and technical information lend themselves to any climb which means you can apply the practical advice […]

by Tim Marsh    September 4, 2011 2

2011 VeloNomad Trip Days 28-32: Bedoin, Beaune, Home

Day 28 – Bedoin After yesterday’s epic Ventoux 3-peat, today was an absolutely nothing-day in Bedoin. Slept, recovered from the Ventoux 3-Peat, ate pizza and salad. Day 29 – La Barroux We unfortunately had to start heading north for home, and had been told by VeloNomad Steve to check out La Barroux which has an […]

by Tim Marsh    September 2, 2011 6

2011 VeloNomad Trip Day 27 – The Ventoux 3 Peat – Les Cingles

Les Cingles – a Ventoux Three-Peat – descent into madness Read how to do Les Cingles in my special article. Ever since my 2009 trip, I’d planned on doing Ventoux 3 times in one day. Ventoux is one of the toughest climbs I’ve done (but I love it) and the three peat is officially called […]

by Tim Marsh    August 30, 2011 0

2011 Trip Days 24-26: Med Coast, Bedoin, Mont Ventoux

Day 24 – Cadques to Argeles-sur-Mer After leaving delightful Cadaques, we headed north. The area between Cadaques in Catalunya and Argeles sur Mer is just epic riding. If I had to pick a spot, I’d base in Cadques or Banyules sur Mer then just do endless riding, swimming, relaxing and exploring. None of the riding […]

by Tim Marsh    August 26, 2011 1

VeloNomad 2011 Trip Days 21-23: Cadaques, Cadel gets Yellow

After leaving L’Escala, we headed via some flat roads – full of cyclists – and checked out a place called St Pere Pescador. Unfortunately the camping grounds were waaaay too touristy and miles from town. I did have a decent coffee and croissant though! The road rose up a small mountain and at the top […]

by Tim Marsh    August 23, 2011 1

2011 France Cycling Trip Days 14-20

Day 14 – Into Spain, Boltana We headed off early and continued to be interested by Andorra; it’s certainly an interesting (and wealthy) place. We had had a crap sleep as there seemed to be some sort of dance party all night in town. I think it stopped at 6AM, and was characterised by bloody […]

by Tim Marsh    August 19, 2011 1

2011 France Cycling Trip Days 12 and 13

Day 12 – The Peyresourde and driving to the Plateau de Beille for TDF Stage 14 Day 12 dawned sunny and quite cool and I snuck a Peyrasourde ascent in. The Bagneres de Luchon side (Arreau, where we were, is on the opposite side) is harder and more picturesque, then headed down so we could […]

by Tim Marsh    August 15, 2011 1

VeloNomad 2011 Trip Day 11: TDF Stage 12

After a couple of days we drove over the Col du Portillon – a Bucket Col from both sides – into France, through Bagneres-de-Luchon. Our aim was to see the TDF head up the Ancizan on Stage 12. We arrived into Arreau, got a park and pizza’d up. The caravan started rolling into town as […]

by Tim Marsh    August 12, 2011 0

2011 France Cycling Trip days 8-10: Etape Alpes, the Pyrenees, Spain

Day 8 – Etape du Tour 2011, Etape Alpes I’ve already published the horrendous story of my Etape Alpes effort. Check out my Etape du Tour 2011 Etape Alpes report. Day 9 – Spain and the Pyrenees After Etape Alpes, we hightailed it down via Grenoble to get to Spain. We parked for the night […]

by Tim Marsh    August 8, 2011 1

The 2011 VeloNomad Trip Day 6-7: Alpe D’Huez, Lautaret, Galibier, Etape Registration

Day 6 – Alpe D’Huez Ascent 2 We had a cracking sleep then woke up to a hot Alpes day and the D’Huez beckoned. We went into town for croissants and coffee and a bit of morning market shopping then I knocked out another D’Huez ascent. This area seems to have a pattern of awesome […]

by Tim Marsh    July 30, 2011 0

The VeloNomad 2011 Trip Days 4-5: Avoriaz, Chamonix, Aguille du Midi, Alpe D’Huez

Day 4 – Climb Avoriaz, drive to Chamonix The next day we rolled up toward Morzine en route to Chamonix. After having a look around. We parked up and I rode toward Avoriaz. The weather was typical Hautes Alpes sketchy arvo weather with threatening rain. I bailed short of the Avoriaz peak due to rain […]

by Tim Marsh    July 29, 2011 2

2011 TDF and Etape trip Days 1-3: Departing, The Flight, Evian

Day 1 – Packing, Departure We arrived to Melbourne airport with my precious Look packed carefully away. I’ve described how to do this before, but I’ll re-iterate how important it is to pack your bike properly. Here’s the link to my video showing how I pack my bike in an EVOC bike bag (check out […]

by Tim Marsh    July 19, 2011 1

Tour de France Stage 14 – The Plateau de Beille

Sorry this all out of order. Ordinarily I’d provide some detail of the previous day’s adventures but thought you’d want TDF stuff first and foremost! What a nightmare. I’ve seriously learnt even more TDF tips about campervanning and watching the TDF on this stage. We rolled into town after a long drive from the base […]

by Tim Marsh    July 18, 2011 7

2011 Etape du Tour Report – Etape Alps

This 2011 Etape du Tour report will demonstrate that even if you train for 48 weeks and turn up ultra-fit, Etape is still hard. After a lack of sleep I woke at 4.45AM to get ready. I was ready very early and planned to meet VeloNomad reader and all round nice guy Peter H’AC at […]

by Tim Marsh    July 9, 2011 1

Mental Strength – Overcoming Pain in the Mountains

I had a great email from Etapper and TDF Tips reader Jessica the other day: Fitness wise we’re in pretty good shape, and will continue to train hard until the week before. Mentally, I wondered if you had any motivational tips or mind games you play when the legs are hurting? I sure do Jessica; […]

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