Cycling at Le Mans

[Riversides]

Hi

I will be making the trip to Le Mans this year with my 12 year old son - only 34 sleeps to go , cant wait!

We will be staying at Le Bounty. For those that know the local roads and area, would it be worthwhile to take our bikes with us? I dont intend being out and about in the mayhem of mad friday, but was thinking that the bikes would allow us to explore around the track and see more.

Are there any issues with taking bikes through the general admission gates?

Cheers
Steve

[indyxe]

Dont know about tracks and roads around le Bounty, but yes you can get through general entry gates into the circuit.

[Rs2oo]

We take bikes. Last year we cycled to Le Bounty from Houx and it took about 30 minutes (with dodgy gears) the road was ok not too much traffic. Use them to go to Arnage and beat the hours of queuing in a car.

[blueST]

Bikes are very handy. Bit of a pain on race day, because the crowds are huge, but for the rest of the time they are great for exploring.

A nice ride for you, would be to start at Arnage corner and ride the public road section clockwise until you get to the Porsche curves. Then take a detour into Mulsanne Village for Moules and Frites and a Beer. Return to the circuit via the Maison Blanche entrance, ride up through the public enclosures, perhaps a stop at the museum and continue until you get to Tetre Rouge. Ride back down to Arnage along the Mulsanne. Very nice way to spend Wednesday or Thursday, before they open the track for practice.

[Harryh87]

100x yes, we find bikes incredibly useful. Mad Friday is fine for bikes, got supersoakered once but luckily it didn't smell like piss, the back of the grandstand on the start/finish and going up to Dunlop bridge can be hard work on Saturday evening but worth there weight in gold, don't forget a lock.

H.

[fatboy18]

Bikes are good, just don't fall off them into 'Le Ditch' Like I did after some Beer

[Riversides]

Looks like we'll take the bikes then! Thanks to all for the info.

[PGM]

fatboy18 said:

Bikes are good, just don't fall off them into 'Le Ditch' Like I did after some Beer

Agree, I did this too and pulled my bike out of it with a 1 inch thorn in the front tyre. Replacing inner tube at the roadside intoxicated was something to behold!

[Wide arse]

Cycling will be a great idea as it will allow you to see lots more. Wouldnt recomend riding at night time as lighting on the streets is not great and the hot heads come out. We opted for the lazy option and bought gopeds!

[Harryh87]

One of our team, i cant say he was sober, hit a wheeley bin at full pelt, we think he was doing a tour-de-France head down effort, he woke up lying down surrounded by Brits clapping and offering him a stubby beer.....he took the beer :-D

[dredgey]

Harryh87 said:

One of our team, i cant say he was sober, hit a wheeley bin at full pelt, we think he was doing a tour-de-France head down effort, he woke up lying down surrounded by Brits clapping and offering him a stubby beer.....he took the beer :-D

Hahahahaha! Thats brilliant!

[JimmyJam]

Will be painting my bike in Gulf colours this year!

[Harryh87]

^^^^^ AWESOME ^^^^^

[Vocal Minority]

for the trip to and from arnage, I would have sold body parts for a bike. The best way of doing it by a factor of 50.

[JimmyJam]

Crappy old ladies 80's folding bikes on eBay seem to go for a shocking amount of money. I thought this would be perfect for LM instead of taking a nice bike and have some french gypo's nick it or I stack into a ditch after a few beers!

[FraMac]

JimmyJam said:

Crappy old ladies 80's folding bikes on eBay seem to go for a shocking amount of money. I thought this would be perfect for LM instead of taking a nice bike and have some french gypo's nick it or I stack into a ditch after a few beers!

Buy the cheapest bike you can from Decathlon when you get to Le Mans. The way the Euro is at the moment it should be a bargain, and if the local tea leafs half inch it, it's no great loss (but in truth they'll probably be looking for dearer gear to pinch).

[fatboy18]

I have a bike sitting in my back garden which I have used at Le mans, Its Free if anyone wants it? Will deliver locally Im Near Jcton 8 M25

[lost in espace]

JimmyJam said:

Crappy old ladies 80's folding bikes on eBay seem to go for a shocking amount of money. I thought this would be perfect for LM instead of taking a nice bike and have some french gypo's nick it or I stack into a ditch after a few beers!

Just treat ebay like a rental deal, sell the bike when you get home for what you paid(ish) - fees.

[vincegail]

FraMac said:

Buy the cheapest bike you can from Decathlon when you get to Le Mans. The way the Euro is at the moment it should be a bargain, and if the local tea leafs half inch it, it's no great loss (but in truth they'll probably be looking for dearer gear to pinch).

http://www.decathlon.fr/C-10829-tous-les-velos/N-352-prix~moins-de-100~euros/N-352-prix~de-100-a-250~euros
Decathlon is near Antares tramstop, on the other side of the track. Cheapest bike there is 130 euros, and indeed, the way the euro is going, that will be 5 quid next month!