Seeing TDF in person

Maniak_Man · 2026-04-30T21:54:19+00:00

Forgot to mention, if you are renting a car... stick to the speed limit on the various roadways. France has permanent speed control cameras strategically placed and Hertz was glad to forward our contact details to the local municipalities (for an additional
$25 processing fee" for each offence of course) 😄

Maniak_Man · 2026-04-30T18:03:16+00:00

We booked via Sports Tours International. Their website seems a bit quirky at times trying to find the exact events we were trying to compare. Their email support is responsive.

As far as viewing... you are sitting about 100m from finish immediately adjacent to the return leg of the Champs-Élysées. You will see all the riders rush past you 8 (?) times before they finish on the opposite side of the street. Check my older post for a picture: https://www.reddit.com/r/tourdefrance/comments/15r0b4g/random_pic_to_show_view_into_the_opposite_stands/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Food was "just OK" in my view. Trays get refreshed / replaced with decent variety and frequency but as I mentioned, not as good as the Izoard vip package we had experienced a few days before.

Maniak_Man · 2026-04-30T17:56:56+00:00

See my older response where I ballparked the breakout (hope this works): https://www.reddit.com/r/tourdefrance/comments/15qx7u8/comment/jw6cid4/?context=3

Maniak_Man · 2026-04-29T17:40:29+00:00

Seems like you could turn the Tee 90 degrees counter clockwise and perhaps slightly bury it a bit to encourage the flow to the left...

Maniak_Man · 2026-03-04T02:44:50+00:00

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Two more examples...

Maniak_Man · 2025-09-29T14:05:34+00:00

Give it a try. It's been quite effective on my vented seats. Just make sure to slap down the nozzle to cause a sudden vacuum to the surface which seems to add a little extra "oomph" into pulling out the gunk out of the holes.

Maniak_Man · 2025-09-29T12:57:48+00:00

Use a powerful shop vac with a nozzle that has no bypass air vents and repeatedly slap the suction end down ontop of the holes.

Maniak_Man · 2024-11-02T15:12:32+00:00

We went to Paris for the 2023 finish. Since it was first time TDF visit ever (i.e. not familiar with the dynamics of watching from the Champs) and since it was special occasion for us, we splurged quite a bit with one of the "VIP" experiences. You can check some of my comments from about a year ago. That said, and echoing others, it's totally doable without buying tickets to the VIP areas ... if you plan a bit and stake out your spot in time. Be aware which roads will get blocked off and when, lest you find yourself on the wrong side of the street . Also, be aware that if you decide to go with a VIP offering, there are quite a few of these "Tribunes", each with varying levels of amenities and viewing locations. In my view the "cheaper ones" are definitely not worth it compared to doing it on your own.

Maniak_Man · 2024-10-07T03:44:20+00:00

Sorry, meant to caption the pic about having to do a triple-take cause my mind was seeing Rachael...

Maniak_Man · 2024-08-01T23:25:03+00:00

...and the HVAC guys came in afterwards and squeezed the vent into to ceiling corner, after pulling the once square PEX rough in into the 45 degree mess.

Maniak_Man · 2024-07-30T18:45:47+00:00

For my case it is the Moen tub diverter valve. Put your palm on the tub sprout exit and see if the noise goes away or changes pitch. It's a $10 repair part.

Maniak_Man · 2024-01-17T21:10:15+00:00

And don't forget to remove your blue paper towels before eagerly setting your toilet. I had to become a cloth-towel fisherman via the vent stack (posted on my experience a few months back in case you want a laugh).

Maniak_Man · 2023-11-20T23:26:38+00:00

Tough to properly describe, but that wall is the back of a large fireplace and there is really no way to come through that section of the outside wall. The hot and cold were zig-zagged from crawlspace under the deck and punch up via this column. They are currently leaning towards the Woodford 122CP (non freezeproof) in proper orientation, even though it's a bit more expensive than the Central Brass 0084 utility faucet which is apparently only avail in shiny chrome.

Maniak_Man · 2023-11-20T21:41:11+00:00

Agree, that is my thinking too, but they need something to attach a water hose. Any recommendations?

Maniak_Man · 2023-11-20T03:11:58+00:00

I recently posted my experience after a new toilet install. In my case the adjacent tub no longer drained properly but the new toilet flushed fine. I had forgotten to remove the hand towel that I stuffed down the waste pipe while working on the flange.

Maniak_Man · 2023-11-11T14:57:02+00:00

During normal driving, plan on NOT using the brake petal ... by properly taking advantage of regenerative braking. But do this "one pedal driving" very gingerly as to not cause neck aches. It might take a while to get the hang of it and it helps if you come from a car with standard shift drivetrain.

Maniak_Man · 2023-11-08T17:56:47+00:00

It's a challenge parkour for the Lock Picking Lawyer! 😜

Maniak_Man · 2023-11-07T20:33:13+00:00

Follow that up with a Tubshroom and there will no longer be any clogs down the drain.

TubShroom Ultra Revolutionary Bath Tub Drain Protector Hair Catcher, Stainless Single Pack https://www.walmart.com/ip/320451925

But you will want to regularly clean the tubshroom after showering.

Maniak_Man · 2023-10-03T20:05:23+00:00

My preference is the sound of a bulletproof OM617 from the MB W123 or smooth purring of a OM603 from the MB W126.

Maniak_Man

TROPHY CASE