Take a bicycle ?
Discussion
Hello All,
First time to post here - if "out of order" please (gently) advise. I have tried searching the forum for answers to the questions below but don't seem to have hit the right search words.
Going to Le Mans for the first time and camping at the Porsche curves and have booked the Dunlop grandstand, so have a head full of questions. My son and I are practiced campers but have no idea what to expect and what to do - other than watch the racing of course !.
Should we take bicycles or are they more trouble than they are worth?.
Is the town on Friday night worth going to and is it walkable even when not entirely sober?.
Is the pit lane walk worth doing and what time does it occur?.
Which corner should we go to view and when - warm up / night /day excluding Dunlop and Porsche.
Would you Veterans take pity on a newbie and advise.
Many thanks
Gordon
First time to post here - if "out of order" please (gently) advise. I have tried searching the forum for answers to the questions below but don't seem to have hit the right search words.
Going to Le Mans for the first time and camping at the Porsche curves and have booked the Dunlop grandstand, so have a head full of questions. My son and I are practiced campers but have no idea what to expect and what to do - other than watch the racing of course !.
Should we take bicycles or are they more trouble than they are worth?.
Is the town on Friday night worth going to and is it walkable even when not entirely sober?.
Is the pit lane walk worth doing and what time does it occur?.
Which corner should we go to view and when - warm up / night /day excluding Dunlop and Porsche.
Would you Veterans take pity on a newbie and advise.
Many thanks
Gordon
Hi! Pushbike is probably the best way to get around to be honest.
All the 'corners' are worth visiting. I'd certainly recommend getting to Mulsanne and ...right at the other end, Tertre Rouge. Cant beat seeing the cars steaming into T.Rouge, disc rotors red/white hot under braking going down thro' the gears, and then accelerating out into the Mulsanne straight/Ligne Droit.
One word of caution, keep your valubles somewhere safe. Lots of reports last year of folks being pick-pocketed by gypsies in the area for good pickings.
Nick
All the 'corners' are worth visiting. I'd certainly recommend getting to Mulsanne and ...right at the other end, Tertre Rouge. Cant beat seeing the cars steaming into T.Rouge, disc rotors red/white hot under braking going down thro' the gears, and then accelerating out into the Mulsanne straight/Ligne Droit.
One word of caution, keep your valubles somewhere safe. Lots of reports last year of folks being pick-pocketed by gypsies in the area for good pickings.
Nick
nawarne said:
Hi! Pushbike is probably the best way to get around to be honest.
All the 'corners' are worth visiting. I'd certainly recommend getting to Mulsanne and ...right at the other end, Tertre Rouge. Cant beat seeing the cars steaming into T.Rouge, disc rotors red/white hot under braking going down thro' the gears, and then accelerating out into the Mulsanne straight/Ligne Droit.
One word of caution, keep your valubles somewhere safe. Lots of reports last year of folks being pick-pocketed by gypsies in the area for good pickings.
Nick
Yes, do not forget your bike locks.All the 'corners' are worth visiting. I'd certainly recommend getting to Mulsanne and ...right at the other end, Tertre Rouge. Cant beat seeing the cars steaming into T.Rouge, disc rotors red/white hot under braking going down thro' the gears, and then accelerating out into the Mulsanne straight/Ligne Droit.
One word of caution, keep your valubles somewhere safe. Lots of reports last year of folks being pick-pocketed by gypsies in the area for good pickings.
Nick
If you can fit one in with your camping gear, Yes take one. Lights would also be a good idea (one of those Helmet type lights so you can remove it from the bike. You can then Cycle into Arnage, cycle down to Arnage corner going past the traffic jams and if your feeling really fit, continue onto Mulsanne corner 
Oh remember a back light too
They used to let bikes into the Village area but use your loaf and padlock them up nearby, its too much hassle trying to push a bike around the village, the Marshals don't like it and They will tell you to park them elsewhere
Oh remember a back light too
They used to let bikes into the Village area but use your loaf and padlock them up nearby, its too much hassle trying to push a bike around the village, the Marshals don't like it and They will tell you to park them elsewhere Town is worth it to see the town celebrating the 24 hour race and to take in the atmosphere. Get there before the start to cross to the inside of the parade route otherwise you'll be struggling to move around to different parts of it while it's on as the security at the crossing points are a pain in the arse even if there's a huge gap! Once on the inside if you want to cross back over while it's still going then there are 3 bridges high up in the old town next to the cathedral that the parade travels under.
Pit lane is worth a look. It's open all day friday (think it's 10am til 8pm) you could maybe have a look before heading for tram station to go into town as you're camping by Porsche Curves.
If you don't want to combine the two you could always get a bus to town from Arnage village but who'll need to get tram back as the buses stop early.
By the way, if when you said is town walkable. Don't try to walk to town it's miles! Walking around parade isn't too bad.
Enjoy!
Pit lane is worth a look. It's open all day friday (think it's 10am til 8pm) you could maybe have a look before heading for tram station to go into town as you're camping by Porsche Curves.
If you don't want to combine the two you could always get a bus to town from Arnage village but who'll need to get tram back as the buses stop early.
By the way, if when you said is town walkable. Don't try to walk to town it's miles! Walking around parade isn't too bad.
Enjoy!
Edited by Printertosh on Friday 1st March 16:42
My foot slipped off the pedal, lost balance and ended up in the ditch! 
hovercrafter said:
Hello All,
First time to post here - if "out of order" please (gently) advise. I have tried searching the forum for answers to the questions below but don't seem to have hit the right search words.
Going to Le Mans for the first time and camping at the Porsche curves and have booked the Dunlop grandstand, so have a head full of questions. My son and I are practiced campers but have no idea what to expect and what to do - other than watch the racing of course !.
Should we take bicycles or are they more trouble than they are worth?.
Is the town on Friday night worth going to and is it walkable even when not entirely sober?.
Is the pit lane walk worth doing and what time does it occur?.
Which corner should we go to view and when - warm up / night /day excluding Dunlop and Porsche.
Would you Veterans take pity on a newbie and advise.
Many thanks
Gordon
Firstly, welcome to the Le Mans section.First time to post here - if "out of order" please (gently) advise. I have tried searching the forum for answers to the questions below but don't seem to have hit the right search words.
Going to Le Mans for the first time and camping at the Porsche curves and have booked the Dunlop grandstand, so have a head full of questions. My son and I are practiced campers but have no idea what to expect and what to do - other than watch the racing of course !.
Should we take bicycles or are they more trouble than they are worth?.
Is the town on Friday night worth going to and is it walkable even when not entirely sober?.
Is the pit lane walk worth doing and what time does it occur?.
Which corner should we go to view and when - warm up / night /day excluding Dunlop and Porsche.
Would you Veterans take pity on a newbie and advise.
Many thanks
Gordon
I've been attending for years and never used a bike. However, many people swear by it, as a meansd of getting around.
Friday pit lane walk is definately worth it. So is the drivers parade. So, there's a dilema.
In terms of which corner; it's a personal choice. I like Tetre Rouge, both in field and out field. You need to look around and chose.
As said before, do both on the friday!
First pitwalk in the early afternoon, and driver's parade and Le Mans town in the evening.
Don't try to walk it, unless you're Mo Farah. Better use the excellent tramway. Trams ride every 10 minutes and during raceweekend they ride more frequent and later in the evening. Get up at Guetteloup (Closest to the Porsche Curves and is already a pretty steap walk)
www.setram.fr/carte/index.php?verif=1
First pitwalk in the early afternoon, and driver's parade and Le Mans town in the evening.
Don't try to walk it, unless you're Mo Farah. Better use the excellent tramway. Trams ride every 10 minutes and during raceweekend they ride more frequent and later in the evening. Get up at Guetteloup (Closest to the Porsche Curves and is already a pretty steap walk)
www.setram.fr/carte/index.php?verif=1
Rs2oo said:
For those on foot. Please spare a thought for the cyclists ! Lost count how many just walk out in front of us !
In the pedestrian areas no doubt ! Le Mans is not really geared up for cyclists in the spectator areas, motorsport is dangerous enough without having to watch out for cyclists who expect everyone to have eyes in the back of their heads.
Bob
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