I’ve covered the Tour de France as a journalist several times, always after renting a car and driving all over European countries. This time, I’m headed to Copenhagen, Denmark for the Tour de France Grand Depart, and I want to cover the first several stages exclusively by bike and train. I won’t rent a car.
Aside from simply wanting to ride my bike while I’m in one of the bike-friendliest cities in the world, I also want to learn a thing or two. What can American cities learn from Copenhagen’s infrastructure?
For me, it’s also a matter of environmental concern. Despite the notion that cycling is better for the planet, hundreds of cars and trucks precede, and follow, the Tour de France riders every day. It is decidedly not an eco-friendly event.
Of course, I will only be covering the first few stages of the Tour de France in Denmark. It would not be feasible for me to cover the entire Tour by bike. But There is certainly a case to be made that bicycles can prove useful for professional work. I’ll test that theory in the coming days.
My Tour de France gear
Come along for the ride and watch the ups, downs, learning experiences, and gear tests along the way as I pedal through Copenhagen to cover the Tour de France for Slow Guy on the Fast Ride.
Here’s a short rundown of some of the products I’ll be taking along with me to the 2022 Tour de France. I’ll share more of what works and what needs improvement in subsequent videos. This is just a partial list.
- Merlin Extralight XLR Disc road bike with S&S couplers
- Hunt 44 UD wheels
- Enve cockpit and fork
- SRAM Red eTap (first gen) drivetrain
- Cane Creek eeWings crankset
- Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror saddle
- Tailfin T1 Carbon Pannier Rack
- Two Wheel Gear Boundary Pannier Duffel
- Orucase B2-R bicycle travel case
- Hammerhead Karoo 2 GPS head unit
- K-Edge mount
- Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L
As you can see, I’ll be using some gear that I’ve talked about on the site — notably, the Hammerhead Karoo 2 and the Orucase B2-R. Be sure to check out the in-depth rundown of the Karoo’s specs and my full review of the Orucase B2-R.
Got questions?
Feel free to reach out to me with questions about my week of covering the Tour de France by bike. I would love to hear from you. Comment on YouTube or Instagram, reach out on Twitter, or just shoot me an email using the super-handy contact form right here on Slow Guy on the Fast Ride.