tour de france

Advantages: a great hit from a great band
Disadvantages: none man

...A hit song without an album, this was prized vinyl for many years (Warner Bros. 20146-0 A), until EMI smartly rereleased it on compact disc in 1999 with a little multimedia built in, whose centerpiece was a basic video for "Tour de France," assembled from old film footage of the aforementioned cross-country bicycle race. Fueled by heavy breathing, clicking bicycle spokes, and precise electronic syncopation, this single had all the elements of a breakdancers' paradise. Dreamy harp trills shimmered in response to an almost Asian melody line, punched by bass guitar pops, keyboard stabs, and ethereal string samples, suggesting the expansiveness of the French countryside and rolling hills, without ever forgetting that the race is in progress. The lyrics here (sung in French) are atypically human, giving an added warmth that other Kraftwerk...

philnewall 11.08.2002 · Read review
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Review of Tour De France Soundtracks - Kraftwerk

Poor Coverage of Tour De France

Advantages: Good that it is on
Disadvantages: Bad that it did not have more coverage and at better times

...The coverage on TV of the Tour De France, probably the most prestigious cycling event in the world, has this year been appalling. Channel 4 have been covering it, not that you would know. Some days it is on at 5.30pm, a great time for people who work or have families and then other days it has not been on till after midnight, some days at 4.00am. I know most of us have got videos but why on earth cant we have it on at a sensible time in the evening? We have ended up with a weeks worth on video. Why is it that TV schedules can be altered for tennis, football, cricket, snooker basically anything but not cycling? Arent we meant to be promoting cycling in the UK instead of cars? Surely more coverage of this would help. I also have noticed that unless I have missed them on TV there have been hardly any reports on the days Tour...

elvina 26.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Channel 4 - Tour De France

  "Lille De France" - Geddit?

Advantages: Near London by train, cosmopolitan feel, excellent transport connections, eating out, plenty to see
Disadvantages: Dog poo

...I?ve now been to Lille three times in the past year or so, each previous time, merely for the day. Only over the last weekend did we stay overnight. Why Lille? Well, rather like the reason dogs lick their naughty bits, it?s because we can. Lille is the first main stop in France on the Eurostar/TGV route from the Channel Tunnel ? yes, I know you could get a train that stops at Calais (Fréthun), but that?s like getting out at Bristol Parkway and expecting to be in Bristol! Gare Lille-Europe arrives outside your train window 1 hour and 40 minutes after London Waterloo International disappears. Stage 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), means that we now get to hurtle through Kent at 186 M.P.H. before slowing to a mere 100 M.P.H. to shrug off the 32 miles of tunnel in a mere 20 minutes. Doing 'a ton' MORE than even the over...

BNibbles 07.12.2004 (09.12.2004) · Read review
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Review of Lille (France)

le tour de force

Advantages: excitement
Disadvantages: drugs

...This years tour was once again dominated by lance Armstrong and the drugs issue bubbled under the surface. Pantani once again started to regain the form in the mountains that made him champion 3 years ago and next year he will once again be a serious contender for the yellow jersey. Once again the green jesey was won by the same rider but I feel next year will be someone elses year. Lance Armstrong however took total control after the first week and proved himself to be the ultimate athlete that he is. I think he is going to be another Imdurain in the making not bad for a man with cancer. The race once again showed France off in its own glory. The race did have some undertones of the drugs issue but these kept out of the main headlines and the tour finished again in a blaze of glory....

cabletow 23.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of france - LE TOUR

Tour de France - by car!

Advantages: Plenty to see and do, caters for all types, easy to get around.
Disadvantages: Plan your route carefully it's easy to get distracted.!

...get there before 6pm 'cos they fill up quickly. They are usually near to restaurants too so you don't havbe to travel far for your evening meal. If you feel a little more adventurous then try the Logis de France chains, these are usually more in the style of English B&Bs but excellent service and again clean and friendly. The open road is exactly that and if you use the motorways (which charge) you can cover about 500 miles in 8 hours with stops! Hold ups are very rare and sometimes you can cover miles without seeing another car. If you want the wine regions try St Emilion or the Cotes du Rhone regions. There a plenty of Vente Direct places where you can tour the vineyards, sample and buy direct. If you want scenery try the Massif Central and the Dordogne regions. For shopping try the outer towns around Paris. For spectacular coastal...

Jose 26.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of General: France

I've fallen in love with Saint Paul de Vence

Advantages: Beautiful place
Disadvantages: expensive

...My dad?s friend and his wife work in the South of France and they live in Saint Paul de Vence. I?ve been fortunate enough to visit them with my parents 4 times in the last couple of years. The first time we went to the village, we were staying in a hotel in Nice and only went to St Paul for the afternoon/evening. The following three times, I we stayed in their house in the village for a few days. Having now visited on more than one occasion, I think I have a good feel for this lovely little place. Every year this village sees millions of tourists pass through it?s cobbled streets every year and as it?s such a beautiful place I can see why? Where is it? Saint Paul de Vence is a small walled village located in Provence, in Southern France. We fly to Nice airport (with easyjet) and our friend picks us from there. A taxi from...

bluejules 12.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Saint Paul de Vence, France

A Tour of La Tour

Advantages: Great views, beautiful at night
Disadvantages: Not good if you're frightened of heights, there are better views of the city,

...around a corner and the Tour Eiffel stood majestically before him. Ah oui... Histoire de la Tour Eiffel There's something magical about the Tour Eiffel. It's become the symbol of Paris, the symbol of France itself, and yet it was never meant to stand for more than a year. It was originally supposed to be erected in Barcelona, but plans designed by Gustave Eiffel were rejected. Construction finally began in Paris, where the tower was to create an entrance archway for the Exposition Universelle in 1889. 120 years later...and the Eiffel Tower continues to stand the test of time, despite being branded an eyesore by many of the great French names of the day. One of its greatest critics was Guy de Maupassant, the French writer who allegedly dined at one of the Eiffel Tower's restaurant every day as it was the only place in Paris where he...

lora44 25.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Tour Eiffel, Paris

Unquestionably the greatest

Advantages: Good insight into the worlds greatest cycle racer
Disadvantages: Some poor narating and unimpressive book

...Overview This DVD is a look at the life and achievements of Eddy Merckx one of the greatest cyclists in the history of the sport. His Story Eddy Merckx who is also known as the cannibal was born in Belgium on June 17th in 1945. He was an amazing athelete and definetly the most amazing cyclist ever to graze the planet. His rein as greatest cyclist ever was between the years of 1968 and 1974. He won a record 11 grand tours including the Tour De France and amazing 5 times. He is the only rider to have ever to win all classifications in a single race which were the Tour De France in 1969 and the Giro D'italia in 1968. He has won all the 5 cycling monument classics which comprised of Milan-San Remo, Tour Of Flanders, Paris - Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour Of Lombardy and all more than twice to make a record 19...

lewis_uk12000 19.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Eddy Merckx - Legends Of The Tour De France (+Book) (DVD)

I want to ride my bicycle.....

Advantages: Extreme Athletic Ability
Disadvantages: Too many problems with doping etc.

...In recent years, the Tour De France has been synonymous with Lance Armstrong who won the event seven years in a row. However, with Armstrong's retirement and several other big names pulling out at the last minute due to a doping scandal, this year's race promises to be one of the most exciting for some time. Firstly, a little bit of history of the event. Held every year (with the exception of during the two world wars) since 1903, the race is the premier road-cycling event in the world. It features around 20 stages taking the riders around France and some surrounding countries. Other countries visited have included: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and the UK. The race is held every year for three weeks during July and the dates of this years events are 1st - 23rd July. It alternates between going round...

StereoMike1983 06.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Tour De France

Tour de Force

Advantages: Great for children and adults alike.
Disadvantages: Drawing a blank here...

...Up in a Big Balloon is the second record in the Musical Mystery Tour, a series of lighthearted records aimed (not solely) at Children from folk duo Simon Mayor and Hilary James. It's guaranteed to have children singing, rather than screaming, all the way to the car's destination, leaving the adults free to... well... sing along as well. Catchy is the operative term here. Quick one-liners, simple structures and lyrics, tenuous rhymes to die for; you can't but fall in love with James and Mayor's offering on the first listening. Naturally, the main genre is folk, mandolins, couble basses guitars are the running musical theme. However, everything is covered (in both senses of the word), from classical to country and western. The songs are interspersed by merry banter between the couple, who assume various roles connected...

DaC_87 19.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Musical Mystery Tour Vol.2 (Up In A Big Balloon) - Hilary James