Current Projects chat and miscellany

Finished (kinda) for my tour which will start next saturday from Eindhoven (I'm Dutch) to Sérignan, France..

A '74 Gazelle Champion Mondial, Reynolds 531, stripped from it's horrible homespray, clear lacquer.. I have yet to install the headbadge..
Components are mainly Shimano, Dura Ace (7400/7410, brakes, rear hub, front derailleur), Ultegra (6400, front hub, 6600, rear derailleur, bar end shifters), Tektro R730 brake calipers, and some Campagnolo, Athena seatpost, Veloce Compact UltraTorque Crank and BB..
Handlebars are 3ttt quite similar to Cinelli Giro d'Italia's and Syntace stem.. Fizik Arione saddle..

I'm torn on the rack.. I had a sturdier one, but that didn't fit because of the rear caliper.. I now think it might, because I adjusted the brakes.. I'll give that another try this evening.. This rack did the job last year on a small tour of several days in Limburg/Ardennes.. And I won't be taking much more stuff since I learned from that trip..

Anyway: the route: (about 1500 km)

With Reims (best cathedral in France), Verdun (WW1), Ronchamp (cathedral by Le Corbusier, I'm an architecture student), Mont Ventoux (I passed it anyway), Avignon (former pope stool (that the correct term?)), Arles (very pretty) as waypoints.. I also have a nice route through the Jura as an option after reaching Besancon..

And if all goes well I might take this extra detour: (1550km)

Via Grenoble and Gap, approaching the Mont Ventoux from the east.. Only 50 km extra, but much more climbing involved.. I'll see how it goes..

Then see the Tour pass very rapidly on the 17th in Montpellier.. Spend a weeks vacation at my grandparents in Sérignan, send the bike back, get a lift to Paris, see the Tour arrive, spend some days with the GF, train back.. Really looking forward!

Wow. Fantastic. As someone who lived in Grenoble, it comes highly recommended. Some great roads around that area.