[LM24] Le Mans - the FAQ's (Information Only - Not for Chat!)

[kpkorsager]

Cheap bikes is app 100 eur at Super U in arnage in 2013.

[Alan52]

I am in a group of 5 going to Le Mans for the first time.We will be travelling down from Paris by train.We have tents with airbeds arranged but will need to buy sleeping bags and camp chairs.Is there somewhere near the station at Le Mans to do this or should we get it in Paris?
Also to what times do trains leave Le Mans on Sunday night?

[vincegail]

All big supermarkets sell camping equipment: Carrefour, Super-U, LeClerc, so I wouldn't bother buying it in Paris. There's also a big Decathlon sportsstore near the Antares tramstop (end-station of the tramline near the circuit)

Train information: http://www.sncf.com/

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Alan52

I am in a group of 5 going to Le Mans for the first time.We will be travelling down from Paris by train.We have tents with airbeds arranged but will need to buy sleeping bags and camp chairs.Is there somewhere near the station at Le Mans to do this or should we get it in Paris?
Also to what times do trains leave Le Mans on Sunday night?

As Vince says plenty of places to buy equipment when you get there, but where are you camping, if you are in the sites close to tertre rouge corner you can set up camp then walk back to the decathlon but if you arrive on wednesday or thursday evening then getting there will be more of a problem so perhaps stop at carrefore and get your sleeping bags and get the chairs the next day.
If you let us know where you are camping and when then people on the site will let you know the best course of action,

[david5]

Never thought I'd have to post here as I never thought I'd get to go to Le Mans, however a family holiday to Germany in 2015 has been proposed and when I jokingly said "only if we go in June so I can do LM" was greeted in the affirmative, I nearly fell over. So, is it possible to just throw a swag down somewhere in the middle of the night where you find yourself at the time ? I gather the best plan is to get yourself to the circuit and then buy a tent, sleeping bag etc at one of the stores on track ? Whats the general security at the circuit like ? I camped at Bathurst in the 80s, so I'm a reasonably hardy soul.

Thanks David.

[GT6]

Camping security varies across the sites from very good at the private sites to very poor at those sites that everyone can walk through but saying that even on those sites the incidents of theft are not that bad, If you take care not to leave valuable stuff around and are sensible you will be OK. Last year while collecting one of our group from the train station we adopted a lone aussie back packer and he stayed with us on our relatively safe campsite at tertre rouge.
You will need either a camping pass or to join up with a group already there passes are available at the circuit but these will be for the less desirable ones so better to get that sorted before you travel if you can. Transport from the station is easy using the tram and plenty of places to get cheap bulky stuff like tents etc on the way or once you arrive as talked about earlier

[david5]

Thanks GT6.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by GT6

As Vince says plenty of places to buy equipment when you get there, but where are you camping, if you are in the sites close to tertre rouge corner you can set up camp then walk back to the decathlon but if you arrive on wednesday or thursday evening then getting there will be more of a problem so perhaps stop at carrefore and get your sleeping bags and get the chairs the next day.
If you let us know where you are camping and when then people on the site will let you know the best course of action,

Thanks for the advice.Camping with Travel Destinations at Porsche Curves and arriving about lunchtime on Wednesday.

[GT6]

OK that makes it easier to help, the tram station is quite a walk from your campsite but security their is good so don't buy to much when you arrive, set up camp and then pick up more stuff after you have put up tents etc, then perhaps leave one member at the camp with sufficient beer while you head either to the supermarkets in mulsanne or head back to the tram station, you may have time to get to the decathlon before the roads close but if not stay on the tram until carrefore and get your stuff there, on wednesday they will not have sold out of much so you will be able to get sleeping bags, gazebo's, folding chairs and BBQ's no problem and stock up on food/booze.
Talk to your surrounding campers and you may be able to get a lift, as they will be doing something similar but with a car, which will make things easier.
Priority one is to introduce yourself to people around and make friends it will make life much more enjoyable, and also make sure that you follow the various threads on the forum, things will get organised nearer the time and the saturday meet is always a high point of the event.

[david5]

I was thinking of getting some shirts made that say "Help me please, I'm lost and don't speak French" in French and throwing myself at their mercy.

[kpkorsager]

david5, you are welcome to join us if you like. Look for the "international ten-tenths camp for oversea travelers" on this page. If this year turns out to be a success I will host a part 2 next year again.

Kenn

[david5]

Originally Posted by kpkorsager

david5, you are welcome to join us if you like. Look for the "international ten-tenths camp for oversea travelers" on this page. If this year turns out to be a success I will host a part 2 next year again.

Kenn

Thank you very much, I'll keep an eye out for it.

[Tim the Grey]

David? If you get stuck, I intend to be in a 5 berth camper in Tertre Rouge, with a canopy. You'd be welcome to share the pitch... If truly stuck, I might let you borrow a single berth.

I'm always happy to help out waifs and strays! Offers of running a barbie is all you need provide.

[david5]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

David? If you get stuck, I intend to be in a 5 berth camper in Tertre Rouge, with a canopy. You'd be welcome to share the pitch... If truly stuck, I might let you borrow a single berth.

I'm always happy to help out waifs and strays! Offers of running a barbie is all you need provide.

Wow, I'm overwhelmed with these kind offers guys and you know I'm talking 2015 for my visit, but I will definitely meet up with everyone for a beer and a chat and I understand that cheese has to be consumed as well. Being Australian means I'm qualified to drive a BBQ at birth.

[GT6]

2014 or 2015 we will all be there and all be willing to give any help we can, and the way things are going tertre rouge will be like the saturday meet with a very large number of the ten tenths regulars camping there