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The motorhome market is booming, and while we notice it on the road, we also see it at every sportive, where a new category of participants gathers, whom we could call “cyclocampingcaristes” (cycling motorhomers).
Text and photo: Bruno Cavelier – Article published in issue #147 of Cyclosport, currently on newsstands.
The motorhome, along with the bicycle, is the big winner of the health crisis. You just have to look along the roads, at the completely empty parking lots of all the dealerships. There is no new stock left, so we can assume that the used market is following suit, and the rental market exploded this summer… For a cyclist, what could be more pleasant than being able to stay on site, close to the start of a race? Arrive the day before, calmly pick up your bib number, eat “homemade” food before a good night’s sleep, and have your gear close at hand. This is why a community of sportive cyclists is gradually building up, meeting year after year at the start of sportives and other cycling events such as national Master or Ufolep championships, not to mention trips as spectators, like on the Tour route for example.
Freedom
In a motorhome, you can park right on the side of the road as a spectator for a stage or on the route of a sportive, without any constraints related to a hotel or even a campsite. And the icing on the cake, you live at home, you eat like at home, you sleep, you shower after the effort… In short, you live your passion in complete freedom, sometimes deciding at the last minute, without any logistical worries. As for gear, it’s the best if you have a garage compartment, allowing you to store a bike rack, tools, spare wheels, etc. But an external bike rack can also do the trick. For small equipment, no problem either, since, for example, the 12 volts means you’ll never run out of battery, whether for your phone or – especially – your Di2…
Brotherhood
Tradition dictates that two motorhomes crossing paths on the road exchange a small wave, just as two cyclists do, or at least, we hope so, although this tradition tends to be lost… Imagine then the affinities when two motorhomers also share their same passion for cycling… A true solidarity develops between them, as evidenced by the real camps set up near race starts where it is surprisingly easy to meet people, forge friendships that often last from one year to the next. Moreover, more and more organizers are providing spaces for motorhomes to park for free.
Equality…
Ultimately, the only problem with a motorhome is its price… So, on that front, there is no equality. For a new vehicle offering all functionalities, you need to count at least 45,000 euros and a little less for a recent used one. It’s a hefty sum, but to fully enjoy our first two points mentioned above – freedom and brotherhood – it’s worth it, provided you decide to allocate a budget to it. Then, once you’re a motorhomer, the notion of equality takes over because in terms of mentality, there’s no longer any difference between the owner of a monstrous, state-of-the-art vehicle and someone who has been maintaining their favorite shell for years: it’s the passion for cycling that counts!
=> SEE ALSO: All our MAG articles
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