Watching the Tour de France from a comfortable couch is the closest that the vast majority of cycling enthusiasts will ever get to going on their own French bike trip.

It’s two weeks of mouth-watering travelogue showcasing the best that France has to offer – even on two wheels!.   The breathtaking views, fascinating history and the promise of delectable French cuisine are enough to make any couch potato want to dust off the old two-wheeler and start pedaling!!  After all, those professionals make it look like a walk in the park.  It’s clearly not easy – with riders burning up around 125 000 calories over the two weeks taking nearly half a million pedal strokes!

It would be interesting to know how many people take up a sport or an activity after having watched it on TV.  Does the sight of tens of thousands of fit people crossing Manhattan Bridge for the New York Marathon inspire others to get out their running shoes, or a spinnaker billowing out from sleek yachts battling the elements in an ocean sailing race gets us racing for the water? 

While attending any of the world’s major televised sporting events is the stuff of dreams for most people, here’s something that can bring a little part of that dream into reality.  A novel way of enabling people to experience their dream in a small way is to give them a gift voucher for an actual adventure or experience, such as a cycling trip, yacht cruise, stunt driving gift, flying gift etc.

It’s easier than surfing the TV channels.  A treasure trove of options awaits with only a few clicks of the mouse.  For example, one retailer who operates out of Australia, BigThanks, has over 750 online gift certificates on their site which can be purchased from anywhere in the world (thanks to secure paypal payment systems).  Say your uncle in Melbourne was an ardent Tour de France fan – imagine his joy at receiving a gift certificate for a cycling adventure?. 

Here’s something you may not know about the Tour de France – the yellow jersey was first worn in 1919 by the leader of the race as homage to the yellow pages of the magazine which sponsored and organised the race – L’Auto.  Since the first Tour in 1903 to 2010, cyclists have covered over 350 000 kilometres (they could have cycled from earth to the moon!).  For us mere mortals, the likelihood of pedalling around France is as remote as an invasion of aliens from outer space, but a gift certificate can offer a an amazing alternative.    Check out the websites of online retailers for adventure gift vouchers for a huge choice of experiences – ranging from the fast and furious, wild and wacky, lazy and luxurious to restful and romantic.