Prologue Tour of Britain Crystal Palace Park

Gazzaputt
Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
edited September 2007 in Pro race
I want to ride up to the park Sunday to watch the prologue. After the crowds at the TDF prologue in London do you think this is a good idea?

Is it a pain to have to drag the bike about with you?

Comments

  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    49 views and no comments!!
  • Yes.
    In fact I'm going early as I'm riding in one of the support races and that would be difficult without my bike. There should be plenty of car parking space too.
    'e pur si muove
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    I doubt it'll be anywhere near as busy as the Tour de France weekend but hopefully a decent crowd will turn out.

    It's a big park so taking a bike shouldn't be too much of a hassle. From what I've seen of the course you're best bet may be to pick a spot on the banking near the stage and watch events unfold from there.
  • Hi
    This year's Tour prologue crowds were exceptionally heavy. C Palace should not be like that. Last year's ToB final on the Mall was not well attended really, and it was a lovely day. Only the final few hundred metres of barrier were crowded.

    I went to the Smithfield Nocturne with two people who had bikes and it was a hassle having to stand around them. I will be taking the bus on Sunday to C Palace. While it's nice to turn up on a bike I think it limits your flexibility in moving positions. You can't really lay it down behind you like on a col. You can lock it up of course but lock it well!

    If it's easier for you to ride up then fine, otherwise I wouldn't bother.

    See you Sunday!
    Paul
  • I've seen a bike park on a map - probably on one of the articles on www.londoncyclesport.com. I've never used a bike park though so couldn't say if it is a good option or not.
  • mandie
    mandie Posts: 218
    I had thought of cycling, but the 157 bus runs from practically outside my front door to Crystal Palace so I will probably take that rather than cycle, to save the hassle / worry of trying to find somewhere secure to leave the bike, not to mention walking around all afternoon on Look cleats.
    Having said that I think I read somewhere that there is a bike park, but the cost of leaving the bike there is probably about the same as my busfare.
    We\'ll kick against the darkness \'till it bleeds daylight
  • Gazzaputt wrote:
    I want to ride up to the park Sunday to watch the prologue. After the crowds at the TDF prologue in London do you think this is a good idea?

    Is it a pain to have to drag the bike about with you?

    There's a bike park near Crystal Palace station, marked on the map on the Tour of Britain site: http://www.tourofbritain.com/therace_st ... _route.asp

    A short walk uphill from there is the triangle - a good area for restaurants (the Japanese restaurant Edo and Numidie, a French/North African restaurant, are especially good - both are on Westow Hill).