Tour of Britain

Harry B

I was thinking of taking my youngster along to watch the 1st stage in London. Has anyone come along to this previously? Just wondering what the crowds are like and how much you can actually see

cougie

Get there early and baggsy a place on the barriers ?

Clever Pun

I'm toying with heading to the walkabout for beers and cheering

nwallace

With the scottish stage for once on a non-Sunday i have on a bit of tape stuck to my monitor the instructions

0752 Dundee to Glasgow QS, Walk to Central, Get Train to Sanquhar, Walk towards Menock Pass until meet bikes. Return to Dundee.

cycologist

The race comes within a mile and a half of my house on Wednesday. In fact, it comes within about 30 yards of my usual watering hole. By some stange coincidence, I'm not at work on Wednesday - guess where i'll be.

redddraggon

I might go and see the final stage in Liverpool

Lagavulin

Friday is my neck of the woods. If I can get it off work I'll pop along to the quayside for the finish.

CHRISNOIR

I think the final stage swings near my Missus' gaff in Preston so will probably pop along to that.

abbey

I went down to the stage in London for the last two years. The first year was great walked up 10 mins before the race started. There was a gap at the barrier at least 50 yards long. The reports on the TV massively over exaggerated the number of people who were there to watch the race. Most of the people in the area just seemed to be going about their daily business.
It was the best year in my opinion though. We got to walk through the caravan of tour busses and bikes and riders and got some great pics.
Last year started in Greenwich. Could not get anywhere near the bikes or riders and there were a lot more people around. Still got a good view of the start though.
Both years I took my son who was 3 in the first year. He really loved it. He sat on my shoulders for the entire day.

This year day 2 is in Milton Keynes. Perfect for me as I live in Northampton and can ride to MK in around an 50 mins. It passes by my window at work but I have the day off.

hammerite

I'm heading to London early-ish to have a wander round then find a spot to view from at lunch time. Taking the OH and boy.

I have Monday off work too, so will cycle in that morning and am marshalling at the start.

Jez mon

I'm probably going on Sunday, but won't be there for the whole thing as I'm going out Saturday. Then will ride out on Monday to see how Streatley hill isn't really a hill at all! Yes, I am unemployed!

Last year my school year started on the day it went through Reading which was a mild annoyance

pdstsp

For the third year on the trot the race is going past my house on the outskirts of Liverpool - two years ago managed to get a piccie from the other side of the road with a very blurred Tom Boonen riding past the end of my drive. The only comment my kids made was "don't real cyclists ride fast Dad?" B#'tards.

knight2k

I'll be viewing on Monday. A few of us from the club will be riding out to a yet tba location.

Metcheck is looking promising at the moment.

squired

The prologue in Crystal Palace Park last year was dreadful and very poorly attended. We actually went home half way through as it was so badly organised. Hopefully the London start will be better this year. If you want to be near the finish line you probably need to arrive early, but otherwise I'd imagine it won't be too bad. Lets not forget that it will no doubt be raining, which will put many people off. I was planning to go, but will be watching the UFC on Setanta till 6am on Sunday morning, so am likely to be in bed instead! Enjoy!

drewfromrisca

I'm marshalling the london stage so will get a lovely view!!! hopefully :shock:

primalcarl

I've just decided I'd like to go on sunday, but not sure if I'll be able to find anyone to go with.

Poor me!

Doobz

I am hopefully going to ride the crits on Sunday in Liverpool and then marshalling at the finish when the Pro's Finish. Cant wait..

I wanted to do the Preview of Next years DLMC but cant pass up the chance of riding in front of a large crowd and getting real close to the pro's

NervexProf

Stage 1 details here: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/therace_ ... _index.asp

afctumike

I'm marshalling on the sprint outside Wolverhampton Grammar School on Day Four. Looking forward to a great time. Oh, and apparently I get a tee-shirt and whistle to keep

DavidBelcher

If you can't make it to the race, daily ITV4 highlights coverage starts 8pm on Sunday. Has to be an improvement on the one-off highlights show shoehorned into the Beeb schedules for previous editions.

David

fast as fupp

ill be there next sunday for the final stage-thats if that giant spider has gone!

biondino

squired wrote:

The prologue in Crystal Palace Park last year was dreadful and very poorly attended. We actually went home half way through as it was so badly organised.

Weird - I went too, sat on the grass up near the amphitheatre with my friends, no-one blocking my view as riders came downhill at 35mph before negotiating a chicane (one guy didn't - went over and slid hard into the barriers, ouch). Ate ice cream, got given free hats, and got as close as I wanted to the riders. Got some good photos too. When the last dozen or so riders were about to head out I went over to the start and got a good view there too.

jellybellywmb

Decided last minute to go and thoughely enjoyed it.
Took the kids and it was well organised and got various great views around the circuit.

Just one sour note and that was the dick in the flat cap on Tower Hill who decided to shout CHEAT!!
everytime a certain rider passed, until that is someone wanged a hot dog at him which got one of the biggest cheers of the day.

PS did anyone else think the Rock Racing kit was the coolest thing

cougie

Ha ! Was that hamilton ? Class !

Harry B

I took my youngest. We got a good view close to the finish line. I thought it was a good day. Only downside was having to pay 50p to use the public toilets :shock:

iainf72

cougie wrote:

Ha ! Was that hamilton ? Class !

it could have been many people - Why you so obsessed with Hamilton?

Di Luca
Pettachi
Millar
Botero
Sevilla
Spezialetti

I won't mention people with too little plasma though.

cougie

Cos Hamilton is the highest profile cheat out of that list ?

None of the others have come up with such bizarre excuses in the face of overwhelming evidence.

hammerite

here's some of my photos from the ToB yesterday. Won't let me load anymore on but I have a couple from this morning too http://www.flickr.com/photos/30315321@N04/

unclemalc

afctumike wrote:

I'm marshalling on the sprint outside Wolverhampton Grammar School on Day Four. Looking forward to a great time. Oh, and apparently I get a tee-shirt and whistle to keep

whats the route mike? are they doing A449 into Penn rd or what - I want to be somewhere decent to watch...

boybiker

I rode to Newbury yesterday to see the finish, didn't see a lot except 100 riders whizz past at 40, glad I don't live in Newbury they have got some bastard big hills which hurt my little legs
Oh and I did get a silly hat which almost made up for the hills.

Jez mon

I rode to Streatley hill watched Ian Stannard actually break a sweat climbing a hill which almost made me wish for a compact and then got to see me and my friends on the TV. Yay.

Although I learnt that I look titchy compared to my clubmates.

Good day out though, nice hilly ride!