bit sad, but has kept me entertained while bored....

stefrees

using mapmyride to create what sort of stages id like to see in the tour of britain, quite simple but some stages look like they could be quite good and make use of good routes. obviously it doesnt take into account real life logistics, but is good fun ey. imagine a stage that left worcs and took in a british camp ascent of the malvern hills then a colwall ascent, ankerdine hill, the rise into clifton, clee hill, a few strays around the central shropshire hills followed by a finish straight after a road over long mynd?

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-ki ... 9068514243

I'll get me coat

Tusher

Not at all sad, stefrees,

My Tour of Britain would look something like this-

Stage 1- Embra to Glesca. Along the M8, which would operate a contra-flow system for the duration of the race.

overnight flight from Glasgow Airport to Castlebay, Barra

Stage 2- Castlebay to Stornoway http://www.cyclehebrides.com/index.php

Bus from Stornoway to Lochmaddy. Ferry to Uig.

Stage 3- race around Skye. Anti-clockwise, I think.

Special flight to be chartered to Kirkwall.


Stage 4- The Orkney Time Trial. Windy conditions should make it interesting.

Overnight ferry to Aberdeen. Bus to Aviemore.


Stage 5-the Cairngorms. Various mountains to be climbed. Mountain bikes optional.



A true test of stamina and skill I would say. Anti-doping would permit the use of travel sickness tablets.

And it would bring in millions for the tourism industry.

RichN95.

Great idea - here's mine: Swansea to Cardiff the long way round: 146Km

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/cardiff/118125599546717997

Early on there are the climbs of the Blwch and the Rhigos - but I can do them, both without stopping, so won't cause the pros too much trouble. But it's a good launchpad for attacks.

Then it's fairly run of the mill until Risca where I'm going to take them up a small country road. Unless I've got route slightly wrong (quite likely), then the stats on that website are wrong. It's a short but brutal 20% climb on a narrow road which will shatter the field.

Then on to Caerphilly and the hardest route up Caerphilly mountain. Again, the website is wrong it's at least 15% in parts (these stats are from my cyclo-computer, plus if I have to stop halfway up it's over 10%).

Then a tricky descent and the run in to the Civic buildings and Cardiff Castle finish (I'd have the finish outside my house, but the speed bumps might be a problem).

There's probably a better route from the Midlands through the Brecons, but I don't know that so well.

stagehopper

RichN95 wrote:

Great idea - here's mine: Swansea to Cardiff the long way round: 146Km

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/cardiff/118125599546717997

There's a nice kick you've missed out between 25 and 29 on your map. Rather than taking the straight "new road" from Brynmenyn to Llangeinor head west towards Ynyswadre on the A4065 and take a right up the initially very sharp Bettws Road through Bettws and descend back down to Llangeinor (via a couple of very tricky turns) bringing you back out by the Green Meadow pub (29) before the ascent up and over to the Ogmore Valley.

Sheptastic

stefrees wrote:

using mapmyride to create what sort of stages id like to see in the tour of britain, quite simple but some stages look like they could be quite good and make use of good routes. obviously it doesnt take into account real life logistics, but is good fun ey. imagine a stage that left worcs and took in a british camp ascent of the malvern hills then a colwall ascent, ankerdine hill, the rise into clifton, clee hill, a few strays around the central shropshire hills followed by a finish straight after a road over long mynd?

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-ki ... 9068514243

I'll get me coat

Could always throw in the 25% Winniats Way around abberly. That'd see a few pros walking their bikes!