Tour Series in Stoke on Thursday

Bhima
Bhima Posts: 2,145
edited June 2010 in The bottom bracket
Morning folks!

Anyone going down to watch the races?

I was going to ride down but I'm going to get a lift from Macc now. Where's a good place to park in the town centre? Is it JUST the circuit itself that is closed off? Or will the other surrounding roads be closed too?

Is it the same circuit for the ladies race beforehand too?

And where's a good pub? I may treat myself to a rare pint.

Comments

  • ScaldedCat
    ScaldedCat Posts: 111
    Unfortunartely it would involve going to Stoke...
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Isn't Stoke merely a series of roundabouts and industrial estates?
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    No great fan of the potteries myself, but bit of a cheek from someone stemming from Derby :wink:
    why not get the train from Macc to Stoke station with northern rail?
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    Because i'm getting a lift.

    Yes, Stoke seems to be somewhat of a dire place, though I wont be at work and criterium races are always good for spectators.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Parking easy enough, just a tad expensive.
  • ScaldedCat
    ScaldedCat Posts: 111
    I'd love to go but no chance of getting there, just too far for me. :(

    Public transport to Stoke isn't all it could be, sadly.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    I dont recommend riding down the A50 either :wink:
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    I was at the Southport race - very good racing & enjoyable to watch. It was just the circuit that was closed-off there, with diversions around it.

    A distinct lack of dolly-birds handing out freebies though, so don't expect to fill your pockets with free museli bars. :cry:
    Cycling weakly
  • Team Banana Spokesman
    Team Banana Spokesman Posts: 538
    may go down. it would be good to talk to some of the riders afterwards. how accesible were they to the public in southport skyd0g?

    but bhima. beer? :shock:
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Team Banana Spokesman wrote:
    may go down. it would be good to talk to some of the riders afterwards. how accesible were they to the public in southport skyd0g?

    but bhima. beer? :shock:

    The riders weren't particularly accessible - they spent most of their time warming-up in the pit area or laps of the circuit pre-race and didn't hang around for long after the racing/awards had finished.

    ...not that I'm saying they were being prima-donnas - they simply came in, prepped, did their job & then went off, job done. I'd say a missed opportunity by the organisers - they could've had each team going round the circuit slowly following the team cars & sponsors giving out freebies, signing autographs etc. making it more of an 'event' like Le Tour cavalcade.
    Cycling weakly
  • Matt the Tester
    Matt the Tester Posts: 1,261
    skyd0g wrote:
    Team Banana Spokesman wrote:
    may go down. it would be good to talk to some of the riders afterwards. how accesible were they to the public in southport skyd0g?

    but bhima. beer? :shock:

    The riders weren't particularly accessible - they spent most of their time warming-up in the pit area or laps of the circuit pre-race and didn't hang around for long after the racing/awards had finished.

    ...not that I'm saying they were being prima-donnas - they simply came in, prepped, did their job & then went off, job done. I'd say a missed opportunity by the organisers - they could've had each team going round the circuit slowly following the team cars & sponsors giving out freebies, signing autographs etc. making it more of an 'event' like Le Tour cavalcade.
    QFT could of been abit better but was a good day in general :)
    Coveryourcar.co.uk RT Tester
    north west of england.
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,155
    I am going - hopefully take the kids & get the wife to drive so I can have a few beers!
  • kettrinboy
    kettrinboy Posts: 613
    nah Stokes too far , i think i,ll go down Kettering town centre and watch our round tonight, the circuit is short and fast and they will have a good tailwind along the top straight so they should be flying along there, first time in ages a tour series has been here so the crowds should be big.
  • Lillywhite
    Lillywhite Posts: 742
    kettrinboy wrote:
    first time in ages a tour series has been here so the crowds should be big.

    I'll be surprised. Only live 7-8 miles away and even I won't bother looking at the weather.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    I might get over to Stoke if I can - I know there's a few going from the club.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • morgs2001
    morgs2001 Posts: 159
    Went to Stoke tour series last year and really enjoyed it.
    I work in Stoke and concur that it is quite a grim town.There is loads of parking around the town centre and plenty of side streets for free parking that are closeby ,but dont leave stuff in your car!!!!.
    Pubs wise , having a tough time recommending any to be honest.To be fair you will get a decent pint in the Coachmakers Arms on Lichfield Street and its quite a nice olde wolde pub used by theatre goers among others and maybe the Unicorn on Piccadilly opposite the theatre.There is a Wetherspoons (The Reginald Mitchell) in the town centre which should be close to the racing.
    Dont go in the Burton Stores pub its a bit like going in the kantina from Star Wars.Full of misfits and scum bags.
    Hope fully going myself ,look forward to maybe seeing you there!!
    Although obviously i wouldn't know who you were.
  • kettrinboy
    kettrinboy Posts: 613
    Lillywhite wrote:
    kettrinboy wrote:
    first time in ages a tour series has been here so the crowds should be big.

    I'll be surprised. Only live 7-8 miles away and even I won't bother looking at the weather.
    you were right, apart from the start /finish area the rest of the course was pretty deserted, shame as the racing was good, i expect the tour wont be back here anytime soon then.
  • Lillywhite
    Lillywhite Posts: 742
    kettrinboy wrote:
    you were right, apart from the start /finish area the rest of the course was pretty deserted, shame as the racing was good, i expect the tour wont be back here anytime soon then.

    Now I realised it was on because I'm a cyclist but how well did Kettering Borough Council promote it? Certainly no mention of it on the on line version of the Evening Telegraph. :roll:

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