Tour of Britain London Stage - some feedback

Harry B

I went on Saturday as I have for the previous 3 years and was rather disappointed by the venue.

It was in the middle of nowhere, the large screen could not be seen clearly from the side of the track which meant that you couldn't see how the race was progressing. All you had to go on was the compentary which was so loud that you could not understand anything which was being said.

What's more you couldn't get a beer anywhere :evil:

It was good to be able to walk amongst the teams and their bikes but next year I don't care if God himself is in town. Stick to holding the race in the middle of London. Its a far better venue

Gazzaputt

Harry B wrote:

I went on Saturday as I have for the previous 3 years and was rather disappointed by the venue.

It was in the middle of nowhere, the large screen could not be seen clearly from the side of the track which meant that you couldn't see how the race was progressing. All you had to go on was the compentary which was so loud that you could not understand anything which was being said.

What's more you couldn't get a beer anywhere :evil:

It was good to be able to walk amongst the teams and their bikes but next year I don't care if God himself is in town. Stick to holding the race in the middle of London. Its a far better venue

I rather enjoyed it being in Newham.

There was a pub about 400 yards from the start/finish area.

Food festival up at the Excel centre wasn't to bad.

I think there is a missed opportunities on the show stands. Only Mule, FGS, The Army, Saddleback and Wiggle. Surely they could have more then this?

Free coffee from Rapha was superb.

Harry B

Gazzaputt wrote:

Harry B wrote:

I went on Saturday as I have for the previous 3 years and was rather disappointed by the venue.

It was in the middle of nowhere, the large screen could not be seen clearly from the side of the track which meant that you couldn't see how the race was progressing. All you had to go on was the compentary which was so loud that you could not understand anything which was being said.

What's more you couldn't get a beer anywhere :evil:

It was good to be able to walk amongst the teams and their bikes but next year I don't care if God himself is in town. Stick to holding the race in the middle of London. Its a far better venue

I rather enjoyed it being in Newham.

There was a pub about 400 yards from the start/finish area.

Food festival up at the Excel centre wasn't to bad.

I think there is a missed opportunities on the show stands. Only Mule, FGS, The Army, Saddleback and Wiggle. Surely they could have more then this?

Free coffee from Rapha was superb.

Where was the pub?

My the end of the race I had spent 2 hours standing opposite the VIP area and had gotten fed up with watching them drinking their free booze. By the time I got home I was practically shaking such was the dangerously low levels of alcohol in my blood. I had to neck a couple of quick pints once I got out of the station near home :roll:

deptfordmarmoset

I was disappointed too - the area just doesn't feel lived in and it's about as atmospheric as a motorway service station. But to be fair to Newham, they hosted it while the stage got squeezed out of central London by the pope's visit.

Gazzaputt

Harry B wrote:

Gazzaputt wrote:

Harry B wrote:

I went on Saturday as I have for the previous 3 years and was rather disappointed by the venue.

It was in the middle of nowhere, the large screen could not be seen clearly from the side of the track which meant that you couldn't see how the race was progressing. All you had to go on was the compentary which was so loud that you could not understand anything which was being said.

What's more you couldn't get a beer anywhere :evil:

It was good to be able to walk amongst the teams and their bikes but next year I don't care if God himself is in town. Stick to holding the race in the middle of London. Its a far better venue

I rather enjoyed it being in Newham.

There was a pub about 400 yards from the start/finish area.

Food festival up at the Excel centre wasn't to bad.

I think there is a missed opportunities on the show stands. Only Mule, FGS, The Army, Saddleback and Wiggle. Surely they could have more then this?

Free coffee from Rapha was superb.

Where was the pub?

My the end of the race I had spent 2 hours standing opposite the VIP area and had gotten fed up with watching them drinking their free booze. By the time I got home I was practically shaking such was the dangerously low levels of alcohol in my blood. I had to neck a couple of quick pints once I got out of the station near home :roll:

If you followed the route west you'd have come to it. Or walked to where the Wiggle stand was and kept going about 300 yards.

.

pitchshifter

I asked two representatives of the tour of britain and both pointed to that tiny cafe near the DLR who of which they didnt except card.

I thought it was shocking compared to the likes of the London Triathlon.

Harry B

Gazzaputt wrote:

Harry B wrote:

Gazzaputt wrote:

Harry B wrote:

I went on Saturday as I have for the previous 3 years and was rather disappointed by the venue.

It was in the middle of nowhere, the large screen could not be seen clearly from the side of the track which meant that you couldn't see how the race was progressing. All you had to go on was the compentary which was so loud that you could not understand anything which was being said.

What's more you couldn't get a beer anywhere :evil:

It was good to be able to walk amongst the teams and their bikes but next year I don't care if God himself is in town. Stick to holding the race in the middle of London. Its a far better venue

I rather enjoyed it being in Newham.

There was a pub about 400 yards from the start/finish area.

Food festival up at the Excel centre wasn't to bad.

I think there is a missed opportunities on the show stands. Only Mule, FGS, The Army, Saddleback and Wiggle. Surely they could have more then this?

Free coffee from Rapha was superb.

Where was the pub?

My the end of the race I had spent 2 hours standing opposite the VIP area and had gotten fed up with watching them drinking their free booze. By the time I got home I was practically shaking such was the dangerously low levels of alcohol in my blood. I had to neck a couple of quick pints once I got out of the station near home :roll:

If you followed the route west you'd have come to it. Or walked to where the Wiggle stand was and kept going about 300 yards.

.

I walked that way right past the Excel on my way to the station afterwards and didn't see a thing!

gingernash

it was a bit soulless and the cycling fair could have done with a lot more stands including more from retailers doing deals on kit.

the vip section was definitely annoying and agree that the commentary was far too loud.

it was great to wander among the team buses. i hung around at the end and it was good to meet some of the riders. the guys from htc left albasini's bike at the back of the truck and they let people pick it up - obsecenely light!

bit of a shame the freebies ran out, but sky were handing out decent caps and all the kids seemed to have loads of water bottles. i came away empty handed though!!!

spen666

pitchshifter wrote:

I asked two representatives of the tour of britain and both pointed to that tiny cafe near the DLR who of which they didnt except card.

I thought it was shocking compared to the likes of the London Triathlon.

Anyone able to translate gibberish into English please?

cougie

I dont think the TOB wanted to be there either - they were forced to move after the pope announced his plans.

SLX01

I cycled there and didn't see a single sign on the way to direct anyone daft enough to go (apart from me) to the start/course. No shops so had to ration out a free sarnie from Prostate ride to last the day. I was amazed it was sponsored by Tfl as there was no advertising anywhere as far as I saw on public transport to get visitors to go, unlike the skyride and TdF when it was in London.
Maybe next year it should be somewhere else like the South coast with a finish on the Brighton seafront or a couple of laps of richmond park.
The whole thing had the atmosphere of cycling around a deserted trading estate, I did a couple of laps of the circuit and must have seen no more than a dozen people away from the start area......grim!!