Tour Rides - Tour of Britain

AlistairTR

Hi All,

1/3rd Early Bird Discount!! (Register before 16th May)

I’m a freelance cycle consultant and currently working with The Prostate Cancer Charity to help promote their Tour Rides. Last year was a brilliant year with some outstanding routes. There is something very special about riding the same route as the Pro’s do on the Tour of Britain. I hope to post lots of info as it all emerges and if you have any questions feel free to ask here.

Most importantly at the moment is the Early Bird Discount of 1/3 off if you register before 16th May!!!

There is an ever bigger choice of rides this year, so have a good look here http://www.tourride.co.uk
I’m going to be riding the Pro Ride in Wales, a real stunning route running from castle to castle!

Okay, that’s it for now....don’t miss the early bird discount!

jackfeeder

Hi, I've also registered.
Doing the Welsh route, looking forward to it.
I live in Swansea and am wondering how to sort out getting there & back.
Do you have any info on transfers, possible accommodation discounts etc?
thanks,

AlistairTR

Hi Jack,

Thanks for your posting and thanks for signing up for what is going to be a brilliant Tour Ride. There is a meeting today about transfers and as soon as I have all the details I’ll make sure that they get posted here, probably in a week or so. The intention is to make it as easy as possible to enjoy a linear ride.

By the way, are you part of a club in Swansea and has anyone else signed up to ride with you?

Cheerio for now
Alistair

jackfeeder

Ok that info would be great.
Not a member of a club but there may be a few of us will do this.

AlistairTR

Thanks Jack, pass on the good news! The early bird discount is a good one!

I'll post up news as I get it.

Mozza1

Well I signed up for the Stoke stage before the route was announced hoping that, for my 3rd time, we would be riding a different route.
Quite disappointed to find it's more or less the same as 2009 & not as good as last years route.
If there is to be a Stoke stage next year more effort from the Tour of Britain people please in coming up with a route.
Next year I shall wait for the route before signing up...............

AlistairTR

Hi Mozza and thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. Would you prefer to transfer to the Wales Tour Ride? I can’t promise that I can do it; however I can but ask on your behalf.

I think the Stoke ride has worked so well all involved thought it was worth running again much along the lines of last year. I’ll pass on your feedback, let me know if you want to change and I’ll see what I can do for you.

Mozza1

Hi Alistair. I'm OK with doing the Stoke stage as it's local for me which is one of the reasons why I do it.......my point was really that there must be more roads & hills that can be combined to make a different route around Stoke & surrounding area.
I'm also thinking about the pro's too......they'll be riding the the same route as previous years; not that they pay attention to the route the same as we would but I'm sure they'd fancy something different. It's ToB's role to come up with the route so don't think I'm having a go at anyone at Tour Rides.
From a pro point of view the distance this year is also down on last year which must have an effect on the type of racing we'll see. I though that last year was step up in route & mileage from 2009.
Tentham Gardens will be a good base for the start & finish mind as there is more for spectators to do will waiting for us to finish......a bit lacking last year.

For the future though this all depends on Stoke having an agreement to hold ToB stages. My thinking is that this is the last year of a 4yr 'deal' they had with ToB.

bendertherobot

Signed up for Wales one today. Quite excited about a non loop ride!

AlistairTR

Nice one Bendertherobot! It's a stunning route......see you there.

Pass on the news about the early bird discount if you get chance.

Thanks

AlistairTR

Mozza, I really appreciate your feedback on this and will make sure that it gets to those that matter. Have a great Tour Ride, thanks for signing up and riding for The Prostate Cancer Charity and say “hello” if you ever find yourself down in my patch (Devon).
Thanks

AlistairTR

...just six days to go until the early bird discount ends!

I've just been looking at the gpx file for the Tour Ride in Wales and it look as if we've got about 3,000m of height gain! I'll confirm the details here when I get the official nod, but that sounds like a great day out!!

I've signed up for the Pro Ride, make the most of the early bird......
http://www.tourride.co.uk/wales.asp

Mozza1

Don't get wrong..........I enjoy riding these events, back 2009 that was my longest ever ride & my first sportive.
Whilst I don't know anyone who has suffered Prostate cancer I appreciate that money we raise is for a very good cause.
So for me personally I can combine raising money & telling (boring) anybody that I know that I've ridden 2 ToB stages.
It's just, well disappointing that we're riding the same route 3 years in a row. I hope I don't sound mean or unappreciative.......just my thoughts.

AlistairTR

Just a quick reminder that the Early Bird Offer of 33% discount ends in 5 days time on Monday 16th May. It’s a BIG discount and so not one to miss!

I’ve entered the Pro Ride in Wales http://www.tourride.co.uk/wales.asp which is a real corker of a sportive

AlistairTR

The Early Bird Discount Offer of 1/3rd off ends at midnight on Monday 16th May, so just 3 and a bit days left!!

I’m up in Aberystwyth for the Tour Series later on this month (26th) and would happily meet up with anyone who would like to chat about the Tour Ride Wales in more detail.....or just ask away here!

......and all this is included as well as a castle to start and finish at in Wales!
• Rider chips
• The Tour of Britain fully signed route
• Ride under The Tour of Britain gantry at start and finish
• Well stocked food and drink stops
• NEG motor marshals
• Full paramedic cover
• Medals
• Bike mechanics
• Goody bag
• Event photographer
• Marshalled route
• Electronic rider manual
• Pasta meal

AlistairTR

Okay then, this is the final countdown on the early bird offer as it ends at midnight tonight!

So if you are thinking of riding either a Pro Ride or a Challenge Ride you could save 1/3rd by signing up today!

• Pro Ride - £23 (reduced from £35)
• Challenge Ride - £20 (reduced from £30)

I’ve entered the Pro Ride in Wales (so far) http://www.tourride.co.uk/wales-pro-ride.asp

Happy Cycling
Alistair

jackfeeder

Ok, I've had a look on the website and seen the transfer details which look good. Can't find the link on how to book it though plus no links for accomodation - can you help?

AlistairTR

Hi Jack,

Thanks for your message. You need to select the ride you are interested in (i.e. http://www.tourride.co.uk/wales-pro-ride.asp) and then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “get involved”. That will then take you to the start of the application process.

At this stage I would use the local Tourist Information Offices for accommodation in the area where you want to stay the night.

I hope that helps.
Best of luck with the ride,
Alistair

Brushiemma10w

Hello AlistairTR,

A friend & I have just booked to do the East Anglian Tour (the 200k) and although the website states "make sure you have booked your transfer back to Bury St Edmunds from Sandringham", there is as yet no option to book this transfer, at least not one I can find?

AlistairTR

Hi Brushiemma,

Thanks for your posting and thanks for signing up for the East Anglian Tour.
We are just finalising the transfer details and hope to publish them soon. I’ll make sure that I post them here as well and keep everyone informed.

Thanks
Alistair

Brushiemma10w

Thanks Alistair.

jweighell

Aw, I thought the early-bird discount lasted until the 26th! :-(

AlistairTR

Oh, sorry you missed the early bird jweighell, but think of it this way, its more for The Prostate Cancer Charity

Which tour are you thinking of riding?

Cheerio
Alistair

jweighell

Planning to do the Welsh stage - looks good!

AlistairTR

jweighell wrote:

Planning to do the Welsh stage - looks good!

I agree, it looks brilliant. I've not ridden it all yet, but hope to soon and I'll report back here.

Are you in a club jweighell and if so are many members joining you?

Alistair

derbygrimpeur

Just on the Stoke stage... why doesn't the ToB start on the other side of the Peak District for a change? There are so many great roads/climbs in the Peak and the ToB doesn't make the best of them. Shame.

AlistairTR

derbygrimpeur wrote:

Just on the Stoke stage... why doesn't the ToB start on the other side of the Peak District for a change? There are so many great roads/climbs in the Peak and the ToB doesn't make the best of them. Shame.

Yeah, had this mentioned before and I've passed on the feedback. I can't really give a good answer at the moment, but if I get one I'll post it here.

I live in Devon and so I have to say, I love hills, so the more the better for me

Alistair

jweighell

AlistairTR wrote:

jweighell wrote:

Planning to do the Welsh stage - looks good!

Are you in a club jweighell and if so are many members joining you?

Yeah, Exe Velo in Tiverton - will see if I can get a few others to do it. Can we have a group discount? :-)

Jonathan

orbeaorca

Are there any detailed maps of the stages available anywhere?

AlistairTR

Hey Jonathan,

I hadn’t realised that there was a new club in Tiverton, that’s great news! I’ve also just noticed that we are facebook friends and that you’ve posted about the Tour Ride in Wales! Thanks for doing that; I’d really like to get a strong contingent from Devon travelling up. I'm a member of Axe Valley, based in Seaton.

Nice idea about the group discount, but as it’s for The Prostate Cancer Charity that would mean less for them. Keep in touch though and let me know how the group entry grows!
I’ll pm you on facebook with a few ideas.

Orbeaorca, thanks for your message. GPX files should be loaded pretty soon onto the website, I’ll post here when they are.

Thanks
Alistair

thecrofter

Booked up for the Scottish stage, quite a buzz doing the official route, should give me an idea of just how hard it must be to be a pro. It will be my mate's first ton and only my third. No pain, No gain.