Olympic velodrome

sketchley

Went tonight for first test event. Pain in the @rse getting to and from Stratford station, but venue was excellent although hot. Aus narrowly beat gb in team pursuit. Good evening had.

spasypaddy

was brilliant wasnt it?

took soooo many photos

deptfordmarmoset

I'm jealous! As you've been there, do you know if there's any way of getting there on a bike? I haven't got tickets but I'm fed up with seeing the velodrome from afar and I'd like to get up close just to get a feel of the building and its surroundings. I know the idea of cycling to a cycling event at a velodrome might seem a fairly extreme idea but I've no idea how to get onto the site or even whether it's possible.

rml380z

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

I'm jealous! As you've been there, do you know if there's any way of getting there on a bike? I haven't got tickets but I'm fed up with seeing the velodrome from afar and I'd like to get up close just to get a feel of the building and its surroundings. I know the idea of cycling to a cycling event at a velodrome might seem a fairly extreme idea but I've no idea how to get onto the site or even whether it's possible.

I won't bother going as you can't get onto the Olympic site without a ticket, so you won't be able to get anywhere near the Velodrome.

I was thinking of cycling there today, but it seems that there isn't any cycle parking in the Olympic park yet, and you can't go into the park on your bike; the website says use the parking at Stratford station and catch a shuttle bus like everyone else.

jzed

Agree with Sketchley. Ques to get in, que for security, que for a bus. But the velorome is brilliant an being able to sit at your seat with a beer an unexpected plus. Great evening.

Was surprised how much of a building site the Olympic park still is, and if the system is anything like last nights, with 50 times the people on site, can imagine the ques will be a pita.

rick_chasey

How long did it take to get in from stratford station?

I'm off to the Sunday morning one and ideally want to arrive as late as possible without missing anything.

jzed

45 minutes, maybe an hour

rick_chasey

Christ. Takes 5 minutes to get into a football match.

Why so long?

They frisking everyone who goes in?

spasypaddy

full on airport scanning. however that bit is quick its just the walking and then the bussing to the velodrome is slow

rick_chasey

spasypaddy wrote:

full on airport scanning. however that bit is quick its just the walking and then the bussing to the velodrome is slow

Bus to the velodrome?

How far away is it?

gtvlusso

spasypaddy wrote:

was brilliant wasnt it?

took soooo many photos

Pics or you didn't go - seriously, do you have the pics online? Love to see them!

Wrath Rob

Going tomorrow morning for the 9-4 session, very excited now. I'll be taking the nice camera too.

jonginge

Rick Chasey wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

full on airport scanning. however that bit is quick its just the walking and then the bussing to the velodrome is slow

Bus to the velodrome?

How far away is it?

Not far but the walkways and bridges aren't finished yet.

My boss went. He's not a cycling fan particularly but really enjoyed it

sketchley

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

I'm jealous! As you've been there, do you know if there's any way of getting there on a bike? I haven't got tickets but I'm fed up with seeing the velodrome from afar and I'd like to get up close just to get a feel of the building and its surroundings. I know the idea of cycling to a cycling event at a velodrome might seem a fairly extreme idea but I've no idea how to get onto the site or even whether it's possible.

You can cycle out to here. http://www.theviewtube.co.uk/home.html good coffee, good cake and you can see a fair bit of the park. Can't really see the velodrome though except from a distance.

spasypaddy

gtvlusso wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

was brilliant wasnt it?

took soooo many photos

Pics or you didn't go - seriously, do you have the pics online? Love to see them!

not yet, got in too late to do anything with them. i have a few on my phone i'll upload them in a bit

there was free wifi there as well for anyone else that is going (Which actually means my phone uploaded the few i took on there automatically)

il_principe

Sketchley wrote:

Went tonight for first test event. Pain in the @rse getting to and from Stratford station, but venue was excellent although hot. Aus narrowly beat gb in team pursuit. Good evening had.

It's always gonna be hot hot hot, or as hot as the riders can force the organisers to make it.

sketchley

Il Principe wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Went tonight for first test event. Pain in the @rse getting to and from Stratford station, but venue was excellent although hot. Aus narrowly beat gb in team pursuit. Good evening had.

It's always gonna be hot hot hot, or as hot as the riders can force the organisers to make it.

My first time in a velodrome. There was notice with tickets that it would be 28 degrees........

il_principe

Good article on it hear. Always amazes me how much difference a few degrees can make. http://engineeringsport.co.uk/2011/03/01/the-heat-is-on-for-cyclists-in-the-london-velodrome/

spasypaddy

even though it looked incredibly steep its actually shallower than the newport velodrome which ive ridden on

snooks

Wrath Rob wrote:

I'll be taking the nice camera too.

I'm curious.......Why? What are you hoping to photograph?

I always smile when I see everyone in the crowd at a 100m final taking a photographs the stadium holds it's breath, the gun goes off, and the stands are lit up by thousands of tiny flashes which are designed to illuminate a subject matter 3 metres away! The pic won't come out, and by the time people have messed with their cameras they will have missed the race! Yet every 4 years you'll see it. :roll:

As photographer I always find far more fun being at an event and watching it, than dicking around with a camera only to miss the best bits and to be left with a handful of poor photographs at the end. If you want to get good photos you need a press pass, it's the best seat in the house.

sketchley

snooks wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

I'll be taking the nice camera too.

I'm curious.......Why? What are you hoping to photograph?

I always smile when I see everyone in the crowd at a 100m final taking a photographs the stadium holds it's breath, the gun goes off, and the stands are lit up by thousands of tiny flashes which are designed to illuminate a subject matter 3 metres away! The pic won't come out, and by the time people have messed with their cameras they will have missed the race! Yet every 4 years you'll see it. :roll:

As photographer I always find far more fun being at an event and watching it, than dicking around with a camera only to miss the best bits and to be left with a handful of poor photographs at the end. If you want to get good photos you need a press pass, it's the best seat in the house.

I know what you mean, it's why I don't take a camera to rugby. Plus there's always a better cameraman with better kit too that taking better photos. Why bother.

gtvlusso

snooks wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

I'll be taking the nice camera too.

I'm curious.......Why? What are you hoping to photograph?

I always smile when I see everyone in the crowd at a 100m final taking a photographs the stadium holds it's breath, the gun goes off, and the stands are lit up by thousands of tiny flashes which are designed to illuminate a subject matter 3 metres away! The pic won't come out, and by the time people have messed with their cameras they will have missed the race! Yet every 4 years you'll see it. :roll:

As photographer I always find far more fun being at an event and watching it, than dicking around with a camera only to miss the best bits and to be left with a handful of poor photographs at the end. If you want to get good photos you need a press pass, it's the best seat in the house.

Unfortunately, we are not all photographers by profession (knowing the iso settings and suchlike) or can afford nice plush kit. We make do with the phone cam or a cheap camera.

But it is nice to have a few of your own pics, for the album at home, reminding you of an event you attended with the family or friends. Or something brief to show your mates in the pub when you are talking about stuff and that.....

TheStone

JZed wrote:

But the velorome is brilliant an being able to sit at your seat with a beer an unexpected plus. Great evening.

They have beer?????

Got tickets for Saturday night ... that changes everything!

jzed

TheStone wrote:

JZed wrote:

But the velorome is brilliant an being able to sit at your seat with a beer an unexpected plus. Great evening.

They have beer?????

Got tickets for Saturday night ... that changes everything!

Yeah - bottles of becks and cider. £4.20 each I think. Nice and warm, bottle of beer in hand, bikes going round in front of you. Wish I'd managed to get some more tickets. Enjoy!

hfidgen

Unless you want to spend £20 on 2 beers and a sandwich, fully suggest taking your own in a bag! They didn't seem too fussed last night.

Was awesome atmosphere when the GB teams were out - gave a little taste of what the real event might be like in the summer! Great venue.

snooks

gtvlusso wrote:

snooks wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

I'll be taking the nice camera too.

I'm curious.......Why? What are you hoping to photograph?

I always smile when I see everyone in the crowd at a 100m final taking a photographs the stadium holds it's breath, the gun goes off, and the stands are lit up by thousands of tiny flashes which are designed to illuminate a subject matter 3 metres away! The pic won't come out, and by the time people have messed with their cameras they will have missed the race! Yet every 4 years you'll see it. :roll:

As photographer I always find far more fun being at an event and watching it, than dicking around with a camera only to miss the best bits and to be left with a handful of poor photographs at the end. If you want to get good photos you need a press pass, it's the best seat in the house.

Unfortunately, we are not all photographers by profession (knowing the iso settings and suchlike) or can afford nice plush kit. We make do with the phone cam or a cheap camera.

But it is nice to have a few of your own pics, for the album at home, reminding you of an event you attended with the family or friends. Or something brief to show your mates in the pub when you are talking about stuff and that.....

For that there is the iPhone

Wrath Rob

snooks wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

I'll be taking the nice camera too.

I'm curious.......Why? What are you hoping to photograph?

I always smile when I see everyone in the crowd at a 100m final taking a photographs the stadium holds it's breath, the gun goes off, and the stands are lit up by thousands of tiny flashes which are designed to illuminate a subject matter 3 metres away! The pic won't come out, and by the time people have messed with their cameras they will have missed the race! Yet every 4 years you'll see it. :roll:

As photographer I always find far more fun being at an event and watching it, than dicking around with a camera only to miss the best bits and to be left with a handful of poor photographs at the end. If you want to get good photos you need a press pass, it's the best seat in the house.

The nice camera is a Canon EOS 40D with L series 70-200mm lens. At a track you can also normally get pretty close at the ends of the track to take some close ups. And its reasonably well lit so with a fast ISO you can get some nice pics without the flash. I get some of my enjoyment from taking the pictures as well as being there. A decent zoom also helps you see some things you might otherwise miss. Agree that you need a press pass though. Very jealous of those guys.

Took these at Manchester back in October

dhope

Wrath Rob wrote:

blah blah



blah blah

itboffin

snooks wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

I'll be taking the nice camera too.

I'm curious.......Why? What are you hoping to photograph?

I always smile when I see everyone in the crowd at a 100m final taking a photographs the stadium holds it's breath, the gun goes off, and the stands are lit up by thousands of tiny flashes which are designed to illuminate a subject matter 3 metres away! The pic won't come out, and by the time people have messed with their cameras they will have missed the race! Yet every 4 years you'll see it. :roll:

As photographer I always find far more fun being at an event and watching it, than dicking around with a camera only to miss the best bits and to be left with a handful of poor photographs at the end. If you want to get good photos you need a press pass, it's the best seat in the house.

You are a naughty and wicked man :-) plus how the hell are you, where you been ....? eh no epic stories from the East

snooks

Security don't seem to give a toss.

If you see an empty seat closer to the track once it's started, walk around and sit there you can only get moved on back to your paid for seat. Unlike other sporting events I've been to you can walk around and sit anywhere!

So I take back what I said. You'll need a 24-70 or a 70-200

clarkey cat

that girl in the middle pic is a babe!