Olympic Road Race - Where Will You Be Watching?

24

Comments

  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    What day is the time trial and whats the route? Now that could be a good day of drinking too...
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Moomaloid wrote:
    What day is the time trial and whats the route? Now that could be a good day of drinking too...

    Wednesday August 1st (men and women)

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    Twitter: @RichN95
  • yourpaceormine
    yourpaceormine Posts: 1,245
    I'm hoping to come down to Town for the men's road race (it's my birthday and I'm hoping a certain manxman will live upto the hype and give me an extra reason to raise a glass). But I will have the tribe in tow, so hoping to see the roll out and the final gallop. Where can I find a route map and approx timings? Need to work out train times before the prices start going up and up.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,556
    I know the Box Hill climb is out of the question, but anyone have any ideas about how crazy the rest of the loop will be?

    Anyone know the estimated timings for points on the route?
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Why didn't they take the time trial through the centre of town.... shame... gonna have to trek out there though...
  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    This could be a great option for people heading to Box Hill. Try to see some live action and then watch the finale on the big screen.

    http://road.cc/content/news/57742-surre ... 27-29-july
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Me lounge. :shock:
  • On_What
    On_What Posts: 516
    The loop has another climb in it that will be enough to slow them for a glimpse. Might mean standing in cow shit
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    I'll wander to the end of my road to watch the TT, any excuse for a day off work :)
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 5,182
    According to the BBC cycling tickets on sale on 29th May:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17987673

    'From 29 May, new tickets priced from £5 to £15 will go on sale for the cycling road race at Box Hill in Surrey, the cycling individual time trial at Hampton Court Palace, for the Hill and big screen at Wimbledon.'
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Mad_Malx wrote:
    According to the BBC cycling tickets on sale on 29th May:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17987673

    'From 29 May, new tickets priced from £5 to £15 will go on sale for the cycling road race at Box Hill in Surrey, the cycling individual time trial at Hampton Court Palace, for the Hill and big screen at Wimbledon.'

    I can go and watch Paris Roubaix for free so there's no way i'm going to donate to the Seb Coe retirement fund to watch this "chipper".
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    If they are going to charge they need to offer the people access to big screens showing the whole of the race. Yes, you will get to see the riders pass by a number of times, but if you pay you should be offered some way of seeing the conclusion, which is exclusive to people who bought tickets.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    I'd happily pay £15, well £30 in fact as I'd get the boy a ticket too - would be nice for him to see a bit of the Olympics!

    As for watching the finish, can't you just get a live feed on your phone?
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  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Richmond Park sounds like the answer. Sit down with a picnic, a six pack and an iPad.

    And its free.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Timoid. wrote:
    Richmond Park sounds like the answer. Sit down with a picnic, a six pack and an iPad.

    And its free.

    Good luck with the weather, I shall also be watching for free and won't be relying on British weather either. :wink:
  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    BigMat wrote:
    I'd happily pay £15, well £30 in fact as I'd get the boy a ticket too - would be nice for him to see a bit of the Olympics!

    As for watching the finish, can't you just get a live feed on your phone?

    The point is that if you do have to pay they should be giving something extra to make up for the fact that you've had to pay. Can you imagine 15,000 people trying to watch live feeds on their phone? Is there even a good phone signal out there? I used to work a few km away and on all bar one network there was no phone signal whatsoever.

    I wonder how they will react if people who've brought tickets turn up in fancy dress or with signs/flags/wacky objects to hold up.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Is there a charge for parking? Can you take your own food and drink? It's utter bollox. A public road that we the taxpayer have funded and we are charged again to be allowed on it. I can go to major races in Europe, watch them for free and even ride on the route up to a certain time. No doubt the Olympic police will stop cyclists riding up and down the road as well.
    M.Rushton
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    mrushton wrote:
    Is there a charge for parking? Can you take your own food and drink? It's utter bollox. A public road that we the taxpayer have funded and we are charged again to be allowed on it. I can go to major races in Europe, watch them for free and even ride on the route up to a certain time. No doubt the Olympic police will stop cyclists riding up and down the road as well.

    You are so right, I absolutely shudder when I think of the impression that will be given to our foreign visitors of 'rip off Britain' let alone those that may travel from other parts of the UK.

    Reminds me of Thatcher's sell-off of publicly owned utility companies back to the public.

    Might be a good time to hide away somewhere abroad I'm thinking, you could always take your sky box with you :!:

    581963_10150935426219524_527244523_12110129_1813862303_n.jpg

    Welcome :twisted:
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    Box Hill is not a public road - it's a National Trust road, and they are hardly unknown for charging for entry.
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    jibberjim wrote:
    Box Hill is not a public road - it's a National Trust road, and they are hardly unknown for charging for entry.

    Indeed. To be honest, the £15 is least of my worries. Tickets will be rare as rocking horse ****. Compare it to the price you'd have to pay to watch other Olympic events and it seems pretty reasonable. Yes, most road cycling events are free to watch (but not the finish line, so this is not without precedent) but I think we should be comparing this to other Olympic events rather than other road cycling events. Anyway, chances are I'll end up somewhere else on the Box Hill loop or in Richmond Park.

    As for phone reception on Box Hill - that probably will be an issue. Shame. Although I imagine there will be pubs / big screens in the vicinity - might have to pay again though...
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  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    I've seen Giro starts (TT) and finishes (stages). TdF, Tour of Lombardy and I've never been charged. I was at the finish line at the Giro de Lombardia when Cunego last won there and it was free. I don't mind NT charging a fee but it's all the other stuff that will go with it. Basically you pay your money....but if I can see the best in the world for free on a Col in France or a Passo in Italy why should I pay to see them on a minor climb in the UK?
    M.Rushton
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Managed to have a few words with Wiggo after the last TT stage on the Tour of the Algarve this year, yep it's me and him on the tail gate.
    426396_10150698984334524_527244523_11518075_207619226_n.jpg

    Try doing this in London :mrgreen:
  • mroli
    mroli Posts: 3,622
    I guess "if" they put up a load of smart seating, provide toilets, provide a large screen, provide security, a safe car park and other facilities, £15 would seem like a decent deal?

    If you watch on the side of a mountain, you don't get those things...
    http://www.georgesfoundation.org
    http://100hillsforgeorge.blogspot.com/
    http://www.12on12in12.blogspot.co.uk/
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    jibberjim wrote:
    Box Hill is not a public road - it's a National Trust road, and they are hardly unknown for charging for entry.

    It's in part ownership from the gates it's National Trust. By the way you can see the start of stage 6 of the Tour of Britain from Powys Castle (National Trust) for free but it's not the Olympics :o

    last year...308444_10150369754884524_527244523_10131023_2127078561_n.jpg:wink:
  • yourpaceormine
    yourpaceormine Posts: 1,245
    As I couldn't find timings online (as posted earlier) I emailed LOCOG/Surrey Council, the answer:-

    The Mall - Richmond Park
    10 - 10.17 hrs

    Richmond - Box Hill
    10.17 - 11.42 hrs

    The "Box Hill Loop" (9 laps)
    11.42 - 14.50 hrs

    Box Hill - Kingston
    14.50 - 15.14 hrs

    Richmond Park - The Mall
    15.14 - 16.00 hrs.
  • lochindaal
    lochindaal Posts: 475
    http://www.amateuretape.com/watching-the-tour-de-france/gap-2011-start-village/

    Some pictures from watching the Tour in GAP last year, with my daughter getting autographs off G and David Millar. To me this is what makes it so special as an event and unique to cycling.

    I would never pay to watch at Boxhill, it is another total balls up by LECOG and they don't deserve the money.

    I am actually mad on sport in general and would normally be really excited about the Olympics, can't say I feel that way this time.
    Tri Coaching
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  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... -cavendish

    Semi interesting article moaning that the road cycling event should be free to watch, like every other race in the year (apart from the Tour of Flanders this year, it seems....)

    Love the fun-sponge messages underneath - but only in a point-and-look-at-what-a-loser-you-are way.
    _
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Have to say, yes its a joke you gotta pay, however i could imagine it being complete chaos there if they didn't govern the amount of spectators. 9laps though, thats amazing from a viewing point of view, you rarely get that at a pro bike race. Gonna be difficult to get a ticket for the event and its gonna be a nightmare to get there on the day... might still have punt though... lol
  • kentphil
    kentphil Posts: 479
    My brother lives close to Richmond park so I can luckily park at his house and walk to the park from there.
    1998 Kona Cindercone in singlespeed commute spec
    2013 Cannondale Caadx 1x10
    2004 Giant TCR
  • ilovebigwig
    ilovebigwig Posts: 118
    I live in Putney and will be heading down to either the bridge or upper richmond road to watch them sweep through at the start when they will be well bunched. Then a stroll up to Richmond Park for the return leg stopping at a few pubs on the way (me and friends, not Wiggo and Cav) to see what may be a breakaway and then the bunch come through winding up for the 13km home stretch. The road they go on through the park will easily handle thousands of spectators, but will we see a deer ruin someone's chances of gold??

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