Cycling Isle of Man TT Course During Practice Week

philclubman

Hi Guys

Was wondering if anyone has ever cycled the Isle of Man TT course during TT practice week? I'm going over to watch some of the motorbikes and thought it might be great to take the push bike.

Having thought about it, my main concern is the speed of other traffic coming past. Has anyone cycled there during the practice week and what was it like?

keef66

I think it sounds like a suicidal venture :shock:

Caller

keef66 wrote:

I think it sounds like a suicidal venture :shock:

Having been to a few TT's during practice week, I'd be inclined to agree with this.

The standard of riding and driving over the past couple of years has been getting worse from what I've seen, it's bad enough on the motorbike, nevermind cycling it!

elderone

Totally agree with above,be doing on me R1 not me road bike.

philclubman

keef66 wrote:

I think it sounds like a suicidal venture :shock:

Does everyone treat it as a race track?

I was hoping that, during the daytime, it would just be normal traffic with maybe one or two wannabe racers?

Pross

Won't the circuit be closed? I time trialled it back in 1990 when they used to have the International Cycling Week on closed roads and then raced it in the junior road race later in the week.

philclubman

Caller wrote:

keef66 wrote:

I think it sounds like a suicidal venture :shock:

Having been to a few TT's during practice week, I'd be inclined to agree with this.

The standard of riding and driving over the past couple of years has been getting worse from what I've seen, it's bad enough on the motorbike, nevermind cycling it!

Thanks for the advice, and good to hear from someone who's been there.

I was under the impression that the practice starts early evening, and before that the roads are for normal traffic?

Is it general public on their motorbikes trying the course during the day that is the danger?

Thanks

cat_with_no_tail

You'd have to be fukking mental!

It's bad enough doing it now, try it when it's 1 way in practice week and I guarantee you will be killed to death.

During practice week, they make the mountain 1 way. Unfortunately, this leads people to treat the entire course like a roads-closed free-for-all. Most locals avoid the course where possible during TT fotnight, and that's in cars/vans. I tend to stay off the road bike altogether and stick to the MTB.

BigLee1

keef66 wrote:

I think it sounds like a suicidal venture :shock:

I agree also! :shock: having many bikes pass me at 100mph+++ is not my idea of fun!

philclubman

Cat With No Tail wrote:

You'd have to be fukking mental!

It's bad enough doing it now, try it when it's 1 way in practice week and I guarantee you will be killed to death.

During practice week, they make the mountain 1 way. Unfortunately, this leads people to treat the entire course like a roads-closed free-for-all. Most locals avoid the course where possible during TT fotnight, and that's in cars/vans. I tend to stay off the road bike altogether and stick to the MTB.

Thanks. I'm glad that I asked.

Needless to say that I will be leaving the bike at home.

Many thanks again for the advice.

cat_with_no_tail

You could still bring the bike, just stick to the roads away from the course. There are some pretty good rides down the south of the Island including a few pretty excelent climbs and IME the roads are a bit quieter too.

Bozman

Mad!
We were going to take bikes over on the ferry during race week, the idea was to cycle up to certain viewing areas before the race and cycle back after, thought better of it in the end.

We were at Bradden Bridge for the Superbike race last year when one of the Manx Sky riders came flying past before they shut the roads, don't know who it was but he was clocking some pace.

Monty Dog

Definitely keep off the TT course - many of the roads around the island have no speed limit and unfortunately many riders see this as a challenge with little regard for themselves or others. That said, there's some excellent cycling on the Island and its a great place to take a bike.

philclubman

Cat With No Tail wrote:

You could still bring the bike, just stick to the roads away from the course. There are some pretty good rides down the south of the Island including a few pretty excelent climbs and IME the roads are a bit quieter too.

Thanks again for your help. Perhaps I was a bit naive regarding the roads and standard of driving/riding on the Isle of Man during TT fortnight.

I will definitely stay away from the TT circuit. We're going to be staying in Port Erin for the week. Are there any routes that you'd suggest starting around that area that are safe?

Thanks

cat_with_no_tail

I used to live down there. Many years ago I ran the bars at the Falcons Nest Hotel

You're ok if you're down south. The roads down there should mostly be ok. If you're riding up to Castletown, just be careful if you venture onto the Southern 100 course (also where they run the pre-TT classic).

There is a cheeky little climb up out of Port Erin which is handy for great views and a nice way to travel over to Peel:
http://app.strava.com/segments/971154

declan1

Cat With No Tail wrote:

I guarantee you will be killed to death.

Sounds pretty nasty...

philclubman

Cat With No Tail wrote:

I used to live down there. Many years ago I ran the bars at the Falcons Nest Hotel

You're ok if you're down south. The roads down there should mostly be ok. If you're riding up to Castletown, just be careful if you venture onto the Southern 100 course (also where they run the pre-TT classic).

There is a cheeky little climb up out of Port Erin which is handy for great views and a nice way to travel over to Peel:
http://app.strava.com/segments/971154

Thanks again for all of your help. I'm really glad that I posted the question and appreciate the advice.

Best regards

cat_with_no_tail

declan1 wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

I guarantee you will be killed to death.

Sounds pretty nasty...

It's not as bad as I make it sound. I was killed to death once, I'm fine now though. True story.

declan1

Cat With No Tail wrote:

declan1 wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

I guarantee you will be killed to death.

Sounds pretty nasty...

It's not as bad as I make it sound. I was killed to death once, I'm fine now though. True story.

I'm glad you recovered How were you killed to death?

cat_with_no_tail

Badgers

declan1

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Badgers

Honey Badgers?

cat_with_no_tail

Don't be rediculous

blackpoolkev

I've been to the TT 3 times on a hybrid bike,tiny tent,sleeping bag and a few essentials.There are plenty of campsites within a few miles of Douglas.Pitch the tent and you're off.Judging by the number of cycles I've seen on the ferries,lots of people do it.(Cyclists pay the same as foot passengers)

I have used the course to get around with absolutely no problem at all,though I have to say,I've never felt inclined to cycle the one-way section leading up the mountain.

prawny

What's it like round there the rest of the year, thinking of taking the family to the island on holiday one day soon and I lkke the idea of riding the course for myself early one morning, probably starting around 6am

sagalout

Beautiful when the suns out, can be a bit depressing in the winter months.

We lived there for 5 years. I loved it, the mrs not so much but that was more living there. It really does have a bit of everything there in terms of scenery. Some great cycling roads, but not in TT week as mentioned. You should go over in TT week just to experience it (I'm a biker as well as a cyclic so will be over on my GS for this years)

cat_with_no_tail

Honestly? It's my home and I'd not live anywhere else (I've tried, and hated it), but I'm not sure I'd bother visiting.

The cost of getting over here with a family is prohibitively expensive imho. You could probably do a week in Lanzarotte or something for the same price, if not significantly cheaper.

Depends what you're after though I suppose.

prawny

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Honestly? It's my home and I'd not live anywhere else (I've tried, and hated it), but I'm not sure I'd bother visiting.

The cost of getting over here with a family is prohibitively expensive imho. You could probably do a week in Lanzarotte or something for the same price, if not significantly cheaper.

Depends what you're after though I suppose.

My kids are only small. So the cost of a cottage + Ferry is much more palatable than the ballache of flying.
I love the british isles too, especially the unusual parts, we went on holiday to dumphries a couple of years ago and loved it. Wish I'd have taken my bike then too.

I'll go over to the TT one day, but not until the kids are onld enough to either appreciate it or stay at home 8)

Edit - Also, I'm a massive snob and hate british holiday makers abroad

Monty Dog

I think it's a great place for a holiday - surprising under-developed in comparison to much of the UK and lacks the urban deprivation that blight many places too. Last went there a couple of weeks before the TT - roads were nice and quiet, so great for riding. We were staying near the bottom of Sulby Glen so it was a good warm-up at the start of each ride.

prawny

The wife's on board, hopefully this will be on for later in the year. Looking on street view, the bits through the towns look a bit trafficky but over the mountain looks quiet enough, sound about right? As a frustrated motorcyclist I'm getting quite exited at the idea. I'd love to ride round sone of the other circuits around Europe shame most of them are closed

ugo.santalucia

prawny wrote:

The wife's on board, hopefully this will be on for later in the year. Looking on street view, the bits through the towns look a bit trafficky but over the mountain looks quiet enough, sound about right? As a frustrated motorcyclist I'm getting quite exited at the idea. I'd love to ride round sone of the other circuits around Europe shame most of them are closed

When are you going? I want to go too...

Monty Dog

Douglas is the biggest town and you have the joys of traffic hold ups, whereas the likes of Peel and Ramsey are far quieter. If taking family and kids, maybe Peel might be better as there's a beach, castle and stuff. The hillier stuff is towards the north of the island - the climb up from Sulby Glen is the best on the island, complete with zig-zag. The cattle grids in the wet are treacherous though - so you have to line them-up square and straight or you'll have a squeaky-bum moment. There's relatively little flat apart from around Ballacrye in the northwest, and they're you've usually got the wind to contend with. There's no speed limits on the roads outside the towns so best to avoid the bigger roads on the bike.