Tour of Britain "it doesn't come past my house" thread
Comments
-
I'm the same, I didn't go out to it the closest it came to me in recent years (the Cardiff Bay finish a few years ago) because it was absolutely pissing down. However I did go and stand on the finishing circuit in Cardiff for the Kellogg's Tour in 1989...
I've done Caerphilly Mountain a couple of times, and I'm going to go out to the TTT. It's a fair way from me, from just outside Cardiff, but I'm off work and I love that part of the world anyway.It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.0 -
I see - it doesn't come past my house. Therefore must be mostly outside England.The13thcog said:
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.0 -
It has tended to not use Yorkshire (a BIG part of East England), as the Tof Y used it.
IIRC it has finished in London/SE often enough in the past
Wonder if the TdeF has fans moaning when it doesn't go to their area?0 -
Surely some Son of Kernow will be along soon to insist the Cornwall stage isn't in England?Warning No formatter is installed for the format0
-
That's like arguing the Tour de France is more of a Tour of Spain if the route is concentrated in the southern half of the country. It makes absolutely no sense. It is an 8 day stage race, it can't realistically cover all points of the country. In past years it has covered more of the eastern part of the country or the Midlands. The stages in Wales are in the western half so I suppose I could say it is more of a Tour of Ireland using that rationale.The13thcog said:
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.0 -
It must be better to have some sort of logical route to avoid long transfers.
Mind, I could fancy a Tour of Britain - the Celtic/Viking/Pictish version:
Cornwall - Wales - IOM - NI - Scotland - Orkney and/or Shetland
Who have I missed out?
Logistics nightmare, and it wouldn't come past my door, but it would be fun0 -
The13thcog said:
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.
4 on the west, 4 in the east.
6 in the south, 2 in the north.
HTH0 -
Ridiculous map. Are you really trying to prove Dorset is in the east for example?kingstongraham said:The13thcog said:
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.
4 on the west, 4 in the east.
6 in the south, 2 in the north.
HTH
0 -
Heresy!Dorset_Boy said:
Ridiculous map. Are you really trying to prove Dorset is in the east for example?0 -
I must admit to being gobsmacked a few years ago to find out that Edinburgh is west of Carlisle, far less Bristol.Dorset_Boy said:
Ridiculous map. Are you really trying to prove Dorset is in the east for example?kingstongraham said:The13thcog said:
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.
4 on the west, 4 in the east.
6 in the south, 2 in the north.
HTHThe above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
I didn't make the rules.Dorset_Boy said:
Ridiculous map. Are you really trying to prove Dorset is in the east for example?kingstongraham said:The13thcog said:
Yes I've seen the route. Doesn't come East though does it. Hence the reason why I said its more a tour of Wales and Scotland.Pross said:
Have you actually looked at the route? Four out of eight stages are in England with two a piece in Wales and Scotland. It covers more of the UK than most versions and the race only ever goes where Councils are prepared to pay for the privilege.The13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament.
But hey, why worry about facts.
Have a look at the map and draw a line down the middle of the UK. You'll see what I mean.
4 on the west, 4 in the east.
6 in the south, 2 in the north.
HTH0 -
Technically NI isn't in Britain (though it is in the UK) so you can tighten up the grid a little to border off the Scottish islands rather than the West of NI.2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
Haltwhistle also has a claim......0
-
Like I said, ask The13thcog, they made the rules.larkim said:Technically NI isn't in Britain (though it is in the UK) so you can tighten up the grid a little to border off the Scottish islands rather than the West of NI.
1 -
Living on top of the North Pennines, I have a biased idea of east and west.
My axis runs down the Pennines, and extends NW and SE
This keeps Carlisle and Glasgow in the west and Edinburgh in the east
Inverness is east and Ft William is west
West and east Mids are i the right place, and London is stuffed in the south-east.
OK - I just like playing with maps!0 -
It's even easier when you live 7 miles from Lands End.flite said:Living on top of the North Pennines, I have a biased idea of east and west.
My axis runs down the Pennines, and extends NW and SE
This keeps Carlisle and Glasgow in the west and Edinburgh in the east
Inverness is east and Ft William is west
West and east Mids are i the right place, and London is stuffed in the south-east.
OK - I just like playing with maps!
Everything past the Tamar river is the North East
2 -
KG, you missed the 'Here Be Dragons' bit of your map.
Anyroads. Pitching a bid for the furthest distance from home to see a stage. Resident of Oxfordshire, plan to catch a couple of views of the final stage Stonehaven to Aberdeen.0 -
Reckon you have that category sewn up then. Only 45 mins for me (by car) to nearest climb.
Just hoping for good weather and a strung out race!0 -
Living on the meridian line, you're all wrong. Most of the country is West whilst I can simultaneously be in both
1 -
You called..?No_Ta_Doctor said:Surely some Son of Kernow will be along soon to insist the Cornwall stage isn't in England?
Given that it's literally never been to Cornwall I'm not very sympathetic with Mr. Cog's views...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver1 -
I suggest you take "twenty thousand Cornishmen" to discuss the issue with him. If they're finished with digging the Tamar through to the South Coast, that is.ddraver said:
You called..?No_Ta_Doctor said:Surely some Son of Kernow will be along soon to insist the Cornwall stage isn't in England?
Given that it's literally never been to Cornwall I'm not very sympathetic with Mr. Cog's views...Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
A bit of advice, please:
I've now got Tuesday off work (yay!), but my original plan to cut across the dogleg and watch from 2 different places has been spoilt by the change of route (boo!).
I've spectated a couple or three times when the Tour has come near, but always somewhere on the route just to watch them whizz by.
Given it's the TTT, there's obviously not going to be a big sprint finish, but the finish is the end of the course just down the road from me, so can anyone tell me what the set-up is like at a finish? Is there lots going on and good to look around, free to move about ? Or is it spectators stand in certain places and everything else is sealed off, riders whisked away instantly, etc
If I'm better off watching on the route, I've picked a spot out already - will be there earlyish with sarnies and a chair
0 -
Starts and finishes used to be great, you could easily mix and chat with riders. Back in the 90s we sat outside a cafe in John Frost Square, Newport drinking coffee with a few of the pros. Unfortunately they've become far more organised in the warm down routines in recent years so less chance and they are probably even more secure these days to minimise the Covid risk. Still probably as good a place as any though and you should get commentary and updates from around the course.Defblade said:A bit of advice, please:
I've now got Tuesday off work (yay!), but my original plan to cut across the dogleg and watch from 2 different places has been spoilt by the change of route (boo!).
I've spectated a couple or three times when the Tour has come near, but always somewhere on the route just to watch them whizz by.
Given it's the TTT, there's obviously not going to be a big sprint finish, but the finish is the end of the course just down the road from me, so can anyone tell me what the set-up is like at a finish? Is there lots going on and good to look around, free to move about ? Or is it spectators stand in certain places and everything else is sealed off, riders whisked away instantly, etc
If I'm better off watching on the route, I've picked a spot out already - will be there earlyish with sarnies and a chair0 -
Digging deeper, it's clear covid has destroyed any chance of getting at all close to the teams; there were VIP packages that gave a "prime" seated view of the finish and close to the podium, but they're all sold... so I'm going to watch from the road near the finish, then hopefully womble in to the Botanics with maybe 20 minutes to go before the last team and have a nose at the podium.Pross said:
Starts and finishes used to be great, you could easily mix and chat with riders. Back in the 90s we sat outside a cafe in John Frost Square, Newport drinking coffee with a few of the pros. Unfortunately they've become far more organised in the warm down routines in recent years so less chance and they are probably even more secure these days to minimise the Covid risk. Still probably as good a place as any though and you should get commentary and updates from around the course.Defblade said:A bit of advice, please:
I've now got Tuesday off work (yay!), but my original plan to cut across the dogleg and watch from 2 different places has been spoilt by the change of route (boo!).
I've spectated a couple or three times when the Tour has come near, but always somewhere on the route just to watch them whizz by.
Given it's the TTT, there's obviously not going to be a big sprint finish, but the finish is the end of the course just down the road from me, so can anyone tell me what the set-up is like at a finish? Is there lots going on and good to look around, free to move about ? Or is it spectators stand in certain places and everything else is sealed off, riders whisked away instantly, etc
If I'm better off watching on the route, I've picked a spot out already - will be there earlyish with sarnies and a chair0 -
I just won VIP passes for Tuesdays stage. One of those like and retweet things on Twitter. So that sorts out where I’ll be going.2020/2021/2022 Metric Century Challenge Winner1
-
These days you get arrested just for saying your EnglishThe13thcog said:It's more a tour of Wales & Scotland tbh. Doesn't even come close to a tour of Britain in my eyes.
It's like the NFL calling the Superbowl winners 'World Champions', when it's the only country that plays in the tournament."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm2
