Yorkshire TDF - viewing plan

dsoutar
dsoutar Posts: 1,746
edited July 2014 in Pro race
Not really that au fait with Yorkshire but have the option to stay near Penistone and the plan was to drive to Holmbridge and then walk up to Holme Moss for the Sunday. On the Saturday we were just going to maybe watch the Depart in Leeds.

Does any of that sound way off the mark ? How early would we have to get to Holmbridge to park ? I assume the whole area will be heaving.

What about watching the depart. Is that going to be tickets too like York ?
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Comments

  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    dsoutar wrote:
    Penistone

    *snigger*
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    I suspect that you are going to have to walk further than that. Holmbridge is going to be a bit of a bottleneck I think and I am pretty confident that if you have not got yourself parked up by the start of the weekend you wont find a space.

    I am not sure what they are doing about parking etc. I know there are a lot of campsites being created there, but there might be official car parks.

    The problem with that area (and part of its charm) is that there are no real flat areas where they can just lay out large car parks. I am sure that there will be some sort of info which will appear but, if you are able, I would stick with Penistone as a location and cycle across.

    FWIW, I am planning on watching the Depart in Leeds and I have my spot near the finish line in Sheffield sorted.
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    as others have said, ride your bike from Penistone, you won't be the only one doing that - Holme Moss is going to be VERY popular so get there early doors

    I'm going to ride from manchester to Cragg Vale and watch it there
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • I'm having similar ideas, although probably just for stage 1, parking up somewhere, probably North of Richmond and cycling in. The question is at what point will I be prevented from cycling along the stage itself?
  • Oh, is Le Tour coming to Yorkshire?

    They've kept that quiet....
  • thefog
    thefog Posts: 197
    I'm having similar ideas, although probably just for stage 1, parking up somewhere, probably North of Richmond and cycling in. The question is at what point will I be prevented from cycling along the stage itself?

    Depends where you are heading to and at what time.

    PM me for some info if you want some more detailed advice.

    I general, I think the issue most have to consider is, you cannot compare these stages with what happens in France. A typical stage (even mountains) in France has approx. 400k spectators on it. For each of the uk stages, they will have circa 1m spectators on each. Now, take those first two stages on major roads through rural areas that have limited parking capacity and the struggle will be to get cars anywhere near the route. Park and ride services don't work unless the buses are on different routes to the cars, again not feasible.

    So you have long queues of cars attempting to get to limited access destinations. So, you cycle 15-20miles or walk circa 5 miles.

    Park up 20 miles from the route and cycle in.
  • robklancs
    robklancs Posts: 498
    I will be camping in a friends field just near the ribble head viaduct . Plan is to then cycle to hawes and watch them sprint up buttertubs.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    edited January 2014
    Perhaps there's all kind of good personal reasons, but most plans I see on the forum tend to focus on the Yorkshire Dales on the Saturday, which I'd find odd, considering the Sunday stage is likely to offer so much better viewing, in the last 40 kms at least - peloton in bits and pieces so more time to see riders; more hills to choose from to watch on.
    Not sure where I'm going yet, but one of the local bike shops in Sheffield is planning a camping, big screen and live music at High Bradfield. Should be good fun
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    More problems but still living....
  • I'm riding down to Sheffield from Edinburgh with Sky Velo. We're doing it over 3 days then getting put up in Sheffield and taken over to Harrogate for the finish the next morning. Train back to Edinburgh, pick up bike then home to Dundee. It's going to be the highlight of my summer, if not the year!
  • The stage into Sheffield will be similar to last year's stage that Bakelants won.

    Jenkin Road (might) decide the stage winner, as it's ridiculously steep (think Cote de St Nicolas steep) and only 5k from the finish.

    My Aunty's house is just off there so I think we may go there on the Sunday, as the finish is on a slightly dreary trunk road outside the Sheffield Arena
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    The stage into Sheffield will be similar to last year's stage that Bakelants won.

    Jenkin Road (might) decide the stage winner, as it's ridiculously steep (think Cote de St Nicolas steep) and only 5k from the finish.

    My Aunty's house is just off there so I think we may go there on the Sunday, as the finish is on a slightly dreary trunk road outside the Sheffield Arena
    I think you're underestimating Sheffield a bit! Jenkin Road is much, much steeper than the Cote St Nicolas. Would be perfect for J-Rod, but he's not doing the TdF I think
    The stage as a whole is much, much harder than anything last year in Corsica. It genuinely is surprisingly (for ASO) hard, the hardest stage in the opening weekend for decades. There will be only a small group of GC favourites and Ardennes specialists at the finish left - think LBL.
  • I should qualify, I was at my Aunty's last Sunday so I went up Jenkin Road, I was just trying to put it into context.

    I can see the main group being 40-50 riders strong, but there may be a small break that gets clear on Jenkin Road.

    As far as I can see, it's nailed on for Sagan, and the Yellow will almost certainly change hands.
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    dsoutar wrote:
    Not really that au fait with Yorkshire but have the option to stay near Penistone and the plan was to drive to Holmbridge and then walk up to Holme Moss for the Sunday. On the Saturday we were just going to maybe watch the Depart in Leeds.

    Does any of that sound way off the mark ? How early would we have to get to Holmbridge to park ? I assume the whole area will be heaving.

    What about watching the depart. Is that going to be tickets too like York ?

    Don't be a Holm...
  • philwint
    philwint Posts: 763
    My current plan

    Stage one, cycle in to Leeds very early from home (20 mins) and watch the Grand Depart. Then take the direct route and cycle over to Harrogate for the end. I know that most of the good viewing places will have gone by the time we get over there, but still be nice to see both. Cycle home afterwards.

    Stage two - I can't quite make my mind up. Holme moss is the obvious draw, but I rarely cycle up it myself. The earlier climb up from Oxenhope is one I do fairly frequently. So might be more fun (and less crowded) to see them fly up one of "my" climbs. Either way, I'm thinking very early start and cycle over, watch 30 seconds of action then head home. Hopefully along roads full of like minded cycle fans :)
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,209
    For those looking to stay somewhere take a look at Camping Ninja website. They set up camping on local sports grounds where you can pitch your own tent or use one of their pre-erected ones. The sports clubs get a bit of money and it's a reasonably priced way to stay. I did it for the Olympics and might be doing it for Le Tour depending on whether my sister will still have a place in Leeds by then. I think there's early bird deals on at the moment.
  • thefog
    thefog Posts: 197
    philwint wrote:
    My current plan

    Stage one, cycle in to Leeds very early from home (20 mins) and watch the Grand Depart. Then take the direct route and cycle over to Harrogate for the end. I know that most of the good viewing places will have gone by the time we get over there, but still be nice to see both. Cycle home afterwards.

    I can guarantee that anyone travelling from Leeds will not get a good spot in Harrogate roadside - maybe have to head further along towards Ripley or Killinghall or even further. There are going to be tv screens in Harrogate, but that's just going to make it more attractive for people to get their spot early. Its going to be mobbed in the town!
  • Parents live in Harrogate, so we'll be watching there on the first day. I'm planning on cycling over to Otley with my daughter to catch the early part, and then 'race' them back to Harrogate. Even with a 11 year old in tow, we should get back in time. Ripon road somewhere between Jennyfields & Springfield Ave is our intended viewing point. Bit of a climb so they might be a touch slower but getting going for the finish by then.
    On the 2nd day I'm planning on riding out to Blubberhouses and leave the rest of the family to watch them whizz past on the Skipton road.
  • I was planning to try and cath this stage in the peak district reasonably close to the finish and then drive back to Leeds to catch a prebooked train around 8.

    Given I will be with my (possibly pregnant) wife and we're not cycling anywhere is this even remotely feasible to imagine I could drive within walking distance of the route and have no issues getting back to Leeds afterwards?

    Any suggestions on good places to watch would be appreciated

    thanks
  • My current plan is to try and locate the details of which Yorkshire pub I'm booked into for the first 2 stages...

    :? :?
  • TheFog wrote:
    Park up 20 miles from the route and cycle in.

    That was pretty much the plan. I could cycle from home as it's 50 miles but that's a bit much. I'm thinking perhaps to park up around Barnard Castle sort of area and cycle in to see the stage around Grinton / Leyburn.
  • thefog
    thefog Posts: 197
    Catterick racecourse ;)
  • tim000
    tim000 Posts: 718
    coming over from cheshire . so will park up somewhere in the glossop / hollingworth area and ride over.
  • We're five miles from Cragg Vale and have Ripponden Bank, a steepish mile-long climb in the village centre.
    We have a community website www.letourripponden.co.uk which has details of temporary camping and accommodation which may help those coming from further afield.
    And while I may be biased, the riding is great.
  • ben16v
    ben16v Posts: 296
    just put down deposit on camping near Keighley - plan to go up to Addingham for them to fly through then up to Harrogate for the finish for day 1, then day 2 down to cragg vale.
    we dont really know the area but looking at sustrans maps etc the roads seem to be fine and a few alternative ways to get to the locations if the roads are shut early.
    roughly 50 miles each day should be perfect
    i need more bikes
  • dsoutar
    dsoutar Posts: 1,746
    Spectator hubs revealed for UK TdF stages

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26740994
  • UncleMonty
    UncleMonty Posts: 385
    When will the local authorities / police announce details & timings on road closures ?

    I'm planning to watch stage 2 from Holm Moss, I live the other side of Holmfirth though which is going to be a real bottleneck, a local bus can take me into Holmfirth but I have no idea how early I need to get there.
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    Stage 1 I'm thinking don't go into Leeds.

    Starting from Boroughbridge I think I'll ride over to Harewood watch them sail past - then leisure ride to Harrogate to watch the finish.

    There'll be big screens there? I guess... or the Dutch travellin show they don't seem to mind... :D
  • Flâneur
    Flâneur Posts: 3,081
    Lifted from another location for UncleMonty

    According to our man in the know (he's part of the council organising team) the route and some roads leading to the route will be shut to motorised traffic from 6am and for bikes around an hour before the caravan and riders are due to pass through. The numbers that they are planning for are pretty big: up to 250,000 for the section through Craven district but even if half that number turn up it will be busy - Skipton has a population of just 15,000 for example.
    Stevo 666 wrote: Come on you Scousers! 20/12/2014
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  • UncleMonty
    UncleMonty Posts: 385
    Apparently the caravan is due in Holmfirth around 1pm and riders around 2.45pm,

    As far as I can see there's no firm times listed anywhere