Tour de Pistonheads 2015
Discussion
I've added a Tour wiki to start organising the finer details. We'll use the wiki as the definitive riders list so we know how many support cars we need and how riders need transferring etc.
We're fully DIY for this year so it's up to us to make it awesome. If you know the area well please share your recommendations for hotels, restaurants, watering holes, LBS, massage and so on.
We're fully DIY for this year so it's up to us to make it awesome. If you know the area well please share your recommendations for hotels, restaurants, watering holes, LBS, massage and so on.
Cheers to you both. That's definitely the one SixPot.
Nothing's moved by way of the hotels yet. We were waiting on some bigger things but they've slipped away now. Things are getting a little hectic this end and I probably need to ask for some help on this. The hotels and the transport from Sheffield to Cambridge are the two priorities. Once we've got some recommendations I suggest people start booking independently, but if anybody is able to have a word with the hotels and see if we can temporarily hold x number of rooms (only for a week or so) to give people time to book, that helps too.
Once we know confirmed number of riders and support crew we'll figure out if we need extra support for the transfer to Cambridge on Sunday morning.
Nothing's moved by way of the hotels yet. We were waiting on some bigger things but they've slipped away now. Things are getting a little hectic this end and I probably need to ask for some help on this. The hotels and the transport from Sheffield to Cambridge are the two priorities. Once we've got some recommendations I suggest people start booking independently, but if anybody is able to have a word with the hotels and see if we can temporarily hold x number of rooms (only for a week or so) to give people time to book, that helps too.
Once we know confirmed number of riders and support crew we'll figure out if we need extra support for the transfer to Cambridge on Sunday morning.
I was so close to booking the £44-48 Travelodge but then I read their disclaimer about it being next to bars and clubs and to expect the noise. I don't fancy that after a hard day in the saddle.
The two Premier Inn options are the next cheapest. One is near Hornbeam Station (£70/n), which is 1km from the town centre, where we'd find food, drink and massage options. I think that's too far so for £80/n I think the Premier Inn Town Centre is the best option. It's close to the station, has an adjacent P&D carpark and is 5 minutes walk to the bars, restaurants and the Turkish bath.
Can anybody improve on this?
The two Premier Inn options are the next cheapest. One is near Hornbeam Station (£70/n), which is 1km from the town centre, where we'd find food, drink and massage options. I think that's too far so for £80/n I think the Premier Inn Town Centre is the best option. It's close to the station, has an adjacent P&D carpark and is 5 minutes walk to the bars, restaurants and the Turkish bath.
Can anybody improve on this?
The Travelodge is next to a public car park that's a similar price to the car park at Premier Inn. I'm not going to chance it though, I value a good night's sleep too much to risk it.
I've just booked the Premier Inn on their 'no cancellations' option and it was £131 for the two nights (£60 for Thursday and £71 for Friday). Not too bad at all really. Ticked to add the continental breakfast at £6.50 per day too. With the distances we're riding I'll get my money's worth of bread, jam and granola out of that
I've just booked the Premier Inn on their 'no cancellations' option and it was £131 for the two nights (£60 for Thursday and £71 for Friday). Not too bad at all really. Ticked to add the continental breakfast at £6.50 per day too. With the distances we're riding I'll get my money's worth of bread, jam and granola out of that
In hindsight, it's too early in the season to maximise participation. In all honesty though this simply began as a personal challenge to ride the Grand Depart, which I then realised I should share with you guys. We've had a few abandons but mostly people scaling back to a single stage as the reality of things hit home. Not unexpected in fairness. I really do think it's a serious challenge to attempt the full monty as a small group of amateurs like us. But then it's not a real adventure without a genuine chance of failure.
A longer run up in 2016 also gives us time to coordinate with PH and other sponsors a little better too. The real challenge is in finding a date that avoids major cycling events AND major motoring events, but still offers good odds on helpful weather. No easy wins there though.
What we have lined up for May will be a great test bed, in manageable numbers, to figure out how to do something bigger and better in future events. I have big ideas for how this could develop, if the enthusiasm and support can be nurtured.
So, come ride a stage, or a bit of a stage, or join the L2B ride, or just share your enthusiasm and encouragement to those that will. It's all working towards something bigger and better.
A longer run up in 2016 also gives us time to coordinate with PH and other sponsors a little better too. The real challenge is in finding a date that avoids major cycling events AND major motoring events, but still offers good odds on helpful weather. No easy wins there though.
What we have lined up for May will be a great test bed, in manageable numbers, to figure out how to do something bigger and better in future events. I have big ideas for how this could develop, if the enthusiasm and support can be nurtured.
So, come ride a stage, or a bit of a stage, or join the L2B ride, or just share your enthusiasm and encouragement to those that will. It's all working towards something bigger and better.
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