Tour of Britain 2016
Discussion
I've just booked Friday off work for the Devon stage......!! Not sure how it works but planning to ride to the closest bit to me, up over the Blackdowns and down to willand............Probably a couple of hours before it's due through..... in case i need to fight for a space !
This gives a good guesstimate of times passing through.......https://www.devontourofbritain.co.uk/route/ :-)
This gives a good guesstimate of times passing through.......https://www.devontourofbritain.co.uk/route/ :-)
All the info is on the ToB website, have a look at the roadbook and it gives you estimated times along the route based on an average speed. The Bristol stages will be epic, Bridge Valley Road will be packed but quite a spectacle. As I'm still on crutches I think we'll be in the Pumphouse, Hotwells Road or around Cumberland Road.
Roadbook: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/files/documents/ToB...
Roadbook: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/files/documents/ToB...
Tips from me:
Go to the steepest bit late on of a decent climb. don't go to e.g the KOM point. This maximises the (short) time you'll see them - at the top they're likely to whip past, and the crowds will be big.
Ride as much of the rote as you can, let them catch up with you. It sounds pathetic, but you'll be cheered on by primary school children the whole way - unless you hate kids it's brilliant fun! I'd liken the atmosphere along the populated bits of the route to e.g the mall on ridelondon, or the shore on manchester - blackpool. If you're really lucky, you'll also be massively heckled by builders on the steep bit. Somehow, that tirade of abuse (jovial abuse) was the highlight of my 2013 visit to the TOB =)
Go to the steepest bit late on of a decent climb. don't go to e.g the KOM point. This maximises the (short) time you'll see them - at the top they're likely to whip past, and the crowds will be big.
Ride as much of the rote as you can, let them catch up with you. It sounds pathetic, but you'll be cheered on by primary school children the whole way - unless you hate kids it's brilliant fun! I'd liken the atmosphere along the populated bits of the route to e.g the mall on ridelondon, or the shore on manchester - blackpool. If you're really lucky, you'll also be massively heckled by builders on the steep bit. Somehow, that tirade of abuse (jovial abuse) was the highlight of my 2013 visit to the TOB =)
Some Gump said:
Tips from me:
Go to the steepest bit late on of a decent climb. don't go to e.g the KOM point. This maximises the (short) time you'll see them - at the top they're likely to whip past, and the crowds will be big.
Ride as much of the rote as you can, let them catch up with you. It sounds pathetic, but you'll be cheered on by primary school children the whole way - unless you hate kids it's brilliant fun! I'd liken the atmosphere along the populated bits of the route to e.g the mall on ridelondon, or the shore on manchester - blackpool. If you're really lucky, you'll also be massively heckled by builders on the steep bit. Somehow, that tirade of abuse (jovial abuse) was the highlight of my 2013 visit to the TOB =)
So can you literally cycle ahead of the caravan then ? Go to the steepest bit late on of a decent climb. don't go to e.g the KOM point. This maximises the (short) time you'll see them - at the top they're likely to whip past, and the crowds will be big.
Ride as much of the rote as you can, let them catch up with you. It sounds pathetic, but you'll be cheered on by primary school children the whole way - unless you hate kids it's brilliant fun! I'd liken the atmosphere along the populated bits of the route to e.g the mall on ridelondon, or the shore on manchester - blackpool. If you're really lucky, you'll also be massively heckled by builders on the steep bit. Somehow, that tirade of abuse (jovial abuse) was the highlight of my 2013 visit to the TOB =)
rs4al said:
So can you literally cycle ahead of the caravan then ?
Yup. Road closures are rolling, and you'll know when to pull over to watch (if you haven't already reached your planned vantage point) because there's a huge caravan of sponsors tat vans, race officials, escort riders and more especially at the front, police and recovery/lift vehicles. The peloton (or even a breakaway) won't ever 'sneak up' on you 
Sadly no Surrey/Guildford stage this year so I won't see it live. But last year (or perhaps the year before? I'm getting old now...) I watched that stage pass three times at almost the same spot. Steepest part of Wanborough Hill, then I moved a few hundred yards up to the bridge over the A31 as they came up the Hog's Back, and turned around to see them pass under the bridge onto the B3000 for the run-in. Great fun riding down the closed A31 toward Guildford, but I failed to get there in time for the finish. I had planned to flit between hills on short cuts while the pros took longer routes but that plan fell apart when I got up too late! My OS map is even still marked with my planned route from the day.
It's right what's been said about the atmosphere. Lots of people out watching from their own gardens, folk walking and cycling to vantage points, all there to enjoy the race. It's like a carnival almost. From good natured ribbing, to cheering and applause, I had it all, plus plenty of encouragement up the hill. I even got spotted (on the TV coverage) in my PH jersey! If you have a chance, do it. If you don't you'll not know what you've missed, but you know what I mean when I say you'll regret it. They handily tell you when the road is clear too. Official car with 'End of Race' boards, and a broom wagon with a real broom on top, usually. Just beware - as soon as the police outriders and escort bikes are released, the road closures are lifted behind the race and it quickly returns to 'normal' again. From what I saw of it, it's a very slick operation.
rs4al said:
Having never spectated at a pro cycling tour before, how do you do it with your bike? I would love to ride Haytor and then wait for the peloton at the top, is this possible?
I live in Ottery St Mary, so will watch them come through with my wife and kids and then head over to Haytor. (Approx 30 miles on the shortest route, and I'll have approx 3 hours to do it before they get there.)This years route isn't quite as good for cutting across bits to see at multiple points for me, in 2014 we saw the start, end, twice in the middle, and still had time to pop home and watch an hours coverage on the box.
There has not previously been a "caravan of tat" at the tour of Britain and I'd be more than surprised if there is one this year. you'll know the race is approaching when you hear the tv helicopter, then there will be a few NEG bikes every couple of minutes, a few police cars, a few more bikes, race officials cars, bikes, then a car with a loud speaker telling you what's going on, who is in the lead group etc.
pablo said:
There has not previously been a "caravan of tat" at the tour of Britain and I'd be more than surprised if there is one this year. you'll know the race is approaching when you hear the tv helicopter, then there will be a few NEG bikes every couple of minutes, a few police cars, a few more bikes, race officials cars, bikes, then a car with a loud speaker telling you what's going on, who is in the lead group etc.
Well it might have been a different event then, but I can't think which one it would be. I certainly remember the Skoda cars chucking those inflatable pairs of 'things' that folk bang together (the b
ds were singling out kids. I didn't get any at all yet some of the little scrotes had bags full of them. Grrr!) and some logo carrying vans and cars from other sponsors with T-shirts being handed out (very sparingly, though). Very likely not on the scale of TdF but then I've never seen the 'Le Tour' caravan to compare it with. I definitely remember the car with the loudspeakers - because although they were passing information to the crowds, it was travelling just too fast for any of what they were saying to make any sense. Then there's quite a gap to the race leaders, IIRC. I'm always surprised by the length of the time gap between the leaders and the stragglers. I shouldn't be, having watched races on TV and seen stage time results tables, but it seems like an age between the front of the race and the back when you have to sit and wait for it to pass. And the pressure wave as the peloton steams past on a fast flat section! Wow! I experienced that at the ToB, the Olympic Road Race, and at the Ride London Classic this year. Awesome just doesn't describe the sensation, really.
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