Olympic road race - anyone know how access will work?

[Kermit power]

I've just be reading that the National Trust are expecting up to 15,000 spectators on either side of the zig-zag bowl where they've cleared off all the scrub.

I quite fancy being one of them, especially as on that part of the route we'll get to see them going past 9 times (nine??? It bloody kills me doing it once in the middle of a 40 mile ride, never mind nine times in the middle of a 140 mile route!!), but am wondering how the logistics are going to work.

Fair to assume driving there is out of the question, not that I'd need to anyway, but are they going to let people cycle in? 15,000 people take up a lot less space than 15,000 cyclists! If not, I wonder where the closest point will be before having to walk in, and will it be safe to leave bikes locked up wherever that is?

Last but not least, I wonder how long before the arrival of the riders they'll shut off access?

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Oh, this sounds good, didn't know about it.

Where dat happening exactly then?

[sjg]

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/local-to-you...

Tickets apparently to be sold via the same website as everything else.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

sjg said:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/local-to-you...

Tickets apparently to be sold via the same website as everything else.

Oh excellent - Box Hill's a good place for this, and not too far from where I live

Think I'll be there!

[anonymous-user]

plan to find somewhere quiet, will only see them the once as i cant be arsed with the hassle of box hill, which will be manic, so it will be a spot on the roadside, conveniently enough, someone may have painted "CAV" in the road at the same spot....

[Kermit power]

swerni said:

I shall be at the end of my road,

Seeing as it will be blocked off for most of the weekend, I will be going no where.

Except maybe on my bike

Ooh! Did I just hear "all PH cyclists are invited to Steve's for a barbecue?"

[Kermit power]

swerni said:

If I can't get out, no one can get in.

If you can cycle out, we can cycle in!

I'll try for Box hill tickets though. Apparently they're planning to put up big screens to watch the whole race there. Should be a pretty decent party atmosphere!

Talking of Box hill, what happened to you up there? I wasn't expecting to find you slower than me up the zig zag on Strava! Have you been getting fat since I last saw you?

ETA - if they are going to sell tickets, they haven't started yet. Only the Mall appears on the official site as a road race venue.

[Kermit power]

swerni said:

Was part of a very windy 40 mile ride.

But if you'd like a race ..............

Ps did you know your overall average speed is 12.65 mph;)

My fastest time up there was mile 34 out of 50, but admittedly without the wind.

On the overall average speed, however, mine is always going to be slow on there as I log all my commutes, complete with 81 sets of traffic lights each way.

I'd like to be able to hold 16-17mph averages for 50 miles of non commuting by the end of the summer.

[Kermit power]

swerni said:

I'm really impressed mate, you're doing well.
I wish I could cipommute, but it's just not viable.

It's a bit bizarre, really. I'm not losing much weight, but getting much, much fitter underneath it all! If I could just give up addiction to pizza....

My problem at the moment is definitely gravity. I can comfortably hold 20-22mph on the flat as a rule, but start to grind just riding over a cat's eye!

The new bike does make a massive difference though.

[okgo]

You'll easily be able to manage that I would have thought.

Just looked at box hill, surprised to see only 6 people from PH have gone up there. I need to give it a go again now I'm faster and its not like the surface of the moon!

[SuperNiceBig]

I watched the "Test Route Ride" there. Roads were shut down over a very big area. Do not drive there!!!! Parked motorbike as near as poss'and walked about 2 miles to the top of Box Hill. Theres only one viewing area of the Hill/Zig Zags, which will be tickets. Lots of fencing off and marshalls. You will not be able to wander off through the woods to the hill. I watched at the top of the hill just after the National Trust Cafe, loads of room then. There's a feed zone there too. Its a big loop so pretty sure you'll find space, though it will be a flat straight road and they will be hammering past. There also had secure bike parking. Thinking I will drive halfway then mtb through some bridle paths to get near, take a big lunch, put me feet up and wait.




Few more Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318875@N02/sets/721...