Olympic road race & box hill

[gonzo]

I was planning on having a proper cycling fan moment by heading over there several days before the race with a tent and crate of beer. First I found that you can't camp on national trust land then that they're restricting access to the hill.

Does anyone know what the best alternative is to getting around those problems?

[Tim]

Camp at Etherley farm, take a MTB and explore the Surrey hills/take a road bike and explore the C&M hilly fifty, then on the day pootle along to one of the viewing spots on the lap.

You may want to consider this map which shows the viewing arrangements for Boxhill for the test event:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Box_Hill_Viewing_Map.pdf

[Kathy]

We have a plan. It involves a teapot.

I'm not going to go into details 'cos otherwise everyone will try and join us, and there's not room. 

Otherwise, use Sunday the 14th August and this map to test a scheme which would then work for the Olympics.

[Karla]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCgQ3EHBEy0&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/qCgQ3EHBEy0&rel=1</a>

Just ignore the bit where Steve McQueen does a Johnny Hoogerland.

[gonzo]

Ta for the map; that's what I was after!

[Simonb]

this map

<pedant>Interesting that they've re-routed the M3 for the event.</pedant>

[Steve Kish]

One cannot be ar5ed to scramble around the hill trying to find a good viewing point.  One will be watching everything on TV.

[fuzzy]

They are determined to screw up my in the flesh viewing of the Olympics.

Shafted in the ticket fiasco and now trying to shaft me in making it difficult (or impossible) to get a nice viewing spot at Box Hill.

I might start to take this personally

[Steve Kish]

Must agree with fuzzy.  Shafting the population seems to be the new sport on the agenda.  However, I now have a great viewing spot.  This is located 4 ft away from my 37-inch TV and within easy travelling distance from the fridge, cake cupboard, biscuit tin and loo!

[iddu]

All quiet in THAT LONDINIUM - more marshalls than specs

[Aidan]

Doesn't look like its on TV, or at least I cant find it in the listings

[iddu]

Still room ;-)

[iddu]

And they're off

[her_welshness]

And they're off

Is there any live footage of this?

[woollypigs]

And they're off

Is there any live footage of this?

Yes out on the road We just saw them zoom past in SW6.







more but not many . Can't see them on the return leg, cause I gotta work.

[her_welshness]

And they're off

Is there any live footage of this?

Yes out on the road We just saw them zoom past in SW6. Photos to come if there are any good ones.

I meant on the TV?

[Greenbank]

Caught the very back of the group going through Putney. Will be wandering down to Putney again around midday when they're due to be coming back.

Couldn't find it being broadcast on any TV channel when I had a look through the Sky Planner.

[woollypigs]

I only say one camera, on the back of a motor bike. Just added some photos to my previous post.

[iddu]

Cav FTW

[David Martin]

Highlights next saturday apparently.

Sounds like a good event - quite technical and good crowds.

[Tim]

Just got back from the pub (on the way home from Boxhill) having seen them pass by twice

[matthew]

Pleasant day out in the sun, aided by bumping into the Pike Guided Missile and the Weasels after it had all finished.

I rode out to Coombe Bottom to watch what is probably the most technical descending corner on the route, and then cut back up to the A246 to go across to the bottom of the Leatherhead bypass and saw them through the two times on the loop.

Was heading for the Rykas cafe when I spotted a pair of tandems heading towards me and got led to a Leatherhead Pub for a couple of hours.

The tandems got called into an impromptu photo call with random strangers as we left the pub.

[Honest John]

Highlights next saturday apparently.

Sounds like a good event - quite technical and good crowds.

It's part of a long programme presented by the excellent St Clare of the Baldings on BBC2 at 1300 on Sunday 21/08 (unless you're watching on ye olde analogue TV in Norn Irn or Wales).

Went to watch the race on the way out at Putney Bridge, then brekkie in Richmond Park, then watched the race on the way back in by the Star & Garter home, then lunch in Barnes, then rode back along the route. Closed roads all the way from Putney Bridge to Knightsbridge, where I peeled off to go home and watch the Eneco Tour - why can't they do that every Sunday?

Thin-ish crowd on the way out; good crowd (barriers lined) on the way back.

For some reason, the organisers objected to us writing "O'G" and "CAV" in chalk on the road. Po-faced wazzocks.

Dunno if anyone else has mentioned this, but ITV4 is giving la Vuelta the same coverage as it gives the TdF. Es muy bueno.

[Tim]

Sprint and post-race interview here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14523252.stm

[kcass]

I rode out to Coombe Bottom to watch what is probably the most technical descending corner on the route, and then cut back up to the A246 to go across to the bottom of the Leatherhead bypass and saw them through the two times on the loop.

I thought that would be a good place too at the speed they'd be going. How did they all do? I guess it's slightly easier for them as they have the whole road though.