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Is any one going to see the Olympic road race this weekend?
Will it be worth travelling up from the south west to get a view around box hill? ( Obviously not in the ticketed area.)
Doing the same thing from Somerset hopefully
Roads close at 4am on sat around surrey hills so get here early!!!
Watching it go past from my 1st floor window...
I was looking to go up on Friday night and camp over for the weekend.
Where are you camping? bear in mind that a lot of paths will be closed others have restrictions thee is a map showing this online, but on the test event it was possible to use the north downs way to get about
I was thinking about having a bimble over from Reading area.
TDF had expected arrival times for all towns and villages on route based on 3 different average speeds. Can't find anything similar for the 'lympics.
Does anyone have a link to the timings of the event?
I will be using my extensive "Bivi" skills and will be cycling out on to other side of Box Hill on Friday night with lots of bacon and rolls.
I will be sleeping in my viewing position to watch a few seconds of blokes on bikes:
I am sure it will be fun although it sounds crappy as I type it.
There is a bike Expo on Box hill farm which include camping. Might be a good option as there will be band and beer. There will probably be a screen to watch other events including the opening ceremony. will probably to a day trip into London as well to have a nose around.
Mooly oh I hadn't heard about that, might pop up and have a look
I'm traveling down from the NW on Friday night to stay with friends in Hazlemere. We're then cycling to the route on Sat.
Where will be the best place to view? (sorry for the semi-hijack...)
I've got some tickets to the Zico Ebdons thingy. I'll head over on the MTB and see what happens really.
I live across the fields and am still trying to figure out the best plan of action. Tis a tad more complicated because I'll have little monkey in tow, hence riding isn't really an option. Will prob watch from A24 > A25 > Denby's party > back home.
Don't think many of us will know until we're there exactly how simple or chaotic it's gonna be.
Thanks xcgb!
Found an interesting link that suggests the will be nine loops of the box hill circuit so should get to see quite a bit.
http://www.london2012.com/cycling-road/about/
Mooly yes thats correct 9 laps for the men
And if we use tacks like the French you get to see wheel changes aswell
And if we use tacks like the [s]French[/s] Spanish you get to see wheel changes aswell
late joiner to this string, but given the comments about road closures will it be possible to get anywhere near the route if I travel from Reading area on saturday morning or am I going to end up turning around and going home to watch the telly?
1) Put bike in car
2) Drive as close as possible
3) Park
4) Take bike out of car
5) Cycle to route
6) Watch race
Reverse. 🙂
that was vague plan tonyd, but it has to be said that all the official info is less than encouraging to those who have not bought tickets..
Lie in, run to Richmond park, watch bikes go past, run home, shower, open beer, switch telly on watch the last bit
http://www.gosurrey.info/olympic-road-cycling/road-closures/list-of-road-closures-olympi/
No clear info about what will be open when. I'm about 3 miles from the Zig Zag and have to get to my mate on Boxhill, I suppose I'll set off early and keep trying until I get through those enthusiastic chaps in yellow vests.
Yup we are heading over too Friday night camping at Headley Cricket club, got screen on Friday showing opening ceremony, Bacon baps and stuff all weekend. Planning on taking road bikes to zap around on/after but get impression that may not be possible. Cluster as usual rather than publicizing info to help us all and stop the chaos!!!
those enthusiastic chaps in yellow vests
Judging by the look of the ones "guarding" the time trial site this morning I think giving them the slip might be quite easy...
Mudshark - Roads around the box hill surrey hills area are closed at 4am they will stop you getting anywhere near the route
Looks like it's going to be tricky for a lot of people to get to the usual haunts around Peaslake/Leith as well - guess that means Swinley will be heaving this weekend.
You can still get to Peaslake, the road is closed on the A25 just [u]after[/u] the Shere turn so you can get through Shere or turn off earlier towards Albury
Leith is accessible too via back roads
Well I went over to the bottom of the Zig Zag this morning and a couple of burly policeman told me a shall not pass. Not sure why they need to close it now but still. I guess I'll have to go via Pebble Coombe on Saturday and come in from the other side to my mate's house.
box hill was closed to public today for teams to have official practise. still have no idea where to watch from as it really isn't clear where public will be able to stand...
You can watch most of the course except box hill and mall.
Putney bridge for us, watch em out, then in a pub with a big screen, then stagger back out to watch local boy done good Ian Stannard lead em home to gold!
Well I went over to the bottom of the Zig Zag this morning and a couple of burly policeman told me a shall not pass.
box hill was closed to public today for teams to have official practise.
I was there yesterday at 8:15am and although the barriers were up (at the official start to zig zag) security were pleasant and there were no police. Wasn't allow up though, so I went round Headley Heath instead.
Still don't think any of us can guestimate how chaotic it's gonna be until we arrive tomo. Will be arriving with chimp in tow and am hoping there'll be enough 'paths' to get around without heavy-handed security intervening.
Is there any of the boxhill section which you can see without tickets ?
AFAIK only the A24 section where they loop round towards the Mickleham bends.
Ribb, most of the loop is non ticketed . But looking at the PDF of the bridle way closures and temporarily lifting of ROW, it would appear is if it could be hard/tricky to get to. Seriously don't know how they can police that entire area, it is my local stomping ground and it's big, know lots if tracks that's not on the restricted list 😉
Like sputnik says, you could easily navigate your way to a spot between some trees/bushes. Whether there'll be security every 50yds doing spot checks is anyone's guess. I doubt it, but then there's every likelihood of the H&S/RA brigade clamping down on exactly this.
I'll be riding down to Richmond Park in the morning for the first fly-past. I imagine it will be rammed, but I just want to see the riders then get home/ pub and watch the ending on the TV.
"Both the Road Race and Time Trial are predominantly free for spectators to watch in Surrey. The exception is a 2.5km stretch of road on the Zig-Zag Road incline and Donkey Green on Box Hill where up to 15,000 ticketed spectators will watch the Road Race. The rest of the Box Hill loop is free for spectators to view."
Which means the Headley Road section should be fine.
I which there was just one site with all the relevant info. So many sites/people have said the whole loop is out of bounds for non-ticketeers.
Denbies will be the place to be - loads of local ale on tap and a big screen.
It's true the organisers have been very good at blocking of access, i/ve been riding round/running to see where you could possibly watch, and Headly Road (round the back) is one place, though not around Tyrels wood (the Golf Course). They intend to have security at everyone of the Footpaths that have a "restricted" sign - these are only accessible by ticket holders.
You can all bu88er off from the micky bends bit - that's my spot... (i may be slightly drunk by this point)
Hi Been round yesterday and today on the MTB and road bike. ZigZags are closed (Boxhill) and the bridleways across the loop (signs say) are only open to foot not bikes. We rode across BoxHill offroad with our stealthy 2500lumens. Loads of cyclist around including some pro teams. Going for another look-see on the road at lunchtime.