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Tour de France spectator Hubs?

by 60kg lean keen climbing machine
Wed, Mar 26, 2014 22:46
10

On Saturday 5th July I plan to travel to Skipton, they have announced that there will be a spectator hub in the town which I plan to attend with my sons 14 and 10, I think this would make a great day out! The problem is were to park? I intend to put our bikes on the back of the car and cycle in. This would be fine if on my own but with the kids it makes the logistics a bit harder . I do not want to be more than 6 miles out and would want to avoid the bigger A roads if possible. Is there any local knowledge out there that would give a place I can leave the car that it would be, safe / cheap or free / a clamp free zone / would fulfil my criteria for a safe cycle in to town with two children! Thank you in advance.

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10 comments

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Nick Squier | 10 years ago
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Take a look at Stage 1 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CUEJ_EdaDI Should give you a few ideas about where to position yourself

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Gkam84 | 10 years ago
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Flat stages just hold no interest to me, it is just a training run for 150 guys together with a few of them thinking they are the greatest thing since sliced bread by jumping off the front a few hundred metres from the finish line 103

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Gkam84 | 10 years ago
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I have been to see the TdF many times, but many years ago, and always in the mountains. So it was a case of getting up there the day before in a motorhome, setting up. Watching from a TV, seeing the caravan and then the race.

So I suppose it is the same sort of thing, just surrounded by loads of people, all charging out of the hall at the same time....

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ajmarshal1 replied to Gkam84 | 10 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

I have been to see the TdF many times, but many years ago, and always in the mountains. So it was a case of getting up there the day before in a motorhome, setting up. Watching from a TV, seeing the caravan and then the race.

So I suppose it is the same sort of thing, just surrounded by loads of people, all charging out of the hall at the same time....

Flat stages are very different, and if you don't have a motorhome then you're down to 3G on a phone or iPad for TV coverage.

If you haven't used something, don't dismiss it.

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Yorkshie Whippet | 10 years ago
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A65 from Leeds will be shut, with traffic probably being directed onto A59 or A629. I can imagine those will be a tow away zone or extremely heavy traffic. I don't remember the A59 or A65 heading Lancahire way having anywhere suitable. Gargrave does have a few parking spots but not a large amount. Even so the road isn't the safest at best of times. Grassington Road will be shut so that takes out Grassington itself. Don't know what Carleton Lane is like.

Much of the area you are looking at is rural with main roads and not much need for out of town parking. A six mile radius includes the route to Addingham, which is used again on Sunday. I do get the feeling alot of the towns around are doing more come here park up and stay for the day.

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60kg lean keen ... replied to Yorkshie Whippet | 10 years ago
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Yorkshie Whippet wrote:

A65 from Leeds will be shut, with traffic probably being directed onto A59 or A629. I can imagine those will be a tow away zone or extremely heavy traffic. I don't remember the A59 or A65 heading Lancahire way having anywhere suitable. Gargrave does have a few parking spots but not a large amount. Even so the road isn't the safest at best of times. Grassington Road will be shut so that takes out Grassington itself. Don't know what Carleton Lane is like.

Much of the area you are looking at is rural with main roads and not much need for out of town parking. A six mile radius includes the route to Addingham, which is used again on Sunday. I do get the feeling alot of the towns around are doing more come here park up and stay for the day.

Thank you, I have had a look on Google Maps and Carleton does look like a good opinion, Am coming from the M65 and If at Colne take the Castle road / Skipton old road instead of the A56 then this will lead me right there!!! There seems plenty opportunity's for parking by the roadside and the ride in seems flat ish? 4

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BMC_rider | 10 years ago
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No idea where to park I'm afraid but it sounds like a pretty good plan to me. If you stand by the side of the road all day you might see 1% of the race if you're lucky. The Skipton spectator hub has the race running right past it so you can see far more of the race as well as the experience of the caravan and the race going past on the roadside. What's not to like?

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Gkam84 | 10 years ago
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I thought the spectator hubs were going to be village halls with large screens? Why would you want to do that when you can be at the road side, watching them go past?

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farrell replied to Gkam84 | 10 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

I thought the spectator hubs were going to be village halls with large screens? Why would you want to do that when you can be at the road side, watching them go past?

To watch more than a minutes worth of cycling perhaps?

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ajmarshal1 replied to Gkam84 | 10 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

I thought the spectator hubs were going to be village halls with large screens? Why would you want to do that when you can be at the road side, watching them go past?

I take it you've never been to watch the TdF? The hubs mean you can watch more of the race before heading out to find your spot to then watch them go past. Otherwise it's hours of waiting and listening to helicopters somewhere in the distance followed by a bit of a dance and catching practice with the caravan then another hour or so before catching a glimpse of them whipping by at 30mph. This is then followed by more waiting for them to reopen the road. SkyGo on your mobile or the radio can only do so much.

Hubs are brilliant.

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