I was one of those a while back. Now lost 3 stone and can cycle 100 miles sportives relatively easily. Don't knock it till you have well and truly achieved something!

 

Take the dog along and let it off the lead just before the peloton arrives. Pretty much assured a tumble and how more French could you get?

Catching the highlights on TV is the best I can hope for.

 

Watching them around Saffron Walden, then bomb down the M11 to a friends farm Epping way to watch there.

After it's a drive to Folkstone to the tunnel and an overnight in Boulogne. Up early for the Depart in Le Touquet before heading to the Cat 4 climb at Mont Noir.

Overnight in Hazebrouck and then early in Ypres for the depart before one last viewing on the cobbles around Roubaix.

Can't wait!!!

 

That's dedication!

 

I've seen it the last two times it's been to the UK (as well as following it around France for two weeks).

For those not in the know, watching it live is about more than just a few cyclists passing by at speed. The whole atmosphe of the caravan as it passes by handing out the freebies - hats, beer, sweets and other paraphernalia builds steadily before the race actually gets to you.

Alas, I'll be in Cornwall so I'll be watching it on the TV, but to those who do go and see it live, enjoy.

 

Where's keitel . ?

Hope Mark gets it, but from last year keitel is the new boy. ( conqueror )

 

Oh bollox.

 

Hope that isn't his lot

 

Just another chapter in the 2014 British summer of sport nightmare.

Cavendish probaly out of the Tour, England's dismal WC performance, Murray exiting Wimbledon early, England cricket in disarray and Hamilton inventing a new way each race to throw away the F1 WC!

 

Its pretty much all or nothing for a sprinter though!

 

From the tiny bit a saw on the TV - it looked amazing

Great support from the crowds and Yorkshire looked fantastic

 

It was
We rode the climb out of Grinton then picked a spot right beside the road. Great atmosphere and weather wasn't too bad either.

 

We had Giro D'Italia across in NI in early May, I thought it would be a dull boring weekend as I was working at it. How wrong was I!!!! It was a fantastic event, and the atmosphere that surrounded it made it most enjoyable, it was a spectacular few days, I would welcome the Giro's return or a visit of the TDF to NI.

 

In his home town too on day one of the tour..

Mothers home town.

 

Nope but went for a ride instead; very pleasant in the sunshine.

 

To echo some other posters, the scenery looks superb and the support from the spectators is fantastic.

 

Amazing weekend!

 

Amazing spectator turn out, .I watched almost all of it

They made that last hill look like a stroll lol

I'd still be climbing it probably

 

This.

We watched the finish yesterday and then watched them go through Harrogate today. The atmosphere was amazing. Well done Yorkshire.

 

I went to Bradfield near Sheffield. Great atmosphere, absolutely packed hillside and road, even managed to go up the hill before the crowds got too big.

From the reports all the hills were packed and lots of spectators lined the route. 2.5 million visitors to watch Yorkshire put on a great display of welcoming the Tour.

 

It's coming to Chelmsford tomorrow

 

No doubt the peloton will be inundated with roadside flashes of Burberry and the waft of crack then...

 

I'm a great fan, love to watch the highlights on tv although watching an entire stage can be heavy going unless I'm doing something else at the same time.

A few years ago several of us rode some of the hill stages in the Alps after the Tour had gone through, makes you appreciate what they do day after day as you struggle up those slopes.

 

Yay - it's left Yorkshire

 

Hoping to see this in Essex tomorrow - got the morning off specifically for this... trying to find a place away from the plebbs on the back lane part of the route... might be difficult - but can only try.

See this on the telly every year, never seen it "live", and I doubt I will ever see it again "live", so it's gotta be done........ just like the London Olympics, I ain't gonna get another chance in my lifetime.......... has to be done...

 

Was long enough commercial breaks on itv4 to go clean your bike make sandwich and a drink..

 

I watched eurosport last year and bought this year, Havnt bothered with it yet since been watching itv4. And noticed how long the commercials are....

 

You should have booked the afternoon.

I'm guessing bike sales will be on the up again. The amount of people supporting it was incredible. I'm sure far more than expected.

 

I am in cambs just now - rode in

friends have a house overlooking the start at Parkers Peace - the crowds, atmosphere, weather is amazing

superb event

 

Bike sales will go up and good luck to the newby cyclists when they go out on our terrible roads. In my area (Oxford) I now stick to the mountain bike as road riding has become a dangerous occupation with so many pot holes and general road damage to deal with. And of course inconsiderate drivers!