Anyone going watching the Road Race in London?

finbarrk

I'll be there that day. Just wondering will it be too jammed in town to get a glimpse of it? Maybe out by Twickenham might be the best option.

buffalo

Me me me! Only ~90 sleeps to go!

I'm going to find a profile of the route closer to the date, and then see if there's any noticeable hills to watch from. I'd prefer to watch them a) go past a little slower, and b) suffer.
Failing that, ask for advice on some UK bike forums.

ednwireland

missing the mens (typical ) but will prob watch womens RR and TT's havent even thought about where how etc

Rofo

There's a 15 min recce of the course repeated regularly on Eurosport. It's on the schedule for 16.45 today if the Tour of Romandy coverage doesn't eat into it, but you'll catch it again if you don't get that showing.

They'll be repeating Box Hill seven times if IIRC so that would be the best to watch a bit of climbing & suffering

Hungrycol

I've heard they're making Box Hill ticket only!

buffalo

Hungrycol wrote: »

I've heard they're making Box Hill ticket only!

Wut!? Part of the reason I was heading over was that this would be unticketed.

Hungrycol

buffalo wrote: »

Wut!? Part of the reason I was heading over was that this would be unticketed.

Generally yes but I heard they expect very large crowds around this area and they have to manage the people! Maybe I was told porkies.

ednwireland

box hill definitely ticketed (and prob charged as well) they are restricting numbers due to locog incompetance and sending it up the one hill in the area that is a site of special scientific interest owned by the national trust (every hill ive ever been up in the downs is pretty much the same )

capacity has been raised to 15000 though

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/531551/locog-raise-box-hill-olympic-capacity-to-15-000-fans.html

Rofo

Hungrycol wrote: »

I've heard they're making Box Hill ticket only!

Dammit - looks like you're right. Lots of forums discussing allocation of 15,000 tickets for Box Hill. The official 2012 Olympics Ticketing site only has tickets available for The Mall in central London. Can't tell if the Box Hill tix have already gone on sale or not.

harney

This is passing the top of my road so I may pop out with a Hi Mom sign

buffalo

harney wrote: »

This is passing the top of my road so I may pop out with a Hi Mom sign

Do you have a balcony? And beer?

harney

buffalo wrote: »

Do you have a balcony? And beer?

Alas no. There are some traffic lights for crossing the road. If you put up a list of people you want slowed down I could always push the button to turn the lights red.

finbarrk

Ok lads, thanks for opinions and advice. I must research Box Hill.

buffalo

finbarrk wrote: »

Ok lads, thanks for opinions and advice. I must research Box Hill.

If you find anything let us know! The only tickets listed (and unavailable) at the moment are for The Mall.

RobFowl

harney wrote: »

This is passing the top of my road so I may pop out with a Hi Mom sign

Thanks for the invite, is it ok if I bring a few friends too?

afatbollix

Ive booked myself a spot in the local pub where the race passes twice one going out and then coming back.

Its a nice spot with a seating area by the road..

afatbollix

Rofo wrote: »

There's a 15 min recce of the course repeated regularly on Eurosport. It's on the schedule for 16.45 today if the Tour of Romandy coverage doesn't eat into it, but you'll catch it again if you don't get that showing.

They'll be repeating Box Hill seven times if IIRC so that would be the best to watch a bit of climbing & suffering

It has just started

thechanger

@afatbollix Not a bad idea. Care to mention the pub?

I was thinking Richmond Park to see them fly by, if Box Hill is no go. Regarding Box Hill – only in Tory Britain do you have to pay to see a cycling road race. Ayn Rand would be very proud.

finbarrk

That thing is on Eurosport again on Thursday morning. Sky+.
Where is that pub afatbollix? PM me please.

buffalo

Will we just have a boards.ie meet at afatbollix's pub? :cool:

finbarrk

Thats if we can find out the pub!

buffalo

Just got an eeeeemail:

We will also be offering some tickets to the Olympic Games for the first time. All of these will go on general sale from 11am on Tuesday 29 May on a first come, first served basis. These tickets include:

- Tickets to watch the Cycling Road Race at Hampton Court and Box Hill.

ednwireland

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/new-charge-for-free-olympic-games-tickets-7727980.html

Olympic organisers are to charge for events that were originally meant to be free, it has emerged.

Some 30,000 tickets for the best spots to see the start and finish of the road cycling time trials at Hampton Court Palace will cost up to £15.

A further 6,000 £10 tickets to secure a spot for the last three days to watch a large television screen on Henman Hill at Wimbledon are also to go on sale. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games said the money raised from the sale would help pay for the required facilities.

In a statement LOCOG said that the “new tickets” to go on sale from May 29, 2012, which “will help more people get to the Games”.

The tickets going on sale are:

Cycling Road Race at Box Hill, in Surrey. Tickets will be £15 full price and £5 for young people and seniors for the viewing area at Donkey Green and £10 and £5 for the viewing area at Dormouse Drive.
Cycling Individual Time Trial at Hampton Court Palace. These tickets will be £15 full price and £5 for young people and seniors at Viewing Area A and £10 and £5 at Viewing Area B.
There will also be tickets available for Wimbledon which will provide access to The Hill and the big screen only. These tickets will be priced at £10 full price and £5 for young people and seniors
The Orbit tower. Tickets will cost £15 full price and £7 for young people aged 16 or under and seniors aged 60 or over. These tickets should only be purchased by people who have an Olympic Park ticket or a sport ticket for an event in the Olympic Park for the day they wish to visit the Orbit

locog are great, love this quote

In a statement LOCOG said that the “new tickets” to go on sale from May 29, 2012, which “will help more people get to the Games”.

why dont they just say we are worried we will get swamped if we dont restrict numbers and we need to make a few extra quid on the side to pay for all this as well. spin doctors ffs. Thats what happens when you put ex athlete ex tory politician in charge

studiorat

£127 a day for the Mountain Bike tickets. I wonder is there a goodie bag?

buffalo

'tis a bit of a pisser that they've not only introduced tickets, but also charges. :mad:

Cycling Road Race at Box Hill, in Surrey. Tickets will be £15 full price and £5 for young people and seniors for the viewing area at Donkey Green and £10 and £5 for the viewing area at Dormouse Drive

Any ideas on which of these is the better spot? Donkey Green or Dormouse Drive? And is the whole area named by Disney?

studiorat

buffalo wrote: »

'tis a bit of a pisser that they've not only introduced tickets, but also charges. :mad:



Any ideas on which of these is the better spot? Donkey Green or Dormouse Drive? And is the whole area named by Disney?

I went to school with a fella called Donkey Green...

finbarrk

Anyone know did any of those Box Hill tickets go on sale?

buffalo

finbarrk wrote: »

Anyone know did any of those Box Hill tickets go on sale?

Next Tuesday, 29th. 11am.

finbarrk

Thanks Buffalo, although I just spotted a pub on Kings Road that might be a handier option!
http://www.handandflowersw6.co.uk/

buffalo

finbarrk wrote: »

Thanks Buffalo, although I just spotted a pub on Kings Road that might be a handier option!
http://www.handandflowersw6.co.uk/

But you'll only get to see the race twice, at high speed. Box Hill is nine times around, and climbing. I'm excited about it already!

I'm assuming here that I'll get tickets - worked my magic for Lenny Cohen this morning, front row baby! :cool:

buffalo

wtf? I was ready to click at 11am, requested tickets, 1min wait time, got tickets, put in credit card details, then kaput. Said the tickets were gone.

Go back to start, request tickets, 10min wait time... what gives?

Funkyzeit

buffalo wrote: »

wtf? I was ready to click at 11am, requested tickets, 1min wait time, got tickets, put in credit card details, then kaput. Said the tickets were gone.

Go back to start, request tickets, 10min wait time... what gives?

Same here....same thing happened at end of my second wait for Zig Zag road tickets....now a 15 min wait. Boo-urrns

Muller_1

same thing happened to me 10 minute wait entered credit card details and nothing happened.

Beasty

How many tickets do you guys want?

I'm not going to the road race but can put a request in on the off-chance there are any left

buffalo

Beasty wrote: »

How many tickets do you guys want?

I'm not going to the road race but can put a request in on the off-chance there are any left

I'm looking for 4. Currently have two sessions with 10min and 15min wait times. Already tried three times, and I've a meeting in five minutes' time. arrrrrrrgggghhhhhh!

Beasty

buffalo wrote: »

I'm looking for 4. Currently have two sessions with 10min and 15min wait times. Already tried three times, and I've a meeting in five minutes' time. arrrrrrrgggghhhhhh!

OK - I've put a request for 4 tickets in. I already have an account with CC details entered - not sure if that could make it any easier once the clock ticks down (it's not moving from 15 mins at present)

Funkyzeit

No joy here at all.....

Can I be the second (after Buffalo) to beg ask if anyone has any spares can they keep me in mind?

Beasty

No luck with Box Hill - saying no tickets available - I'll give zig-zag a go just in case

ednwireland

tried to get TT finish tickets, had em in the basket, then put CC details in and got none available (waste of time imo)

Muller_1

Looks like all tickets gone now, bit of a joke. Got to the CC details page twice, then can not process your request page.

buffalo

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9297114/London-2012-Olympics-tickets-go-on-sale-to-previously-free-events-such-as-road-cycling.html

Readers contacting Telegraph Sport reported the same issue as Mrs Wiggins, with many unable to complete their purchase online. Many resorted to doing it the old fashioned way over the phone.

buffalo

Anyone get anything? Tried ringing the Irish ticket seller (at 12.15pm, rather late really), but they're sold out.

jimm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/cycling/9038260/London-2012-Olympics-spectator-capacity-at-Box-Hill-for-road-cycling-race-to-be-increased-to-15000.html

Edit. Just read the start of thread. I see they're doing 7 laps of Box Hill, so seems like an excellent vantage point, hence the tickets and entry charges.

scooters

Got 4 for zig zag rd but only through my mate in London.

Sweet!!

buffalo

Beasty, sorry earlier, between running to the meeting, and rage at not getting tickets, I forgot to say thanks to you! Thank you for trying, hopefully there'll be another batch or something. I'd even consider paying for the VIP shizzle.

Beasty

buffalo wrote: »

Beasty, sorry earlier, between running to the meeting, and rage at not getting tickets, I forgot to say thanks to you! Thank you for trying, hopefully there'll be another batch or something. I'd even consider paying for the VIP shizzle.

I think the real problem is there is a severe limit on numbers on Box Hill. There are another 100,000 tickets being released across all sports next month, but I don't think there will be many for cycling events. The other possibility is returned allocations from other countries and any more they let go once they've sorted out final TV and other press coverage areas/allocations

One interesting point is the number of tickets still available and on open sale for certain less popular sports. Despite all the problems with oversubscribing last year, it looks as if there is less demand than originally thought. I'm guessing some people deliberately overapplied, possibly in anticipation of getting a lot of their applications rejected, but also possibly in the hope of making a quick killing. It may be that if more tickets are released they could be a bit easier to get hold of (it happens with Wimbledon each year - I have little problem picking up tickets released the night before for the show courts up to the last 16 via ticketmaster while others are queuing up all night to get in)

Anyway, I'll keep my eye out and grab anything I see available (managed to pick up a velodrome ticket by being logged on at just the right time!)

Paddys Wigwam

Got 4 for Box Hill at 11, learned my lesson from previous events and rang up. Did the same for the general release and got the four other events I wanted. Not surprised as I think its Deloitte are responsible for it - useless isnt the word!

Its the way to go if there are other releases.

buffalo

Paddys Wigwam wrote: »

Got 4 for Box Hill at 11, learned my lesson from previous events and rang up. Did the same for the general release and got the four other events I wanted. Not surprised as I think its Deloitte are responsible for it - useless isnt the word!

Its the way to go if there are other releases.

Man, I wish you'd shared that little nugget of information before last Tuesday.

The ticketing system is powered by Ticketmaster, Deloitte are consultants somewhere along the line. I guess they may have made the decision to use Ticketmaster, but that's about it.

buffalo

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!!!

https://www.tickets.london2012.com

JUST GOT SOME! ****ING VERY EXCITED :D:D:D

buffalo

Beasty wrote: »

Anyway, I'll keep my eye out and grab anything I see available (managed to pick up a velodrome ticket by being logged on at just the right time!)

Beasty, you're a legend. This little snippet made me check in every now and then, and this morning I hit the jackpot!!!

Muller_1

Thanks for the heads up lads, just got a ticket, had to give them a call 0844 847 2012 as the site is running very slowly got through in about 5 minutes.