A "Reet Grand" Day out...

Decided to have a run out to the Second Stage of the TdF yesterday.

After failing dismally to get to the Grand Depart in Leeds on Saturday through public transport failure... as in - I turned up at Wakefield Westgate Station to find punters queueing 10 deep to get in the doors of the station, you could see the station concourse and the platform were rammed with punters as well. Joined the Queue, but after 45minutes and 3 trains and had come and gone towards Leeds I was still 7 people back from getting inside the station, with another 8 deep of people behind me. At this point I pretty much thought "Etouffe La Pour Une Allouette" and went home and climbed on the bike for a ride in the sunshine.

So, Sundays Mission was to get to the course by bike, much easier in terms of roads and routes than the Saturday course for me, as I didn't have to cross a couple of towns to do so... I'd decided to get up to the section somewhere near Langsett Reservoir. Unfortunately this DID involve somewhat more hills than I'm used to, but was 100% worthwhile. Ended up getting to the Flouch Roundabout, then taking a bit of a "cross country" route on a bridleway to get past the bit which had been barriered off. Once on the actual Parcours, I did another mile or so, contre-route so to speak - to lots of cheers and shouts of "Tha's goin t'wrong way lad...." from the wags at the roadside. I smiled so much my ears were hurting.

Eventually found a good spot, with a older couple who had set their stall out to be comfortable - chairs, picnic basket, radio, the works. Parked the bike behind them to prevent someone standing on it, and was promptly handed a mug of coffee by the old dear. Bless her.

So, after about a hour of chatting with them, the caravanne publicitaire started to roll through...

Don't See Many Yeti's in the Wilds of Yorkshire



The Obligatory Haribo Wagon (one of many)



and many, many others - including a large wagon promoting McCains Ovenchips - yeah, very healthy.

Eventually, the crazy vehicles dried up (I was saddened that the Motorised Profiteroles didn't seem to be over here this year, less unhappy that they weren't throwing those horrible strawberry and cream boiled sweets out)

I didn't take many pictures of the lead group, and the ones I did take were tripe, but I did get some of the pursuivants and peloton...

TdF_Peleton_2 by The Big Yin, on Flickr

TdF_Pursuivants by The Big Yin, on Flickr

TdF_Pursuivants_2 by The Big Yin, on Flickr

You can see in the background the dark clouds beginning to gather, but which fortunately held off until after the race had finished.

Once the Voiture Balai had gone through, it was a case of making a mad dash for home before I was caught in the rain. That's probably partly to blame for the 57.1kph average speed on this sector... http://www.strava.com/activities/162467187/segments/3770488685

No, it's pretty much a "ride report with pictures" thread! it's just that my bike ride happened to share a chunk of Tarmac with the biggest annual sporting event in the world

They're going at a hell of a lick fella...

You're not kidding, when they passed me, it felt like standing on the edge of a railway platform as an express train passed through...

Got to love the hum of the tyres on the road though - that's one reason I really miss riding on Tubs - nothing else sounds quite like it.

Birthday Ride Pictures..

Mappleton by The Big Yin, on Flickr

Tower and Sheep by The Big Yin, on Flickr

Church Gate by The Big Yin, on Flickr

Withernsea by The Big Yin, on Flickr

Humber Estuary by The Big Yin, on Flickr

SpurnPoint by The Big Yin, on Flickr

YorkshireForever by The Big Yin, on Flickr