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[tunnie]

Has anyone done previous versions of this? For those that don't know, its when amateurs get to do a mountain stage of the Tour de France when the roads are still closed and the professionals are not on it.

Looks like Sky & Sky Cycling team are backing some employee's to go, I'm in discussion with one of the organisers as I want to go, but the hotel they have picked is damned expensive! (which we have to pay for  )

I have been considering taking the GS around Europe around the time of this anyway, so I might be able to combine it! (with a few days off afterwards to recover of course)

This is the route Sky have selected:

http://www.letapedutour.com/EDT2/2011/ETDT/presentation/us/parcours.htm

208km     

[feeutfo]

I hope you've won the polcadot joursey before Tunnie, going by those hills. 

[tunnie]

some training may have to be done before I go 

Not to mention a new bicycle, a 18 year old french bike, with a rusty chain and shyte brakes is maybe not best idea 

[Gaffers]

Evans Cycles do good bikes and you can spread the cost if you wish.  Also I dont know if Sky do the Cycle to Work scheme where you can get bikes Tax-free but it is worth looking into

[tunnie]

Evans Cycles do good bikes and you can spread the cost if you wish.  Also I dont know if Sky do the Cycle to Work scheme where you can get bikes Tax-free but it is worth looking into

Yup they do! I know they run the vouchers are certain times of the year, will need some investigation if I can get a voucher in time.

Sky & cycling is very good, we have an Evans Cycle shop on site only for Sky employee's 

I took mine there last year, front bearing was knackered (wheel was bouncing off the brake pads) Gave it a damn good service, all for £0

Trouble is rear cable to back set of sprogs snapped, so I only have 3 of 18 gears working 

Whats put me off a new bike, is so many of my mates have had new ones nicked (one has had 3 bikes nicked!) - Not skimping on locks either £100+ D locks and all kinds.

I'm hoping they might hand out some of the branded gear:

http://img.skysports.com/10/04/Others/TeamSky-Team2-Shot-1280x1024_2446577.jpg

[Gaffers]

I am lucky in that I can take my bike into my office, nice and safe there.  I am not sure what your on site security is like but you could always have a new bike for commuting to work and keep the old banger for going in to town

[tunnie]

I am lucky in that I can take my bike into my office, nice and safe there.  I am not sure what your on site security is like but you could always have a new bike for commuting to work and keep the old banger for going in to town

Suspect thats what I will do, there are secure (only employee passes) open the door to the locked bike compounds at work. I'd have to bring bike into my flat though, unless I rented one of the sheds out back.  :-/

[feeutfo]

.... And what was up with that Bradly Wiggins on the tour? Didn't even see the team near the front nevermind old mop head....?

[Weds]

I've done a bit of cycling in the Alps both on road and Off-road.

I've cycled up the infamous Alpe d'Huez and a few others.. Nothing in the Uk compares to the altitude and the amount of climbing..

You will need a bit of training to cover 200km + all those mountains.. The most I've covered in one day was 120miles on the L'Etape du Tour from Greenwich to Canterbury in 2007, hardly a mountain stage but still quite tiring..

If you need any advice tunnie give me a shout..

[feeutfo]

Any body done the coast to coast? Uk, North, Workington to Newcastle iirc?

[albitz]

Bit of an off topic thread hijack Tunnie, but I met a  Sky employee in Shoreditch last night(where else ?) . Looked a bit like Keith Richards - oldish bloke with longish trendy hair. Works on the showbiz desk apparently. I think he might have been chatting up my mate.