Stafford RC to ride the TDF 2014

With the Tour de France Grand Depart taking place in Yorkshire next July, here is something that may whet your appetite – how about riding (almost all of) Stage One?

Le TdF Stage 1: the plan is to ride most of the 120 mile stage from Leeds to Harrogate, beginning from an accommodation base near Ripon and join up the two ends of the stage (whilst missing out the bit in Leeds City Centre). The (slightly) modified route will be available as a file for those who have a GPS.

http://letour.yorkshire.com/stage-1

Le dates: Saturday 3^rd – Monday 5^th May 2014 (2 nights away over the early May Bank Holiday week-end). The main stage ride will be on Sunday 4^th May; other rides are possible on the Saturday and Monday (eg part of TdF Stage 2 from York to Sheffield as you travel to / from the area).

Le Pace – likely to be a tempo group 15 / 16 mph average. However, there’s nothing to stop another group of faster riders doing this as a diy sportive and comparing themselves with the pros who will do the route two months later!

Le Base – National Trust Bunkhouse (basic, but comfortable) in the stunning grounds of Fountains Abbey, near Ripon. It’s about 3 miles away from the route of Stage 1 and the city centre, yet quiet enough for deer to roam right outside the front door. I’ve stayed there twice before and it’s a superb base to stay. It holds up to16 people. All beds are bunks. Take your own sleeping bag & towel. The three bedrooms are configured to hold 6,6 and 4 people. The sleeping arrangements will be organised into single sex rooms so this will affect the combination of males / females that can stay. It’s a reasonably safe area to leave bikes locked up outside the building or secured to the roof / back of your car. Use this link and then find the section on Whitefields Basecamp for more information:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey/places-to-stay/

Le Food: the bunkhouse is totally self-catering. It is probably best for everyone to take their own breakfasts and snacks for cycling (or plan on cafe / pub stops); evening meals can be obtained using the restaurants and / or take-aways in Ripon, 3 miles away.

Le Transport ; if you’re not planning on cycling to the start, car sharing is probably the best method.

Le Cost: the Bunkhouse is £170 per night for up to 16 people. Based on all beds being taken this works out at under £22 per person for two nights. Then add  the cost of your own food arrangements and (shared?) transport.

Interested?

Email me at hamswilde@yahoo.co.uk with your name(s), phone number and whether you can offer transport (if so, the number of extra people and /or bikes you can carry). I’ll do my best to allocate a space to the first 16 people to show an interest and add others to a reserve list (whilst taking into account the constraint of the male / female split in the bunkrooms). I have a temporary hold on the accommodation so need to have an idea of demand by Friday 13^th December. If there are enough people interested, I’ll pay a deposit for the bunkhouse and ask you for a non-refundable payment for your share of the accommodation.

If all places are taken, there is always the option of booking your own B& B in the area and then joining the ride(s).

Andrew Wilde