Yorkshire welcomes Le Tour...

[Accy cyclist]

My only interaction with Le Tour was when a people carrier loaded with bikes on the roof passed me in Clitheroe Lancs. I heard the horn pipping then some young lad started shouting at me in French,then i noticed the French number plate. They'd noticed my polka dot Carrefour jersey i presumed so i waved back and they did too.That's it,nothing else apart from watching it on tv.

 

[Globalti]

In Addingham the marshalls were having a field day in their flouro jobsworth jackets; they blew whistles and ordered people around and strode up and down looking full of self-importance. While they ponced around the Police just looked on calmly.

 

[vernon]

I didn't bother going out to see the riders on The Tour, I made do with a seat three rows from the front in the floor seats at the official reception in Leeds Arena and picking off sections of the route planned and unplanned inn the weeks beforehand. I saw more of the riders at the Arena than I would have done roadside and living within a mile of the route I saw a lot of the modified/adorned street furniture on the days leading up to and during the tour. When combined with the excellent arial footage of the stages themselves I feel satisfied with my 'dosage'.

 

[PaulB]

We had THE most memorable weekend ever, watching the Tour. We had a hard ride on Friday round most of the northern part of the day one route but included Park Rash from Hawes, rode some of the route up to Kidstones on Saturday but yesterday was just remarkably easy. We rode an pleasant 8 miles from my front door and were at the Tour de France!

I assumed the nondescript climb up past Penistone Quarry would see maybe a few interested people so that's where we went but there were thousands and thousands! Another great atmosphere with one 'poor' guy being cheered by literally everyone packing the hillside as he walked over to relieve himself behind a bush. Well, we were getting a bit bored and needed something to do. When he emerged, he got the biggest cheer of the day and went redder than Cofidis's jerseys.

We spoke to people who'd come over from Texas, Germany and Denmark and a few more from Suffolk and a nice couple from Cornwall. All emphasised how wonderful they thought the countryside and the people were!

A truly remarkable weekend.

 

[apb]

I'm pretty amazed by the support the tour de north england got in the last couple of days! i was sure there would be an army WVM out trying to run down the peloton and support would be few and far between. Maybe cycling is getting more popular in the U.K.

 

[Paulus]

I had a great weekend, I stayed at a mates mother-in-laws house in Chesterfield, Saturday we went up to Boston Spa and then cycled across little village called Arthington near to Otley. We had a great view and the village hall did wonderful bacon butties and tea. Sunday we cycled up to High Bradfield, what an atmosphere. I am off to Epping later for stage 3.

 

[Cycling Dan]

All them crop circles could only mean one thing.
The people from Yorkshire are aliens

 

[Julia9054]

One of the major stars for me was the British police. The motorcycle riders really entered into the spirit and looked as though they were having fun. The gendarmes, in contrast, looked really miserable and grumpy. Sad really.

On Saturday in Otley, the police looked fairly serious. On Sunday, in Knaresborough they had lightened up a bit and were riding down high fiving everyone!

 

[vernon]

One of the major stars for me was the British police. The motorcycle riders really entered into the spirit and looked as though they were having fun. The gendarmes, in contrast, looked really miserable and grumpy. Sad really.

Not all gendarmes are grumpy. The French ones in France beckoned us to go faster when a group of friends were were heading to Le mans for the 24hr race - it was a surreal 110mph peleton with a police escort.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Not all gendarmes are grumpy. The French ones in France beckoned us to go faster when a group of friends were were heading to Le mans for the 24hr race - it was a surreal 110mph peleton with a police escort.

My, you really do use a fast cadence!

 

[HelenD123]

What a weekend! We stayed in Muker and walked up the Cote de Buttertubs with a long string of people. Best bit - the cheers given to the kids who'd cycled up from Hawes as they crossed the line. Such a great atmosphere. Funniest bit - the couple on the tandem. He went to hold his arms aloft as he crossed the line and they nearly fell over! That got a bit cheer too!

 

[Markymark]

One of the major stars for me was the British police. The motorcycle riders really entered into the spirit and looked as though they were having fun. The gendarmes, in contrast, looked really miserable and grumpy. Sad really.

Read All About It - "British cheerful, French Miserable shocker!"

 

[Fnaar]

Yorkshire did itself proud this weekend. I had a great time Saturday, meeting ColinJ, MartinQ and Cubist variously for rides on parts of Stage 2/coffee/cake and pie. Had a solo ride (also based round bits of Stage 2) Sat afternoon, and then a quick jaunt with another friend Sunday morning, on roads (between Hebden Bridge and Oxenhope) with ONLY bikes on tyhem, and plenty of fun banter with spectators arriving for the Tour. Saw the Tour go through (photo below) and had a barbecue into the bargain as well. Weather terrific too!

 

[vernon]

My, you really do use a fast cadence!

I missed out that we were on motor cycles at the time.

 

[Jody]

What a great turnout for the tour. I was loving how much effort the people of Yorkshire put into this. I decided to watch at home even though I am only 7ish miles from the finish.

This made me chuckle