[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

pb21 · Tuesday at 8:41 AM

Blue&WhiteSea said:
Cycling as a spectator sport is now officially dead in the UK

Eurosport is closing down in the UK - cycling is about to get a lot more expensive to watch

Live cycling to be shown on TNT Sports from next month

www.cyclingweekly.com

Well, that's shit.

Last year of free to view TdF then

Fignon's Ponytail · Tuesday at 9:03 AM

Me and the missus are off to Lille for the Grand Depart this year, so I will be finding the ITV camp and trying to say a big thank you for all the years of coverage they've given the fans. I've often flicked between them and ES, but to lose ITV & ES completely is a real hammer blow.

Fignon's Ponytail · Tuesday at 9:21 AM

Seems as good as any time to revisit this. Especially with all the crap news and crap weather around.
Probably the best highlight montage ever for a TDF. Have 10 mins of Gallic sunshine to cheer you up on this drab Tuesday morning, cycling fans.

Channel 4 - gone
Paul Sherwen - gone too soon
Phil Liggett - gone, retired last year
Gary Imlach & ITV4 - going
Eurosport - gone. Honestly never thought I would see the day.

Good times, even greater memories.

nickbrighton · Tuesday at 9:24 AM

so this year in an exciting collaboration between the BBC and ITV you can look forward to some of the greatest sporting events Live and Free including live competitive conker league, tiddlywinks world championships, the much anticipated east sussex stool ball leagues and in a world first live uninterrupted coverage of the breath-taking synchronised crotchet championships

Blue&WhiteSea · Tuesday at 9:49 AM

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Me and the missus are off to Lille for the Grand Depart this year, so I will be finding the ITV camp and trying to say a big thank you for all the years of coverage they've given the fans. I've often flicked between them and ES, but to lose ITV & ES completely is a real hammer blow.

Nice. I'm off to the final round of the superprestige in 2 weeks, didn't realise it would be the final time I was able to properly follow the sport without shelling out £30+ a month.
I guess it will make it slightly easier to justify signing up to TNT sports for Brighton games in December and January if it means I can watch a bunch of cyclo-cross races as well.

Fignon's Ponytail · Tuesday at 12:39 PM

This maybe offers some hope to those who wont get TNT....

The Tour de France will be exclusively on TNT Sports in 2026, with ITV having lost the rights. Young said that some coverage will be screened on the free-to-air channel Quest, but would not commit to broadcasting full stages. “You’ll see parts of the Tour on Quest,” he said.

Highlights each day maybe?

Pogue Mahone · Tuesday at 1:21 PM

This is a situation where a fire stick and IPTV becomes a no brainer.

zeemeeuw · Tuesday at 1:35 PM

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Seems as good as any time to revisit this. Especially with all the crap news and crap weather around.
Probably the best highlight montage ever for a TDF. Have 10 mins of Gallic sunshine to cheer you up on this drab Tuesday morning, cycling fans.

Channel 4 - gone
Paul Sherwen - gone too soon
Phil Liggett - gone, retired last year
Gary Imlach & ITV4 - going
Eurosport - gone. Honestly never thought I would see the day.

Good times, even greater memories.

Those years 1985-1990, I absolutely lived and breathed cycle racing.

Fignon's Ponytail · Tuesday at 3:16 PM

zeemeeuw said:
Those years 1985-1990, I absolutely lived and breathed cycle racing.

Enjoy

We used to holiday most summers in Provence, and I used to love going down to the local shop to pick up the morning baguettes, and a copy of L'Equipe, poring over the previous days news and photos while having breakfast. Always remember them taking half a page to list the entire standings in the GC, from top place to the lanterne rouge (inc timings), every day. Wonder if they still do?

zeemeeuw · Tuesday at 3:54 PM

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Enjoy

We used to holiday most summers in Provence, and I used to love going down to the local shop to pick up the morning baguettes, and a copy of L'Equipe, poring over the previous days news and photos while having breakfast. Always remember them taking half a page to list the entire standings in the GC, from top place to the lanterne rouge (inc timings), every day. Wonder if they still do?

1987 was the absolute zenith for me, particularly this moment:

Stephen Roach dropped on La Plagne, looking like the tour was lost and then that! moment (2:00 onwards in the vid). The guy dug deeper then I've ever seen a sportsman do, he almost killed himself to stay in contention for the yellow.

I also went to Paris that year to cheer home the ANC team, Malcolm Elliot another cult hero for me.

Fignon's Ponytail · Tuesday at 4:02 PM

Elliott was the coolest guy in the peloton! Him in that Fagor team kit was the pinnacle of style

Motogull · Tuesday at 7:45 PM

To change the subject, I'm pretty certain I'll be getting a gravel bike to lift my spirits ready for spring and summer. They are silly expensive, with LBSs saying entry levels are safely into 4 figures. I can't justify paying that so I'm zooming in on a Claude Butler for £600. Will defo do the Cantii way on it this year.

Billy in Bristol · Tuesday at 9:33 PM

Free to air coverage across Europe but not the UK.

I am lucky as an EE Mobile customer I get TNT / Discovery Plus as a free add on...nonetheless still sad news.

Fignon's Ponytail · 2025-01-29T09:12:51+0000

Motogull said:
To change the subject, I'm pretty certain I'll be getting a gravel bike to lift my spirits ready for spring and summer. They are silly expensive, with LBSs saying entry levels are safely into 4 figures. I can't justify paying that so I'm zooming in on a Claude Butler for £600. Will defo do the Cantii way on it this year.

Do it. Gravel is the way to go - used mine more than any of my other bikes last year, purely as its a complete do-it-all machine.
My Marin was just south of the grand mark from Tredz. Not everyone's cup of tea (buying from them), but I've yet to have a bad experience.
If you ride a 52 / 54cm frame - this may be worth looking at? https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Marin-Gestalt-2024-Gravel-Bike_262259.htm?variations=colour:Gloss%20Black/Blue
Decathlons Triban 120 was a great gravel bike, but looks like they've discontinued it. Could get one cheap now though if you have a hunt.

Motogull · 2025-01-29T13:52:47+0000

I ain’t no short arse. I ride a 58 frame which narrows options down.

1066familyman · 2025-01-29T20:41:30+0000

Tiz.....ahem.... cycling.

banjo · 2025-01-29T23:09:36+0000

Motogull said:
To change the subject, I'm pretty certain I'll be getting a gravel bike to lift my spirits ready for spring and summer. They are silly expensive, with LBSs saying entry levels are safely into 4 figures. I can't justify paying that so I'm zooming in on a Claude Butler for £600. Will defo do the Cantii way on it this year.

Love my gravel bike. I think I only rode my road bike twice last year.

Just a smidge over £1000 atm.

Fignon's Ponytail · 2025-01-30T10:34:34+0000

Motogull said:
To change the subject, I'm pretty certain I'll be getting a gravel bike to lift my spirits ready for spring and summer. They are silly expensive, with LBSs saying entry levels are safely into 4 figures. I can't justify paying that so I'm zooming in on a Claude Butler for £600. Will defo do the Cantii way on it this year.

If you can stretch a little further financially, maybe a Boardman 8.6 for c£800 instead of a Claud Butler?

ADV 8.6

Designed to offer maximum versatility the ADV 8.8 excels when you want to get off the beaten track.

www.boardmanbikes.com

Or a Marin for £775...58cm.

Marin Gestalt 2024 | Tredz Bikes

Save up to 18% - Marin Gestalt 2024 - Gravel Bike from £775.00 or just £21.53 per month with 0% APR finance. All Gravel bikes are built by Cytech qualified mechanics, delivered free to the UK mainland & include 14 days free bike insurance. Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

zeemeeuw · 2025-01-30T11:22:15+0000

Motogull said:
To change the subject, I'm pretty certain I'll be getting a gravel bike to lift my spirits ready for spring and summer. They are silly expensive, with LBSs saying entry levels are safely into 4 figures. I can't justify paying that so I'm zooming in on a Claude Butler for £600. Will defo do the Cantii way on it this year.

Maybe you're using the cycle to work scheme or something but does it have to be new? 2nd hand is definitely a buyer's market at the moment. I recently sold my Basso Gravel bike for £700, cost me £1800 2 years ago and it was absolutely mint condition.

Fignon's Ponytail · 2025-01-30T12:24:23+0000

Really want to give this a go at some point (or the Pilgrims Way to Canterbury). Looks awesome.

Start and finish here in Winchester on a sunny weekend...it couldnt get any better i dont think.

The South Downs Social

Winchester's finest bike cafe. Awesome coffee, Belgian Hot Chocolate, tasty cakes and snacks from local producers. Live racing on the big screen, plus talks, events and secure bike parking inside. Close to the start and end of both the King Alfred's Way and South Downs Way.

www.southdownssocial.com

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