Cycling UK Forum

As I suppose a bit of a training run for my french tour with one of our forum colleagues later on in the year tomorrow I am going over to the Isle of Man to watch the TT.
Its a great event and I have been many times before but always on a motorcycle so I will need to be even more careful riding around on my bike this time.

Sadly several visitors have already been killed so hopefully the police will have a high presence to stop either bad driving or riding.I added the driving because its not always bikers at fault when accidents take place.

My first question I would like to ask everyone is what would be the the quickest route on the road from Douglas to Ramsey and given as I remember it could be hilly what sort of time should it take me to ride it at a leisurely pace. Am I right in saying that via Laxey would be the most direct route.
The next question I would like to ask is can I dismantle my bike and put it in the CTC plastic bag in the airport terminal or should I do it outside. I have fitted pipe lagging already where I can on the bike so hopefully that will help to prevent it being damaged by FLYBE staff.Do I also book the bike in with my luggage or do I have to go to a separate place to book it in. Sorry if that is a stupid question but I honestly do not know.
Whilst I am primarily going to the TT to watch motorcycle racers go around a very interesting race course at remarkable speeds I would also like to take the opportunity to cycle some interesting routes so if you can recommend any I would be grateful to learn about them from you.

At the moment I am worried about preparing the bike and getting it on the plane but again hopefully once I have done that it might be the I.O.M today the States tomorrow.

Its marvelous still to be setting off on an adventure in my 60s and lets hope I can continue to do it for many more years as well.On the age issue I was looking at a photo on the TT Forum last night of a man who was competing in the local preliminary race at Billstown and unbelievably he is aged 84 so there is hope for all of us.

Finally just seen the weather forecast for I.O.M for the week end and I will need to take a fleece and wet weather gear oh well no change there then.

I take it you mean CYCLING...
Im taking the ferry off island on Saturday, because I dont feel safe cycling on the island.


Just read the last paragraph.

The TT course over the Mountain is the quickest route. But Please please dont cycle on it. They have the course one way right now (over the Mountain that is). There is no national speed limit up there. It would be potential suicide to attempt it this or next week on a bicycle. Imagine someone inexperienced at speed travelling at about 100mph he hugs a tight left hander and finds a cyclist there....

I honestly think the police will pull you off the Mountain road. A lot of it up there is traffic coned to try to calm traffic, so no where for you to hide yourself.

The coast road in my opinion is the ONLY way. Either coast road that is.

You can cycle from Douglas into Peel and take that coastal route, scenic and off the TT course.

or you can cycle as you suggested via Laxey. Scenic and coastal and off the TT course. THese roads will all be highly busy with local and visitor traffic. All routes on the Island except the very Northern bit are hilly Im afraid. But not megga, a bit like cycling in Cumbria not as bad as the Lakes or Yorkshire though.

I have no idea about planes I always take my bike for free on the ferry.

Enjoy your stay here.

I cycled a fair bit of the island last Monday (first of the bikers over at that point for practice week)

here is my blog if you need some mapping.

http://cycleseven.org/mad-cats-and-engl ... #more-9095


Mary

Thanks Manxcat I will heed your words and enjoy your break.