Help a Virgin Specator (Pasadena Stage of ToC)
 

So I'm trying to figure out where to wait around at for the circuit at the end of Stage 8. Does anyone have the actual route on paper or advice on where to wait around at. We aren't getting into Pasadena til a tad bit later in the day So i'd imagine the Rose Bowl will be jammed.

Last year I went to the Valencia finish. Just look for all of the vendors and listen for where the announcement canopy is. I was at the 100m mark. Shouldn't be hard really. Finish line against the rail means you get to see everyone pass on each circuit lap plus the finish which is a bonus if there's a sprint finish.

what time willthey get to the rose bowl?

When will the Tour be in Pasadena? Day and time will be appreciated.

Thanks

the ToC site says they should be there around 3PM. i'm not sure what time to go, i am driving up. where should i park?

Park in front of the aquatics center. Walk over to the finish area and get a spot with a good view of one of the jumbotrons.

I'll be driving there and this will be my first time. I've heard it was a zoo last year and I can just imagine the crowd this year...

I'll try to go to escondido on Sunday as well :thumb: where's the best place to park on the final stage?

Those who either live in Pasadena or frequent the Rose Bowl, please chime in on some details about parking and the best way in and out.

Last year I watched it from the corner of Linda Vista and Salvia Canon Drive, right near where I live. Best parking would be south of Linda Vista, beyond the cordoned off portion. You see the peleton swoop to their left and hurtle down Salvia Canon to the Rose Bowl. It was quite a sight. If you're determined to watch the race near the Rose Bowl, curiouskid's advice is solid--park at the Aquatics center and walk over.

Do they have any type of bike valet stuff at the RB?
I want to ride up, then walk around a bit....

Metro is hosting a valet service, 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

http://www.visitpasadena.com/ATOC/getthere.html

My plan, park towards the s. pasadena area (where it in free). There are a whole bunch of residential areas towards Arroyo Blvd (about .5-1 mile away from rb)...

Last year, i biked to Mira vista/Holly. There is a nice hill so they slow down a bit and hug the corner. They were about 4 feet away from me. After the 5th lap. I booked to towards the finish line (much shorter distance than the racers) and saw George win.... Although my view at the finish line sucked I still saw it and celebrated with teh crowds.

This year, I will park in the free areas mentioned above. Check my bike in the valet. pick up schwag, then bike to a location that has open streets off of the race and bike to the finish line after say the 3rd lap.

I'm heading there pretty early in the morning to ensure parking will be okay. If I've got time to kill, so be it. My GF and I have never been to that area so we'll go grab some coffee and brunch and check out the town if there's not much happening. Walk the 'lifestyle festival' and hopefully pick up lots of free shwag.

Come race-time hopefully have a spot to set up some chairs and watch the Jumbo-trons and circuit at the end of the race. I dont' hold great expectations for my first experience at these kinds of event. There's always a learning curve in regard to proper timing, parking, clothing etc. as a spectator. As long as my girlfriend is next to me, I will have a great time :love: (If she's not being a nag :D)

I'm not sure what there will be to see depending on how early you're out there. Downtown Pasadena is always a good area to walk around and window shop etc. with the GF. I'm sure there will be plenty of vendors. My experience in Valencia last year was that the vendors were a plenty. With Lance riding, I'm sure there will be more. Clothing is regular street clothes really. Nothing special. =)

thanks!

So I shouldn't wear my BikeForums jersey!? :(

Seriously though, I guess I tend to over-plan (a la Clark Griswold). I just like knowing that I'll be warm, dry and not lugging around 20-layers of clothing, and sometimes that means carting around way to much stuff for multiple hours. I'll even scout for a few nice local restaurants or coffee shops before hand, so I don't get caught without a comfortable place to...uh, take care of that inevitable nature break that always seems to hit at outdoor public events. Now that's anal!

Just a few of the photos from my spot. I trekked to the finish line around noon to find it jammed already. So we headed back to this hill on the exact opposite side of the finish line. It was awesome!
We watched as the crawled up a particular hill.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/audioslavery/

some of my photos

Here's one of the pics I took @ Pasadena.

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u...e-Pasadena.jpg

Does Lance look pudgy to anyone else?

Well it turned out to be an awesome day! We had plenty of time to walk the vendors and grab some lunch and brew in the beer garden while we watched the race. Later we set-up in front of a jumbo-tron just past the finish right along the fence. This was a good spot to watch them circuit past, and after the race it was where all the riders stopped and chatted so we got some decent pictures.

We tried to funnel up to the stage for the awards ceremony, got some pictures from afar and started to head back. Two seconds later the entire winner's circle is brushing past us, being led through the crowd by two bike-cops. It clicked after I saw the crowds parting and a green jersey moved by. I got my camera up just in time to get the back of the red KOM jersey and then Levi (Didn't realize he was THAT small!).

I'll try to get some pics up tonight.

That's where I was. Jumbo tron passed the finish, next to blue canopy. I didn't bother with any px as so far I have seen about 7 million, with about 30 billion to go, and saw it all on tv too.
That Jumbo tron didn't work too good, and what happened to the sound?
dc

Yeah, the sound got turned way down so we were out of ear-shot, just past the blue canopies. It would've been nice to rely on the announcers to track the progress for us. Instead we were left taking consensus with those around us (who were paying attention) about what lap they were on. It was easy to track the break and peleton around the circuit via the helicoptors, but there were three stragglers that kept confusing things. I assumed they were still playing catch-up from the fall on the way down the mountain.

Yeah those 3 stragglers confused things. Nobody there knew what they were doing. I could only think they were stragglers from the crash up the hill.
One of the escort mc's (BMW) was exactly like mine. So I got a kick out of that. Also that vintage BMW boxer black and white moto escort.
dc

Pix from Pasadena
 

Here are some of the photos I took:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsantos...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsantos2008/3302587696/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsantos2008/3302575860/

I know its kinda cheesy... but I thought it was funny!!! I was going thru my DVR and I came accross with this. Yes, this is me on TV (vs channel)! LOL!

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u...Stage72009.jpg