Bicycle Facilities at Villa Park

[TheMalandro]

Walked past on Saturday and for the first time I actually saw a bike on there. Tied high up with large chain.

Thats Benteke's bike (He's commuting from his croft) that is also no chain, its a pair of his spare laces

[PeterWithesShin]

I've seen plenty of bikes down the Villa. Mainly when the Zulu 'ladies' are visiting us.

[ez]

A bit off topic but when I used to walk to my bus stop after the game I used to see car owners passing money to kids presumably for keeping an eye on their cars. I would wonder how they knew the kid had been there for the whole game.

[eamonn]

Didn't matter as long as the car had its hubcaps and there was no sign of gobbing down the windscreen.

[Pete]

A bit off topic but when I used to walk to my bus stop after the game I used to see car owners passing money to kids presumably for keeping an eye on their cars. I would wonder how they knew the kid had been there for the whole game.

They wouldn't know. And the kid had probably gone home and come back just before full time. That's how it worked years ago, anyway.

[Leighton]

Has anybody mentioned Gareth Barry's arse yet?

[rob_bridge]

Ellis invented the bicycle rack you know !!!

Hahaha

Indeed!!

You do him a dis-service. He invented the bicycle and then gave it a kick. Maybe he really invented the Motorcycle. He has the bicycle rack patented.

[rob_bridge]

A bit off topic but when I used to walk to my bus stop after the game I used to see car owners passing money to kids presumably for keeping an eye on their cars. I would wonder how they knew the kid had been there for the whole game.

They wouldn't know. And the kid had probably gone home and come back just before full time. That's how it worked years ago, anyway.

Ahh the good old days when parking cost 50p, not that I drove. Rather than a fiver nowadays. Give the scrote 50p and you know it would not have bricked the windscreen/let the tyres down when you got back - rather some other poor sod who refused on naievity or general principles. I did park somewhere past the Aston station (away from ground) when I drove to England Wales U21 game a few years back. There were no kids asking for £2 to look after a 10 year old Astra - probably playing on their games consoles or smoking wacky backy or both. Or didn't want to be seen near an 'un-sick' car.

 

[deero83]

Quite seriously, does anyone use the racks? Are they remotely safe?
Do you get to them from Witton Lane entrance presumably?

[UK Redsox]

Quite seriously, does anyone use the racks? Are they remotely safe?
Do you get to them from Witton Lane entrance presumably?

You can get to them from Trinity Road (down the steps/slope by the statue), from Witton Road (ie the entrance that brings you in behind the shop) or from Witton Lane (main North Stand Car Park entrance). The first two are probably easiest.

I've no info on security.

[Hookeysmith]

Considering there is usually around a Million quids worth of cars parked in there during the game there is always a presence of match day staff. If someone walks up and walks off with a bike not sure anyone would do anything - if anyone looked suspicious then i am sure they would get asked what they were doing

Try mailing the club to ask for the arrangements - i am sure though they would give the standard answer "Bicyles left here are done so by the owner and the club accepts no................"

[Rich6by7]

There is no way I'd leave my bike on those flimsy, exposed racks. No way on Earth. At last season's kit launch event, I had a chat with the Bike Doctor guys who had a tent there- they took one look at the facility and laughed. I'd be amazed if I came back to them after another disappointing performance to find all of the bike still there, undamaged.

A better option might be to use the racks at Tesco by Witton Square. Not the ones on the pavement; there are a few that can be accessed from the car park. Or, if you don't mind the walk along Aston Lane, at BCU- there's on-site security there, not sure if they have CCTV covering the racks though.

[saunders_heroes]

I counted 3 bikes using the racks after the Newcastle game.

[deero83]

Hmm.... still doesn't sound the best. I'll keep getting the train I think!!

[adrenachrome]

Hmm.... still doesn't sound the best. I'll keep getting the train I think!!

When Jimmy Saviile said this is the age of the train, he was kidding around.