Some Professional Cyclists don't follow traffic laws.

[ewenm]

ORD said:

It would be quite a good thing for the organisers to DQ every rider that crossed through the barriers. As it is, this is a terrible terrible example to set.

Indeed. However as it's a team effort, they need to DQ them immediately to ensure they can't then continue to help their team leader(s) for the remainder of the race. DQing them after the finish makes a statement but is unlikely to prevent it happening again. More draconian measures could be applied I guess (DQ the team? Ban the rider from subsequent races?) but may not be within the UCI's available punishments.

[G321]

yonex said:

Have we finished generalizing, great...can we move onto the fashionable PH hatred of all things cycling?

It's been at least....a day, since the last thread

I bet they don't even pay road tax....

[eldar]

rsox87 said:

Le Road Traffic Act?

Non. Le Act, Road Traffic.

[anonymous-user]

G321 said:

I bet they don't even pay road tax....

Burn them.

Seriously though when did PH become the home of anti-cycling? It is literally every other day...

In this case race organizers were caught out by early pace and didn't react quick enough to neutralize things. But, at the barriers the riders were confused (obviously) and some panicked. If any of the Daily Mail types moaning actually watched the video you'll see it wasn't a near miss, not even close. It was a bit dumb, but nothing was harmed, apart from a few keys on the OP's keyboard perhaps?

'People who drive Subaru's don't follow traffic law'

Is that ok for you OP?

[Devil2575]

civicduty said:

BGarside said:

civicduty said:

Even the Pros think they are above the law, could have been nasty.

Paris-Roubaix in train near-miss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/32278898

'Above the law'? Perhaps it has something to do with it being a RACE, therefore the idea is not to stop! The organisers are at fault for running the race over a level crossing.

Perhaps I can draw your attention to the numerous drivers who don't bother stopping for closing level crossing gates, or pedestrian crossings for that matter, and they're not even racing. Go on, have a look on Youtube.

But don't let that get in the way of having a little dig at cyclists in general.

Yeah it's all the organisers fault, no wait, actually it's the bad example set by all the nasty drivers and pedestrians, because these so called professionals have no mind of their own so need to follow everyone else's bad behaviour.

Get real, these bikes have brakes and the riders have eyes. If the barrier is down the a train is probably coming, make a grown up decision and wait for the danger to pass, unless they are too stupid.

Edited by civicduty on Monday 13th April 11:20

Why not find a few videos on youtube of a drivers failing to stop at level crossings and then start a thread titled "Drivers don't follow traffic laws" ?

Or would it be stupid to stereotype all drivers on the basis of the behaviour or a few?

The last bit was rhetorical and yes I am calling you stupid.

Stop being a dunce and go and do something worthwhile.

[Qussz]

I'd say it was the organizers fault. The riders are trying to win a race, why have the race cross a live train crossing? Madness. Stop the train during that time or route the race over a bridge or something, I don't follow cycling but is this the first time they have raced there or has this happened before/every year?

[ArsE92]

g7jhp said:

Here's the actual video of the incident!

10 seconds between the last rider going across and the train coming. Not even close!

[anonymous-user]

Qussz said:

I'd say it was the organizers fault. The riders are trying to win a race, why have the race cross a live train crossing? Madness. Stop the train during that time or route the race over a bridge or something, I don't follow cycling but is this the first time they have raced there or has this happened before/every year?

They time it to avoid this but there was a strong tailwind which upped the speeds. They could have used the outriders to sort it out but didn't which led to a rider missing a speeding train of death carrying carnage somewhere in France by several seconds.

[heebeegeetee]

yonex said:

Burn them.

Seriously though when did PH become the home of anti-cycling? It is literally every other day...

In this case race organizers were caught out by early pace and didn't react quick enough to neutralize things. But, at the barriers the riders were confused (obviously) and some panicked. If any of the Daily Mail types moaning actually watched the video you'll see it wasn't a near miss, not even close. It was a bit dumb, but nothing was harmed, apart from a few keys on the OP's keyboard perhaps?

'People who drive Subaru's don't follow traffic law'

Is that ok for you OP?

I can remember the good old days when men were men and petrolheads would rejoice in seeing professional car rally drivers nursing damaged cars on the public highway.

Now, the PC brigade has turned us into a right load of limp-wristed moaning minnies.

If this happened today I think we'd be asking why Tommi Mäkinen was only stopped from going further, and wasn't arrested like the rest of us would be, etc etc.

Watch this, it's great, especially from 2.57 on, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60b0O9VnKEE
but OP, you might feint so at least be sat down if you watch it.

[xRIEx]

ArsE92 said:

g7jhp said:

Here's the actual video of the incident!

10 seconds between the last rider going across and the train coming. Not even close!

It's plenty of time because none of them fell over. One or two got hit on the head by the lowering barriers, many of them diverted their course round the barriers, one or two went round the police biker trying to stop them and there was general confusion all round. One fall (especially if near the front) could have brought down 10 or 20 riders (maybe more). 10 seconds would not have been enough time to clear that mess of limbs, frames and wheels up.

The reason barriers come down so long before a train passes is in case they need to deal with a muppet or muppets (of the pedestrian, cyclist or motorist variety) that squeezed through the barriers on to the line (remember that person who got their foot stuck in the rail?) - 400 tonnes of train doesn't stop very quickly, even if it's only going about 40mph; the driver needs a lot of warning.

[civicduty]

heebeegeetee said:

I can remember the good old days when men were men and petrolheads would rejoice in seeing professional car rally drivers nursing damaged cars on the public highway.

Now, the PC brigade has turned us into a right load of limp-wristed moaning minnies.

If this happened today I think we'd be asking why Tommi Mäkinen was only stopped from going further, and wasn't arrested like the rest of us would be, etc etc.

Watch this, it's great, especially from 2.57 on, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60b0O9VnKEE
but OP, you might feint so at least be sat down if you watch it.

No don't think I am going to 'feint'

feint1
feɪnt/
noun
1.
a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, especially in boxing or fencing.
"a brief feint at the opponent's face"
verb
1.
make a deceptive or distracting movement, especially during a fight.
"Adam feinted with his right and then swung a left"

[anonymous-user]

xRIEx said:

It's plenty of time because none of them fell over. One or two got hit on the head by the lowering barriers, many of them diverted their course round the barriers, one or two went round the police biker trying to stop them and there was general confusion all round. One fall (especially if near the front) could have brought down 10 or 20 riders (maybe more). 10 seconds would not have been enough time to clear that mess of limbs, frames and wheels up.

The reason barriers come down so long before a train passes is in case they need to deal with a muppet or muppets (of the pedestrian, cyclist or motorist variety) that squeezed through the barriers on to the line (remember that person who got their foot stuck in the rail?) - 400 tonnes of train doesn't stop very quickly, even if it's only going about 40mph; the driver needs a lot of warning.

I feel I must post this

Driving home tonight I am going to be very worried about many things, which could happen, and if they don't, they might tomorrow.

[dxbtiger]

BGarside said:

What sort of clown routes a bike race through a level crossing?

French ones apparently!

[ewenm]

Qussz said:

I'd say it was the organizers fault. The riders are trying to win a race, why have the race cross a live train crossing? Madness. Stop the train during that time or route the race over a bridge or something, I don't follow cycling but is this the first time they have raced there or has this happened before/every year?

This race is one of the crown jewels of the season, a "Monument" that everyone wants to ride and try to win. The route follows many old roads that tend not to have bridges over the railway and those cobbled roads are part of the heritage of the race. When the timings go awry (usually due to weather) the race sometimes meets the train. It happens every few years.

[Hackney]

BBC were particularly OTT in their reporting of it this morning.
They said Paris Roubaix "nearly ended in disaster", in the same way that anyone doing anything, anywhere nearly ends in disaster.

They also referred to it as a "high speed train", which to the average moron in the street implies: a train travelling at high speed, when in fact it was a TGV Atlantique travelling at a pretty sedate pace, probably alerted that he'd be arriving at the crossing at the same time as the race and to be on his guard.

I think it could have been handled better. More police / race marshalls to actually stop the riders earlier; warning team cars earlier and clearly telling them race would be neutralised if split etc.
But as ever, news reporting hyperbole doesn't help at all.

[DickP]

yonex said:

Seriously though when did PH become the home of anti-cycling? It is literally every other day...

Agreed.

[Roger Irrelevant]

Qussz said:

I'd say it was the organizers fault. The riders are trying to win a race, why have the race cross a live train crossing? Madness. Stop the train during that time or route the race over a bridge or something, I don't follow cycling but is this the first time they have raced there or has this happened before/every year?

The Paris-Roubaix race has been run every year (world wars permitting), since 1896. Plenty of cycle races get interrupted by train crossings, it's just one of those things and the race will be neutralised for a period to take account of it. The organisers have to rely to a large extent on the riders not being daft. I'm a keen cyclist but very much hope that the offending riders get it in the neck for this as it's plainly illegal and totally against the rules of the sport.

[Steven_RW]

I'm always amazed that people can't get that everyone has varying appetite for Risk in varying scenarios.

It's just life.

What the first person thinks is a CRAZY Risk, the second thinks is a normal within appetite Risk.

Then the first person who felt the original Risk was crazy, does something else that the second person thinks is a crazy Risk but the first thinks is a normal risk.

Repeat repeat repeat.

It's just life. No particular Shock Horror moment.

(This is in response to the "a ten second gap between last cyclist and train". Some people will still think that is nuts, because they have a lower appetite for Risk in that situation).

RW

[Roger Irrelevant]

Hackney said:

BBC were particularly OTT in their reporting of it this morning.
They said Paris Roubaix "nearly ended in disaster", in the same way that anyone doing anything, anywhere nearly ends in disaster.

Yeah I thought the BBC reporting was pretty sensationalist. In the same manner on my drive to work this morning I came close to DISASTER on DOZENS of occasions as I passed within A MATTER OF FEET of oncoming cars with a closing speed of over ONE HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR. If I'd been ONE METRE to the right it would have meant CERTAIN DEATH.

(though having said that the riders should get the book thrown at them by the UCI and the French plod).

[xRIEx]

yonex said:

xRIEx said:

It's plenty of time because none of them fell over. One or two got hit on the head by the lowering barriers, many of them diverted their course round the barriers, one or two went round the police biker trying to stop them and there was general confusion all round. One fall (especially if near the front) could have brought down 10 or 20 riders (maybe more). 10 seconds would not have been enough time to clear that mess of limbs, frames and wheels up.

The reason barriers come down so long before a train passes is in case they need to deal with a muppet or muppets (of the pedestrian, cyclist or motorist variety) that squeezed through the barriers on to the line (remember that person who got their foot stuck in the rail?) - 400 tonnes of train doesn't stop very quickly, even if it's only going about 40mph; the driver needs a lot of warning.

I feel I must post this

Driving home tonight I am going to be very worried about many things, which could happen, and if they don't, they might tomorrow.

Did you feel you must post that because you think I'm anti-cycling and you must defend cyclists, or because I'm anti-muppet and you feel you must defend muppets?

ETA: I bet on your drive home tonight you wear your seatbelt