'Organised' cycle racing on the roads ...

[Diderot]

Ingredients for this recipe:

Take one Mothering Sunday; one day of great weather; legions of motorcyle stuntmen on their way to Box Hill and/or Whiteways; armies of sunday 45mph-everywhere-Rover-driving-coffin-dodgers; and throw in a full complement of classic/sports cars on a hoon for good measure. And then, for added piquancy, add in 2 separate full-on cycle road races on major A roads (A27 dual carriageway section; A29/A24 single carriageway sections) with Tour-de-France style lycra clad madmen oblivious to the rules of the road.

Mix in well, allow to marinate and simmer for a few hours. The result is an unsavoury mélange of unnecessary tailbacks and long delays, masses of precarious overtakes from frustrated bikers and drivers, a few (very) near cycle/biker/car interfaces, several near head-on collisions and one must assume two very successful cycle races.

So, why exactly is this allowed? And who gives these feckers permission to race like nutters on major public roads? How is this deemed safe?

Edited by Diderot on Sunday 22 March 18:51

[DocSteve]

Diderot said:

Ingredients for this recipe:

Take one Mothering Sunday; one day of great weather; legions of motorcyle stuntmen on their way to Box Hill and/or Whiteways; armies of sunday 45mph-everywhere-Rover-driving-coffin-dodgers; and throw in a full complement of classic/sports cars on a hoon for good measure. And then, for added piquancy, add in 2 separate full-on cycle road races on major A roads (A27 dual carriageway section; A29/A24 single carriageway sections) with Tour-de-France style lycra clad madmen oblivious to the rules of the road.

Mix in well, allow to marinate and simmer for a few hours. The result is an unsavoury mélange of unnecessary tailbacks and long delays, masses of precarious overtakes from frustrated bikers and drivers, a few (very) near cycle/biker/car interfaces, several near head-on collisions and one must assume two very successful cycle races.

So, why exactly is this allowed? And who gives these feckers permission to race like nutters on major public roads? How is this deemed safe?

Edited by Diderot on Sunday 22 March 18:51

Another anti-cycling thread...

Well it would be better if the roads were closed. However the majority of selfish motorists, inconsiderate of a sport which is beginning to show some real promise at last in the UK, would certainly not be having that and cyclists mostly have to take their chances racing on open roads.

Road races and time-trials are subject to different regulations but I can assure you that most organisers do their best to minimise disruption and maintain safety.

If you go over to mainland Europe you will find an entirely different attitude to cyclists where they are given some respect on the road.

If you come across a cycle race - hold back, give the cyclists plenty of room and overtake only when it is safe to do so.

BW

[Scuffers]

well said

have the problem locally, racing on country lanes, like they own them, if your out for a walk, it;s dam dangerous

[jjones]

worse when they have some dhead in a range rover with a flashing orange light on playing at being policeman behind the leading pack.

[Puddenchucker]

DocSteve said:

Well it would be better if the roads were closed. However the majority of selfish motorists, inconsiderate of a sport which is beginning to show some real promise at last in the UK, would certainly not be having that and cyclists mostly have to take their chances racing on open roads.

Road races and time-trials are subject to different regulations but I can assure you that most organisers do their best to minimise disruption and maintain safety.

If they are having a race, why don't the organizers hire a race track where they wouldn't hold-up/frustrate drivers and would not be at risk from colisions from motor vehicles?

[Nobody You Know]

Why is it that it is an offence to race cars on the road (even if you don't speed) yet if you race a bicycle (which follow the same highway) it's fine?

fking outrageous.

[Diderot]

DocSteve said:

Diderot said:

Ingredients for this recipe:

Take one Mothering Sunday; one day of great weather; legions of motorcyle stuntmen on their way to Box Hill and/or Whiteways; armies of sunday 45mph-everywhere-Rover-driving-coffin-dodgers; and throw in a full complement of classic/sports cars on a hoon for good measure. And then, for added piquancy, add in 2 separate full-on cycle road races on major A roads (A27 dual carriageway section; A29/A24 single carriageway sections) with Tour-de-France style lycra clad madmen oblivious to the rules of the road.

Mix in well, allow to marinate and simmer for a few hours. The result is an unsavoury mélange of unnecessary tailbacks and long delays, masses of precarious overtakes from frustrated bikers and drivers, a few (very) near cycle/biker/car interfaces, several near head-on collisions and one must assume two very successful cycle races.

So, why exactly is this allowed? And who gives these feckers permission to race like nutters on major public roads? How is this deemed safe?

Edited by Diderot on Sunday 22 March 18:51

Another anti-cycling thread...

Well it would be better if the roads were closed. However the majority of selfish motorists, inconsiderate of a sport which is beginning to show some real promise at last in the UK, would certainly not be having that and cyclists mostly have to take their chances racing on open roads.

Road races and time-trials are subject to different regulations but I can assure you that most organisers do their best to minimise disruption and maintain safety.

If you go over to mainland Europe you will find an entirely different attitude to cyclists where they are given some respect on the road.

If you come across a cycle race - hold back, give the cyclists plenty of room and overtake only when it is safe to do so.

BW

Not an anti-cycling thread, an anti-racing on the public highway and causing a damned fecking nuisance thread.

The public highway should not be used for any form of racing - not by cars, motorbikes or cyclists. It's totally irresponsible, and a highly dangerous cocktail, especially on very busy A roads on sundays.

If you want to race, go to a fecking Velodrome or get a city centre closed off.

[Alfanatic]

Are you serious? I've yet to have an organised cycle race interrupt my car journey. Is this really happening so often to you that it's worth starting a rant about?

[Parrot of Doom]

Since when were the roads the preserve of motorists?

I seem to recall that cyclists have a right in law to use the roads, and that motorists do not.

Don't let that stop your silly little rant though.

[Hammer67]

I remember a couple of years ago the Tour De France held a stage in Kent. What a load of bks, the whole road network shutdown so a bunch of steroid fuelled power rangers can hoon around.
Since when has Kent been part of France? we can smell the place but theres a good few miles of English, Yes thats right Monsieur, English Channel in the way. Good job too or we`d now all be German.
Who the fk watches this st anyway? You drive out somewhere, park up, some tosser closes the road so you`re fked if you have a better offer. You sit there and all of a sudden a great bunch of nandroloneheads dressed like Bucks Fizz fire past at stupid mph
followed by a huge traffic jam of citroens with spare bikes strapped on in case someone needs another hit of anabolic. No one knows who`s who or whats going on apart from the leader who is wearing a nice yellow shirt bought from Gay Central.

[DocSteve]

Alfanatic said:

Are you serious? I've yet to have an organised cycle race interrupt my car journey. Is this really happening so often to you that it's worth starting a rant about?

Well said!

Also:-
Velodromes and race-circuits are not suitable for all types of cycling races and there are nowhere near enough of them - if you knew anything about the sport that would be obvious.

British Cycling are lobbying parliament for a review of the existing legislation I believe, mainly to improve safety and reduce the problems of friction between motorists and cyclists at these events. It's clear that if we want more successes in the sport, racing on the road will need to continue.

[Scuffers]

Alfanatic said:

Are you serious? I've yet to have an organised cycle race interrupt my car journey. Is this really happening so often to you that it's worth starting a rant about?

well, try living somewhere where this is a weekly problem, then see if you still feel the same.

Parrot of Doom said:

Since when were the roads the preserve of motorists?

I seem to recall that cyclists have a right in law to use the roads, and that motorists do not.

Don't let that stop your silly little rant though.

yes, but cars are not allowed to race on the roads are they?

if I want to go racing, I have to go to a race cct (which I do FWIW).

having been walking down a country lane and been basically forced off the road by a swarm of cycle racers (some of whom shouting abuse at our mere presence on the road), I can tell you it's not funny.

[Diderot]

Parrot of Doom said:

Since when were the roads the preserve of motorists?

I seem to recall that cyclists have a right in law to use the roads, and that motorists do not.

Don't let that stop your silly little rant though.

Pardon me for expressing an opinion about whether it is right to race on the road or not.

If you're too thickheaded/ignorant/obdurate (delete as appropriate) to conceptualise the difference, then that's your fault.

[Flanders.]

Parrot of Doom said:

Since when were the roads the preserve of motorists?

I seem to recall that cyclists have a right in law to use the roads, and that motorists do not.

Don't let that stop your silly little rant though.

If they are racing I guess they won't be riding single file, also car racing is illegal so why shouldn't bike racing be illegal.

[thinfourth2]

Nobody You Know said:

Why is it that it is an offence to race cars on the road (even if you don't speed) yet if you race a bicycle (which follow the same highway) it's fine?

fking outrageous.

Oh god you are starting to sound like a bloody rambler who want everything fun banned so they can go rambling in abject misery.

Be thankful the cyclists still have the right to go cycling and show them some respect and courtesy

Can you imagine the screams of horror from the motorists if they did close the roads completely so the cyclist could race?

The motorist won't be happy until the cyclists are completely banned from the road.

So let the lycra clad men have their fun as if you set the fun police on them the fun police will come after us next.

Oh and how would you feel if they stopped tarmac rallys on public roads so that the bloody motorist wasn't held up or delayed.

Get a life and let some other folk use the roads as you don't have a exclusive right to them

[chris.mapey]

Alfanatic said:

Are you serious? I've yet to have an organised cycle race interrupt my car journey. Is this really happening so often to you that it's worth starting a rant about?

Happens regularly here in Suffolk.

Edit to add:

I sympathise with the OP - I have seen some seriously atrocious riding during these races. I have no problem with cycling / cycle racing. I just feel that is it in the sports best interests to choose trunk roads & a busy time to stage these races?

One thing - why aren't they held at motor racing circuits? If a veldrome is not big enough, then why not use Silverstone or similar? How about approaching any number of old airfields?

Or am I missing something fundamental?

Edited by chris.mapey on Sunday 22 March 19:49

[Diderot]

Try living in West Sussex...

thinfourth2 said:

Nobody You Know said:

Why is it that it is an offence to race cars on the road (even if you don't speed) yet if you race a bicycle (which follow the same highway) it's fine?

fking outrageous.

Oh god you are starting to sound like a bloody rambler who want everything fun banned so they can go rambling in abject misery.

Be thankful the cyclists still have the right to go cycling and show them some respect and courtesy

Can you imagine the screams of horror from the motorists if they did close the roads completely so the cyclist could race?

The motorist won't be happy until the cyclists are completely banned from the road.

So let the lycra clad men have their fun as if you set the fun police on them the fun police will come after us next.

Oh and how would you feel if they stopped tarmac rallys on public roads so that the bloody motorist wasn't held up or delayed.

Get a life and let some other folk use the roads as you don't have a exclusive right to them

Quite why you are unable to see the difference between being allowed to ride a bike on the road and being involved in a bike race on an open major A road on a busy Sunday is beyond my ken.

[Scootersp]

Flanders. said:

If they are racing I guess they won't be riding single file, also car racing is illegal so why shouldn't bike racing be illegal.

may be because the top speed of the bikes will be at best the speed of the average car and so there racing (arguably) does not increase the risk to other road users? You could argue that a bikes 'nuisance' value goes down the faster it becomes.....accept when they are in a pack like this.

If it was a fairly professional race then i'd assume they may have been going about the same speed as a tractor or JCB etc which whilst a pain are also an inevitable but infrequent occurance to us all.

[R3v 1]

Um.. So cycles can hold races on the public roads yet motorvehicles have to attend privatly owned tracks?

So why don't the bicycle people build a track for the purpose of racing bikes?

Seems like 1 rule for one and 1 rule for another.

I have lost count of the amount of times I have been going to pass a group of bikes and as I'm in the process of some moron (Who wouldn't look out of place in the Village People) decides he wants to pass the guy in front and sod the fact that I am along side, passing.

[heebeegeetee]

Dear god almighty . Is this Pistonheads, or the Daily Mail-miserable-old-git-blue rinse-speed-kills-ban everything-absolutely-everything-i-say - Heads?

There are loads of sites elsewhere for this type of ranting. This site is for those who embrace life, speed, (in all its forms) racing, and all that is great in the big wide world. Honestly, all this whingeing would be much better served on the SAGA website, where it will receive nigh on 99% support.

Will all non Piston Headers please go elsewhere.