Cycle Event Marshals
Discussion
aclivity said:
Reading the comments for that article made me chuckle. Cyclists on there are almost as pedantic as we are on PH! 
Seems like lots of cyclists want events but can't be arsed to help marshal them - 5 events per year for accredition "for no pay". Christ! I volunteer once a week, drive 40 miles each way for fuel for no pay or reimbursement.
Lord Marylebone said:
Ares said:
What was the event? I'm genuinely surprised that such a sizeable event was on mostly 60mph roads. Events of that size usually go to great lengths to stick to low speed, quiet B-Roads.
I did the Tour de Yorkshire sportive last Sunday week, there was less than 5% on A-roads, and in 140km, I don't think we touched a 60-limit road.
The event is was called the Fred Whitton Challenge according to a brief google search.I did the Tour de Yorkshire sportive last Sunday week, there was less than 5% on A-roads, and in 140km, I don't think we touched a 60-limit road.
https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk
The vast majority of the Lakes/Cumbria is National Speed Limit, and only slowing to 40/30 when in villages and towns, which are sometimes few and far between.
To have an event in the heart of the Lakes on a Sunday when the place is utterly rammed with 60mph tourist traffic on really quite narrow old roads seems like the opposite of fun for me.
3000 cyclists spread over 110 miles of busy roads meant drivers were (more or less) having to get past 20-30 or so cyclists every mile.
I've noticed that one part of the route was a closed road, but that only forms a relatively minor uphill section out of the whole route.
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
I reiterate I personally have no issues with cyclists enjoying an event, and I try to give them all the room they need, be patient and all that sort of thing, but it did cause chaos in the lakes that day, and many motorists aren't like me... they just see hundreds of cyclists for mile after mile and the 'squeezing past them at speed' I witnessed was frightening at times.
Like I said, it was just the traffic being stopped by marshalls that annoyed me, and I want to know where I stand for next time.
As you say, much of the Lake District is NSL and so it will cause inconvenience for that one day per year. Sorry
That said, despite the fact it is NSL, you can seldom safely do much more than half of that due to the road topography and twisty (and as you said, old and narrow) nature of the roads.....to say nothing of the Sunday drivers and caravans. I used to take my Caterham up there. I would struggle to average 30mph....so I stopped. Even worse on a sunny Sunday. Most bikers go further north and east now for more open roads.
As for the Marshalls, it's a very professionally run event, if they were stopping traffic they will have had a) permission, and b) good reason. From memory, the event is run by Human Race, they are very very good. If it vexes you, I genuinely suggest contacting them and asking them. If there was not an exceptionally good reason for the action, they will stamp on it.
When I did the Fred Whitton, we had no preferential treatment, on the Marshalls indicating when the road was clear. The Tour de Yorkshire sportive I did the week earlier was also run by Human Race, we likewise got no preferential treatment from Marshalls. We did however from plenty of car drivers, especially as we were in the first 60mins of riders so riding with good pace. We also got preferential treatment from roadworkers who waved us through roadwork red lights when it was safe to do so.
Lord Marylebone said:
The event is was called the Fred Whitton Challenge according to a brief google search.
https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk
The vast majority of the Lakes/Cumbria is National Speed Limit, and only slowing to 40/30 when in villages and towns, which are sometimes few and far between.
To have an event in the heart of the Lakes on a Sunday when the place is utterly rammed with 60mph tourist traffic on really quite narrow old roads seems like the opposite of fun for me.
3000 cyclists spread over 110 miles of busy roads meant drivers were (more or less) having to get past 20-30 or so cyclists every mile.
I've noticed that one part of the route was a closed road, but that only forms a relatively minor uphill section out of the whole route.
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
I reiterate I personally have no issues with cyclists enjoying an event, and I try to give them all the room they need, be patient and all that sort of thing, but it did cause chaos in the lakes that day, and many motorists aren't like me... they just see hundreds of cyclists for mile after mile and the 'squeezing past them at speed' I witnessed was frightening at times.
Like I said, it was just the traffic being stopped by marshalls that annoyed me, and I want to know where I stand for next time.
Isn't the 'minor uphill part' Hardknott pass? ie difficult in most cars/drivers never mind cycling up the damn thing.https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk
The vast majority of the Lakes/Cumbria is National Speed Limit, and only slowing to 40/30 when in villages and towns, which are sometimes few and far between.
To have an event in the heart of the Lakes on a Sunday when the place is utterly rammed with 60mph tourist traffic on really quite narrow old roads seems like the opposite of fun for me.
3000 cyclists spread over 110 miles of busy roads meant drivers were (more or less) having to get past 20-30 or so cyclists every mile.
I've noticed that one part of the route was a closed road, but that only forms a relatively minor uphill section out of the whole route.
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
I reiterate I personally have no issues with cyclists enjoying an event, and I try to give them all the room they need, be patient and all that sort of thing, but it did cause chaos in the lakes that day, and many motorists aren't like me... they just see hundreds of cyclists for mile after mile and the 'squeezing past them at speed' I witnessed was frightening at times.
Like I said, it was just the traffic being stopped by marshalls that annoyed me, and I want to know where I stand for next time.
mygoldfishbowl said:
Ares said:
We also got preferential treatment from roadworkers who waved us through roadwork red lights when it was safe to do so.
Like you were going to stop for a red light. 
But don't let blind prejudice and hatred cloud truth and rationale
Ares said:
Lord Marylebone said:
Ares said:
What was the event? I'm genuinely surprised that such a sizeable event was on mostly 60mph roads. Events of that size usually go to great lengths to stick to low speed, quiet B-Roads.
I did the Tour de Yorkshire sportive last Sunday week, there was less than 5% on A-roads, and in 140km, I don't think we touched a 60-limit road.
The event is was called the Fred Whitton Challenge according to a brief google search.I did the Tour de Yorkshire sportive last Sunday week, there was less than 5% on A-roads, and in 140km, I don't think we touched a 60-limit road.
https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk
The vast majority of the Lakes/Cumbria is National Speed Limit, and only slowing to 40/30 when in villages and towns, which are sometimes few and far between.
To have an event in the heart of the Lakes on a Sunday when the place is utterly rammed with 60mph tourist traffic on really quite narrow old roads seems like the opposite of fun for me.
3000 cyclists spread over 110 miles of busy roads meant drivers were (more or less) having to get past 20-30 or so cyclists every mile.
I've noticed that one part of the route was a closed road, but that only forms a relatively minor uphill section out of the whole route.
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
As you say, much of the Lake District is NSL and so it will cause inconvenience for that one day per year. Sorry
StanleyT said:
What would have happened if a farmer had wanted to go the opposite way down one of the single lane fellroad passes? Would his sheep have had right of way and damage over the cyclists?
Being how well known the ride is to locals (route, date and timings) it is very unlikely that a farmer would look to move his flock of sheep on that day as most are pretty sensible and wouldn't want to deliberately endanger themselves, their flock or other road users.However, like all events if there is a genuine emergency then vehicles are of course allowed through in whatever direction they need to go.
A question for you StanleyT what happens on F1 @ Silverstone if a farmer needs to move his flock down the A45 on that weekend?
gazza285 said:
Lord Marylebone said:
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
It’s not a race.I'm not 'au fait' with cycling terminology.
It was an event where participants entered to try to complete a single lap of the course in the fastest possible time, racing against the clock and ultimately each other to be the one with the fastest time.
It was electronically timed so everyone knows who got the fastest times and ultimately who won, who came second etc.
A results table was published afterwards with the fastest times on.
But it wasn't a race, I should have made that clear.
Marcellus said:
StanleyT said:
What would have happened if a farmer had wanted to go the opposite way down one of the single lane fellroad passes? Would his sheep have had right of way and damage over the cyclists?
Being how well known the ride is to locals (route, date and timings) it is very unlikely that a farmer would look to move his flock of sheep on that day as most are pretty sensible and wouldn't want to deliberately endanger themselves, their flock or other road users.However, like all events if there is a genuine emergency then vehicles are of course allowed through in whatever direction they need to go.
A question for you StanleyT what happens on F1 @ Silverstone if a farmer needs to move his flock down the A45 on that weekend?
I like how views polarise on Pistonheads. (Not pointing at you Marcellus). Known event - walk up Great Gable for remembrance service farmer needs to move animals (and lets face it he wouldn't have caused damage had he no needed to) and damages cars = bad m'lud. However here "genuine emergency then vehicles are of course allowed through in whatever direction they need to go".
Lord Marylebone said:
gazza285 said:
Lord Marylebone said:
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
It’s not a race.I'm not 'au fait' with cycling terminology.
It was an event where participants entered to try to complete a single lap of the course in the fastest possible time, racing against the clock and ultimately each other to be the one with the fastest time.
It was electronically timed so everyone knows who got the fastest times and ultimately who won, who came second etc.
A results table was published afterwards with the fastest times on.
But it wasn't a race, I should have made that clear.
Thats always been my understanding of the vernacular as far as cars and bikes are concerned. a good example is the Isle of Man TT (Time Trial)
Car-Matt said:
A race has a mass start and the winner is first over the line, time is irrelevant, a staggered start with winners decided by times is a rally/time trial/test etc
Thats always been my understanding of the vernacular as far as cars and bikes are concerned. a good example is the Isle of Man TT (Time Trial)
It is not a rally/time trial/test either. It’s just a big bike ride, that you pay to enter, even though it is on public roads, and there is nothing to prevent you riding the same route for free.Thats always been my understanding of the vernacular as far as cars and bikes are concerned. a good example is the Isle of Man TT (Time Trial)
StanleyT said:
Ares said:
Lord Marylebone said:
Ares said:
What was the event? I'm genuinely surprised that such a sizeable event was on mostly 60mph roads. Events of that size usually go to great lengths to stick to low speed, quiet B-Roads.
I did the Tour de Yorkshire sportive last Sunday week, there was less than 5% on A-roads, and in 140km, I don't think we touched a 60-limit road.
The event is was called the Fred Whitton Challenge according to a brief google search.I did the Tour de Yorkshire sportive last Sunday week, there was less than 5% on A-roads, and in 140km, I don't think we touched a 60-limit road.
https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk
The vast majority of the Lakes/Cumbria is National Speed Limit, and only slowing to 40/30 when in villages and towns, which are sometimes few and far between.
To have an event in the heart of the Lakes on a Sunday when the place is utterly rammed with 60mph tourist traffic on really quite narrow old roads seems like the opposite of fun for me.
3000 cyclists spread over 110 miles of busy roads meant drivers were (more or less) having to get past 20-30 or so cyclists every mile.
I've noticed that one part of the route was a closed road, but that only forms a relatively minor uphill section out of the whole route.
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
As you say, much of the Lake District is NSL and so it will cause inconvenience for that one day per year. Sorry
) and waited. Lord Marylebone said:
gazza285 said:
Lord Marylebone said:
The race was all day from 6am to 6pm.
It’s not a race.I'm not 'au fait' with cycling terminology.
It was an event where participants entered to try to complete a single lap of the course in the fastest possible time, racing against the clock and ultimately each other to be the one with the fastest time.
It was electronically timed so everyone knows who got the fastest times and ultimately who won, who came second etc.
A results table was published afterwards with the fastest times on.
But it wasn't a race, I should have made that clear.
This wasn't a race. No Racing, no set objective to complete in the fastest time possible. Certainly not racing against the clock, nor not racing each other. Not a race.
Are you racing when you go and drive home from work? or drive up the motorway to a friend?
Apart from that, you are right though
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