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Dave Wilkes
E, Gold
Joined: 26 Feb 2002
Posts: 3033
Location: Barrow On Soar, Leicestershire
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 Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| tommo wrote: |
| Dave Wilkes wrote: |
It is not down to apathy in my opinion. The risk for riders is even greater now than when I decided to call it a day as an organiser.
So the problem is twofold. Riders no longer want to race on the open road as it is too dangerous. Organisers have lost the will to promote due to the increase in traffic, and the increase in abuse from impatient road users. Safe circuits are hard to find.
Because the fields are larger, a bike race IS a big imposition to other road users. Hence the move to closed circuits - these haven't cropped up due to costs of running an event orthe fact that fewer helpers are required. They have cropped up out of the desire to ride in relative safety. |
Riders No longer want to race on the open road ? I don't think so . Traffic getting worse on a early Sunday morning ? Nope not noticed that either ! Other Divisions are thriving , E.Mids is just worst in the country , there's only one Road race i can enter up till July as a 2nd cat , what can you say  apart from f.f.s |
Perhaps I should re- write that 'quote' - I'm sure riders DO want to ride on the open road - but in relative safety. I was not comfortable organising an event where riders safety was being compromised by such a volume of traffic.It is true, traffic is not exsessive in the mornings, but putting on a 130km race starting at 11am takes you into the Sunday lunch time traffic. This is a different ball game, and that it what I was referring to. Other divisions may have circuits that are away from regular traffic flows, but in the East Midlands it is difficult to find an adequate circuit on quiet roads. If you know of one - please tell.
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Martin Booth
E, Bronze
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Posts: 384
Location: Leicesterhire
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:40 pm Post subject: road races |
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Dave is quite right with regards to racing early on a Sunday,hes more than right,in the main its deadly.The traffic in the central east mids on a Sunday morning is generally,far to heavy to be safe to race on.What I would ask ,of any organiser of any race that reads this anywhere in the country is this,how many of you have conducted a traffic survey of your course,for the complete day before deciding on a race start time.Iwould guess that 99% of you have never even thought to do such a thing.Most of you guys would be more concerned to find the biggest f*****g hill to finish up,to save you the problem of having to make a job of getting a result out,and when you'd done that you would'nt even be  to get race timings,and an accurate course measurement.
The main priority of any race myself and my team,organised was safety,even 20 odd years ago,we were doing,traffic counts on the circuits we used ,hence the race start times of early to mid -sunday afternoons,when the traffic was, and still is, at its lightest,in the north west leicestershire area. |
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tommo
Div 1 Pro
Joined: 13 Aug 2003
Posts: 6687
Location: Living the dream in Clay cross where else ?
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: road races |
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| Martin Booth wrote: |
Dave is quite right with regards to racing early on a Sunday,hes more than right,in the main its deadly.The traffic in the central east mids on a Sunday morning is generally,far to heavy to be safe to race on.What I would ask ,of any organiser of any race that reads this anywhere in the country is this,how many of you have conducted a traffic survey of your course,for the complete day before deciding on a race start time.Iwould guess that 99% of you have never even thought to do such a thing.Most of you guys would be more concerned to find the biggest f*****g hill to finish up,to save you the problem of having to make a job of getting a result out,and when you'd done that you would'nt even be to get race timings,and an accurate course measurement.
The main priority of any race myself and my team,organised was safety,even 20 odd years ago,we were doing,traffic counts on the circuits we used ,hence the race start times of early to mid -sunday afternoons,when the traffic was, and still is, at its lightest,in the north west leicestershire area. |
I rode an Elite race around Coalville early last year , there wern't any problems with Traffic , no crashes etc and the roads were excellent and clear , bloody windy though I think there were 80 odd riders as well .
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ray stuart
E, Silver
Joined: 18 Apr 2002
Posts: 1262
Location: POOLE
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Having spent a number of years looking after the East Mids road racing equipment, I was often on the receiving end of organisers comments just after race when the equipment was returned on a Monday or Tuesday evening. Almost invariably the comment was "never again". The huge amount of responsibility placed on the organiser, together with the enormous amount of work involved seemed to be the main issue. Many had difficulty recruiting sufficient marshals from their own club and had spent a desperate few days before the race on the 'phone. One organiser, who was fortunate to have enough time to run a very professional event said that he could not believe how a normal amateur club organiser with a job could find the time. I don't believe that the problem is with riders not wanting to race due to inadequate safety. The core problem is with finding people willing to organise and ensuring that they have good support, ensuring that they do not feel an excessive weight of responsibility on their shoulders and perhaps, above all, convincing them of the satisfaction that comes from running a good race. Why would anyone, in their right mind, want to organise a road race?
+ I remain to be convinced that the road situation in the East Midlands is any different to the rest of the UK. |
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