ToB more tales from the baricades (long)

(sorry this ended up going on a bit)

Well turned up at the finish line on the Mall at 8am yesterday to find
another 60 or so volunteers ready to do our bit to help. The only
problem was they only needed 30 people, so I could have had a lie in
and turned up at 12 at a marshal point on the course. So after being
told to come back at 10am when they would decide what to do with us, a
rather dejected bunch of volunteers got ready to see the juniors race.
And a very good race it was too. A complete mix of ages, experience and
bikes. I never knew they did carbon race bike in sizes that small, or
that parents would buy them! 6 laps saw a few breakaways a couple of
spills and then a sprint for the line. Sorry can't remember the
winners name, but he cycled for Scottish Provident.

10 am came and we got an explanation for the mess up with the number of
marshals. Some people had obviously decided to go home, or go to other
marshal point on the course, leaving about 15 or so of us to double up
on crossing points round the circuit. My point was opposite horse
guards, which meant that most of the first hour was spent telling
tourists that no there wasn't going to be any parade today.and what the
'big building over there' was. The youth and women's race (what we saw
of it) seemed to go very well, with breakaways getting away and being
chased down. The Bob Chicken crit race series had already been won but
the race itself had some more spectators watching it, as well as a big
crash at the turn to Birdcage walk. After this came the hand cycle
world cup, WOW! Those guys were amazing, just wish I was that fit.

And then finally cam the race itself. this was actually the easiest
race of the day for us on the crossing points as we had the helicopter
above us indicating when they were about to come round again, and
no-one was being dropped. The breakaway of 3 managed to keep ahead
with a max time of 18 seconds, but where finally reeled in with 6 laps
to go, when we had to close the crossing point (or so the police told
us, nothing coming from the race organisers). This managed to upset a
few people 'nut I Must leave I'm going to be late!', and lots of people
asking us how much longer they would he to wait. Still eventually the
riders didn;t cope round again, so we assumed the race had finished,
and after another 5 minutes opened the crossing up, and went to try and
return our marshal bibs. Easier said than done when you're only told
'take them to the start and finish line', and of course there are all
the presentations going on, and you can't cross the course!. Anyway we
eventually managed to cross the circuit, after all the photos had been
taken, pick up the goody bag, and then off home, a very long, sometimes
frustrating, but essentially enjoyable day.

The problems with the number of marshals, and getting bibs back are
teething problems, and I will be feeding them back to the organisers.
However my major gripe is the lack of advertising coming up to the
event, lack of crowd information during it, and lack of coverage
afterwards. I live in the west of London, but regularly travel into
the centre, and although I haven't been actively looking, don't
remember seeing any on the tube or on the streets around Victoria. As
for the event itself, the number of people who said if they had known
there would be a full day of events they would have turned up earlier,
and the number who asked what time the main event would get onto the
circuit goes to show that it wasn't just me that didn;t see anything.
It's OK putting it in the cycling press, but people who read that will
turn up anyway, it's your average bloke on the street that needs to be
told. On the back of the circuit (were I was), we had no idea what was
going on on the main straight as there was no commentary relay to us.
Given the size of Horse Guards they could easily have put a screen up
there, or simply put some speakers up! And as for after the event, I
picked up a copy of Metro this morning, and couldn't find a single line
about it, the tall bike tour had a few para, in the main section, and
Triathlon had a section in the sports part, but the ToB? Nothing. The
only mention it got on radio 5 was in the sports results, at the end
after the Ryder cup squad, and when they did a review of the papers
sports section, when apparently the Guardian has a feature, mainly
about safety, after the motorbikes crashed into the barriers.

Did they do a good job? On the day yes, and those that turned up will
be back to see the TdF next year, but only because it's the TdF, and
unless they get their act together with advertising, promotion etc, it
will be the least attended start to the TdF ever. I don't want to come
accross too cynical, but I still see posters for the Notting Hill
carnival everywhere!

Bryan


--
Bryan

"Bryan" wrote in message
...

(sorry this ended up going on a bit)

Well turned up at the finish line on the Mall at 8am yesterday to find
another 60 or so volunteers ready to do our bit to help. The only
problem was they only needed 30 people, so I could have had a lie in
and turned up at 12 at a marshal point on the course. So after being
told to come back at 10am when they would decide what to do with us, a
rather dejected bunch of volunteers got ready to see the juniors race.
And a very good race it was too. A complete mix of ages, experience and
bikes. I never knew they did carbon race bike in sizes that small, or
that parents would buy them! 6 laps saw a few breakaways a couple of
spills and then a sprint for the line. Sorry can't remember the
winners name, but he cycled for Scottish Provident.

10 am came and we got an explanation for the mess up with the number of
marshals. Some people had obviously decided to go home, or go to other
marshal point on the course, leaving about 15 or so of us to double up
on crossing points round the circuit. My point was opposite horse
guards, which meant that most of the first hour was spent telling
tourists that no there wasn't going to be any parade today.and what the
'big building over there' was. The youth and women's race (what we saw
of it) seemed to go very well, with breakaways getting away and being
chased down. The Bob Chicken crit race series had already been won but
the race itself had some more spectators watching it, as well as a big
crash at the turn to Birdcage walk. After this came the hand cycle
world cup, WOW! Those guys were amazing, just wish I was that fit.

And then finally cam the race itself. this was actually the easiest
race of the day for us on the crossing points as we had the helicopter
above us indicating when they were about to come round again, and
no-one was being dropped. The breakaway of 3 managed to keep ahead
with a max time of 18 seconds, but where finally reeled in with 6 laps
to go, when we had to close the crossing point (or so the police told
us, nothing coming from the race organisers). This managed to upset a
few people 'nut I Must leave I'm going to be late!', and lots of people
asking us how much longer they would he to wait. Still eventually the
riders didn;t cope round again, so we assumed the race had finished,
and after another 5 minutes opened the crossing up, and went to try and
return our marshal bibs. Easier said than done when you're only told
'take them to the start and finish line', and of course there are all
the presentations going on, and you can't cross the course!. Anyway we
eventually managed to cross the circuit, after all the photos had been
taken, pick up the goody bag, and then off home, a very long, sometimes
frustrating, but essentially enjoyable day.

The problems with the number of marshals, and getting bibs back are
teething problems, and I will be feeding them back to the organisers.
However my major gripe is the lack of advertising coming up to the
event, lack of crowd information during it, and lack of coverage
afterwards. I live in the west of London, but regularly travel into
the centre, and although I haven't been actively looking, don't
remember seeing any on the tube or on the streets around Victoria. As
for the event itself, the number of people who said if they had known
there would be a full day of events they would have turned up earlier,
and the number who asked what time the main event would get onto the
circuit goes to show that it wasn't just me that didn;t see anything.
It's OK putting it in the cycling press, but people who read that will
turn up anyway, it's your average bloke on the street that needs to be
told. On the back of the circuit (were I was), we had no idea what was
going on on the main straight as there was no commentary relay to us.
Given the size of Horse Guards they could easily have put a screen up
there, or simply put some speakers up! And as for after the event, I
picked up a copy of Metro this morning, and couldn't find a single line
about it, the tall bike tour had a few para, in the main section, and
Triathlon had a section in the sports part, but the ToB? Nothing. The
only mention it got on radio 5 was in the sports results, at the end
after the Ryder cup squad, and when they did a review of the papers
sports section, when apparently the Guardian has a feature, mainly
about safety, after the motorbikes crashed into the barriers.

Did they do a good job? On the day yes, and those that turned up will
be back to see the TdF next year, but only because it's the TdF, and
unless they get their act together with advertising, promotion etc, it
will be the least attended start to the TdF ever. I don't want to come
accross too cynical, but I still see posters for the Notting Hill
carnival everywhere!

Bryan


--
Bryan


I was a marshal in Brum on Friday ... similar experience - especially the
lack of any sort of publicity in the paper - one would have thought the
previous evening's paper would have been a good place to a) have some
details about the event, when/where etc, and b) to have a map showing which
roads would be closed or restricted.

You've guessed - not a sausage - and most of our effort was in telling
people "It's the Tour of Britain Cycle Race" - and telling white van men
that they couldn't drive through the finish straight.

RG

"Bryan" wrote in message
...

(sorry this ended up going on a bit)

Well turned up at the finish line on the Mall at 8am yesterday to find
another 60 or so volunteers ready to do our bit to help. The only
problem was they only needed 30 people, so I could have had a lie in
and turned up at 12 at a marshal point on the course. So after being
told to come back at 10am when they would decide what to do with us, a
rather dejected bunch of volunteers got ready to see the juniors race.

I missed the races as I was at a wedding the night before. No chance of an
early start on Sunday.

However, I did get up a few minutes after the race had finished. I was
disgusted at the number of people cycling through St James' Park, which
clearly is not a cycling area, and also had too many peds to be comfortable
anyway. I've decided I really do hate roadies and their 'above the law'
attitude.

OK, you might weigh your food, and can cycle up a hill faster than me, but
you have no respect for others. Arrogant t*ss*rs.

Sorry, that's my rant over.

elyob Wrote: [color=blue]

...
I missed the races as I was at a wedding the night before. No chance of
an
early start on Sunday.

However, I did get up a few minutes after the race had finished. I was
disgusted at the number of people cycling through St James' Park,
which
clearly is not a cycling area, and also had too many peds to be
comfortable
anyway. I've decided I really do hate roadies and their 'above the
law'
attitude.

OK, you might weigh your food, and can cycle up a hill faster than me,
but
you have no respect for others. Arrogant t*ss*rs.

Sorry, that's my rant over.

Calm down Elyob :-) there were just as many problems caused by people
with tourers, mtb's and general utility bikes as those caused by
'roadies'. The bifggest problem was the peds who hadn't got a clue,
like the bloke who pushed his was infront of a crossing marsha and then
proceeded to walk up the curse rather than straigth accross the road, or
teh people on mobiles corssing at a snails pace despite us shouting at
them to hurry as there were cyclists approaching.

It's only one day, however from you reaction, you should be able to
make soem money renting put your house to people who want to wathc the
TdF next eyar :-)

By the way, have you heard anything re Evans recently?

Bryan


--
Bryan

elyob wrote:

OK, you might weigh your food, and can cycle up a hill faster than me, but
you have no respect for others. Arrogant t*ss*rs.

Chill my friend.

--
Arthur Clune

"Arthur Clune" wrote in message
...
elyob wrote:

OK, you might weigh your food, and can cycle up a hill faster than me,
but
you have no respect for others. Arrogant t*ss*rs.

Chill my friend.

--
Arthur Clune


Hey we are all allowed to rant a bit ( of course I never do!)

I thought it was quite a polite "rant" and he said sorry b4 you even put
your oar in.

I suspect that he actually expressed an opinion shared by many others in St
James Park at the time.

Surely that sort of behaviour creates the backwash that we "cyclists"
don't want to foster.

I probably get "foulmouthed" by as many "people on bikes" as I do cagers in
my local area. Hereabouts I would say the 90% of bike riders that I see are
riding on the ( including the 3 plods I see occasionally )pavement or in
pedestrianised areas. And I do make comment ( which is why I get verbal
abuse). I have even spoken to the police cyclists when they ride through
heavily populated pedestrian areas -- if they don't set an example then
...........! ( the trouble is they are not "cyclists" -- they are plod on
bikes -- and not the local copper who used to push his sit-up-and-beg round
our village when I was a lad.)

It is this sort of attitude which makes all the pontificating by "cyclists"
next to pointless. I can ride all day observing traffic lights, riding
positively, signalling, nodding my thanks to people who see me(!), with my
day glow reflective strips everywhere --- but all that has no effect when 97
other "people on bikes" disregard every sensible precaution and "High way
code -- what's that?"

btw -- this is not a rant! :-}

Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

"Pinky" wrote in message
.uk...


"Arthur Clune" wrote in message
...
elyob wrote:

OK, you might weigh your food, and can cycle up a hill faster than me,
but
you have no respect for others. Arrogant t*ss*rs.

Chill my friend.

--
Arthur Clune


Hey we are all allowed to rant a bit ( of course I never do!)

I thought it was quite a polite "rant" and he said sorry b4 you even put
your oar in.

I suspect that he actually expressed an opinion shared by many others in
St James Park at the time.

Surely that sort of behaviour creates the backwash that we "cyclists"
don't want to foster.

Many thanks It's on a special event day like that, when they are
obviously keen cyclists (lycra clad radies) and plenty of other people
wheeling their bikes along, they should seen to be setting the example. It's
one thing all of us being labelled because some numpty has borrowed a mates
bike and cycles along the pavement, but if you are a regular cyclist and
dress the part, you should be *pro*-cycling in London. Doing silly things
like pavement cycling only makes mine and plenty of other responsible
cyclists life harder.

Today's argument on BBC London "share the road" - our views are totally
undermined by the amount of people who will have seen tons of people in St
James' Park yesterday. Maybe the organisers need to also put the extra
marshalls they had around the parks to stop people cycling like this.
Obviously cyclists cannot police themselves. When I pointed out the
no-cycling sign, I was given a firm "f*** off". Shame he didn't want to
repeat it, as I did feel like decking someone.

"elyob" wrote:
However, I did get up a few minutes after the race had finished. I was
disgusted at the number of people cycling through St James' Park, which
clearly is not a cycling area, and also had too many peds to be comfortable
anyway. I've decided I really do hate roadies and their 'above the law'
attitude.

A few minutes after the race, some marshalls seemed to be keeping the course
closed (why?) and directing cyclists to ride across the park instead.

Why did so many spectators have their bikes with them while the sponsored
bike park was so empty? Did the bike park charge too much (or at all)?
Was it lack of signs directing to the bike park?

--
MJR/slef

in message , Bryan
') wrote:

Calm down Elyob :-) there were just as many problems caused by people
with tourers, mtb's and general utility bikes as those caused by
'roadies'. The bifggest problem was the peds who hadn't got a clue,
like the bloke who pushed his was infront of a crossing marsha and then
proceeded to walk up the curse rather than straigth accross the road,
or teh people on mobiles corssing at a snails pace despite us shouting
at them to hurry as there were cyclists approaching.

At our crit on Sunday, a woman walked off the pavement with a small child
just in front of the fast group, despite a nearby marshal shouting at
her not to. Fortunately the group were able to swerve both sides of her
without hitting either her or the child. I don't think the public have
any conception just how fast racing cyclists go, or just what the
consequences of being hit by a fast moving peloton would be.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Friends don't send friends HTML formatted emails.

in message ews.net, MJ
Ray ') wrote:

Why did so many spectators have their bikes with them while the
sponsored
bike park was so empty? Did the bike park charge too much (or at all)?
Was it lack of signs directing to the bike park?

Would you leave your good bike in a bike park? I certainly wouldn't - it
never goes out of my sight when out of the house.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.