When Sportive meets road race

[Rob3rt]

The road quite clearly has NOT been closed in any practical sense. If there is a marshall standing behind the camera, why is he not actively stopping the riders

Other than put out the authorised sign and instruct people to stop/keep off the road what is he supposed to do, knock them into the gutter with a Timmy Mallet hammer?

 

[Profpointy]

The road has been closed for them to do that... those "riding along minding their own business" have by-passed a road closed sign and ignored an accredited marshal with the authority to stop traffic!

well maybe - some bloke in a yellow vest allowed to close the Queen's highway - isn't that a bit of a cheek just so one lot of cyclists can have a ride, inconveniencing another lot. And did they have the authority to close road, or just presuming? We've all seen "it's for charity so we're more important"... that said, I am being a bit of a stirrer so I'll stop now, albeit my point was semi-serious

 

[Rob3rt]

well maybe - some bloke in a yellow vest allowed to close the Queen's highway - isn't that a bit of a cheek just so one lot of cyclists can have a ride, inconveniencing another lot. And did they have the authority to close road, or just presuming? We've all seen "it's for charity so we're more important"... that said, I am being a bit of a stirrer so I'll stop now, albeit my point was semi-serious

Link

 

[djb1971]

I don't think it matters who could legally close the road, a bit of common sense and courtesy wouldn't have been too much trouble* from the idiots. It would've only stopped them for a few seconds, selfish attitude. As mentioned above, the women just hop out of the way, no fuss. My wife may be right about women being perfect after all!

*apparently it was though.

 

[PK99]

Other than put out the authorised sign and instruct people to stop/keep off the road what is he supposed to do, knock them into the gutter with a Timmy Mallet hammer?

Do what i do when marshalling on Surrey 4-up time trials - stand in the carriage way with a big red flag and communicate with riders/drivers as they approach "Sorry guys. can you wait a minute or two, a race is about to come through". From the audio, the marshall is blunt, aggressive and confrontational - well it is yorkshire so maybe one should expect that....(;-)

 

[Rob3rt]

Do what i do when marshalling on Surrey 4-up time trials - stand in the carriage way with a big red flag and communicate with riders/drivers as they approach "Sorry guys. can you wait a minute or two, a race is about to come through". From the audio, the marshall is blunt, aggressive and confrontational - well it is yorkshire so maybe one should expect that....(;-)

I'd imagine that the marshal must act in a way that the accredited marshal scheme trains them to do so, so waving flags etc is probably a no-no. He could have been less aggressive though, I give you that.

As I am sure you are aware already, marshalling a time trial is a bit different to a road race since riders or teams will pass one at a time, spaced out and generally don't need the full carriageway. Also the marshals don't have the power to stop traffic. When racing a time trial, as much as I appreciate the indication they give me, I NEVER trust a marshal to indicate my approach to traffic or when tell me when it is clear to come straight out or go round a bend at speed, I always make sure I am ready to stop in time if need be and look for myself.

 

[PK99]

I'd imagine that the marshal must act in a way that the accredited marshal scheme trains them to do so, so waving flags etc is probably a no-no. He could have been less aggressive though, I give you that.

As I am sure you are aware already, marshalling a time trial is a bit different to a road race since riders or teams will pass one at a time, spaced out and generally don't need the full carriageway. Also the marshals don't have the power to stop traffic. When racing a time trial, as much as I appreciate the indication they give me, I NEVER trust a marshal to indicate my approach to traffic or when tell me when it is clear to come straight out or go round a bend at speed, I always make sure I am ready to stop in time if need be and look for myself.

This is the BC approved set up.

on our (not closed road) 4-up we have 3 marshalls at each T junction.
1 with red flag on each leg a good way back from the junction holding back traffic and one in the road at the junction waving the riders through.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

at the risk of being devil's advocate here - so you're riding down the road minding your own business and suddenly a big pelaton rides out of a side road on the wrong side of the road without looking and seemingly you are the one being a cock.

A bit "my journey is more important than yours"

well maybe - some bloke in a yellow vest allowed to close the Queen's highway - isn't that a bit of a cheek just so one lot of cyclists can have a ride, inconveniencing another lot. And did they have the authority to close road, or just presuming? We've all seen "it's for charity so we're more important"... that said, I am being a bit of a stirrer so I'll stop now, albeit my point was semi-serious

The road quite clearly has NOT been closed in any practical sense. If there is a marshall standing behind the camera, why is he not actively stopping the riders

Oh for ****'s sake, get a ruddy grip the lot of you.

 

[ASC1951]

..... From the audio, the marshall is blunt, aggressive and confrontational - well it is yorkshire so maybe one should expect that....(;-)

Nah lissen up, thi soft soothern bedwetter ....
.. it had already taken a month's intensive training to get him as polite as that.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

From the audio, the marshall is blunt, aggressive and confrontational - well it is yorkshire so maybe one should expect that....(;-)

"Oh I say. Looks chaps, awful bother I know, but, if you wouldn't mind terribly, I'd consider it a personal courtesy if you'd just stop for a moment or two, there's some chaps racing you see and the blighters will be going a one hell of a lick. I know those northern chappies do it differently, what ho, but this is Surrey, and we have standards donchaknow. You'll stop? Top Hole! Jolly good show. Mater will be so pleased."

 

[Profpointy]

"Oh I say. Looks chaps, awful bother I know, but, if you wouldn't mind terribly, I'd consider it a personal courtesy if you'd just stop for a moment or two, there's some chaps racing you see and the blighters will be going a one hell of a lick. I know those northern chappies do it differently, what ho, but this is Surrey, and we have standards donchaknow. You'll stop? Top Hole! Jolly good show. Mater will be so pleased."

I'd stop and wait if it was put like that.

Many many years ago someone was making a film near my caving club (Young Winston it was).and made the mistake of saying to a stalwart club member "you can't.go across here" (to the club) "we're filming " - our rights were made quite clear and a diplomat had to be fetched who found the "would you mind terribly..." approach for more sucessful

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'd stop and wait if it was put like that.

Many many years ago someone was making a film near my caving club (Young Winston it was).and made the mistake of saying to a stalwart club member "you can't.go across here" (to the club) "we're filming " - our rights were made quite clear and a diplomat had to be fetched who found the "would you mind terribly..." approach for more sucessful

I think the hi-viz marshal and the road sign would do it for me tbh.

 

[dellzeqq]

the one time the FNRttC got mixed up in a Sportive you could almost hear the lip-curling going on as they hammered past (and then got overtaken, because the one thing I know about competitive cycling is that you should never, ever overtake to make a point).

I confess I've been inconvenienced by a time trial marshal on the A31. There I am, tootling along, and this great big wazzock jumps up and tries to direct me in to a right turn. I sort of move to the right a bit, and he jumps to his left and start waving a flag. Words were exchanged.

 

[Venod]

I think a few facts need stating.

It wasn't a sportive it was a charity ride for the Prince of Wales Hospice Pontefract.

The guy having a heated discussion with the Marshall was not on the charity ride but I assume watching the racing, he is an experienced race organiser.

He was trying to give advise to the marshal, the marshal was under pressure but did his job as best as possible, he didn't have a radio and was watching for signals from his co-marshall who was stopping the traffic coming in the other direction, as well as the cyclist passing him 3 motorcycles passed. the charity cyclists could have been asked to dismount and use the footpath if the wanted to carry on, we were not told of the road race at the start of the charity ride, not sure if the road race organisers were aware of the charity ride.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Having been a motorcycle race escort, the Romford - Harlow Premier event in 2001 I can tell you it is one bloody hard job. Piloting a fair sized lump of motorbike at an average speed of 24-25mph for four hours is not easy. You need eyes in the back of your head both to keep out of the way of the riders themselves and to stay safe while holding junctions and warning approaching traffic, all in a friendly enough manner not to upset those you inconvenience. The purpose of mobile escorts and static marshalls is to ensure the safe passage of both the riders in the race and the general public, and I'm sure any CC member who came across a cycle race would treat it with the respect it deserves. There are of course the usual numpties who will complain long and loud about their important lives being on hold for a few vital minutes, but you do not expect it from fellow cyclists - probably the types who would be first to jump on any "Cyclist down" thread screaming about "SOMETHING MUST BE DONE".

That's not to knock those on here who post in that forum, but as in any sport we attract the sort of people we like to complain about. The guy in the video clip needs a kick up the ar$e.