The company behind the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive and other events in the national park says it is banning 18 riders from its events for breaking rules such as urinating by the roadside rather than in the portable toilets it provides.
The decision by UK Cycling Events was revealed at a recent meeting of the New Forest Association of Local Councils, reports the Daily Echo.
During the past couple of years, mass participation cycling events in the New Forest have attracted vocal opposition from some locals.
Earlier this month the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive was the target of sabotage attempts, as it had been in 2013, with 15 riders suffering punctures as a result of tacks being spread on the road. At some events, signs put up by organisers, often to do with safety issues, have been removed.
The riders banned for urinating in public were caught outside the Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst, with Martin Barden from UK Cycling Events saying: “The hotel had eight portaloos and our marshals told all riders stopping at the hotel to ensure they used the toilets provided.
“Anyone who decided not to was instantly banned from the event as this is not something we condone.”
He did not reveal why other riders had been banned, although he did tell participants prior to the event a fortnight ago that any cyclists blocking the road by riding more than two abreast, or seen dropping litter, would be barred from entry to future sportives organised by the company.
According to district councillor Maureen Holding, the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive led to “pandemonium” in Brockenhurst.
She told the Daily Echo: “The road was blocked by people who had abandoned their cycles in the middle of the road. And some of them were urinating in full view of families – even though there were toilets only a few feet away.
“I hope the ban sends out a clear message that we expect people to behave,” she added.
Criticism of cyclists relieving themselves in public on such events isn’t limited to those who urinate.
In December, it was alleged at a meeting of the New Forest National Park Authority that some riders had defecated on village greens while taking part in sportive rides.
71 thoughts on “Riders banned from New Forest sportives for urinating in public”
Surely this is taking the
Surely this is taking the piss? Now the organiser looks stupid. That’s one sportive I’ll definitely not be gracing with my cash. Actually, the headline sponsor is tainted by this as well.
Not going to comment on the
Not going to comment on the litter or 2 abreast rules but as for the people urinating, its disgusting.
There were loo’s provided but if your that desperate and cant wait keep cycling until its a stretch with no public about and disappear into the woods out of the way and out of sight so the numpties who are agianst the sportive’s taking place dont get any ammunition.
Grammatical masterclass…
Grammatical masterclass…
Fair enough. Riding a bike is
Fair enough. Riding a bike is no excuse for antisocial behaviour any more than driving a car is. Imagine if your average motorist behaved like this?
Kudos to the organisers for having the balls to enforce this. The rubbish won’t be missed.
jmaccelari wrote:Imagine if
Have you never been abroad? A lot do. And the world turns just fine, because everyone needs to piss and it’s not a big deal to piss up against a tree.
Seriously, what’s worse: some piss on a tree, or driving round in a box that gives everyone cancer and asthma in order to try and find a box that wastes treated water and/or uses mostly environmentally harmful chemicals?
I hope they get banned from
I hope they get banned from all events from this organiser and not just this one sportive next year.
There is no excuse for urinating in public…BESIDE toilets provides (I guess there was a queue) and these guys just wanted to keep their time down.
Cycle on a bit and fit a quite spot, have a piss behind a bush…job done.
It’s taking a piss. In a
It’s taking a piss. In a forest. Kinda like the horses do.
It’s really not so bad – try living in (southern) France. No-one raises an eye-brow there about. Cars stop so the driver can piss. People piss outside the bar (next door to my house) coz the bar loo is too small. On rides, you stop, you piss. It took me a little while to get used to it, but we all have to do it.
fennesz wrote:It’s really not
Having had the misfortune of witnessing a rider winding out a turd at the side of the road in the Etape du Tour one year I really don’t want to see us going down the French route…
fatty wrote:Having had the
You didn’t ride straight through a messy one did you? Noooooo….
Good. they were told. Pleased
Good. they were told. Pleased that they were also punished for riding in a manner that was banned by the organisers. Legal aside. you break the rules, you are punished
Golfers do it, not to mention
Golfers do it, not to mention several 1000 London marathoners…
When you gotta go, you gotta
When you gotta go, you gotta go. Now they’re gone.
will they ban TDF riders in
will they ban TDF riders in Yorkshire/Essex?
cove123 wrote:will they ban
No, we’re a bit more tolerant in Yorkshire.
So,more than two
So,more than two abreast…how do you define the difference between this and two abreast being overtaken by another?
How about the horses? They
How about the horses? They pee and crap all over the place yet they are not singled out.
Airzound wrote:How about the
Any horses taking part in the sportive who broke the rules will be banned from future participation 😀
For god’s sake, it’s just a
For god’s sake, it’s just a wee: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18072905
and Things We Don’t Know:
How long was the queue for the loos at the time?
Given the ‘ban’ on bodily functions except at Approved Locations, how long had it been since the last?
Were the 8 suffering from any sort of medical condition?
What does ‘In full view of families’ even mean? what distance? were the riders hanging it out over picnic tables?
Would a rider who had paid a lot of cash and most likely travelled a long distance, willingly and flagrantly jeopardise their future participation? Seems to me there must be substantial extenuating circumstances.
IMHO this event and the organisers with their pandering to a hateful, bigoted minority have jumped the shark. Seems to be a Stockholm Syndrome developing of the organiser fawning obsequiously at the feet of Mary Whitehouse-esque councillors and community leaders. Hold the event, set the bar for future bans at the level of gross misconduct or criminality.
FFS, I give up, They were
FFS, I give up, They were taking a piss in the hotel grounds, infront of others….not just wild in a field or forest like an animal would.
If you cannot see the difference, then you are a lost cause.
Gkam84 wrote:FFS, I give up,
…as I said, Things We (and You) Don’t Know…do feel free to jump to conclusions that suit your world view of sportive riders though. Oh, you did. OK.
KiwiMike wrote:Gkam84
…as I said, Things We (and You) Don’t Know…do feel free to jump to conclusions that suit your world view of sportive riders though. Oh, you did. OK.— Gkam84
It clearly STATES in the article
“The riders banned for urinating in public were caught outside the Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst”…..
How am I jumping to conclusions and how would you know my view on sportive riders….I take part in sportives, not as much as I used to, because many won’t accept my recumbent trike.
Interesting, this. I know the
Interesting, this. I know the area well and where the alleged pissing took place isn’t somewhere in the middle of nowhere, it’s a busy area that’ll be occupied by families and other non-cyclists on days out (I even looked at the hotel for my wedding), so the prospect of seeing a bunch of impatient, red-faced mamils with their cocks out is rather unpleasant. But, elsewhere on the route where there won’t be anyone other than the odd pony around, does seem fair game, *if* you’re discreet about it.
I daren’t even read the comments on the Daily Echo about this. Their “readers” have enough of an anti-cyclist bias as it is, so news such as this is like fanning the flames with a hand grenade… Best be that extra bit vigilant on the commute tomorrow morning.
That’ll teach those riders.
That’ll teach those riders. Now they’ll be stuck having to just ride on these public roads without paying a fortune for the privilege.
Poor buggers.
/ this..jump on the back or
/ this..jump on the back or ride it whenever you like.
Hmm, pee in public – all hell
Hmm, pee in public – all hell breaks out. Breastfeed a baby in full public view in a swimming baths – get told to stop, then sue and get a payoff. Mad world.
racyrich wrote:Hmm, pee in
Sorry, not comparable in MHO.
I recommend you don’t go near any fields for a while, you may see four-legged mammals feeding their young the same way. And they won’t stop when you ask either.
Simon E wrote:racyrich
There’s something else you’ll see them doing, and I hadn’t noticed the farmer banning any of them…
I have been on some UK
I have been on some UK Cycling Events sportives and have found the toilet situation to be woefully inadequate in terms of number, frequency and hygiene, worse than Glastonbury IMO so I’m not surprised folk peed on the floor.
So, Wiggle and the organisers
So, Wiggle and the organisers have been under pressure from the NIMBYs and local council bods, they find out about this merry band of small-bladdered sportivists (sportiveurs?) and it’s an easy win for them to be seen ‘doing something’ about it.
Paula Radcliffe didn’t get
Paula Radcliffe didn’t get banned from the London Marathon and she pee’d on the BBC. This is crazy, did people really abandon their bikes in the middle of the road to go the toilet, if they did maybe someone should check the food in that hotel.
martin wrote:Paula Radcliffe
Indeed, what about the all the riders of the men’s olympic road race who all went for a pee along the side of the public highway in full view of the public (most who just laughed at it) and toilet’s available nearby?
Can we expect to them all be banned from competing in their events in the uk in the future….
Given the efforts by certain
Given the efforts by certain residents of the New Forest to prevent the event taking place, I suspect the organisers felt they had little choice but to take this action in an attempt to deny local nimbys ammunition. Smacks of desperate (and slightly pointless) after the event damage control.
Without knowing all of the facts, stopping to piss next to facilities seems a bit stupid/selfish. I find it difficult to believe that anyone on start line was not aware of need to be on “best behaviour” given efforts of aforementioned nimbys. In my (admittedly limited) previous experience of Wiggle sponsored sportives you get a briefing at start line which covers things like this.
I wouldn’t want a collection of randoms stopping and pissing on my front lawn, but I don’t have a problem with someone relieving themselves by the road side where road runs through woods (which I presume it does quite a bit in New Forest) or other public lands. Extra marks for trying to find some kind of foliage to shelter behind. But I don’t think much of objections based on the fact that impressionable members of the public/children might spy genitalia – we’ve all got some (genitalia that is) and you can always choose to maintain eye contact to avoid being surprised.
Laying the brown out of doors is well beyond the pale, however.
Having a slash is public is
Having a slash is public is not on.
Go in the trees…like in a Forest.
If the slashing was done in a widely accessible area…come on people, have a word with yourselves
Try Israel (Tel Aviv), where
Try Israel (Tel Aviv), where whole vans/buses stop at the roadside so that en mass pissing can take place…and Israelis think nothing of stopping and taking a piss into the road/gutter on a night walk home from the pub
Can’t comment with any
Can’t comment with any authority without having seen the location in question. Nothing wrong with the occasional discreet pee by the side of the road but loads of people doing it in plain sight does kind of take the piss, if you’ll forgive the pun. Be subtle, people! There are always a few wankers on any sportive, mind you.
Meanwhile I’m worried about the amount of generalised anti-cycling sentiment in the New Forest these days. That’s one place off the cycle touring wish list but hey, not like cyclists bring any money into an area or anything, is it?
Quote from Chrissie
Quote from Chrissie Wellington famous champion triathlete:
“Apologies also go out to those riding behind me. It could not have been pleasant to bear the brunt of my 6 pees (But having already suffered a painful thorny backside experience i wasnt about to stop and relieve myself behind a cactus).”
Their event, their rules.
Their event, their rules. Don’t like ’em? Piss off.
So the NF anti cycle movement
So the NF anti cycle movement aren’t going to big up any slight infringement that takes place?? The organisers don’t want to antagonise the locals so must take action!!
Bet the riders involved wished they had shat on the village green now as I feel it would have carried the same punishment!
If the sportive cyclists were
If the sportive cyclists were blatantly taking a piss in the open near a hotel, then yes they should be chastised, banned whatever. This is not acceptable behaviour, just like people wilfully dropping litter when there are bins nearby.
However if this is because the facilities were poor in number and hygiene and riders couldn’t wait any longer, then it’s draconian to ban riders from wiggle events.
I am a regular purchaser from wiggle and if it’s the latter then my money would be spent elsewhere in protest to their over reaction to a quite normal bodily function if done discreetly.
I think its safe to assume
I think its safe to assume that there will not have been adequate facilities provided. By adequate, you have to look at a man’s willingness to wait for a toilet, compared with the simplicity of cocking a leg up against the nearest bush/tree etc.
Actually, I am fairly sure there are H&S recommendations for toilets provided compared to participant numbers, I would love to know how many attended the sportive, and how reasonable the toilet provision was.
I think its also safe to assume that public urination means different things to different people. To me, it means getting my todger out and blatantly piddling in full view of someone that is likely to take offence… namely women and PC gentlemen.
To others, it means urinating in any environment not designated as a toilet no matter how discreet.
I’m fairly comfortable that anyone doing the former is likely to get called up on it…
Anyway, this is all a mute point. Personally speaking I think the NIMBY’s have won this battle. As mentioned, the organisers are publicly demonstrating that they are taking a ‘hard line’ on riders that anyone outside the event may take offence to. no matter how right they may be in doing this (I am no fan of littering, lane hogging or whatever), the reality is this/these events now are all about fighting a battle with teh local public…
Why bother with that? There are loads of great sportives out there, what make the New Forest so special that you have to spend your time making sure you can not be perceived as riding 3 a breast, making sure nothing accidentally falls from your pockets, and aware of where the next public convenience is?
Move on to the next one I say.
Herd mentality, safety in
Herd mentality, safety in numbers, desperate attempt to do anything that looks ‘pro’ and the anonymity afforded by helmet and dark glasses. Some people are just dicks whatever. I think the organisers did the right thing in the case and I don’t envy them having to deal with the NIMBY nutjobs.
One assumes that the
One assumes that the gentlemen in question didn’t pay to travel and participate in the event with the express intention of outraging public decency.
That said, I wouldn’t want to see a ‘me’ pissing in my front garden either and don’t tell me there wasn’t a convenient bush or tree to hide behind.
‘we’re a bit more tolerant in
‘we’re a bit more tolerant in Yorkshire’
Blimey. Not a sentence you would hear too often. This New Forest place must be horrific. I’m imagining Auschwitz, recreated in Dorset?
😉
andyp wrote:’we’re a bit more
Yay! I win Godwins Law bingo!
andyp wrote:’we’re a bit more
Its in Hampshire
i think if you seen a cyclist
i think if you seen a cyclist or walker taking a shit in public by the side of a track, as i have done you should run them over if you have a car or simply kick them to death.
vanmildert won that, waaaaaay
vanmildert won that, waaaaaay back up there…^ 😉
andyp wrote:vanmildert won
Did he? All I could see from him was a reference to runners and golfers. Not ALL golfers are Nazis, surely. B-)
allez neg wrote:andyp
Godwin’s law was updated some time ago to include mentions of Th*tcher and golf.
andyp wrote:allez neg
Godwin’s law was updated some time ago to include mentions of Th*tcher and golf.— andyp
Oh – I’d never mention that poisonous auld queynte on here.
allez neg wrote:andyp
Godwin’s law was updated some time ago to include mentions of Th*tcher and golf.— allez neg
Oh – I’d never mention that poisonous auld queynte on here.— andyp
queynte…is rather too ‘quaint’ to use in description of that horrid old gash…
8|
Well the organisers had to
Well the organisers had to really.
Peeing in public can mean lots of things. I have peed in the bushes on this very same sportive a few years back. I bet lots of others did as well. Go right in the bushes where no one can see you and I don’t think anyone has a complaint. They see you go in the bushes, they probably guess what you are up to but don’t see anything untoward or unless they are really looking. Even my kids know this.
Do it with abandon making no attempt at discretion and that’s a different matter.
The fact is that you can only be seen peeing in public if you don’t make any attempt at being discreet. In which case you are a lazy unsociable git that deserves being banned from future events.
Basic social and citizenship skills plus normal decency and civilisation. If you can actually ride a bike and hold down a job so you can afford a bike and an entry fee, then this should not be beyond you.
There was quite enough
There was quite enough “attitude” in the Chilterns this weekend. I wouldn’t ride a bike in the New Forest if you paid me. I only even go to Surrey either (1) in a group or (2) when the locals are still in bed. I don’t fancy spending a month in hospital when one of their punishment passes goes wrong.
If they were relieveing
If they were relieveing themselves in a public place and there were portable toilets available then fair doos, wiggle has to take some action.
I was out the other week and got caught short. I was in the middle of the countryside but nipped behind some bushes into a field, not a soul in sight. I emptied the tank, admiring the wonderful yellow rape seed fields of hampshire but I turned to see an elderly lady standing about 30 feet from me, just watching. At this point I couldn’t stop, all I could muster was ‘lovely day, but a bit breezy’.
No idea where she crept up from, reckon she had been hidden in those bushes for days.
Simmo72 wrote:If they were
Sounds like you had a lucky escape…what if she had a knife? The last words you would have heard are ‘Not in my back yard’ 🙂
ronin wrote:Simmo72 wrote:If
Sounds like you had a lucky escape…what if she had a knife? The last words you would have heard are ‘Not in my back yard’ 🙂— Simmo72
…or ‘Dirty Birdy’…only to wake up and find yourself ‘hobbled’ in her out building/stable…and then being put on show for her Royston Vasey circle of friends, whenever it pleased her…
I actually rode this on the
I actually rode this on the Saturday and know where they are talking about. Yes, there were a few people disappearing into the bushes, however the amenities provded by Wiggle were shocking. There must have been over 1000 riders passing through that stop and probably no more than 4 loos. I emailed them afterwards and complained and suggested they invest in the open urinals that I see on many running events, quick and convenient for the guys, leaving the portaloos for the ladies. Yes, they had to be seen to do something to appease the NIMBYs, however I would draw your attention to the fact that this same group of NIMBYs scattered tacks across the road on the Saturday. I escaped it but many didn’t. So what’ll it be? A debate on peeing in the bushes or crass stupidity that could lead injury or at worst, death?
I’ve often peed in the middle
I’ve often peed in the middle of a ride, not a problem as long as you can find a quite spot behind a tree and you’re not exposing yourself to anyone.
How many times do you see young kids by the side of a stopped cars with their parents letting them have a pee.
I would suspect that the people making the complaints are the same saboteurs that are throwing tacs all over the road.
Get life and move on I say. ~X(
Are Wiggle going to have
Are Wiggle going to have “Wanted” style posters at their next events to make sure these people don’t turn up at future events?
Sod it, there is enough money being thrown at some seriously old rope in cycling nowadays who fancies going in to a new business with me?
“Aero-tasche – For the chopper that needs to sportive in disguise…”
Arf.
I’m not surprised by this. On
I’m not surprised by this. On the Sunday at the feed stop one bloke was asked to refrain from pissing across the road from the hotel by a member of staff, his reply “where are the fucking toilets then!?”
If ever the NIMBY’s needed fuel for the anti-cycling fire that twat was it.
Bottom line if we don’t police ourselves we’ll have it done for us.
No pissing please we’re
No pissing please we’re British!
Been to a jazz festival in Denmark where they have porta loos in the streets. These consist of an X shape contrivance for men with 4 pissers in them. Just turn your back to the world and piss away. No one gave a toss over there. After all we all do it. And everyone has something to do it with.
and Wiltshire, if we’re being
and Wiltshire, if we’re being pedantic.
As Allez Neg notes, with 5000
As Allez Neg notes, with 5000 entries they have no prospect of being able to police bans. It is just good local PR, at no cost or consequence even if anyone really was banned as they claim. Those who behave worst will probably be the first to work this out.
There were certainly no marshals at the feed stop on the Saturday to speak to the steady stream of riders heading for the trees the other side of the lane from the hotel.
psv10 wrote:As Allez Neg
Rider number taken – linked to name, address, telephone number and email.
Any future attempt to register for an event using any of the above could be refused – not too hard to police really, a false name etc could always be used for subsequent events of course.
chrisp1973 wrote:psv10
Rider number taken – linked to name, address, telephone number and email.
Any future attempt to register for an event using any of the above could be refused – not too hard to police really, a false name etc could always be used for subsequent events of course.— psv10
Don’t forget, it is also linked to the method of payment, so bank details aswell…false name won’t work 😉
This is a difficult one, as I
This is a difficult one, as I wouldn’t ever urinate in public. The last time I rode 100 miles, I stopped off at a sainsbury’s around the 50 mile mark. I was then good for another 50 miles (of course I am a Nectar card holder ;-).
Many people in this country just don’t have any shame, so that goes on and off the bike. Go to any city center at a weekend and I’m sure you’ll see people doing it.
Perhaps Wiggle should issue a nappy in their race pack 🙂
Paula Radcliffe. 2005 London
Paula Radcliffe. 2005 London Marathon. Caught on camera. Portaloos every mile. But, as so many have said, their rules so we should abide by them however daft they may appear.
zagatosam wrote:Paula
and that wasn’t just her stopping for a slash. Coiled out a Mr Whippy in front of the TV cameras.
Just glad I live in France
Just glad I live in France where they don’t have any Victorian issues with bodily functions! B-)
sodit wrote:Just glad I live
….but surely you’d not wish for people just peeing and crimping off wherever they wished?
I don’t think i’d want to
I don’t think i’d want to visit the New Forest on a bike, on foot, in a car or any other way.
The people that live there and the rules they insist on seem unrealistic in their expectations.
What ever I did when I was there would probably get me into trouble.
Best avoided I feel. There are plenty of other nice places to go