New Forest ride rerouted over safety concerns

It's been two days now and not one comment has come forward in support of the communities who have had to suffer the problem of 'sportive virgin' cyclists (Gareth said it).

Up until 2012, cycling in the UK, in all its’ aspects, was a real beacon. Our men and women racers were winning all over the world. It inspired families to join in. BC saw the opportunity to get many new members. Retailers saw the opportunity to sell more bikes. Sportive organisers saw the opportunity to get virgin bike-riders into mass-start social rides.

The problem has been that the majority of sportive riders have no experience of riding in a group on an open road. They haven't been taught the real basics of looking after the livelihood of their fellow cyclists. They don't appreciate the safety of other road users or pedestrians. In other words, they have not learnt the meaning of bike etiquette. They have no pedigree. The majority, and I do say the majority, have no respect for anyone-else.

Up until 2012, us real roadmen (proper roadmen.......shame on you, Gareth!), were already having problems with racing on open roads. Police forces all over the UK were trying to push us on to closed roads. In fact, due to the problems caused by sportives since 2012, more of our races will be on closed roads next year and beyond.

We had a real opportunity to be a real biking nation after 2012. All the disparate organisations should have joined forces, rather than forging ahead with their own agendas. There could have been real cohesion......something that even the non-cycling fraternity might have got behind. The BC, the LVRC, The CTC, The Surrey League (and other leagues) plus many other cycling organisations have their own event calendar. If they would just engage with each other, we might have one all-embracing calendar of events, where local communities would be well-prepared for cycling events that will be happening in on their door-step.

O’k, I’m the tree fairy, I’m pompous, plus all the other things, but my comments were intended to pull out your comments. I did hope that there would be some support. At the end of the day, I’m a roadman. A bit old, but I’m still winning road races. I’d like to think that today's the ‘sportive virgin’ riders will one day make good road-men.

I've pointed it out before it is like the Peoples Front of Judea in here sometimes!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb_qHP7VaZE

With cyclists attacking cyclists, who needs New Forest NIMBYs?

The 'gentlemen' of the CTC have caved in and changed their route to appease Martin Barden and his horde of idiot sportive riders. The local hill-climb has had to shorten their event for the same reason.

How long is it going to take for an established cycling body (BC) to organise some kind of correlation, a calendar of events even, between all of these organisations. When that happens, Martin Barden will have to fall in line and organise his events in a civilised manner.

The New Forest is a peaceful place and it welcomes small groups of cyclists.....pedestrian types, family types and local training groups all year round. Sportives in the New Forest just don't fit.

If you are an experienced roadman, you will give me lots of likes! If you are a sportive rider, you will give lots of the other stuff!

So there you go!

And the wiggle sportive route means that our club's annual hill climb has to be on a shortened course!

Let's be 100% clear here: the New Forest Safety Advisory Group's sole aim is to increase the opportunity for cars to overtake as frequently as possible. This has nothing at all to do with cyclists' safety. None. Sweet-nF-All.

Of course there'll be congestion. It's the new forest at a weekend. The tourist cars pretty much gridlock whole chunks... Oh wait...