Die Burger 2011 Safety Concerns

[Howard Simms]

Anybody stunned by the lack of motorcycle marshaling on yesterdays's Die Burger 92KM? I was in group A, not a single marshal with us.

[udxcob]

Jip me, the stretch from wellington to the Durbanville turnoff was deadly (with the wind) the A group was right across both lanes

[DJR]

I can tell you what I saw on the short route riding slowly with my kids: Virtually 100% of the dangerous stuff was because of cyclists riding like idiots. People crossing over the barrier line in the face of oncoming traffic, blocking the whole road where it was unnecessary with a wide enough shoulder, forcing cars to go around them where it was dangerous. The list goes on and on and on......

['Dale]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLTVwCnJ27M/TZhtwQjXR1I/AAAAAAAAAb0/_-oGXRVu43Q/s400/funny_animals_pictures_02.jpg

[Howard Simms]

Correct, in part. But the marshals are there to stop racing cyclists taking chances in the heat of the race and also to alert traffic all around us that we are being controlled. Marshals bring a degree of order and security to the cyclists and the motorists, without them we tend to forget where we are and take chances and so do the motorists. Group A was tailed by an impatient 18 wheeler that got within 20 meters of the back of the pack. That wouldn't have happened if the road had been marshaled

[DJR]

Hi Dale

 

Maybe a picture of a Lemming in that position rather than a Lemur would fit in better with the topic?

[duringd]

I can tell you what I saw on the short route riding slowly with my kids: Virtually 100% of the dangerous stuff was because of cyclists riding like idiots. People crossing over the barrier line in the face of oncoming traffic, blocking the whole road where it was unnecessary with a wide enough shoulder, forcing cars to go around them where it was dangerous. The list goes on and on and on......

 

I was in A and yes I saw the 2 18 wheelers, scary ****. But I also saw guys riding slip over the white line nearing the other yellow line and not taking notice of fellow cyclists telling them to come left of the line. There were some bike marshals, but not the normal number and on a few occasions they too got the finger from some of the guys. We do have to start taking some responsibility for our actions, Everyone knows the rules, yet only a few obey. Who are we going to blame if someone gets hit by a car on the wrong side of the white line, the car, the bike marshal or the cyclist breaking the rules?

[onetrackmind]

Correct, in part. But the marshals are there to stop racing cyclists taking chances in the heat of the race and also to alert traffic all around us that we are being controlled. Marshals bring a degree of order and security to the cyclists and the motorists, without them we tend to forget where we are and take chances and so do the motorists. Group A was tailed by an impatient 18 wheeler that got within 20 meters of the back of the pack. That wouldn't have happened if the road had been marshaled

If riders are too stupid to keep left of the white line, then let Darwin take care of things.

 

Accountability. Even cyclists need to learn this. Motorbike marshals should not be needed.

[Tiny K]

I was in A and yes I saw the 2 18 wheelers, scary ****. But I also saw guys riding slip over the white line nearing the other yellow line and not taking notice of fellow cyclists telling them to come left of the line. There were some bike marshals, but not the normal number and on a few occasions they too got the finger from some of the guys. We do have to start taking some responsibility for our actions, Everyone knows the rules, yet only a few obey. Who are we going to blame if someone gets hit by a car on the wrong side of the white line, the car, the bike marshal or the cyclist breaking the rules?

 

Agreed! Ride like a tjop, and prepare to take responsibility for your actions. In the 2nd % bunch we were about 30 odd riders. We took the whole road lane. Stayed out of the yellow lane most of the time - it increases the risk of punctures.

 

We didn't have issues with trucks, taxi's and cars, but we did have one moer of a noisy scooter bike marshal. At one point I was riding with the right drop of my bars hovering over the white line with the bike marshal right next to me. If I flicked my elbow, I would have connected him. It was fun though!

[FatBoyDrunk]

I think everyone is forgetting these are Fun Rides and NOT Races

[Howard Simms]

You're right, we need to take responsibility. But all cyclists will take chances, some legitimate and some stupid and often the risks endanger other racers. I put myself on the line every time I race, I don't do stupid ****. Other riders do however and I count on the race organizers to have marshals there to keep me out of danger.

[Slowbee]

You're right, we need to take responsibility. But all cyclists will take chances, some legitimate and some stupid and often the risks endanger other racers. I put myself on the line every time I race, I don't do stupid ****. Other riders do however and I count on the race organizers to have marshals there to keep me out of danger.

 

take responsibility and keep others in check so you can be safe.

 

why put the blame on others for your responsibility?

[Howard Simms]

If you've ridden in a pack you'll appreciate that the actions of others can have a direct impact on your safety, regardless of the style that you may subscribe to. I'm not talking about blame, my point is that in any field of cyclists the chances of you being affected by the decisions of somebody careless, stupid, inexperienced or a combination of all three is huge, no matter how careful you are personally. The organizers have a responsibility to all cyclists to keep these three variables in check.

[Tiny K]

take responsibility and keep others in check so you can be safe.

 

why put the blame on others for your responsibility?

 

Well it's like one guy who lost both his bottles on the stretch between the Left turn after Hels and Paarl.

 

He wanted to have some juice from a buddy in the bunch. Another seasoned rider told them to feed outside the bunch. He said that he didn't need to have the risk of them falling in front of others while their concentration was not on the road.

 

Small things like that can change the entire race if it goes pear shape.

[Slowbee]

If you've ridden in a pack you'll appreciate that the actions of others can have a direct impact on your safety, regardless of the style that you may subscribe to. I'm not talking about blame, my point is that in any field of cyclists the chances of you being affected by the decisions of somebody careless, stupid, inexperienced or a combination of all three is huge, no matter how careful you are personally. The organizers have a responsibility to all cyclists to keep these three variables in check.

 

No amount of organising by way of marshals can change how the pack acts (TinyK's example is a good one). That is up to the riders within the group. All the marshals can do is make sure you stay on the correct side of the line.

 

Plenty times in a pack you here people being shouted at for being non responsible, the most common is ....... hold your line ...

[DJR]

Just for arguments sake, would it be possible for marshalls to be riding with Go Pros? That would make it easy enough to weed out and disqualify or ban regular rule breakers. After a few examples have been made, perhaps the dangerous behaviour will change?