Cycling PIGS

[Goslow]

Hi all. Hopefully the topic title would of got everyone's attention to look at this.

I competed in the 99er this weekend and must congratulate the organizers and marshals for a well run event.

The following morning I went out for a light ride and landed on the last 30 km’s of the 99er route from the turn off at the silo’s to the four way stop at the bottom of Fissershoek. Along the way all I noticed were energy sachets littering the entire 30 odd km’s. I knew just talking about this would not really make an impact so later on that day I drove through on my motorbike armed with a plastic bag and started to collect some of the sachets. After 7km’s of stop starting and collecting 67 energy sachets and 5 energy bars I had to give up as my bike started overheating. I know I could of doubled this figure as I had seen plenty more along Malanshoogte and Fissershoek. I would hate to know what the count would have been on the entire route.

I have been riding for almost 30 years now and yesterday I was ashamed to call myself a cyclist.

So what can we do about this? Well I don't litter so its not my problem is what we all tend to say. Well it is a huge problem as we are all grouped as cyclists and all get blamed for either riding two abreast and now, littering.

I have even suggested to PPA that they increase the race fee by R20 to send a sweep vehicle on the route to retrieve the cycling pigs litter, but this is actually unfair, why should I pay the penalty for some idiots who have no respect for the environment.

 

So what I intend to do is at every race while riding in a bunch and witnessing a so called cyclist trash our environment and name is to make everyone in the bunch aware that we have a litter bug riding with us. I will make sure that that individual gets the message loud and clear no matter if he's a league rider or a weekend warrior that they are not welcome at races if they intend on littering. I challenge all of you to do the same so this disgusting habit disappears from our cycling community.

 

On a lighter note it looks like GU is the preferred litter bugs choice of gel, coming in at 40 gels over the 7 km stretch, 2nd USN with 12 and third Hammer with 8. The rest were unfamiliar brands.

 

Mark

[Shebeen]

Disgusting. We as cyclists need to police this, I tune all and sundry who think this is acceptable

[T-Bob]

When you see some one throw just holler "oi, don't be a tosser!!!!".

 

Respect for taking time to clear up other children's mess. On wider scale surely gu and other energy gel brands know that a large % of their product ends up on the floor during event from cycling to running. It would be a good win for them to make biodegradable packaging unless everyone sees that as a green light to start chucking.

[Madlight]

Yes, hats off to the marshals on Saturday. In my group we had a ton of dingbats riding on the right that gave them uphill.

 

 

[LeTurbo]

Well done on doing a small something to clean up. Ja, that's really disgusting. I wonder if half of the litterers say, "Oh well, it's up to the organisers". This sh*t doesn't go anywhere, it doesn't degrade. It'll end up in some poor animal's gut or something. Ah man, this is just really peeing me off.

[Tumbleweed]

Well done on doing a small something to clean up. Ja, that's really disgusting. I wonder if half of the litterers say, "Oh well, it's up to the organisers". This sh*t doesn't go anywhere, it doesn't degrade. It'll end up in some poor animal's gut or something. Ah man, this is just really peeing me off.

 

Agreed. Selfless act.

[rudi-h]

I was riding in the cradle the weekend and for about 30km's my ride over-lapped with the "berge en dale" cycling race. Same thing. Some d!kchead tossed a empty gel sachet into the bush. So I confronted him and told him its not cool, whereafter he just gave me some dumbass stare. I should have driven him into the shrubs next to the road...

 

PS, cannot comment about the organizing of the event, but these smaller road events without road closure is a disaster IMO. You're welcome to flame me for saying this, but the riders litter like mad and its not safe to occupy a full lane of several busy roads and a national highway without road closure...

 

edit: spelling

Edited February 10, 2014 by rudi-h

[davidl]

On many of the funrides I have asked riders not to toss the sachets and wrappers in the environment. Some apologised and others told me to f... off, as they were not carrying the sticky empty sachet in their back-pockets.

The attitude of some cyclists create a general negative attitude to all cyclist. We participate in a healthy sport but do unhealthy things to our environment.

[Wayne Potgieter]

we are our own worst enemy.

[Rapunzel]

Absolutely shocking!! People reported littering should be automatically disqualified and be liable for a fine to assist covering the costs of cleaning up post event.

[Joe Low]

I think the organizers can make a bigger play on this in the pre-race info, but more especially before each start group sets off. I cant remember ever being told from the start line not to drop litter.

[porqui]

I would go to organizers and complain!!

 

Organizers usually subcontract to do clean-up afterwards so should be made aware that job was not done properly.

 

Yes we should not drop our junk

Edited February 10, 2014 by porqui

[KaKa]

are people still using gu's

[Mylolylo]

I'm happy to say I through all four of my gu sachets away when I got home!

[Ofaniy]

are people still using gu's

It still works, so yes

[Ofaniy]

Wonder if the PPA would be willing to suspend such riders if they are reported. And for arguments sake, having a witness, so that it's not just one cyclist's word against another