Me first, ME FIRST!!!

[Slave]

It's just a symptom of the lack of respect that most people have for one another.

 

This is the reason why some people drive like hooglians as well. They just don't care and have no respect for themselves and their fellow road user.

 

I get imense satisfaction out of starting towards the back and working my way forward during the race. That's how I measure myself against others. Knowing I started last and got there before so many.

 

And if you confront said pigheaded fcukwit, you are in big danger of being smacked for your trouble.

 

Come on race marshalls, time to get pics, of the ijit brigade and disqualify them. It will only happen once or twice before they learn.

 

 

 

[porky]

I get imense satisfaction out of starting towards the back and working my way forward during the race. That's how I measure myself against others. Knowing I started last and got there before so many.

 

 

Haa Haa,Haa, - problem with me is bud, I start at the back, I tend to stay there.!

 

.............But Yah, as everybody has said its just a symptom of the SA mentality.  

porky2009-03-23 06:55:10

[madmarc]

Side loading at the Northern quickie must be blamed on the organizers. did anyone actually expect the cyclists to listen to the start organizer.

The start arch should have been 300 - 400 m further down the road and barriers put inplace to funnel the riders into the start pen correctly.

 

Having said that, "What an awsome ride" I have ridden at Northern Farm many times and thought i new all the trails, i neve thought you could get 40k's in one lap - Northerns and Groenies is still the best value for money ride in Gauteng

 

Very seldom will you find side loading to that extent on a road race, you may have one or two dumbasses trying their luck, but they probably MTB'rs anyway. Road Race start have to be far more organised in the starting pens because of the numbers.

[Canaris]

There is a very simple solution to "Side loading", and that is a Le Mans start, and finish.  Put the bikes in a transition zone about 5km down the road, have the guys run it out and then when they finish riding, have them sprint to the finish................................

 

wait, that is duathlon.

 

ps even in running we have problems with the walkers that insist on monopolising the startline.  I have in my wippet days ran over someone's grandmother on the start line.

 

The solution is also to say "can all the racers come forward".  Let the serious 10% go first.  This however sounds like category starts again, which works at all the classics and the big runs like comrades and 2oceans.  I suppose if the crowd cannot control itself then there is a need to start grouping people into small starting groups.

[no.one.knows]

Neotel do it with out fail every time in the bunch they even start in front of the tape if people dont move back enough. yet sweet FA is done bout it, they rock up late and do it. yes Nolan generally wins but who gives them or what makes them think they have the right to do this. are they higher than everyone else?

[Canaris]

Neotel do it with out fail every time in the bunch they even start in front of the tape if people dont move back enough. yet sweet FA is done bout it' date=' they rock up late and do it. yes Nolan generally wins but who gives them or what makes them think they have the right to do this. are they higher than everyone else? [/quote']

 

Interesting point.  Again the solution lies in accepting that elite cycling is a team sport and therefore it is the race organisers responsibility to ensure that all entered teams start together in the same starting batch at the front.  (Check UCI rules here).  If a team arrives at the line before the starttime and has signed in, in accordance with UCI rules, then they are entitled to be escorted to where they are grouped.  If a bunch of fun riders (that is the rest of us) don't know our place, then the organisers may either DQ the fun riders or let the pro teams start in front of the line.

 

However, if Neotel pitches up at a fun ride to steal the prize money from the fun riders then they should be chased away by the organisers and reported to the CSA.

 

Obviously none of the above will ever happen because cycling organising in the RSA is in a real mess.

[no.one.knows]

yeah but i am refering to the elite bunch as well, we all rock up latest 30min before the start when the pen closes, we also wait and queue for the start and neotel come and start in front of the line, im sorry but if all us other elites can do this then they can too and if they wanna be late they can get to the back like the other late comers had to. they not any more special then the rest of us surely?

[PhilipV]

The Le Mans start has been used in Meurant's @4 hr, as well as a Grabouw race back in the day, dunno if they still do it, but I liked it. And it was rather effective at keeping the fat guys in the back.

[Slave]

Got to be a load of fun running 5 k's in your cleats.

[Canaris]

Got to be a load of fun running 5 k's in your cleats.

it is only difficult until they are worn out. 

[Canaris]

yeah but i am refering to the elite bunch as well' date=' we all rock up latest 30min before the start when the pen closes, we also wait and queue for the start and neotel come and start in front of the line, im sorry but if all us other elites can do this then they can too and if they wanna be late they can get to the back like the other late comers had to. they not any more special then the rest of us surely? [/quote']

 

so why do you guys tolerate it?

[Serendipity]

I am by no means a great rider but what really irritates me is when people start fast on the flats and when they strike the first climb you have to struggle to avoid them because they appear to be going backwards.

 

 

 

If you finished in the middle of the field in your last race two weeks ago why would you want to line up in front on the next race?

[Canaris]

I am by no means a great rider but what really irritates me is when people start fast on the flats and when they strike the first climb you have to struggle to avoid them because they appear to be going backwards.

If you finished in the middle of the field in your last race two weeks ago why would you want to line up in front on the next race?

 

happens all the way on Argus, still passing people on hospital bend on the way back to the finish...............

[Road Hog]

I am by no means a great rider but what really irritates me is when people start fast on the flats and when they strike the first climb you have to struggle to avoid them because they appear to be going backwards.

If you finished in the middle of the field in your last race two weeks ago why would you want to line up in front on the next race?

These are the 'optimistic' bunch, always think that this is the race where they going to 'peak' and show everybody else what they're really made of !!

[boeing]

 

yeah but i am refering to the elite bunch as well' date=' we all rock up latest 30min before the start when the pen closes, we also wait and queue for the start and neotel come and start in front of the line, im sorry but if all us other elites can do this then they can too and if they wanna be late they can get to the back like the other late comers had to. they not any more special then the rest of us surely?

[/quote']

 

You beat me to it. Neotel are really bad at doing this. They actually dont feed from the side, they come from the front, and sometimes start in front of the start line. So we have been sitting like fools on the start line for 15 minutes, and then they decide its a great idea to come and stand in front of you, in front of the start line. The mtn crit last year was particularly bad with regards to this. Team sport or not, feed from the back. If you are late to the line, its not anyone's elses problem