Is 94.7 Joburg's safest race?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Safest, in terms of cars yes, in terms of rider total there is a very high risk of crashing. We've supported on the side of the road, and there were many riders who crashed and had bloody or bandaged knees.

 

Yeah, only safer in terms of cars.

 

Through Hyde Park / Ferndale there were lots of pedestrians just strolling across the road, Taxi's pushing across etc, I also got reminded of just how atrocious the road surface of Jhb's roads are, I saw quite a few folk hit a bit of poor road and wobble, swerve, bounce - you name it, I am almost certain a few people fell because of it.

 

I dont agree with the theory "crashing is a part of cycling" - its not, you may just as well say "your chute not opening is part of skydiving, or running out of air is part of scuba diving - a lot of cyclists get into a race and lose all mental ability to think clearly, they act like squirrels in the bunch, dodge up and down the outside, try and squeeze in where there is no space, pass and cut directly in front forcing you to brake, fly down the hills weaving between other bunches and so on, and so on, - accidents do happen, but by taking precautions and riding responsibly the chances of falling are minimal.

[Slave]

I did duty (volunteer) at WP 6 for the 94.7 and watching the way the cyclists arrived and departed, I was stunned that no accidents happened at the WP.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I did duty (volunteer) at WP 6 for the 94.7 and watching the way the cyclists arrived and departed, I was stunned that no accidents happened at the WP.

 

Well, yeah, especially amongst the later starting bunches.

 

Personally I think a lot of organisers focus the route on the few (say 5000 odd cyclists)who have the time to train and ability to finish comfortably.

 

The issue is the other 15-20.000 cyclists dont, so consequently a good persentage of them find the route very hard and by the time they get to the highway they are low on sugar, and totally exhausted. In this state just remembering your name is a feat, keeping a straight line and considering the other riders behind them is so far from their list of priorities its non existant.

 

I saw guys freewheeling down a hill, hit the climb and just stop and get off, perhaps they were in the middle of the road, perhaps there was a rider on their wheel, they cant think of those issues in that state. I saw men on their knees on the side of the road with pain, I saw woman laying in the grass almost comotose, I saw kids pushing huge bikes up incredibly steep hills, I saw men getting Oxygen on the road side, I saw woman falling sideways off their bikes as they couldnt turn the pedal one more time........its very easy for accidents to happen when people are in this state of mind and condition, mostly not even your fault, so yeah, safe in terms of cars, sure, most else, No.

[scotty]

I was one of those that hit a bad patch downhill on Jan Smuts, my right hand jumped off luckily my left stayed controlled, cant blame the orgs they did their best, i saw road markings were in place for small cracks and road dents. Each will have their own experience of the race route and fellow cyclists, mine was this year i felt safer and than any previous 94.7 i've done.

Edited November 22, 2010 by scotty

[Mellow]

I have argued with some hubbers in the past who claim certain races are less safe than others due to mainly traffic and road conditions.

I believe all races are equal ito safety and that riders are the cause and not the circumstances - in most cases at least.

 

Reading all these threads about incidents yesterday and having seen a few myself, I just wonder if this race is safe, and what would the argument be?

 

What do you think?

 

i think its pretty safe...they even had some choice condoms in the temp toilets

[Nettie R]

I thought the race was quite safe, except for the taxi heading up Jan Smuts in the oncoming lane in Saxonwold!

 

.. one idiot riding with his hands on his head in the middle of the bunch going down the M1... It's all common-sense things that people just don't think about when riding.

 

But from an organisation point of view, I thought the safety was spot-on.

I saw the taxi, at least he had his hazards on and was moving slowly. Unlike the Metro cops on the Blue Hills road, riding like there is no road closure.

As for the dude who rode in our group, who also tried the hands free, stretching thing, past the garage on the N14 - you're an idiot.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

i think its pretty safe...they even had some choice condoms in the temp toilets

 

You are kidding.........right.?

[The Saint]

The most unsafe bit about this race is that they allow people who have never ridden a bike before or who hardly ride to compete.

 

Riding a 100km's in general is not easy and neither is this race - to do it when one is not fit and to allow people who are not fit to do it is looking for big trouble.

 

I still say like the Comrades marathon people should need to qualify first before being allowed to compete in races of 90km's and more.

[Slave]

i think its pretty safe...they even had some choice condoms in the temp toilets

[Mellow]

You are kidding.........right.?

 

yeah just being silly

[JMK1]

We expose ourselves to risk whenever we enter a race road/Mtb..some dangers in the form of potholes (BelaBela) and in all races our fellow cyclists.

At least yesterday we did not have to dodge busses,cars etc coming in the opposite direction in the final few kms as so often is the case in the "partial" road closure events.Another bonus no shorter distance riders joining the route either.

 

So I would say 94.7 is a lot safer than any of the other road races we do.

[Frosty]

I saw the taxi, at least he had his hazards on and was moving slowly. Unlike the Metro cops on the Blue Hills road, riding like there is no road closure.

As for the dude who rode in our group, who also tried the hands free, stretching thing, past the garage on the N14 - you're an idiot.

I never rode with you, but did the hands free thing often - does that make me one, even though no-one was hurt in the process?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

The most unsafe bit about this race is that they allow people who have never ridden a bike before or who hardly ride to compete.Riding a 100km's in general is not easy and neither is this race - to do it when one is not fit and to allow people who are not fit to do it is looking for big trouble.

 

I still say like the Comrades marathon people should need to qualify first before being allowed to compete in races of 90km's and more.

 

Well, like I said, you can look at it two ways - the ride is too difficult for the average guy, or the 15-20.000 average people are all unfit and shouldnt be riding.

 

Personally I dont think you can just point the finger at the rider and say "you wer'nt fit" there is an element of route in it as well, so its a 50/50 affair.

 

Lets be fair, most fun cyclists dont expect the final 30 odd kms of this event, from Witkoppen, its pretty much a slog for the middle to tail enders and if the route was easier then perhaps they could finish safer.

 

On the qualifying, well yeah, maybe, but running 90 odd kms is very differant to riding 90 odd kms and given an easier route I think a lot of issues amongst the 15000 average riders will be avoided.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

yeah just being silly

 

- Okay, thought so, but I got a tad worried there.

[Guest agteros]

The most unsafe bit about this race is that they allow people who have never ridden a bike before or who hardly ride to compete.

 

Riding a 100km's in general is not easy and neither is this race - to do it when one is not fit and to allow people who are not fit to do it is looking for big trouble.

 

I still say like the Comrades marathon people should need to qualify first before being allowed to compete in races of 90km's and more.

 

Runnning 90km is more akin to a 300 or 400km audax ride, cycling 90-100km is not too difficult. 16000 timed people got it right this weekend. Maybe for qualification, if it is sorely needed, people should have completed a timed road cycling event of 60km or more. 40+ in an MTB event. But first ask this, why should grown ups be required to qualify for a race that has an U/12 category?

[bikemonster]

I never rode with you, but did the hands free thing often - does that make me one, even though no-one was hurt in the process?

 

If there were people close by, then yes you were one.

 

Try this analogy:

 

I never drove with you, but drove home p!ssed often - does that make me one, even though no-one was hurt in the process?

 

If nobody got hurt due to their luck, rather than your judgement, then yes you were one of whatever the insult du jour happens to be.

 

If you did your handsfree-ness when you riding alone, then go right ahead; fill your boots!