Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive April 2013
Comments
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I did the epic today and it was a good event. I went down Friday night and had to be towed off he field as soon as I got there and then a motorhome came and they had to be towed. so god knows what its like today after all that rain we had. I saw the people protesting but the police was talking to them so left us alone. Shame about tomorrow
Neil0 -
topcattim wrote:
More seriously, what was the substance of their objection, beyond "lots of cyclists"?topcattim wrote:
Had to read that bit twice...BelgianBeerGeek wrote:The group we were in was stopped by a bunch of locals with an axe
Somewhere around 50 miles I came to a bunch of protesters, about 30+ I seem to remember, I slowed down, listened to a little abuse, one kid around 15 who shouted "f***ing menaces" at us plus a few other fouled mouthed comments, of which sadly i bit back at and let out a tirade of my own.
I was only there briefly, but further down the road about a mile and a half there were 4 more hardcore protesters (hiding under a tree in the rain ) Who shouted something about ponies. Maybe the locals want to do whatever they do to the ponies in private..........I mean I dunno........
So the jist of it is I don't think even they knew what they were protesting about. It's madness really, how many of those know people who own local shops or even B N B's which would hugely benefit from rides like yesterday and the other new forest wiggle ride in October I think it is.0 -
Not sure what the real problem is. As I say, it was more to do with the whole sportive thing. The group who spoke to us were polite, they made their point, and we rode on. It was at the most a minor inconvenience.topcattim wrote:
More seriously, what was the substance of their objection, beyond "lots of cyclists"?topcattim wrote:
Had to read that bit twice...BelgianBeerGeek wrote:The group we were in was stopped by a bunch of locals with an axe
I have been to the New Forest many times, and in the summer it is choked with cars, motorbikes, etc. But Wiggle's name is mud around there. It even made the local news last week!Ecrasez l’infame0 -
A spot of googling now tells me that (how many?) locals are worried about bikes spooking horses. There's a great response here from the organiser noting that 66 ponies were killed last year by motorists but none by cyclists. Now of course ponies and horse-riders aren't the same thing, but it strikes as really irrational that the locals are organising their protests against cyclists not against cars. Another example of the illogic of life.BelgianBeerGeek wrote:
Not sure what the real problem is. As I say, it was more to do with the whole sportive thing. The group who spoke to us were polite, they made their point, and we rode on. It was at the most a minor inconvenience.topcattim wrote:
More seriously, what was the substance of their objection, beyond "lots of cyclists"?topcattim wrote:
Had to read that bit twice...BelgianBeerGeek wrote:The group we were in was stopped by a bunch of locals with an axe
I have been to the New Forest many times, and in the summer it is choked with cars, motorbikes, etc. But Wiggle's name is mud around there. It even made the local news last week!0 -
I didn't see any "protesters" luckily, but when we went up the 24 degree climb, a car decided not to wait for the cyclist in front, tried to pass and knocked them off. Then when they stopped their car, decided to open their car door and knocked someone else over before revving their engine, driving off and (from what other's round me said) were laughing at what had happened.
I have never been so soaked in my life (just making a loose fist resulted in water pouring out of my gloves), and the winds really didn't help. I did feel sorry for the marshalls having to stand there in the pouring rain, at least I was moving so stayed a bit warmer than I assume they were.
I'm glad I did the ride, but will have to learn how to go across cattle grids without killing my hands (short of having suspension or getting off and walking, I don't see an easy (read pain free) way to get across them).0 -
Explains why there was police on that hill then. Hope the cyclists were ok?
and if someone got the cars number plate? 0 -
starbuck wrote:I'm glad I did the ride, but will have to learn how to go across cattle grids without killing my hands (short of having suspension or getting off and walking, I don't see an easy (read pain free) way to get across them).
Stand up, clamp the saddle between your thighs and hold the bars lightly.0 -
I rode the standard route on Saturday and thought it was brilliantly organised and sign posted. Unfortunately myself and a group I was with managed to not see a sign and rode an extra 2 miles up a quite large hill before we worked out that we were alone! Once we went back down the hill the sign was obvious but we were probably "racing" a bit too much and missed it!
The so called protest cracked me up and the whole day was very wet, very windy and a great laugh to be a part of. Loved every minute of it!!
Gary0 -
starbuck wrote:I'm glad I did the ride, but will have to learn how to go across cattle grids without killing my hands (short of having suspension or getting off and walking, I don't see an easy (read pain free) way to get across them).
Speed is key - stay relaxed, lightly grip the bars and keep the speed high (like Cancellara on the cobbles!)Sensa Giulia 1050 -
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Saturday was mixed ...
I deliberately took the 4x4 despite not needing the space it provides - because I knew the show ground would be muddy ... I'm not glad I was proved right ... Sorry for those left when we departed, I would've helped (even had tow ropes in the car) but I was so cold and wet I couldn't even do the straps up on the bike rack ...
It started off as a nice ride - bit disappointed we headed up the main road to Lyndhurst - but it was over quite quickly ... moved out into the quieter roads and was much better. We got to the first stop before it started to rain so were quite happy with that (Blissford when cold & wet would've been truly miserable) - from then on it was on with the waterproof (I say waterproof, it wasn't really ... but it was slightly better than no jacket at all - I think!) and heading into the wind for the trek back south... making good progress despite the wind & ever increasing rain.
We saw the "protestors" at the narrow bridge on the Ornamental Drive - I'm afraid I may have wound them up a bit as I commented "How Silly" in an amused voice as we went past ... but the Police were there and we only slowed a little...
Raining in earnest now, quite a few were baling at Brokenhurst - but undeterred we carried on - I had a chuckle to myself at the couple sat by the ford in Brokenhurst - looking cold and miserable, camera in the lap just waiting for some law breaking cyclist to come past ...
Through the pinchpoints I have to say we didn't have a single "enraged" driver - they all passed reasonably and didn't make a rush for the gaps. I must just apologise to the cyclists I overtook on the climb out of Hincheslea Wood - I had fresh legs as I was riding with SWMBO at a much reduced pace to my normal speed - I couldn't resist the urge to chase down and overtake a whole group on that short section - but I did have to stop and wait at the top.
From Sway onwards I hardly changed gear - my hands were that cold & wet that I couldn't physically push the shifter across, so I stuck in the middle of the cassette and just churned over .. glad we were on the homeward stretch ...
Overall, most cars gave us plenty of room, a few carved up ... most cyclists gave us plenty of room - but quite a few passed way too close ... the litterbug cyclists were still around - dropping the gel wrappers (was it really accidental?) but only really occurred in the last 15 miles ...
UKCE did their usual job of excellent marshalling, easy registration and good sign marking (even if some were broken by protesters) but I think they messed up the venue. I knew the field would be boggy having had the rain previously - so the ground organisers should've done too, and so should UKCE. The registration tent was miles away from the car park - no great biggy in itself, but the journey too/from was like a cyclocross track - lack of changing facilities meant we didn't stop afterwards - just jumped in the car with heating full on and came home.
No doubt it would've been much better in the dry - but we know the UK isn't dry - especially in April ...
So, if they can sort out the venue layout and facilities then it could be good again ...0 -
I was down to do the sunday ride and I had traveled down to do it. When I got the email saying it had been postponed I was gutted. Sadly I am not available on the provisional date due to other commitments. The email suggests that there are three alternatives for those who can't do the new date.
Given the events of saturday by a small minority of local residents I am not that keen to ride in this event. I am astonished that cyclists are being singled out as the cause of distress to wild animals. Surely motor vehicles are more of a risk.
Maybe there are other parts of the country where the local residents would welcome my visit. I did the Palace to Palace in 2011 and people where out cheering us on. One lovely old lady agreed for the road to be closed outside her house for a few hours in the morning. I think her son is involved in the organising of the event somehow 0 -
I think the majority of residents are not bothered - there are always the few that get hot under the collar and there are many who benefit directly from these sorts of events.Der Kaiser wrote:Maybe there are other parts of the country where the local residents would welcome my visit.
As always, it's the vocal few who try to spoil it for the majority.0 -
As a local did some of the route on Sunday morning with fellow Radar member Topmoxy, we were intending to ghost the epic route if still on.
The signage was still up and the route easy to follow. We saw lots of cyclists out on the route, presumably many who were already down here to do the Sunday.
As far as the protesters are concerned, its a subject that needs to be addressed by organisers UK Cycling Events. I do believe they need to engage with local MPs/Councillors and the National Park (more than they do anyhow). I do agree with local our MP that licencing should be introduced, far too many cycling events in the New Forest. Perhaps if UK Cycling Events gave more than the paltry £150(approx) to local charity then it might be more of a welcomed event.
On return back home, ended up chatting to one of the many horse riders, I knew immediately they did not like cyclists. In conversation I explained that it was a road event and far better than a massed mountain bike event, that really would tear up the forest. And that no cyclists have been know to kill any of the NF ponies.
There are a number of road cyclists (not novices) out in the forest with no regard for the surroundings or other users, and treat the area as their own personal training area, never slowing down (Strava?). This makes it worse for everyone else, hence the protests. The New Forest is a unique environment than perhaps riding other national parks. Perhaps if all cyclists took the same precautions passing horse riders and grazing animals as when you should if driving, then relationships would be less strained.Always be yourself, unless you can be Aaron Rodgers....Then always be Aaron Rodgers.0
