Cycling events company hits back (From Salisbury Journal)
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Cycling events company hits back
2:44pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in New Forest News
A CYCLING events company has hit back at criticism of its plan to stage a major event in the New Forest.
It denied that New Forest Spring Sportive was a race and announced that anyone deemed to be competing against other riders would be disqualified.
The New Forest Association (NFA) has urged the authorities to ban what it describes as “mass, high speed” events that amount to a race.
As reported in the Forest Journal, members singled out the Spring Sportive after seeing it advertised on the internet and raised the issue at the Court of Verderers.
But UK Cycling Events says it stages only non-competitive activities.
Quoting one of the terms and conditions, a spokesman said: “The participant accepts that the event they are entering is not a race in any format.
“Anyone considered to be competing against others will be stopped from riding and banned from entering future events.”
The UK Cycling website says the Spring Sportive – due to be held in Brockenhurst on April 14 – is expected to attract about 1,800 riders.
But the spokesman said the figure referred to the number of cyclists likely to take part in three events spread over two days.
Comments(35)
Frogham Ferret
says...
4:56pm Wed 1 Feb 12
These Lycra clad morons not only ruin a quiet place, they endanger lives by their ppoor understanding of the Highway Code
siimot
says...
8:09pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Cyclist hurtling around don't make me laugh the car drivers need to reduce their speed not the bikes!
Capricorn 1
says...
8:19pm Wed 1 Feb 12
1800 riders and others supporting the event get there by motor vehicle.
The Forest is seen as a big holiday park.
siimot
says...
10:48pm Wed 1 Feb 12
It will be very peaceful with your car driving tru the area then i take it ;) How does any cyclist ruin it for you with their near silent bikes...
Village Idiot
says...
7:18am Thu 2 Feb 12
siimot wrote:Near silent? Have you not been walking quietly through the Forest and heard the noise riders make? One can hear their chatter from hundreds of yards away, and I do mean hundreds! And the very simple fact that, almost without exception, they will be 2 or even 3 abreast and car drivers will have to pull over and almost stop as these inconsiderate numpties insist that they have a moral right to the roads due to in part to their supposed 'green' credentials! And as we now know the planet is actually cooling so you cyclists can no longer hold the moral high ground!
"What about those of us that can't cycle or walk far and will be driving through the Forest over the days you're there? Ruined because of your inane want to hurtle through this wonderfully picturesque and peaceful area in flourescent lycra." It will be very peaceful with your car driving tru the area then i take it ;) How does any cyclist ruin it for you with their near silent bikes...
siimot
says...
7:33am Thu 2 Feb 12
You do know you are allowed to ride two abreats and can use as much of my side of the road as i like? That's the highway code read it!
Moral right? umm it's just the right to use the road it's not just there for cars and everyone has just as much right to use it on whatever form of transport they wish to use.
Forest Man
says...
11:30am Thu 2 Feb 12
Most are polite, considerate and very obliging. Anyone caught abusing the highway code should be punished accordingly, whatever transport they use. Ever seen a cyclist kill a horse???
Village Idiot
says...
4:49pm Thu 2 Feb 12
siimot wrote:Talking? Shouting more like. As for 2 abreast, you're right of course, it isn't illegal, but sometimes it is inconsiderate and potentially dangerous. What I would say is that cyclists should be aware of their surroundings and the dangers. Cars are bigger, heavier and more difficult to manage in the narrowness of the country roads, A bike on the other hand is lightweight, smaller and much more manageable.
Oh no not talking in the forest lol maybe they should ban children from the forest then ? Also i suppose the many car engines clogging up the roads can not be heard from as far away ?? You do know you are allowed to ride two abreats and can use as much of my side of the road as i like? That's the highway code read it! Moral right? umm it's just the right to use the road it's not just there for cars and everyone has just as much right to use it on whatever form of transport they wish to use.
Forest Man
says...
6:36pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Village Idiot wrote:I do wish there were many more small, manageable vehicles on every road; it would certainly make all our lives safer.
siimot wrote: Oh no not talking in the forest lol maybe they should ban children from the forest then ? Also i suppose the many car engines clogging up the roads can not be heard from as far away ?? You do know you are allowed to ride two abreats and can use as much of my side of the road as i like? That's the highway code read it! Moral right? umm it's just the right to use the road it's not just there for cars and everyone has just as much right to use it on whatever form of transport they wish to use.Talking? Shouting more like. As for 2 abreast, you're right of course, it isn't illegal, but sometimes it is inconsiderate and potentially dangerous. What I would say is that cyclists should be aware of their surroundings and the dangers. Cars are bigger, heavier and more difficult to manage in the narrowness of the country roads, A bike on the other hand is lightweight, smaller and much more manageable.
Sadly, some individuals appear to pride themselves on their reckless behaviour, the many cyclists I have observed do not fall into this category.
siimot
says...
6:54pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Village idiot, I'm very aware of the dangers on the road when on a bike or driving my car.
As for the 2 abreast all the cyclist i know would move in if they knew a car was behind them, it only becomes dangerous when a car trys to bully the bikes off the road.
Forest Man
says...
10:28pm Thu 2 Feb 12
MAMILycra
says...
12:38pm Fri 3 Feb 12
erderers.org.uk/road
accs.pdf). Don't try claiming that any of these cars were being driven considerately enough. Cyclists have caused exactly NO deaths or injuries.
How on earth can they complain about a couple of weekends which bring healthy and active people (and their money) to the area, during which there may be a requirement for a car to slow down for a couple of seconds to allow for cycles!
At least it seems that they've stopped banging on about the entirely untrue assertion that the sportives go off-road. Now...where's my application form...?
kenwfd
says...
9:41am Sun 5 Feb 12
siimot wrote:you must know very few cyclists then because all the ones I have come across show no cooperation in allowing other road users to overtake and you get abuse should you try
Very true Forest man.
Village idiot, I'm very aware of the dangers on the road when on a bike or driving my car.
As for the 2 abreast all the cyclist i know would move in if they knew a car was behind them, it only becomes dangerous when a car trys to bully the bikes off the road.
Bully car drivers? rather bully cyclists who display the classic signs of a bully. They complain about motorists, yet treat others with contempt such as walkers and horse riders in exactly the same way
It is not just the A roads, but narrow roads - twice I have been nearly involved in head on collisions when I have been driving slowly , and a cyclist comes round a blind bend at over 20mph. Of course, it's all my fault
siimot
says...
10:37am Sun 5 Feb 12
Hmmm not sure on that, the biggest bully on the roads are car drivers that have no respect for anyone, the amount of horses i have seen bolt because a car is too impatient to slow down and give some room.
You try a week on the road on a bike and see how many times cars are impatient passing on blind bends nearly hitting cars coming the other way and pushing you off the road, wont take long to see who the bully's are.
20mph?? i hope that was downhill it's not that easy to go 20+ on a bike
kenwfd
says...
10:40am Sun 5 Feb 12
MAMILycra wrote:Typical. You are unable to tolerate anyone who disagrees with you and all you can do is display the kind of behaviour associated with feral kids
The ill-informed, inaccurate and ignorant observations made by whoever is winding the NFA up (and supported by the spiteful, small-minded and pathetic comments posted above) are ridiculous. Cars (driven by car DRIVERS) killed 67 animals in 2011 following a trend of 60/70/80+ every year before (source:http://www.v
erderers.org.uk/road
accs.pdf). Don't try claiming that any of these cars were being driven considerately enough. Cyclists have caused exactly NO deaths or injuries.
How on earth can they complain about a couple of weekends which bring healthy and active people (and their money) to the area, during which there may be a requirement for a car to slow down for a couple of seconds to allow for cycles!
At least it seems that they've stopped banging on about the entirely untrue assertion that the sportives go off-road. Now...where's my application form...?
So cyclists have never caused a single death or injury
#1. Group of girls get in the way of a cyclist who shouts at them to get out of his way. Hits them, killing one girl (GMTV news)
#2. Child hit by cyclist in shopping precinct (BBC news)
#3 Child left with broken leg after hit and run...erm (anti cycling Bournemouth echo) Online, cycling forums have stated that this person may have been riding a bike, but is not a cyclist
Online search
#4 3 Nov 2011. Pedestrian taken to hospital after being hit by cyclist (Bristol)
#5 18 Aug 2010 utube video of a group of cyclists travelling the wrong way hit a pedestrian
#6 over the past 10 years 29 people killed by cyclists.
I accept that motor vehicles kill and injure far more, but you state "Cyclists have caused exactly NO deaths or injuries" which is untrue
For some reason the New forest Marathon has escaped attack. Like the point to point meeting, it is held once a year. I would be quite happy to accept a "couple of weekends" for an organised cycle event, but information obtained from Hampshire Constabulary shows that apart from the winter months, applcations to hold cycling events, which if all approved would mean cycle events taking place on an almost daily basis.
There are those who would like to get out and excersise, but cannot due to gridlock caused by large numbers of cyclists
kenwfd
says...
11:05am Sun 5 Feb 12
siimot wrote:I'm smiling as this proves my previous post regarding your inability to respect anyone who dares to hold an opinion contrary to your own
Yes being a cyclist i don't know or ride with many at all .... moron!
Hmmm not sure on that, the biggest bully on the roads are car drivers that have no respect for anyone, the amount of horses i have seen bolt because a car is too impatient to slow down and give some room.
You try a week on the road on a bike and see how many times cars are impatient passing on blind bends nearly hitting cars coming the other way and pushing you off the road, wont take long to see who the bully's are.
20mph?? i hope that was downhill it's not that easy to go 20+ on a bike
I suggest you try walking on the Forest especially on the pavements around Brockenhurst where you are in constant danger of being hit by cyclists. Better still, try walking along the same roads or tracks when a cycle event is taking place. You'll really know what it is to be bullied.
Cyclists do cause horses to bolt as well, one of the many complaints regarding the last event was a woman injured when you lot frightened her horse and it bolted, but I'm sure you will say it was her fault
Mr Moron has better things to do and is signing off with the prediction that soon there will be a Tour de France style pileup and those NIMBY moron paramedics driving their bully boy cars will be unable to attend the scene. Serve you right.
siimot
says...
11:57am Sun 5 Feb 12
Its a shame as i was really hopeing for some more unrelated irrelevant stats and figure from Google.
Oh yes enjoy the mass grid lock bikes always cause on the roads lol
siimot
says...
12:46pm Sun 5 Feb 12
kenwfd
says...
3:48pm Sun 5 Feb 12
As regard to how fast cyclists travel on the highway, one of your lot has written to the Lymington Times re a claim of 35mph, saying impossible - more like 20-27mph. Both of you are, of course, right
Gridlock - delay of a few seconds - reports of people having to wait for up to an hour until the main body of those taking part had passed.
Unlike yourself, I do not make sweeping statements about people I know nothing of, but suggest do as I do - donate some of your earnings. Or try a charity auction on eBay
Would be interested to see some stats regarding how many cycling events in the New Forest raise money for charity & how much
A significant number of residents are elderly & I'm not one of them. Show a little respect, in fact "if you want friends, first be friendly"
siimot
says...
5:36pm Sun 5 Feb 12
Please show me deaths / injurys in regards to previous events like the one proposed in the new forest, Im pretty sure there will be nothing.
As for the speed 20mph on flat is very hard for an average cyclist and i cant see that many doing an average of 20+ for much of the ride, isn't most of the forest 30/40 ??
Waiting an hour ?? not really sure how anyone could possibly be stuck for that long, the groups are not that big, 1000 cyclists are not released in one group.
I already donate money to charity every month thank you and the last charity ride i did in the new forest with a friend we raised £400 for cancer research.
As for respect i people that give me respect on the road, for example if a car gives room when passing i will put up my hand to say thank you and a lot say thanks back.
MAMILycra
says...
10:10am Mon 6 Feb 12
k/statistics/release
s/road-accidents-and
-safety-annual-repor
t-2010) but I know that i had misled you with the incompleteness of my previous statement - but I'm sure you are reasonable enough to get my point. I also agree with you that others reading this rather hilarious trail of posts will come to their own conclusions. You just have to look at the aggressive tone of and name-calling by those apposed to cycling events in the New Forest - apparently cyclists are "inane...lycra clad morons...have a ppoor understanding of the highway code...inconsiderate numpties..and bullys." I'm not going to get involved in name-calling, but having driven for 26ish years and cycled for 33ish I know without doubt that a large proportion of motor vehicle drivers are either wilfully agressive and nasty or blindly oblivious to their surroundings, and likely to be rude to anyone who contradicts their right to proceed (or daydream). What I can't understand is the irrational and illogical desire, driven out of what appears to be at best mis-information and ignorance, and worst selfish, spiteful negativity, to stop what is overwhelmingly a positive, healthy, widely-rewarding (local economy, charity) event. Oh...and I do appreciate others' views - these are just mine, and whilst I would encourage anyone to take up cycling and experience the health and mental well-being it brings, I would certainly not wish to see cars banned, from the New Forest or anywhere.
tempusfugit
says...
6:26pm Mon 6 Feb 12
Besides, I want the last word...
Forest Man
says...
8:21pm Mon 6 Feb 12
siimot
says...
8:22pm Mon 6 Feb 12
tempusfugit
says...
10:26am Tue 7 Feb 12
MAMILycra
says...
12:51pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Forest Man
says...
3:23pm Tue 7 Feb 12
kenwfd
says...
5:08pm Sat 11 Feb 12
MAMILycra wrote:re the above - substitute cyclist for motor vehicle drivers - and you have it. I like the phrase "oblivious to their surroundings" when one of your lot rode into the back of a parked van and instead of (deleted) should look where he is going blame the driver for parking.
My apologies - I thought I had been clear - but I should have added "to animals in the New Forest" to my comparison between car drivers and cyclists. @kenwfd - I appreciate your points but your examples are statistically meaningless - you found 6 examples from the 32,955 road deaths from 2000-2010 (see http://www.dft.gov.u
k/statistics/release
s/road-accidents-and
-safety-annual-repor
t-2010) but I know that i had misled you with the incompleteness of my previous statement - but I'm sure you are reasonable enough to get my point. I also agree with you that others reading this rather hilarious trail of posts will come to their own conclusions. You just have to look at the aggressive tone of and name-calling by those apposed to cycling events in the New Forest - apparently cyclists are "inane...lycra clad morons...have a ppoor understanding of the highway code...inconsiderate numpties..and bullys." I'm not going to get involved in name-calling, but having driven for 26ish years and cycled for 33ish I know without doubt that a large proportion of motor vehicle drivers are either wilfully agressive and nasty or blindly oblivious to their surroundings, and likely to be rude to anyone who contradicts their right to proceed (or daydream). What I can't understand is the irrational and illogical desire, driven out of what appears to be at best mis-information and ignorance, and worst selfish, spiteful negativity, to stop what is overwhelmingly a positive, healthy, widely-rewarding (local economy, charity) event. Oh...and I do appreciate others' views - these are just mine, and whilst I would encourage anyone to take up cycling and experience the health and mental well-being it brings, I would certainly not wish to see cars banned, from the New Forest or anywhere.
What you seemingly are unable to understand is that the New Forest is a working forest - it is maintained, by amoungst other things, the controlled burning of gorse and heather, the heathlands exist as such because of grazing, especially by the ponies.
It is the home to many rare animals and plants - Dartford warbler, Honey buzzard, sand lizard and smooth snake. I am not allowed to cut hedges in spring & summer due to birds nesting, but its OK for your lot to come past the same location at speed
Its beauty and tranqulity are under threat from the ever increasing number of visitors - it just cannot sustain regular disruption from cycle events as well. Its not "a couple of weekends" but the Hants constabulary officer responsible for approving cycle events received over 100 requests in a 6 month period alone, which if all approved mean events would take place on average every few days
According to one of your lot, those who object to cycle events should move
I, like many, keep livestock, which need attention 365 (366 leap year) days of the year. The NPA has decreed that I am not entitled to reside where they are kept, so every day I have to go, twice a day to attend to their welfare. Ever seen the consequences of a fox break in and every chicken killed? I have, and they are like pets to me - I felt sad to come across a photo of one of my favourites, rescued from a battery farm Enjoyed 18 months of freedom, last moments in panic as the fox killed every chicken in the pen.
Foxes are very cunning, and will be waiting for the day when I do not turn up and shut them in
Come across the first time I have known for a cyclist being prosecuted for a road rage incident where he spat at a car driver and damaged the vehicle.
Yes, cycling really brings out the nice side of human nature. I like the "name calling" when the first comment I recieved was "moron"
siimot
says...
5:31pm Sat 11 Feb 12
"One of your lot" cyclist are not a different species, plus we also drive cars and I will be driving mine to the event :)
I suppose driving is the most relaxing way to enjoy a trip? Look at the daily road rage in cars.
Anyhow I will be signing off now, hope to see you on the forest soon ;)
P.s I stand by my original comment, you want name calling look at the very first posts made in regards to the story.
kenwfd
says...
7:20pm Sat 11 Feb 12
you drive a car, but are seperate from the rest of us who are impatient and bully bikes off the road (and a lot more).
So you will drive onto the Forest, contributing to traffic congestion. you then ride your bike with others causing yet more congestion
then you claim you have contributed to the local economy?
Meeting you - I hope not, but I am not even left alone when working with my livestock on private property - the "few sensible people" cannot choose correctly between "farm access only" and "bridleway"
siimot
says...
8:07pm Sat 11 Feb 12
This has been fun.
Get out of the house and enjoy yourself live a little, maybe cut one of them hedges in spring :)
kenwfd
says...
8:40pm Mon 13 Feb 12
siimot wrote:for "moan" replace with statement of fact. By the time spring arrives, the nesting season will be under way - if there is not another prolonged cold snap which shows how little you know.
Kenwfd, you do like a good moan :)
This has been fun.
Get out of the house and enjoy yourself live a little, maybe cut one of them hedges in spring :)
You obviously have no consideration for conservation or that several species are under threat of extinction a mentioned above
As a part time farmer, breeder of rare poultry and grower of my own veggies, I spend most of my time "out of the house" - if only, but I this is under threat due to the congestion caused by the latest cycle race
Enjoying myself? well, I will then be even more a figure of fun by revealing my preference for the company of a mature woman rather than bicycle saddles, cottages and boys
siimot
says...
10:02pm Mon 13 Feb 12
kenwfd
says...
8:14am Tue 14 Feb 12
The forest is already so congested that at the height of the season, I already will not go to Lyndhurst, Burley and Milford unless necessary
Watched videos of the latest cycle event on the Forest, seems to confirm my opinion, that apart from the use of Brock college there is no local involvement, using the forest rather than contributing to its economy. Why not use a local catering company and local produced food rather than ship in specialised products, whose nearest distributor is Essex
Of course, you are really holding a race, because you need products for athletes endurance events and Olympic participants
Village Idiot says...
4:32pm Wed 1 Feb 12