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1/03/2009 8:57:52 PM
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Chris Wolff
Posts 12
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I hope most people enjoyed their coast to coast ride as much as I did today, but I have a few complaints/Rant to make. Freeloaders.
I finished at about 11am, and in our group of what seemed like 20 people we had about 5 people sharing the work load from Meadows. Really poor effort, especially when the people who have taken the easy ride decide to then jump up the hills at Inman valley like heroes. Bloke with a white shirt and helmet and BMC, you know who you are.
Especially disappointed that there seemed to be quite a few people not wearing wrist bands but just out for the ride without paying for the privalege of riding with heaps of people on a supported ride. BikeSA do a great job with the organisation on the road, signage, volunteers manning the drinks stops and intersections, plus the bike and first aid support. Then there is the organisation at the end, band, food etc. I imagine a lot of work goes into this, and if everybody decided that we shouldn't have to pay to enjoy it, then it won't happen. Sure the roads are open and anyone can ride anywhere they like. You may not use the drinks stops, or anything else, but you have enjoyed the event, the police escort up cross road, plus the support of volunteers standing on the side of the road waving you through intersections.
Same guy with the white shirt and the BMC, I saw you skip round the edge of the check in at Victor harbour and head into the entertainment area that you obviously felt that you didn't need to pay for. Poor form
Rant over, thanks to BikeSA for another great event, and well done to all the participants. I rode home back up Hindmarsh valley and watching the tail enders coming home was pretty inspiring. There were some people struggling and well done to them.
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1/03/2009 9:37:30 PM
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Troy Collett
Posts 171
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yeah they seem to have that prob every year then the freeloaders decide to go a different way & about 50 people follow them up the wrong roads etc
what was your average for the ride btw?
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2/03/2009 11:58:28 AM
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Cos
Posts 30
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Couldn't agree with you more Chris. I don't know if I was in your group (I had a blue Pinarello with the 09TDU top with my team name on it). Anyway, the group I rode (about ten or so) were truly awesome guys, bloody fast & good change over, some pitching in, I did my share, though I could have worked harder and will do so next time!!. At the last hill climbs (Inman?), I cramped badly and was forced to slow down to a crawl, loosing touch with the group, I finished approx 11am too so maybe I was in your group?
Two things annoyed me, one is as you described and the other is people starting at Glenelg but who took short cuts not riding the full distance, giving the impression of doing the distance in a really fast time? I noticed at least one rider (this people was in a group...) who I past at crafers, but then was at the finish before me, boasting their finishing time (it much better than the group I rode with)..!?! I know the spirit of this is to have fun, but how can one really get a sense of achievement by taking shortcuts....
Enough said, I would like to thank the guys I rode with, unlike me, never faulted, truly an awesome bunch. Cheers
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2/03/2009 8:11:02 PM
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Troy Collett
Posts 171
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hope everyone rode safe & there wasnt any crashes
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2/03/2009 8:15:33 PM
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Daniel Shaw
Posts 8
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We had a team member off his bike. A few people riding solo, who couldn't maintain a straight line, it was only a matter of time till one swerved at the wrong time and caused a bingle. Sure enough 1km after turning left into the hindmarsh valley, sure enough swerve, jamming of brakes = group of 8 scattering to dodge the lone assalant, 7 stayed upright, one didn't.
Wouldn't have been to bad if the guy had actualy stopped and come over to talk to the cyclist who fell.
Apart from that, Fantastic ride, we left late to miss the traffic (left crafers after 9, came in at just after 12.
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2/03/2009 11:34:55 PM
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Chris Wolff
Posts 12
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Cos, we might have been in the same group, there was a bloke there on a blue Pinarello, but I can't recall what he/you were wearing. I was on a bianchi wearing a grey vest.
I averaged just over 34km/h for the day so was pretty happy with the speed.
Sorry to hear about the prang. Its always worrying when so many people with different skill levels are on the road.
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3/03/2009 7:24:17 AM
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Adam Thompson
Posts 16
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There was a spill on Aldgate Valley Rd - I came on it shortly afterwards and had to go full brakes to miss the parked ambulance. Presume they hadn't yet had time to warn cyclists back up the road. Apparently a few ended up in the creek on the right, two needing treatment. About 2/3 of the way down.
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3/03/2009 9:39:45 AM
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The Cheez
Posts 23
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The support crew on the Coast to Coast were fantastic and unfortunately I knew all of them by name by the end of the day. I was the guy with an upside down blue pinarello on the side of the road. I had three flats and then the rear hub broke with 20kms left on the ride. All three flats were fixed by the support crew (free tubes etc) and then they drove me the last 20kms when my bike broke. Still a great event and day despite my hopeless run of bad luck.
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3/03/2009 10:37:48 AM
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Darren arnold
Posts 4
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Hi
very enjoyable ride only probs i had were people not signaling there intensions to pull off the road got caught behind a car on pages flat rd.
was very disapointed to see a few riders inside passing the car .no wonder some motorist dont like cyclists.still got there in 4h4m .
did ride non stop.
cheers safe cycling
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3/03/2009 9:03:57 PM
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No Chain
Posts 31
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Cheez ... next year can only be better. I remember last year after my third flat being almost too exhausted to pump the tyre (All CO2 shots fired) and a friendly volunteer encouraging me enough to get over the last big hill. This year all went to plan ... no flats and a much improved time - better hydrated and nutritionally more sound too. Cannot say that the lead up training was altogether textbook though.
Freeloaders will always pillage these events ... as long as they don't thieve a free lunch I can deal with it. Handing in the wristband or having it marked with a texter like at TDU challenge would solve it. If its what 'floats people's boats' to be a financial non-contributor stuff 'em in that regards too.
In last two coast to coasts, the '08 grand slams and the tdu challenge a big thanks (as well as to Bike SA and all volunteers plus SAPOL) must go to 99% of drivers sharing the road who are considerate and must find coming across hundreds of cyclists nerve wracking. The other 1% would be anti-social either inside or outside of a car anyway. I find the online 'AdelaideNow' cyclist v driver forums hateful and non-productive - people casting lines into the pond and waiting for others to take the bait.
Ride defensive and remember the good drivers, that's my creed. A bad driver might find me but they'll have to look pretty hard for me first!!! ...
We live in sensational cycling country ... smile for the middle aged bloke busting his nuts and chaffed quoit * to push his brand new Giant or Avanti over the crest for the downhill run home. "Onya mate" works wonders.
The best thing experienced riders can do when coming up behind slower, inexperienced riders is to give good, clear, early voice. "Group Passing Right". Last year's coast to coast seemed 'noiser' in this regard? I know because I'm an inexperienced rider but one who loves this sport and will do anything to promote it positively both now and for the future. Every time I pass the bollards at the top of the old freeway to mark the end of the climb I think to myself "there's a million people at the bottom of the hill who didn't".
Long live Bike SA
edited by No Chain on 3/03/2009
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4/03/2009 6:30:58 AM
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Cos
Posts 30
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Hi Chris, yes, I remember a white and green Bianchi. If you're out for a long training ride in the near future, I wouldn't mind tagging along, email me if ok.
Sorry to hear about the misfortunes, though i'm glad everyone is alright.
I think BikeSA should be more active in controlling freeloaders. There's must to be a way of making it harder for these cheapskates to join in, the only think I can think of is to use volunteers to remove them along the route, but how do you do that when they are travelling at speed....... forget it, we just have to live with 'em, like interfering mothers-in-law...
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14/03/2009 11:50:26 PM
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Alex Bates
Posts 6
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"the only think I can think of is to use volunteers to remove them along the route"
how and why do you propose BSA remove people from an open public road?
if BSA events represented good value i imagine more people would be willing to front the coin but when all you get is a piece of black and gold fruit cake and a wave goodbye at the start you will have people not paying, end of story.
note i have paid for every BSA event i have done but i completely understand why people do not.
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