I was not impressed with the behavior of some of Steve's Cycle Paths. A group of them stopped in the middle of the bike path on The Queensway in Mississauga, got off their bikes, ran up against some fences and proceeded to urinate in plain view of everyone. They all laughed and thought it was a big joke.
I couldn't believe it. There are plenty of stops and there is no need for that.
More the issue was the congestion getting out of the city. I can relate to "Steve's Cycle Path Team" having nature call....expecting the first stop to be in 25 km, I figured it would be just over an hour. Little did I know that there were many uncontrolled intersections and a narrow bike path that would add around 90 minutes to the trip for those of us in middle to rear of the starting pack. The terrible experience getting out of the city really ruined day one for me. I'll go back to the M course (did it in 2010) just to avoid the congestion. One of the reasons I went to the K course this year was to experience the "group ride" phenomena...as on the 2010 M ride, there were many kilometers where we were alone on the course. Be careful what you wish for!
Also....I thought that team looked like it was a lot of fun....I'm glad they were there!
Jules, I appreciate that going where and when you feel like it may be acceptable race behaviour but this event is not a race. The Ride inconveniences the residents of every community we pass through and disrespectful behaviour by our riders reflects poorly both on the group and the event as a whole.
What we're doing is important, but that doesn't give us the right to treat these communities with disdain. Riding irresponsibly, littering, rude behaviur and voiding your bladder on someone's fence all detracts what we're trying to accomplish.
Last year, as you said... when I had to go, I had to go.... so I stopped at a coffee shop en route and they were kind enough to let me use their facilities. It isn't difficult to show respect for others if you simply have the will to do so.
The etiquette that I found the worst wasn't the urinating. It was riders not telling me that they were on the left or right or if it was bumpy (like in the day 2 km ride), forcing me to move over into the more rough road because my tires were bigger than the road bikes. Sorry guys, just because my tires are wider than yours, doesn't mean that my arse liked being pounded constantly or that I'm more experienced at being on rough terrain (I"m not, let me tell you). I cursed at a few teams who passed me on both sides without telling me that they were there, and nearly made me fall, 'cause they scared the living bleep out of me. Please, have courtesy out there. Not everyone is as good as you. That being said, I still thought that it was an awesome ride, even when I pulled of the course for medical reasons on day one! Congrats to us all!
But the reality of it was, with the route we were on, there weren't exactly a plethora of coffee shops or places to stop. I'm pretty sure we only passed by 1 Tim Hortons, and went through a lot more residential neighbourhoods as opposed to commercial sections.
I agree that publicly answering the call of nature has to be done with tact, hence a fence, gives partial privacy.
Would you say the same thing to someone who let their dog pee on the exact same fence? Probably not.
Twobrokenarms, couldn't agree with you more. Biggest issue I had was people drafting me. Would assume a position directly behind me without warning or notice. I don't have a problem with someone drafting me. But I just want to know someone is there so I can ride accordingly.
Not sure about the first day (I was one of the last on route), but on day two, there was very little (if any) traffic, so I think that that was part of the problem. Also, from time to time, the roads were really bad, and road bikes were flatting out a lot. I kept relaying pot holes and such (I went through them easily), but people, especially in teams, kept creeping outward. Not sure why that was, but it was.
i didn't like that either, or when there was one rider riding up the middle of the line, when they were not passing anyone, and i had to pass onto the opposite lane of traffic
Sorry but there is no excuse for pissing in public. It reflects negatively on the event and the public were pretty tolerant of all those bikes on the road. All of us were representing and we all have a responsibility to behave accordingly.
With the route we rode on, and the options we were given, I saw many peeing in public, most were in the rural areas, but in all honesty, we were left with little choice, unless they want to put a port-a-john every kilometre I'm not exactly sure how to solve this problem.
There was a pit stop roughly every hour on the 200K route! How does a person need to pee more often than that? Maybe some lessons in proper hydration are needed...
-- Edited by twinpro on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 12:19:48 AM
I have to say there there was a real lack of rider etiquette especially on Day 2 where I saw a number of riders riding 6 across with cars coming up behind them. The problem is that on Saturday all the experienced riders usually goto the front of the pack and are out before everyone but on Day 2 depending on when they up and finished breakfast they head out later with the rest of the pack and really have no concern about flying past other riders and running down the wrong lane of the road.
Sorry but you're suggesting that there wasn't a lot of thought put into this event. You can't blame the organizers. People are responsible for their actions. I only named the one group because that is the only incident I saw. I'm sure the team leaders would not be impressed.
Has everyone forgotten this event was about fighting a terrible disease and building commraderie? It's sad to see such a "pissing contest" happening on the boards (pun intended). Peelser, it might have been unbecoming behaviour but on the whole it wasn't the worst thing they could do to disgrace the entire event. I'm sure they were not intending to be disrespectful toward the residents, the ride, or to you. Take it for what it was (a bunch of guys having a laugh and possibly forgetting not everyone shares their sense of humour) and don't let it dampen what the event really means or your experience. There really weren't a lot of places to pit-stop if you had to go and bathrooms at every pit stop or not, doesn't mean it doesn't hit you at the most inconvenient of times. Could they have used more tact? Maybe, but at the end of the day nobody was harmed by it.
As far as sharing the road, I'm a fairly inexperienced rider in comparison to many that were out there. I have to say, mostly I rode alone (I didn't have a team) but when I came across someone going my pace who I could chat with for a while, I certainly rode beside them as it made the ride a little more enjoyable. As for riding alone and not directly to the right, some of the roads were pretty damaged toward the sides. A lot of grooves and pot holes and bumps. Sometimes I had to ride more to the center just to be comfortable and reduce wear on my tires.
What I found frustrating was the lack of experienced riders whizzing by without saying they were doing so! Plenty of you guys did but a lot of you did not. Not only do you make the more inexperienced riders nervous, you set a poor example for those of us learning the ropes of the event! Plus, if I am riding out a bit and you don't call that you're coming to my left, I won't be able to move over for you like I did when riders did let me know where they were.
To those walking bikes, experienced or not, especially up difficult hills, move off to the side as much as you can! Some riders were walking and taking up all the room in the bike lanes or were way out in the lane. Going up a steep hill isn't easy, going around you is that much harder and there's no need for it if you're thinking about where you're walking. I'm only adding that in because this discussion is about ettiquette and I think that is ettiquette too.
I want to say that it was also a really nice experience when riders that were stronger or more experienced than me rode past and sort of coasted beside me for a second to address me by name and encourage me to keep going. That made it really fantastic for me and sometimes gave me just what I needed when there was no cheer station in sight AND it was contagious! It made me want to encourage fellow riders who I was passing. Also great that when I got a flat, before the tech vehicle got to me a group of about two or three was ready to stop and help me out of a pinch. Those are the experience riders that really made the ride for me.
-- Edited by equestrian56 on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 02:56:06 AM
I can understand a person having an urgent need, but for a group to do this is a sign sounds like a case of mob mentality. Some people get into the party mode and forget to think about little things like using the john before starting out, let alone how their actions reflect upon everyone else.
I found, even as a slower more inexperienced rider that many of the faster, experienced 'team' riders did NOT call out their intentions. I learned during the inaugural ride most of the etiquette of riding that I had no clue about before that first Ride! Sunday, riding along one of the back roads through Welland there were a pair of riders just up in front of me when a team rider flew past me on my left with no announcement and then continued BETWEEN the pair of riders in front of me, again with zero warning! There were many riders that always announced intention but there were many more that did not. If I can do it then there's no reason any of those experienced riders could not
As a K2 inexperienced rider who was stuck to the right - etiquette would have been great! I nearly caused a few accidents trying to get out of the rough road, and not realizing that someone was right on my tail or trying to pass.
Rider ettiquette: Ok first of all, as a somewhat experienced rider capable of maintaining my own in large pelotons but respectful of beginners this is what I do especially in a large ride!
On the left ...signals left side pass On the right....signals right side pass
Comin thru middle ... split two riders ( I only did this if absolutely necessary! and I apologized ...as it scares people who are inexperienced)
Left hand off bars and pointing down indicates pothole to my left
Right hand of the bars and pointing down indicates potholes to my right.
If you are cornering and there is loose gravel call it out " Loose gravel"
If I am on your wheel drafting call it " on your wheel" some don't like to spite what you think.
Some are not as comfortable in the peloton or drafting ...it's like "close talkers"
If you stop pull off the road if you are walking pull off the road!
If you are Sunday cruising stay to the right ...not 3 abreast! Consider it like a three lane highway
"CAR BACK" means there is a car behind you move to the right unless you want an arse full of fenders!
"CAR FRONT" means oncoming traffic and you may eat the grill if you don't move to the right!
When teams converge with 100k riders it is your job absolutely to not interfere or swarm them like a pack of bees. They are nervous as heck when this happens stay double file to the left not swarming and weaving as I saw one group do... it's easy for them to lose their balance and crash ...probably into you! I was in a large pack hooked on to a team peloton day 1 as we finished the ride and swarmed a few 100k'ers I felt so bad for these riders some were shaking ...it was not right for this group to do that.
yes agreed....I was half way on the K route to Niagara when two or three team members from a team decided to take a left turn at full speed two on my left side on cutting in on my right side. To avoid the two on the left I moved right and almost crashed into the idiot passing on my right. Not one person uttered "passing on _____" nor an apology.
2011 was my first year riding and I didn't know what to expect. During the first day I was run into the ditch by someone on my left when we were turning a right corner! He overshot the corner going full speed and cut me off! I don't think he realized he did it! On my second day I was standing well off to the side of the road at a pit stop and a woman came riding into the crowd at full speed. She turned her head to the right at the last second and drove right into me, throwing me over a pile of bikes. She felt bad and I had some scraps and bruises, but nothing compared to the repair bill for my bike. I finished the ride - but in the end it cost me $ 400.00 to get it fixed! Despite that, it was amazing ride and I signed up for next year! I can't say enough good things about the volunteers. They were truley amazing! And the riders - you guys really do rock! Remember what you are there for! We are all in this together. I realize with 4600 people riding bikes it's going to get a little crazy. It's a long ride - it's going to get congested, people are going to get tired! But please try to remember - it's not all about you! You are not the only one on the road! Just be aware of your surroundings! With that being said ... I wish everyone all the best on next years ride!
