In the 'comic' this week.....

[yellowjack]

....AKA Cycling Weekly dated June 2, 2011:

Page 6 - "Boxed in on Box Hill", regarding rumours of restrictions on access to and numbers allowed on the Zig-Zags for the Olympic Road Race

and

Page 20 - "Closed Circuit", regarding Essex Police warning 'amateur' cyclists to stay away from the Hadleigh Farm Country Park Olympic mountain biking circuit for 'Health and Safety' reasons.

WTF? Has the world gone mad? I can sort of understand the restrictions on access at Box Hill because of the SSSI and SAC status of the area and fears of potential damage, of the environmental kind, by unsympathetic MOPs who might trample rare plants, destroy habitat and generally drop literally tonnes of litter during such an event, causing massive clean-up costs to the owners/custodians..

BUT,

restricting access to Hadleigh Farm surely goes completely against the 'Lasting Legacy' principles of the games. After all, the 'professional' riders were all once 'amateurs', and many who are not yet professional will have the potential to achieve excellence. Why not allow people to judge for themselves what is dangerous and what is not? A further question is: If it is too dangerous for us 'plebs' to ride before the games, will this still be the case afterwards? If so, is the plan to plough it all up after the games and return it to 'green' status, thereby shooting down the 'Lasting Legacy' justification of the games, and wasting tens/hundreds of thousands/millions of £s (Lord knows how much it's costing) of OUR tax money in the process. If they have "installed barriers on and around the facility" to keep it pristine for the games, why not just be honest and say so. I could accept that reasoning, just, but to say it is simply too dangerous for MOPs is unacceptable. What about the zealous policing of every other mountain biking location in the UK? If the BiB had the resources to police leisure cycling facilities all over the country perhaps we wouldn't need the proliferation of signs exhorting us to 'remove EVERYTHING of value' every time we lock our cars, as they might actually catch some of the scrotes that make life miserable when you return to a seat-full of broken glass. Hadleigh Farm is also a bldy Country Park!! Does the principle of public access count for nothing?
Before I'm challenged, No, I'm not suggesting that I'm up to the task of riding an Olympic Standard MTB course, nor is my bike, so I would EXERCISE MY JUDGEMENT and not attempt it, but there are many, some of whom post on here, who surely ARE capable of enjoying this course without undue/increased risk to themselves or others.
Do I have a valid point, or should I

[mackie1]

There doesn't seem to be anything remotely dangerous about the Olympic course compared to any trail centre that's open to the public. I suspect they just want to keep it unspoilt until the games are over. There's been lots of criticism that it's too tame!

[option click]

Maybe they are aiming their advice at the general public, who may be tempted to drag their poorly maintained & rusty BSO out of the shed and have a go, rather than amateur cycling 'enthusiasts' who are well aware of their abilities.

Edited by option click on Monday 6th June 12:25

[mackie1]

You're probably right. Apparently it's harder than it looks as the camera tends to flatten everything out.

Vid here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3yMq7AYP3U&NR=...
Technical bits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQWzy522yCM&fea...

I'm pretty clumsy to be honest but only the fairly long windy rock garden "chute" (0:40 in 2nd vid) has me thinking "hmmm".

[itsnotarace]

Could ride all that on a fully rigid hybrid ffs

[mackie1]

Anyone know how many laps the mens and womens events will be?

[Raven Flyer]

Looks a perfect track for some good racing.

Some people think it should be a track that is only just ride-able. That isn't what this discipline is about. It's a race.

[itsnotarace]

Raven Flyer said:

Some people think it should be a track that is only just ride-able. That isn't what this discipline is about. It's a race.

Might as well have put them in a velodrome then surely. A smooth paved surface (with a couple of rocks for good measure) on a golf course is not my idea of a fun XC MTB course

There is plenty of technical singletrack in Kent, Surrey. All of which is close to London

[mackie1]

To be fair there is a mix of wide-ish crushed rock, totally unmade and muddy single track in there, should be good for spectating too.

I do think that DH should be an Olympic sport too though.

[neil_bolton]

itsnotarace said:

Could ride all that on a fully rigid hybrid ffs

Rightyhoo.

Go on then.

I should think you'll be able. Once. Slowly.

It looked pretty techy, especially the first bit.

The speed at which the XC boys go, especially on their whippet bikes means some interesting mechanicals will happen and some awkward crashes where the non skillful XCers ride/bounce down with locked arms.

Should be some good racing IMHO and I'd have a razz around there.

[itsnotarace]

neil_bolton said:

Rightyhoo.

Go on then.

I should think you'll be able. Once. Slowly.

It looked pretty techy, especially the first bit.

I used to race XC on one of these mate, over 20 years ago



Did you not watch the video? The course was clearly designed by a

[neil_bolton]

itsnotarace said:

I used to race XC on one of these mate, over 20 years ago



Did you not watch the video? The course was clearly designed by a

Yes of course you did.

But you were likely riding down the course like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzZkKE9Z35g

Seriously. As much as you try to make yourself sound like Steve Peat, the speeds in which these boys whip around the course is mind boggling. Sure, I have no worries that many of us could make our way around the course at a reasonable pace, however these guys are bonafide road racers riding lightweight XC bikes.

Mate. You may have raced XC 20 years ago. I've probably lined up against you.

However I ride many tricky races, and am a veteran of the Megavalanche and know when a rocky section is going to cause mayhem or not. Irrespective of what ONE shouty MAMIL might think of a section.

Oh. And one more comment like that one above, and you'll be facing a temporary ban.

MMMkay china?

[budgie smuggler]

I'm concerned that this sets a precedent for closing the thing off after the games. Essex (the whole SE in fact) has bugger all in terms of trail centres, courses etc for mountain biking. This is a great opportunity to encourage more kids to take up mountain biking.

Put up signs with skull and crossbones, mark it as a black run, add chicken runs whatever. Just please don't close the thing down.

What I'd ideally like to happen would be to armour the course a bit more on the corners to make it suitable for greater volumes of riders. Then around the edge, add a nice family friendly 'green' trail, with benches, picnic tables etc. They could even have a little skills area with some trials sections (narrow beams, small see-saw, and so on for kids to practise on. That would be a real legacy.

[ewenm]

itsnotarace said:

neil_bolton said:

Rightyhoo.

Go on then.

I should think you'll be able. Once. Slowly.

It looked pretty techy, especially the first bit.

I used to race XC on one of these mate, over 20 years ago



Did you not watch the video? The course was clearly designed by a

Should be easy for you to qualify for the Olympic team then. I'm sure all of PH will cheer you on.

Why does more technical = better? Perhaps for the Olympics they're giving more emphasis to fitness than incredible technical ability for the XC. I'd expect the XC course to be something most recreational MTBers could ride, but riding it fast is another matter.

[neil_bolton]

ewenm said:

Should be easy for you to qualify for the Olympic team then. I'm sure all of PH will cheer you on.

Why does more technical = better? Perhaps for the Olympics they're giving more emphasis to fitness than incredible technical ability for the XC. I'd expect the XC course to be something most recreational MTBers could ride, but riding it fast is another matter.

Agreed.

[itsnotarace]

neil_bolton said:

Seriously. As much as you try to make yourself sound like Steve Peat, the speeds in which these boys whip around the course is mind boggling. Sure, I have no worries that many of us could make our way around the course at a reasonable pace, however these guys are bonafide road racers riding lightweight XC bikes.

Excuse me? When did I say I could beat them? I just said the course was particularly boring and not challenging

neil_bolton said:

Mate. You may have raced XC 20 years ago. I've probably lined up against you.

However I ride many tricky races, and am a veteran of the Megavalanche and know when a rocky section is going to cause mayhem or not. Irrespective of what ONE shouty MAMIL might think of a section.

Oh wow one rock section, that makes it a world class course does it? Perhaps we have different ideas on difficulty

neil_bolton said:

Oh. And one more comment like that one above, and you'll be facing a temporary ban.

MMMkay china?

I'm Chinese and I find your comment very racist

[mackie1]

neil_bolton said:

But you were likely riding down the course like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzZkKE9Z35g

The sport of downhill racing has come on a long way! Both in technology and technique.

[neil_bolton]

itsnotarace said:

neil_bolton said:

Seriously. As much as you try to make yourself sound like Steve Peat, the speeds in which these boys whip around the course is mind boggling. Sure, I have no worries that many of us could make our way around the course at a reasonable pace, however these guys are bonafide road racers riding lightweight XC bikes.

Excuse me? When did I say I could beat them? I just said the course was particularly boring and not challenging

Well how about we settle it with a ride around there. We'll go and ride it together, and we'll see how you get on. I always take my first aid kit so I'm sure we'll be ok when one of us ends up in the pointy bits of the rocks trying to keep up.

I'm more than happy to do that. Others here can vouch for me - I don't back off from any challenge XC or DH - hell if that XC is too boring then well I reckon you're not riding it fast enough, so why don't we go up Fort Bill and you can show me your skills there.

neil_bolton said:

Mate. You may have raced XC 20 years ago. I've probably lined up against you.

However I ride many tricky races, and am a veteran of the Megavalanche and know when a rocky section is going to cause mayhem or not. Irrespective of what ONE shouty MAMIL might think of a section.

itsnotarace said:

Oh wow one rock section, that makes it a world class course does it? Perhaps we have different ideas on difficulty

if you actually bothered to watch it properly, there are more than several sections that are rather tricky - especially considering the bikes that they'll be riding and the tyre choices that they'll have to make. Watch any XC race with a decent section and the real riders can be seen from the roadies - however bike setup is more important - sitting 120mm over the front end with only 100mm travel and 1.9" semi slick tyres does tend to make tricky sections interesting...but then that's half the fun of an XC race. I raced yesterday in horrible muddy conditions on two semi slick tyres. I didn't gripe when I was slower on certain sections - it's what kit choice is all about. However I was faster on the harder packed sections. Just like I'll be in the Mega when my DHy set up bike will struggle against the more XC setup bikes on the ups - kits choice all over again...

neil_bolton said:

Oh. And one more comment like that one above, and you'll be facing a temporary ban.

MMMkay china?

itsnotarace said:

I'm Chinese and I find your comment very racist

Oh how convenient. I'm sure you are. Funny how that always happens.

Well I'm a homosexual cockney from London. I find your comments very very distasteful and discriminatory.

Does two wrongs make a right (never mind the fact that 'china' used in the context of a cockney accent is not racist in the slightest)?

No. So that comment again and I'll ban you.

Alright sunshine? Or are you an albino today, and I've just offended you again?

Stop being an argumentative MAMIL, grow up and stop trying to have an argument with everybody on the internet. Nobody gives a rats arse whether you once raced a Marin 20 years ago or not; it has no bearing on a discussion of an Olympic XC race.

[itsnotarace]

neil_bolton said:

Well how about we settle it with a ride around there. We'll go and ride it together, and we'll see how you get on. I always take my first aid kit so I'm sure we'll be ok when one of us ends up in the pointy bits of the rocks trying to keep up.

I'm more than happy to do that. Others here can vouch for me - I don't back off from any challenge XC or DH - hell if that XC is too boring then well I reckon you're not riding it fast enough, so why don't we go up Fort Bill and you can show me your skills there.

And that would prove what? That you're a better rider than me? You probably are. You're not a million miles away from me so I'd be happy to go for a ride around here if you would drop the attitude and personal insults.

neil_bolton said:

if you actually bothered to watch it properly, there are more than several sections that are rather tricky

Yeah I did watch it. Most of it looked like a golf course and open parkland. Fine for spectators but a proper test of the best XC racers in the world? Really?

neil_bolton said:

Well I'm a homosexual cockney from London.

How's that working out for you?

neil_bolton said:

Stop being an argumentative MAMIL, grow up and stop trying to have an argument with everybody on the internet.

Sorry, I thought this was a discussion forum. Or am I only allowed to have an opinion if it perfectly agrees with yours? If you did a bit of research, I am not the only one that feels that this was a colossal waste of £800,000, especially if nobody is allowed to use it other than the olympics. Look on STW or even in the Youtube video comments and there are plenty of other people that think the course is boring too

[Raven Flyer]

You still don't get it.

The winner of Olympic mountain biking is not the person who managed to cycle the course, but the person who managed to beat everyone else.

Watching 40 riders strung out on a technical single track would be one of the most boring races I could imagine.