Discussion
Just to be clear it's a genuine question not seeking an argument.
Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road. Many Sundays by me ,I see them early morning typically Sunday cycling up and down the dual carriageway. Seems organised even with people along the route and often small road signs . How is it permitted with the Highway code.
Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road. Many Sundays by me ,I see them early morning typically Sunday cycling up and down the dual carriageway. Seems organised even with people along the route and often small road signs . How is it permitted with the Highway code.
cliffords said:
.
Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road.
No idea. When people race they don't pay the same attention to their environment and safety, that's why it's called a race. Witness the recent ladies race called off in Spain(?) due to danger to cyclists racing on roads open to traffic.Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road.
NB shut the roads would be an option, wouldn't bother me at all. Cyclists are safer, I can drive without worrying one will try to undertake me at 40.
cliffords said:
Just to be clear it's a genuine question not seeking an argument.
Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road. Many Sundays by me ,I see them early morning typically Sunday cycling up and down the dual carriageway. Seems organised even with people along the route and often small road signs . How is it permitted with the Highway code.
I suspect that's not a road race, it's a time trial. Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road. Many Sundays by me ,I see them early morning typically Sunday cycling up and down the dual carriageway. Seems organised even with people along the route and often small road signs . How is it permitted with the Highway code.
Ok.
By the sounds of it you are describing a time trial.
Each rider starts individually 1 or 2 minutes after the other, along a set course. That course is registered with the CTT, local authority and police.
The history of why time trialing is an almost peculiar UK thing is worth a read.
To run a TT (or massed start road race) you will need to apply for and receive, a police permit.
The police (LA and governing bodies) will require a full risk asessment to be in place.
Once you have the permit, it is registered along with roadworks on the LA tracker and the event can be held.
No permit, no event
Not to be confused with a sportive, which really just a non-competitive big ride out for punters.
A full road race, if run by British Cycling, with no road closure has a legal maximum of 80 riders and will also require a race convoy of commissaire and asst comm cars, lead cars, first aid and NEG motos. It will also.habe accredited marshals on junctions, who can legally stop traffic.
Other organisations also run races, with varying levels of convoy and support but broadly same.
Tl;DR. s
t loads of paperwork
By the sounds of it you are describing a time trial.
Each rider starts individually 1 or 2 minutes after the other, along a set course. That course is registered with the CTT, local authority and police.
The history of why time trialing is an almost peculiar UK thing is worth a read.
To run a TT (or massed start road race) you will need to apply for and receive, a police permit.
The police (LA and governing bodies) will require a full risk asessment to be in place.
Once you have the permit, it is registered along with roadworks on the LA tracker and the event can be held.
No permit, no event
Not to be confused with a sportive, which really just a non-competitive big ride out for punters.
A full road race, if run by British Cycling, with no road closure has a legal maximum of 80 riders and will also require a race convoy of commissaire and asst comm cars, lead cars, first aid and NEG motos. It will also.habe accredited marshals on junctions, who can legally stop traffic.
Other organisations also run races, with varying levels of convoy and support but broadly same.
Tl;DR. s
t loads of paperworkcliffords said:
Thanks for the replies. I had no knowledge of the cycle racing document from the 1960's. Seems there are a few more recent amendments too. Now I know.
All I will say is they have very amusing crash helmets.
Oi, we love our pointy hats, to fit our pointy heads. All I will say is they have very amusing crash helmets.
Time triallers or "testers" are closely related to bus spotters, often sharing the same appetite for shrimp paste sandwiches and lemon squash.
WantSagaris said:
I've done plenty of road racing which can be dangerous if you ride like an idiot, but never a TT.
TTs on busy roads does seem a bit odd to me. The beauty of a bicycle is that you can ride it anywhere, so why choose a road designed to take large volumes of motorised traffic at speed?
A bit of an issue around here at the moment, as the quiet TT routes go through 20mph zones and the advise is that we can't run a TT in these zones, not one I agree with but apparently CTT have advised this.TTs on busy roads does seem a bit odd to me. The beauty of a bicycle is that you can ride it anywhere, so why choose a road designed to take large volumes of motorised traffic at speed?
For time trialling on a public road, various risk assessments have to be made, including the amount of traffic at certain times.
That's why most begin early morning.
Having said that, it didn't happen 50 years ago, and competitors used to seek out those dual carriage ways with heavy holiday traffic to 'pull' you along!
Favourite was to ride in the centre of the nearside lane to build up a queue of traffic behind, and then pull over to let them all pass for extra slipstream. If you could time it before an uphill drag, so much the better.
Can't happen now.
That's why most begin early morning.
Having said that, it didn't happen 50 years ago, and competitors used to seek out those dual carriage ways with heavy holiday traffic to 'pull' you along!
Favourite was to ride in the centre of the nearside lane to build up a queue of traffic behind, and then pull over to let them all pass for extra slipstream. If you could time it before an uphill drag, so much the better.
Can't happen now.
Back in the day (ie late 90's early 00's) I used to ride with the Hereford Wheelers CC and they held their time trials during the summer months, and nearly always during the early evening (6:30 - 7:30 pm start).
Many races during the season - mainly 10 milers, but occasionally throw in a 20 / 25 / 50 miler, and sometimes a 2-up TT too.
I took part for a few seasons just for the hell of it (i had a desk job so counted it as my main source of exercise). I was never that fast, so would nearly always be close to/at the bottom of the league table come end of season, but was enjoyable at the time.
What really put me off in the end was some of the race routes were on really busy roads (we had one regular route into Leominster along part of the dual carriageway) which also involved a 180 round a really busy roundabout on said dual...Would always scare the crap out of me that one.
Roads are too busy nowadays, with too many cars / lorries / buses etc, so for me most of my cycling gets done offroad or on quite lanes/routes.
Still see the occasional TT out where we live now, and always give the riders a wide berth when passing them.
Many races during the season - mainly 10 milers, but occasionally throw in a 20 / 25 / 50 miler, and sometimes a 2-up TT too.
I took part for a few seasons just for the hell of it (i had a desk job so counted it as my main source of exercise). I was never that fast, so would nearly always be close to/at the bottom of the league table come end of season, but was enjoyable at the time.
What really put me off in the end was some of the race routes were on really busy roads (we had one regular route into Leominster along part of the dual carriageway) which also involved a 180 round a really busy roundabout on said dual...Would always scare the crap out of me that one.
Roads are too busy nowadays, with too many cars / lorries / buses etc, so for me most of my cycling gets done offroad or on quite lanes/routes.
Still see the occasional TT out where we live now, and always give the riders a wide berth when passing them.
cliffords said:
Just to be clear it's a genuine question not seeking an argument.
Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road. Many Sundays by me ,I see them early morning typically Sunday cycling up and down the dual carriageway. Seems organised even with people along the route and often small road signs . How is it permitted with the Highway code.
You'd rather they did it in the middle of the day and closed the road for it?Why can cyclists run organised races on the public road. Many Sundays by me ,I see them early morning typically Sunday cycling up and down the dual carriageway. Seems organised even with people along the route and often small road signs . How is it permitted with the Highway code.
Sounds like they are being really quite considerate.
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