May 16, 2008
Opus
Sounds like problems at the venue. They call it Tuesday Night Worlds now, which I think is ridiculous because it’s an oval loop with half going up and half going down. Not a very exciting worlds course.
Never-the-less, it is a very popular venue and has been in use for 20 years or so. I have raced on it and promoted races there in past years. Maybe not in the future. Skibby writes:
The company that owns the land and adjacent parking lot on yellow circle drive where we have been having the start/finish no longer wants us there. They are tired of people urinating in the bushes, leaving their trash behind and rudely getting in the way of people leaving work. They are letting us finish the series, so we will still have our last race next Tuesday. As far as the future of the race series, we have 10 months to figure something out but the lady I talked to was pretty adamant that we are no longer welcome. Keeping races at this venue has become a constant battle because we continue to irritate the property owners in the Opus park.
Last week I saw people riding the wrong way down the one way also. I am so sick and tired of repeating this stuff, and seeing it happen week in and week out. Not only that but people are leaving a mess in the registration parking lot also. There were banana peels blatantly thrown in the lot last week. I have been extremely disappointed with the rider behavior this season. Not only the Opus behavior but also the behavior at the Marty Road Race. It was next to impossible to keep traffic moving through Marty with all the cyclists just hanging out in the main street. I also witnessed a huge pack of riders who weren’t yet racing riding across the finish line, on the wrong side of the road!
The only surprise to me is that this problem is being discussed so late in the Opus series. I would have expected to see this message after the first race, not before the last race.
I hate to say it, but for the most part people are selfish and complacent. They need some real motivation to do the right thing. Asking nicely is not going to cut it. Only the risk of sever punishment is going to get people to behave.
Caught riding the wrong way on the road? No race for you that day or next week. Caught littering? No race for you that month. Caught urinating outside the toilet? No race for you that year.
Have I ridden the wrong way on the road in the past? Sure. Have I littered? Probably. Have I urinated in the bushes? Absolutely. And the price I expected to pay for these offenses? Nothing. Would I modify my behavior if I knew that these actions may prevent me from racing? Damn right they would. Relying on the common sense of the masses will result in course closure and denied permits.
These problems need to be taken seriously and dealt with seriously with serious consequences for screwing up or you can all plan that the only bike racing you will be doing will be at the velodrome for the next 5 years until it falls down. Then you can plan on indoor Cold Sprints at Grumpy’s. All the options to race on the road will be gone soon otherwise.
I don’t race on the road anymore so you can’t blame me for being part of the problem. That also means that I can’t be part of the solution. It needs to be the rest of you saps. Good luck…maybe you should start pricing out track bikes.
BTW, these problems don’t exist here in France. People ride where ever they damn well want, throw garbage and piss on each other. It’s part of their culture.
Posted by Smithers at 3:02 am under Mobile Post
Comments (12) | Permalink
Profile
