Best laid plans went awry at the weekend when I received an e-mail from the organisers of the New Forest Sportive to say that the Sunday event was cancelled due to the weather. The event site and part of the course had been flooded but the clincher seemed to be the fact that the car park was a quagmire. Very dissapointing.
There had also been protests in the New Forest by a few locals who objected to cyclists invading "their forest" and frightening and injuring the horses and other wildlife. This seemed to have been whipped up by the local papers. On Saturday some of the protestors removed or changed the course signs, threw drawing pins on the road and abused some of the cyclists and there was one incident where a motorist drove into a cyclist. The view of the protestors was not shared by a majority of locals though, many who rely financially on events like this. It was also pointed out that in the last year 60 ponies had been killed by cars or other vehicles as against 0 by cyclists.
News Report
It never ceases to amaze me how people in our country seem so opposed to other people enjoying themselves. We saw it when the London Marathon started, the Olympics and any other event that might have some minor impact on an individuals life. "We are not opposed to people cycling, we just don't want them cycling on OUR roads" was one quote. I suggest getting a life.
Right, off my soapbox now. Instead of riding this event I decided to try out a ride with Farnborough and Camberley cycling club something I had been thinkingabout for a while, we met in Farnborough and about a dozen riders headed off towards Windsor. The pace was fast and for a while I wondered if I would be able to keep up. I needn't have worried, it soon slowed a bit and riding in a group made it easier anyway. Not sure if I will join or not, it would always mean loading the bike in the car and driving there. Why no club in Bracknell? Perhaps I'll start one.
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