We stayed in the IOM last month for the Isle of Man Youth Tour (cycling). I have never been before and was pretty taken back with some of the course.
They were putting up padding on walls, trees, sign posts…. Some of the bends were pretty scary, there is one massive sweeping one as you come off of the high peak that they must be flat out on, Christ knows what speed they must be doing.
In the cottage we were staying in there were several photo’s of a rider with messages to his family. I asked the owner and it was his step son (Dan Kneen – I had to look him up as I am not a follower of the sport). I asked him how the hell they deal with watching him ride the TT. He said they just have to get involved with it, his mum one of the senior marhsalls.
It is bad enough watching the kids doing their bike racing, I cannot imagine what it must be like watching one of your kids riding the TT.
I have watched some of the on-board footage and I do not know how the human brain can process things quick enough to navigate the route.