Just had some loud mouthed oaf who’s just joined our team (contractor) Gobbing off about “Getting the bloody cyclists Banned” from his neck of the woods which is the New Forest, after “6000 of the buggers turned up and Caused Havoc last year” apparently.

most people in the Office are aware I’m a reasonably committed cyclist, I just bit my tongue and gave a wry smile to a colleague.

I’m half tempted to mention the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive on the 12th/13th April (Just looked it up) which would suggest the efforts at a “Ban” have failed…

Can anyone furnish me with some useful facts regarding the previous events to refute his imminent bullshit…

I remember some of the locals apparently whipped up a hate campaign in the local rag and some halfwit scattered drawing pins on the roads, what were the actual numbers and details of these supposed disruptions?

One of the girls on here works for them – will see if she can get you any info.

Oh I’ve been hearing it all this morning, the NF sounds like a really happening place, if you’re a moderately wealthy, middle class, white 50-something conservative, with rather fixed ideas on what/who the “countryside” and roads are for…

He was also getting his facts nicely lined up about the recent spate of cyclists apparently throwing themselves under HGVs in London earlier…

Just passed a wonderful comment about cyclists coming off worst in any disagreement with a Range Rover…

The Guy has managed to completely skew my impression of him with a couple of hours jabbering bollocks…

I can feel My Ire rising, I’ve made a lot of trips to the kitchen and chugged far too much tea as a result. Headphones on and turned up now.

latest on Road.cc there’s a long ish post from me on the comments there too

If you search for “New forest” on road.cc there are loads of articles on it over the last year or two.

Basically there’s a lot of mainly old and horsey types making out that their world is going to come to an end as cycling events are endangering them be in on foot in cars or on horses and their going to ruin the environment and “their historic way of life” and destroy the new forest completely!!!

99% of which is utter nonsense and fabrication but stories amongst them have no doubt been traded and exaggerations have no doubt happened along they way and they seem to be entering local folk law in certain groups and they’ll not be done and happy until cycling is banned.

Unfortunately there are fair few of these people in influential positions in organisations in the forest. They’ll hopefully get nowhere with their ultimate aims, not without a major change in the law though.

The crux of it is a lot of locals don’t like on a few days a year to be delayed by a matter of minutes in the journeys in their cars by people on bikes. Sounds like the sight of a cyclist to some has their blood boiling.

yes there are no doubt one or two idiots who do these events and yep a cap on numbers is sensible.

nimbys and bigots, do the event, enjoy it and make sure you greet any locals with a cheery hello, smile and wave and enjoy your day.

oh and as per the event brief don’d drop litter, follow the highway code and announce yourselves to horses and give them a wide berth

Aren’t sportives held on the road and therefore cause ZERO damage? Just a bit of disruption for a few people as roads are busy?

just print out a flyer for this years event and stick it on his desk in the morning, then do the same next week, and the week after. You could get a long running joke out of this if no-one spills the beans.
😆

I’ve got to views on this;

1) Try and remain calm and let the rest of the team form an opinion of him before you start correcting him.

As the ‘cyclist’ you might be seen to be having an axe to grind whereas if another person tells him to shut up you’ll be seen as the ‘good guy’ who didn’t start arguing with him.

2) Say “Look I’m a keen cyclist but I’m not going to try and talk to you about your views of cyclists in the workplace as it’s disruptive and I’d appreciate it if you found other topics of conversation’

your colleague sounds like a classy chap

1) Ride bike through big muddy puddle.

2) Ride – or push – the bike along his previous car, leaving telltale bike tyre tracks.

3) Report back here tomorrow

It’s the usual blindness to true road danger, and daft nimbyism.

Cyclists are a danger to the ponies and deer that wander the forest. Despite not killing any of them. The cars that kill hundreds/thousands of poines in the forest every year aren’t dangerous and don’t hurt or kill any animals because they’re cars, and cars are perfectly safe.

Bikes go too slow and get in the way of cars. But they’re simultaneously a danger to animals and pedestrians because they go too fast. But the cars that are slowed down by bikes are actually safer than the bikes because they’re going slower than them, or something.

Scattering drawing pins all over the place is a good idea because it will deter cyclists and cyclists are a danger to animals. Loads of drawing pins all over the floor are definitely not a danger to animals. In fact drawing pins are a key component of commercial animal feed.

Driving in a convoy blocking the road so you can hold up cyclists is a good thing and in no way impacts anyone else in a car. Whereas while those cyclists are riding without a ‘tw*t escort’ they’re getting in the way of decent hard-working drivers. Going out in your car, with the sole purpose of blocking the road to stop those pesky cyclists getting past is definitely not a case of ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’.

The thousands and thousands of cars that clog up the roads for the New Forest show don’t cause any congestion, they just bring much needed money to the tourist industry. But cyclists cause congestion and suck money out of the pockets of the ordinary forest-folk.

Remind him that is a contractor and he needs to shut his piehole (speaking as an ex-contractor).

During the summer the New Forest gets VERY crowded. On a fine weekend there will be a huge number of cyclists, walkers and daytrippers before the entrants of a cycling specific event are added. In recent years the size and frequency of events has started to have me feeling that the organisers are taking more out of the area (profits and the patience and tolerance of non-cycling locals) than they are giving back.

Wiggle visit there in mid-April and mid-October, it’s hardly peak season.

My folks live in Brockenhurst (both in their 70s now), and my father is getting more and more scared riding on the road. He’s never been like this before, and regularly uses his bike instead of the car for transport (pop to the shops, visit local friends, etc)

He wears the usual florescent vest, has flashing lights, gives correct hand signals (in accordance with the highway code) in plenty of time. In other words, you can’t miss him.

Yet he swears more and more drivers are deliberately trying to knock him off the road, including several “familiar” local cars (although he doesn’t know the owners). It’s getting to a point where he’d rather walk (or drive).

I sent him the “poem” someone wrote in the Lymington Times, and he said unfortunately he’s not surprised by it.

Don’t tar everyone with the same brush – he’s fighting a loosing battle, and he lives there!

He is a contractor – tell him he needs to wear a jesters outfit to work tomorrow, and not speak unless spoken to.

You get the odd comment from people about cyclists in the office, normally harmless enough really, and I’m not the only cyclist in the office…

But this guy is like having the best bits of the DM read to you through a Megaphone…

cheers for the link 29erKeith,
That’s quite funny, I originally hail from Dorset, never exactly thought of it as a haven of understanding and tolerance, choosing to start the NF events from “Over the Border” due to the locals being such a barage of Dicks says it all…

I liked this bit too:

The danger from cyclists to livestock and wildlife is often cited by opponents of the rides but according to the New Forest National Park Authority there have been no incidents involving animals and cyclists since records began to be kept in 2008. The majority of animal accidents in the park are caused by drivers, and after many years of improving safety on New Forest roads, 2013 saw an increase in incidents.

@wwaswas, I think you’re right a bit of keeping Schtum for now, no doubt someone will pipe up in due course and Out me as a Lycra lout, I’m happy to debate such things, but my direct line manager does sit across from me, a 2 hour diatribe from me on people’s poor attitudes towards cyclists probably wouldn’t be seen as all that productive.

my direct line manager does sit across from me

Ok, then get him to tell Mr Contractor to shut his piehole.

I like the jesters outfit suggestion too. You should probably get him to ride around on a unicycle and juggle for your entertainment at lunchtime.

Contractor bullying ain’t the way we roll here, especially as my line manager is also a contractor…

As a Staffie I’m in the Minority TBH, hence I ride a bicycle as a hobby rather than roll around NF in a Range Rover…

I have some sympathy with the New Forest locals. Let’s face it Roadies can be irritating.

More and more I’m understanding why non-cyclists are developing such strong dislike towards cyclists.
The modern day roadie (used to play golf, middle manager on his Cannondized) is not good for cycling. They’re arrogant, selfish and think they’re something special just because they can ride 50 miles on a bike.

Wiggle visit there in mid-April and mid-October, it’s hardly peak season.

At those times of year the weather makes a huge difference. On a good day in those months many folks will see it as either their first or last chance of the year to get out and about.

It’s estimated that each event adds about £300,000 to the local economy. Mainly in hotels, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants and the wiggle events are very much out of the main season. The New Forest Rattler, and a few others are in season, yet receive little to no press which is odd, the rattler’s pretty big too, over 700 last year and it’s in August.

Wiggle sportives are now based at matchams, ringwood for 2014.
The road it starts on is not good…

More and more I’m understanding why non-cyclists are developing such strong dislike towards cyclists.
The modern day roadie (used to play golf, middle manager on his Cannondized) is not good for cycling. They’re arrogant, selfish and think they’re something special just because they can ride 50 miles on a bike.

My first thought on reading the above was that it pretty accurately describes my attitude to motorbikes. I love riding my own one but not many other motorcyclists I meet make very good social company.

I was in the barbers a few months ago when the idiot in the next chair started ranting about cyclists getting in his way. Next thing the two barbers are laughing and joking with him about knocking cyclists off. In the end I couldn’t take any more and told them that at the time I cycled 140ish miles a week on my commute and had to put up with a lot of scary near misses with certain types of driver. Queue embarrassed silence and attempts to pass it off as light hearted banter (which it had gone beyond IMO).

If I were you I’d be tempted to have a small but eloquent rant about ‘his type’. You might find it’s all bluster meant to impress and that once there’s a human face to it all he shuts up.

locals being such a barage of Dicks

Oi! We’re not all like that, well not all the time!

Unfortunately this has all been stirred up by a vocal and empowered minority going under the auspices of the New Forest Equine Association, The New Forest Association, the Commoners Defence Association and the New Forest Verderers. These organisation are in fact fronted by the same few people, and have the strong support of a journalist in the local rag.

I really don’t understand their gripe, which has been going on for over 20 years (first banning all cycling in the Forest, which was later revoked but limited to gravel tracks). One of the key antagonists is a senior member of the Verderers Court (the governing body of the Forest, which even the National Park Authority can’t overturn). This is the guy who spouts off in the Lymington Times a lot.

Sorry but this really gets my goat as it is a very small minority, but their incitement has a huge effect for many, many people on their enjoyment and businesses in the Forest – both locals and visitors.

Although I’m not particularly supportive of the Wiggle events given the sensitivity, I’m more than happy for these events to occur locally as is everyone I talk to locally.

The new set-up is a real kick in the teeth for the nimby’s, as they thought they had ‘banned’ the events (their words) after pressuring New Park Farm to drop them (hitting their turnover in the act). They’ve just moved teh start so all the benefits to local business go elsewhere, but the route is very similar!

Sorry for the lengthy waffle. By the way, the tide of support is turning against them judging by more recent comments against articles in the local paper 😀 I just hope the spring event is ridden sensibly and no more pathetic sabotage occurs.

Nearly a full page without any suggestion of a wee/shoes interface?

At the very least dry a chamois sunny side up on the desk.

Oh! Funniest thing is, the NPA have been given a huge wad of £££ to develop a new ‘cycling hub’ in Brockenhurst, right in the centre of the Forest

IIRC 1 rider suffered a broken collarbone due to the idiots who put the tacks down in the road .
Signage was pulled down , resulting in an agreement that the roads could be painted
Muck was spread by a friendly farmer on a hill deliberatly .
The woman who complains the most organised a charity cycle ride in the Forest herself
The event does bring in thousands for the local B&B’s and tea shops , who would not exist if the NF was a working Forset and not in a any way a tourist trap designed to draw in tens of thousands of people a year and empty their wallets in such a way that no farm land could ever hope to do , unless they start to cultivate poppies

i did the New Forest Sportive in October. It was lovely, we made a weekend of it with family and friends renting a house and eating out for a couple of nights so we also put a few hundred quid into the local economy.

Didn’t come across any mad drivers or indignant locals, and aside from a couple of miles either side of the start finish point the roads were either pretty quiet or wide enough that cars would easily pass without causing any trouble to either party. We did come across a few hotels and restaurants with ‘cyclists welcome’ and ‘hello wiggle riders’ signs which I think was a deliberate attempt to counter the negative publicity that came from the folk that tried to disrupt the spring sportive.

If anyone fancied it I’d recommend it.

I was particularly impressed by one NF ‘local’ who in a TV interview said that we could expect ‘civil unrest’ if something wasn’t done about cyclists! The thought of barricades in the New Forest with enraged old nimbys burning cars and throwing Molotov cocktails at the police was fascinating!

NF has a different meaning from where I grew up, the National Front, seeing it used as an abbreviation for New Forest is just golden 🙂

The woman who complains the most organised a charity cycle ride in the Forest herself

I think she printed loads of flyers (anti-Sportive) and put them up around the pubs of the NF.

A mate and I went on a long multi-pub stop ride…. and collected as many as we could.

Hi,
Some numbers for you – not indpendently verified – though it is in a newspaper so must be true LOL 😕

A spokesman said: “The event generated more than £322,000 for the New Forest economy, with 29 per cent of riders staying and eating locally.”

From this: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10831719.print/

So, extrapolate that over 12 months and you could argue that the opportuntiy LOSS from not having such an event EVERY day of the year is

365 x £322,000/2 (as it is run over 2 days) = £58,765,000! Hmm, £1 from most of the population of the country!

Ask him what he’s done to contribute to his own local economy 🙂

I have some sympathy with the New Forest locals. Let’s face it Roadies can be irritating.

More and more I’m understanding why non-cyclists are developing such strong dislike towards cyclists.
The modern day roadie (used to play golf, middle manager on his Cannondized) is not good for cycling. They’re arrogant, selfish and think they’re something special just because they can ride 50 miles on a bike.

You’re as much as an ignorant bigot as the people you decry.

I’m a cyclist so of course I’m pro cycling and pro cycling events- however……….

The size of these ‘modern’ sportives is pretty massive in comparison to the early versions in this country. There have been sportives in the forest since the beginning, which went virtually unnoticed for years. Our participation in sufficient numbers will have an effect on other’s using or living in the area. Is it a big effect – well I guess we’ll all have differing opinions on what is reasonable. But lets be clear – the numbers of entrants has nothing to do with the organisers having a desperate need to ‘give back’ to the cycling community (or local economy). It’s about cold hard cash in their pocket – what is the maximum number of entrants they can attract at the maximum entrance fee and still get permission to run the event for maximum profit. And with the current boom in (road) cycling they can push those numbers pretty hard. I’d say those that are objecting are essentially objecting to commercial organisations using the the public highway for profit making ventures – the cyclists are just a byproduct.

I just hope they don’t strangle the golden goose because the occasional sportive is a good laugh.

I ride in the NF alot since taking up road riding. It is on the whole 99.9% fine, I have had the occasional buzz near brokenhurst / beaulieu which though you can never prove it were obviously on purpose as there was plenty of space to pass safely.

I do tut to myself when a driver squeezes past too close and too fast and then is seemingly perfectly happy to slow down / stop and give a horse a massive berth.

Once in my 6000 miles or so have I been worried about hitting a horse when a herd of them were sprinting parallel along the roadside and then decided to turn and go straight across. I think I know who would have come off worse.

The forest gets ridiculously busy so I can see why residents get upset, however I’m sure caravans and tourists driving slowly is more of an issue than people on bikes…

The forest gets ridiculously busy so I can see why residents get upset, however I’m sure caravans and tourists driving slowly is more of an issue than people on bikes…

Correct. Pretty simple googling reveals 13m visitor days with 95% using cars to visit the forest. The problem in the new forest is categorically not with the several thousand cyclists visiting a few times a year. It is most definitely with the several thousand stuck up, crabby crotched ball bags that make a noise about other people using the forest for leisure purposes. ITS A **** NATIONAL PARK YOU ****. THATS WHAT ITS FOR!

^^^^ this + 1

Although I don’t ride there anymore because it’s full of tourists.

Although I don’t ride there anymore because it’s full of tourists.

All you have to do is go more than 100 yards from the road / car park to get away from all of them 😉

Or mines. Mines also work. BOOOOOOM he he he, take your picnic basket back to your 4×4 and **** off.