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MENDIP TIMES
Back on the road again
“ThERE’S a lot of cyclists out there today” is a phrase I’ve heard a lot recently, from family and friends. Although the pandemic has CYCLING with EDMUND seen a surge in LODITE recreational cycling, this recent increase is due to the return of organised cycling events across Mendip – albeit with some social distancing still in place. From road races to sportives, it’s good to see normality returning as cyclists take part in organised events again. The best regional male and female riders were in action twice. First racing several laps of the “rifleman’s route” around the shooting range near Priddy. Then a few weeks later completing several loops of the hillier and more challenging Stowey circuit. The best juniors from across the country also took part in the three-day Tour of the Mendips. These races require a lot of preparation and involve much more than the cyclists. The casual observer will first see a marked car giving notice and warning oncoming traffic that the riders are approaching. Mobile marshals on motorbikes (quite often ex-traffic police) will pull up at junctions to warn that the race is approaching. Static marshals will also be positioned at key points on the course. Accredited marshals have the power to legally stop and hold the traffic temporarily so should be treated in the same way as a red traffic light. As the riders pass by in a blur of colour the commissaire’s car will follow the main bunch of riders to ensure fair and safe conduct during the race and give instructions to the marshals. After the riders there will then be any team cars and medical assistance. All involved are volunteers, receiving only out-of-pocket expenses for
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accredited positions, so if you do happen to be stopped briefly be nice to them and enjoy the spectacle! Now there may be a very small number of people who cannot bear for their car journey to be a few seconds longer and think racing on open roads shouldn’t be allowed. In response, I’d say it doesn’t happen very often and the roads that are used generally have lower levels of traffic. Events also usually take place on Sundays when it is quieter, and by the way…it is allowed! All courses or circuits must be approved by the police. Usually, a circuit will be designed to be ridden anticlockwise so that any turns are lefthanded, so as not to cross oncoming traffic. Applications to use an approved course or circuit for a race must then be submitted to the police weeks in advance and all events must comply with “Cycling
Approaching the start of the race
Racing on the highways” regulations. The purpose of the police approval, safety marshals, highway regulations and the race convoy cars etc is to ensure the safety of all road users during the race. Now, you may also have seen many riders, or even taken part, in the Great Weston Ride, a popular sportive starting in Long Ashton and ending at the seafront in Weston-Super-Mare. Sportives are non-competitive and riders follow a signed route. Unlike the fast procession of a road race, you’re more likely to see a gradual trickle of riders along the route. I’ve ridden it before and the thing that makes it stand out for me is that a lot of the riders are doing it as a personal challenge and/or are raising lots of money for good causes. There is no race in this event, everyone’s a winner so well done to all those who took part!
Great Weston Ride
SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 1. Katy Did 5. Twin bed 9. Tsars 10. Plane tree 11. Eye contact 12. Chew Stoke 16. Architectural 19. Australasians 20. Sash 22. Egocentric 26. Flower bed 27. Evoke 28. Breathe 29. Retired. DOWN: 1. Katie Glass 2. Trade gaps 3. Disconcert 4. Depot 5. Thatchers Cider 6. Item 7. Burgh 8. Die 13. Welch 14. Attainment 15. (See 1d) 17. Illegible 18. Reservoir 21. (See 12a) 23. (See 5d) 24. Creed 25. Belt 26. Fib
