I've got two places available for marshalls on Sunday 7 September (ie this Sunday) for the Southern Counties 25, starting at 7am. HQ is Broadbridge Heath village hall. If you are really lucky, you might even get to be a pusher-off, or the tea-and-cakes person or something. Okay, it's not much of an offer, but any volunteers would be very popular with me. If you can make it, give me a call on 020 8239 7810.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Marshalls are people who stand at roundabouts during time trials, and indicate which way riders are supposed to go. This is normally done by raising one arm into a horizontal position, so that the hand points in the direction which the riders are intended to take. However, if you are positioned at a roundabout which riders are supposed to encircle, the marshall's indication is done "freestyle", and prizes awarded for the most expressive gesture. A simple twirling of the middle finger is not really sufficient, and can cause offence to riders from other EC countries.
Pushers-off are not, contrary to the normal dictionary definition of the term, supposed to push riders off their bicycles. Their role is to hold each rider on his or her bicycle at the start line for the final thirty seconds before their start time, and then to give an almighty push. The bicycle is normally held by the head tube (left hand) and the seat tube (right hand). Holding on to riders' bottoms is not encouraged, either in this role or any other.