permanent, discreete sportive signs...

[Brian Nolan]

hi there,
this may interest people who have ridden sportives.. copy of email I sent to Sustrans ..

Dear Sustrans,

I am sure that some of your members or employees will have heard of
cyclo sportives and may have ridden some themselves ? I have been
riding & enjoying them for a few years now in various parts of the
country ; Yorkshire, Dartmoor , Peak District , Black mountains , Welsh
Marches etc and find them to be a great day out on the bike. Usually
they are a run over a very hard but satisfying route over some
beautiful landscapes with quiet roads - with on route signage so no need
for maps , unlike Audax events.. ...
I have a suggestion , is it possible to have some permanent, discreet
markings on the routes for cyclists to follow ? This would mean that
you could easily follow them on your own without recourse to maps and
lots of stops etc.. What with all the road signage we have at the moment
( even in the countryside ), I feel that some permanent , discrete signs
( the ones they actually use on the events are quite small - some are
even just painted on the road ), would be a real help to keen road
cyclists and would enable them to ride some great routes all year round
and not just on the day of the event. In the scheme of things, I feel
that this could be a low cost initiative which would be appreciated and
is not too much too ask if we want to encourage more cycling..

Please could this be looked at or forwarded to someone who has
experience of these events so they know what I am banging on about !

thank you,

yours sincerely,

Brian Nolan - Addiscombe CC

and the reply ;

Dear Brian,

Thanks for your email.

You would need to contact the local authority about this. I believe this
has already been done on some routes, such as on Exmoor:
www.visitsomerset.co.uk/bikesomerset/ro ... ycle-route

However I think the problem (perhaps perceived) would be liabilty,
especially as sportive routes sometimes use busy roads which are safe
enough for experienced cyclists - especially during a sportive when many
are riding together, but may not be for lone inexperienced cyclists you
may choose to follow such a signed route.

Currently the signed National Cycle Network is to provide an alternative
to busy roads, traffic-free where possible, but also on minor roads
(2/3's is on road), so there would need to be some kind of
differentation between this and permanently signed Sportive routes. Very
possible though as there are numerous signed Mountain Bike routes which
are distinguishable from National Cycle Network signs.

It might be this would be a good initiative between CTC, British
Cycling, Cycling England and Sustrans to look at.

I've forwarded your email to our development team and cc'd in CTC.

Many Thanks

Chris

Chris Nelson
Trading Publications and Information Officer

what do you reckon , useful or beneficial etc, or not much point ?
cheers ,
bry

[Andrew G]

I think little signs that were on routes that used quieter roads would be a neat idea. In some places that are cycling friendly and have cycling holidays the area has routes marked up to match a map.

[Snoop Doug]

Interesting and neat idea Brian. Expect what will prevent it will be the queue of I want ones type stylee. For example...

Locky would want some with his name on saying "turn here" on the G10/57
You could have one with a massive grin on it saying "Georgezilla woz 'ere"
I might want one saying "try your brakes now, gentle downhill slope in 5 miles"

Can anyone add to this list??

[adrian]

Nice one, Brian.

Their reply won't win any plain-English awards, will it?
[quote]However I think the problem (perhaps perceived) would be liabilty,
especially as sportive routes sometimes use busy roads which are safe
enough for experienced cyclists - especially during a sportive when many
are riding together, but may not be for lone inexperienced cyclists you
may choose to follow such a signed route.

[adrian]

[quote="Snoop Doug"]Interesting and neat idea Brian. Expect what will prevent it will be the queue of I want ones type stylee. For example...

Locky would want some with his name on saying "turn here" on the G10/57
You could have one with a massive grin on it saying "Georgezilla woz 'ere"
I might want one saying "try your brakes now, gentle downhill slope in 5 miles"

Can anyone add to this list??

[Snoop Doug]

corrrrr, that looks delicious. 80 miles? I doubt I'd make 8 before weakening under the pressure of such pie-y goodness

[adrian]

[quote="Snoop Doug"]corrrrr, that looks delicious. 80 miles? I doubt I'd make 8 before weakening under the pressure of such pie-y goodness