Saboteurs attack Wiggle New Forest Sportive (again)

I wonder how many lame animals there are wondering around the New Forest with tacks in their hooves as a result of this mind-bendingly stupid activity? The idiots who carry out this sort of activity just don't think of the ramifications of their actions whether that's a cyclist on the deck or a horse in pain. Stupid stupid stupid.

"taking the law into your own hands" means administering justice as you see fit. it almost exclusively means a disregard for the *actual* law. so it's entirely appropriate.

Is there a pub in the New Forest called The Slaughtered Lamb?

I'm a bit of an old skool kinda chap, so I'll stick with the Old Forest instead.

"taking the law into one's own hands" is a really stupid thing for that policeman to say. What law are these tack-spreaders taking into their own hands? What illegal or anti-social behavior are they attempting to thwart or punish?

We know what riles these people. They are reasonably happy with cycling so long as it knows it's place, as a quaint anachronism of old maids bicycling to church or a transport of last resort for the urban poor, plus johnny foreigner with his third-rate 'bicycling monarchy'. Apart from a blip in the 70s, the British Anti-Cycling League could be quietly confident that cycling would eventually die out in this country (helped on its way by the British motorist) and there was no risk at all that a right-thinking Briton might be expected to ride a bike for any other purpose than a 'gruelling' stunt for charity.

But that's all changed. Cycling has won all the arguments and is now universally acknowledged as a good thing: good for the person doing it, good for society in general, good for the environment. Even in this bike-forsaken country cycling is becoming recognised as something we should all be doing. These people are confused and affronted by that suggestion, it challenges not only their comfortable laziness but their lifelong perception of the natural order. The Wiggle sportive in Bransgore is like a civil rights march in 1960s Alabama. But these people are British, so they only throw tacks.

There's a little bit of me sort of wishes (though I applaud him for having taken part) that Tony Hockley had been one of those who punctured. Having him be personally angry at the saboteurs would have been interesting!

I'm sure I've had things to say about Tony Hockley in the past, but fair play to him for going to the trouble of actually taking part and giving an objective assessment

From the areas local paper, it seems the Police are making enquiries - http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11148681.Police_hunt_for_saboteurs...

Of course that's very unlikely to catch anyone, but they're at least sending the right message.

From the areas local paper, it seems the Police are making enquiries - http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11148681.Police_hunt_for_saboteurs...

Of course that's very unlikely to catch anyone, but they're at least sending the right message.

I have to agree. The locals I came across were pleasant and polite.

There was a little needless honking from a couple of cars but who's to say they were locals?

It seems the whole problem is caused by a very few small minded residents.

I had a great day and I'll be doing next year for sure!

Please see attached a copy of my e-mail to Wiggle who enquired as to how my ride had gone:-

Exceptionally well organised Wiggle ride in the New Forest today, sadly spoilt by the actions of some so called "protestors". They chose to deliberately place drawing pins in the road to stop the cyclists ruining the peace and quiet in their villages. Having two punctures at the same time is a pain in the arse, nothing more than that, although it could have been highly dangerous for me if one of those tyres had blown. Their stupidity is beyond belief as those same drawing pins could have gone into the feet of the wildlife that make their precious villages beautiful and so tranquil. The moronic protestors do not deserve to live in such a stunning setting and need to go and get a life!!!

Appreciate that this kind of thing is beyond your control, but my Epic training ride had to become a Standard ride, due to loss of momentum and getting cold again after about 30 -40 mins into my ride and then having to get to the feed station on low pressure tyres. There actions are so dangerous and whilst they lead to only inconvenience for me and having to buy two new inner tubes at the feed station, it could have been so much worse. I hope it made one sad protestors day.

Can't really add anymore to that

Cheers

Eric

Did the Rapha Hell of North (London) event on Sunday, lots of proximity with walkers and cyclists.

You'll have to check with the organisers, but it seemed to me that there were no problems with c.400 cyclists, often off-road.

If I were to sprinkle magnetic ball bearings in the path of an equestrian event I would expect to feel the full force of the law upon me. Tacks on a sportive route and no-one bats an eyelid.

nm

Mental!

I've never had a collision with a horse or other form of livestock. However, it is my considered opinion that it would hurt me quite a lot. Therefore, as a general rule, I tend to avoid such scenarios. Anyone else? Just me then!

Also, on the few occasions that I have been down to the New Forest, it seems to be a lovely place, spoiled only by the sheer volume of cars, caravans, campers and the like. I'm not being judgemental - I was one of the cars! Just saying....

Why for fecks sake are they dragging Ministers into the row.

It's simple.
Bikes are non polluting
Bikes are healthy
Bikes don't use all the bloody space.
Bikes don't kill the wild animals.
Bikes are legally using the roads.

Tell the idiots and dinosaurs to STFU.

Stupid stupid people

The photo attached to this story is of me! I rode this event a few years ago and remember being very respectful of the animals I encountered due their unpredictable nature. It is unfortunate that someone thought it necessary to sabotage what is a great event and a shame those responsible don't seem to speak up and have some sort of dialogue with the organisers to see if any compromises can be made to stop nail scattering ruining an otherwise enjoyable event?

Did the Dorset Coastlet Audax on the Sunday, to avoid the Wiggle Ride; Dorset a much friendlier place to ride, even had cars giving way to let us across major roads. More hills too!

I love how people live in an area think they own that area.

To counter these endless "attack" "stories", how about running some about all the people that enjoy these events?

Well given that there were 72 livestock deaths and 32 injured caused by cyclists last year, maybe they have a point. Also cars never cause a problem or do any damage...

Oh, hang on, I think I might have made a couple of mistakes in that first statement...

Dozens of these events, whether Wiggle/UKCE-organised or otherwise, take place up and down the country every weekend without hitch, so why is it only the New Forest ones that seem to have this vociferous oppositon and the resulting problems?

Genuinely interested to (try and) understand this...