Riders banned from New Forest sportives for urinating in public

There was quite enough "attitude" in the Chilterns this weekend. I wouldn't ride a bike in the New Forest if you paid me. I only even go to Surrey either (1) in a group or (2) when the locals are still in bed. I don't fancy spending a month in hospital when one of their punishment passes goes wrong.

If they were relieveing themselves in a public place and there were portable toilets available then fair doos, wiggle has to take some action.

I was out the other week and got caught short. I was in the middle of the countryside but nipped behind some bushes into a field, not a soul in sight. I emptied the tank, admiring the wonderful yellow rape seed fields of hampshire but I turned to see an elderly lady standing about 30 feet from me, just watching. At this point I couldn't stop, all I could muster was 'lovely day, but a bit breezy'.

No idea where she crept up from, reckon she had been hidden in those bushes for days.

I actually rode this on the Saturday and know where they are talking about. Yes, there were a few people disappearing into the bushes, however the amenities provded by Wiggle were shocking. There must have been over 1000 riders passing through that stop and probably no more than 4 loos. I emailed them afterwards and complained and suggested they invest in the open urinals that I see on many running events, quick and convenient for the guys, leaving the portaloos for the ladies. Yes, they had to be seen to do something to appease the NIMBYs, however I would draw your attention to the fact that this same group of NIMBYs scattered tacks across the road on the Saturday. I escaped it but many didn't. So what'll it be? A debate on peeing in the bushes or crass stupidity that could lead injury or at worst, death?

I've often peed in the middle of a ride, not a problem as long as you can find a quite spot behind a tree and you're not exposing yourself to anyone.
How many times do you see young kids by the side of a stopped cars with their parents letting them have a pee.
I would suspect that the people making the complaints are the same saboteurs that are throwing tacs all over the road.

Get life and move on I say.

Are Wiggle going to have "Wanted" style posters at their next events to make sure these people don't turn up at future events?

Sod it, there is enough money being thrown at some seriously old rope in cycling nowadays who fancies going in to a new business with me?

"Aero-tasche - For the chopper that needs to sportive in disguise..."

Arf.

I'm not surprised by this. On the Sunday at the feed stop one bloke was asked to refrain from pissing across the road from the hotel by a member of staff, his reply "where are the fucking toilets then!?"

If ever the NIMBY's needed fuel for the anti-cycling fire that twat was it.

Bottom line if we don't police ourselves we'll have it done for us.

No pissing please we're British!
Been to a jazz festival in Denmark where they have porta loos in the streets. These consist of an X shape contrivance for men with 4 pissers in them. Just turn your back to the world and piss away. No one gave a toss over there. After all we all do it. And everyone has something to do it with.

and Wiltshire, if we're being pedantic.

As Allez Neg notes, with 5000 entries they have no prospect of being able to police bans. It is just good local PR, at no cost or consequence even if anyone really was banned as they claim. Those who behave worst will probably be the first to work this out.

There were certainly no marshals at the feed stop on the Saturday to speak to the steady stream of riders heading for the trees the other side of the lane from the hotel.

This is a difficult one, as I wouldn't ever urinate in public. The last time I rode 100 miles, I stopped off at a sainsbury's around the 50 mile mark. I was then good for another 50 miles (of course I am a Nectar card holder ;-).

Many people in this country just don't have any shame, so that goes on and off the bike. Go to any city center at a weekend and I'm sure you'll see people doing it.

Perhaps Wiggle should issue a nappy in their race pack

Paula Radcliffe. 2005 London Marathon. Caught on camera. Portaloos every mile. But, as so many have said, their rules so we should abide by them however daft they may appear.

Just glad I live in France where they don't have any Victorian issues with bodily functions!

I don't think i'd want to visit the New Forest on a bike, on foot, in a car or any other way.

The people that live there and the rules they insist on seem unrealistic in their expectations.

What ever I did when I was there would probably get me into trouble.

Best avoided I feel. There are plenty of other nice places to go

Well the organisers had to really.

Peeing in public can mean lots of things. I have peed in the bushes on this very same sportive a few years back. I bet lots of others did as well. Go right in the bushes where no one can see you and I don't think anyone has a complaint. They see you go in the bushes, they probably guess what you are up to but don't see anything untoward or unless they are really looking. Even my kids know this.

Do it with abandon making no attempt at discretion and that's a different matter.

The fact is that you can only be seen peeing in public if you don't make any attempt at being discreet. In which case you are a lazy unsociable git that deserves being banned from future events.

Basic social and citizenship skills plus normal decency and civilisation. If you can actually ride a bike and hold down a job so you can afford a bike and an entry fee, then this should not be beyond you.

vanmildert won that, waaaaaay back up there...^

i think if you seen a cyclist or walker taking a shit in public by the side of a track, as i have done you should run them over if you have a car or simply kick them to death.

'we're a bit more tolerant in Yorkshire'

Blimey. Not a sentence you would hear too often. This New Forest place must be horrific. I'm imagining Auschwitz, recreated in Dorset?

One assumes that the gentlemen in question didn't pay to travel and participate in the event with the express intention of outraging public decency.

That said, I wouldn't want to see a 'me' pissing in my front garden either and don't tell me there wasn't a convenient bush or tree to hide behind.