SAFETY ISSUE OF THE WEEK

UPDATED 6th October 2011

Click here to see a video clip of what can happen if you don't concentrate while working in a pace line (such as in a handicp race).

UPDATED 26th August 2011

Stay left of centre line when entering and exiting a corner   -   for example when turning left from Oakley Rd into the Main McLaren Vale Rd, do not use the right side of the road at all on Oakley to widen your entry, and do not run wide on the exit into the main road   -   slow enough to avoid this otherwise it is Dangerous Riding. The marshals will be looking out for this on Sunday.

UPDATED 2nd August 2011

When passing another rider or group, do not cut in too early or too close    -    some riders have mentioned that this occurs sometimes when faster riders pass them.

UPDATED 5th July 2011

The number 1 rule:    Stay left of centre line (broken or solid white line) at all times; with one exception only

 

Sprint Finishes 

(on Blewitt Springs Road and on Hunt Road – regular sprint finish roads)

 

1. Follow Road Rules, generally staying left except when overtaking

 

2. Keep straight lines and don’t change direction or slow abruptly.

 

3. No sprinting past cars in the home straight  -  in this unlikely situation all riders in the bunch would get the same time and split prizemoney

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4. If there is an oncoming car within 500m of the bunch during a sprint finish, riders at the front are to clearly call out ‘car front’ or ‘car ahead’ or ‘car up’ at least twice. In this case passing on the right hand side of the road is absolutely not allowed  (this is about rider safety not about trying to keep riders behind during a finish).

 

 

 

Note: Whenever a bunch encounters an approaching car during any part of a race, the front riders must call out car ahead and all members of the bunch must remain especially tidy and not ride too close to the wheel in front.

 

Some issues from the Seaford Crits

Racing went well at the Seaford criterium loop on Sunday – remember this is a public road, and we rely on a harmonious relationship with motorists to be allowed to conduct competitive races on public roads. It is important that we don’t yell at or abuse drivers if we encounter them while racing   -   we need to control our aggression and simply let the bunch know early of the hazard and safely pass (or STOP if unsafe to pass).

If we can’t race and be accommodating to drivers then we would only be able to race on tracks, or very occasionally when given police permission to close roads (and this would need many club members as organizers).

Keep to the left

 
Please read the club racing rules attachement
 
Remember it is a priviledge that the Police and the community let us conduct races on public roads without road closures, so we need to respect the road rules and motorists...... Have you ever come across riders while driving and thought...............'I wish they would take notice and move left '?
 
Please take notice of drivers, yell out 'car back' and keep left as much as practical.............which leads to another point  -  the road rules say that you should ride as far left as practical and only 2 abreast. Riding on the front of the pack on the centre line for long periods when the wind is from the left is against the law (even though you are still in the left lane). I understand this may be appropriate during an attack, but you must resume your position on the left side of the lane as promptly as possible.  
 
In South Australia we have less restrictions to organising races than other states. If we are lucky this will remain so. Our behaviour on the roads may determine this. If the police receive complaints about our riding (such as "they were all over the road officer") then they will be compelled to act and question the safety of our races.
 
You will not be disqualified for occasional use of the right lane only at the end of a final sprint where there are NO ONCOMING CARS, and only when it is done for safety when overtaking another rider.
 
Our racing is fantastic! Promote safe riding within your groups.
 

Marshalled Corners

When corners on the various SDV&LCC courses are designated by the Safety Committee as requiring marshals it is because they have limited visibility of approaching cars with consideration of the speed cars might be travelling on the joining road. All riders are therefore required to exercise extra caution on these corners,  and follow marshal’s directions without question. The following procedures will apply to all marshalled corners.

While the marshal displays a STOP sign, riders are not permitted to cross an imaginary line demarking the nearest boundary of the intersecting road. The penalty for not obeying this race rule is disqualification for a first offence and subsequent transgressions may also incur a fine and/or disqualification from entry to some future races.

If a SLOW sign is displayed, riders are still required to check for themselves that it is safe to proceed into the corner and should warn other riders if they observe an approaching car which may have been missed by the marshal.

Marshalled corners will be designated ‘neutral’ whether or not a STOP is displayed. This is to encourage riders to exercise extra caution without the worry that others may try to gain a race advantage because of this extra caution. ‘Neutral’ means that riders should not attack on the corner, should not pass other riders within 50 m either side of the corner and should wait for any rider, who may have had to un-cleat or otherwise slow, to rejoin the bunch. This rule will be self-policed in the spirit of safety and sportsmanship.

Where cones are placed at a marshalled corner, to designate a slip lane for left-hand turns or to prevent corner cutting on right-hand turns, these must be adhered to by keeping to the left of the cones.  The penalty for transgression is disqualification.

 

Click on links below to download other safety related articles

Bunch Riding Skills an article by Stephen Hodge

Racing in Bunches an article by Bob Seymour

Safety Newsletter December 2008

Club Racing Rules