Opus
May 16th, 2008 | by Smithers |Sounds like problems at the venue. They call it Tuesday Night Worlds now, which I think is ridiculous because it’s an oval loop with half going up and half going down. Not a very exciting worlds course.
Never-the-less, it is a very popular venue and has been in use for 20 years or so. I have raced on it and promoted races there in past years. Maybe not in the future. Skibby writes:
The company that owns the land and adjacent parking lot on yellow circle drive where we have been having the start/finish no longer wants us there. They are tired of people urinating in the bushes, leaving their trash behind and rudely getting in the way of people leaving work. They are letting us finish the series, so we will still have our last race next Tuesday. As far as the future of the race series, we have 10 months to figure something out but the lady I talked to was pretty adamant that we are no longer welcome. Keeping races at this venue has become a constant battle because we continue to irritate the property owners in the Opus park.
Last week I saw people riding the wrong way down the one way also. I am so sick and tired of repeating this stuff, and seeing it happen week in and week out. Not only that but people are leaving a mess in the registration parking lot also. There were banana peels blatantly thrown in the lot last week. I have been extremely disappointed with the rider behavior this season. Not only the Opus behavior but also the behavior at the Marty Road Race. It was next to impossible to keep traffic moving through Marty with all the cyclists just hanging out in the main street. I also witnessed a huge pack of riders who weren’t yet racing riding across the finish line, on the wrong side of the road!
The only surprise to me is that this problem is being discussed so late in the Opus series. I would have expected to see this message after the first race, not before the last race.
I hate to say it, but for the most part people are selfish and complacent. They need some real motivation to do the right thing. Asking nicely is not going to cut it. Only the risk of sever punishment is going to get people to behave.
Caught riding the wrong way on the road? No race for you that day or next week. Caught littering? No race for you that month. Caught urinating outside the toilet? No race for you that year.
Have I ridden the wrong way on the road in the past? Sure. Have I littered? Probably. Have I urinated in the bushes? Absolutely. And the price I expected to pay for these offenses? Nothing. Would I modify my behavior if I knew that these actions may prevent me from racing? Damn right they would. Relying on the common sense of the masses will result in course closure and denied permits.
These problems need to be taken seriously and dealt with seriously with serious consequences for screwing up or you can all plan that the only bike racing you will be doing will be at the velodrome for the next 5 years until it falls down. Then you can plan on indoor Cold Sprints at Grumpy’s. All the options to race on the road will be gone soon otherwise.
I don’t race on the road anymore so you can’t blame me for being part of the problem. That also means that I can’t be part of the solution. It needs to be the rest of you saps. Good luck…maybe you should start pricing out track bikes.
BTW, these problems don’t exist here in France. People ride where ever they damn well want, throw garbage and piss on each other. It’s part of their culture.
15 Responses to “Opus”
By Family Ties at 8:21 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Organizers - provide garbage bags, potty provisions and signage. Gosh, if people can bring order to a dog park, they should be able to bring order to a bike race.
By Super Rookie at 9:38 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Racers-Don’t be idiots.
By Charlie Anderson at 9:42 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Enforce 105(a) of the rulebook esp. the $50 fine.
1O5. Abuse.
(a) No rider or licensee may be disrespectful toward
organizers, officials, riders or spectators [warning for minor
offense; possible relegation of rider; and/or up to a $50 fine].
Also:
4H3. Failure to respect instructions by the Race
Administration or the commissaires
Rider: $20 to $70; other license-holder: $35 to $150.
4H14 Feeding
(e) Illegal or dangerous tossing of an object
First offense: $20 fine
Subsequent offenses: $20 to $80 (can be
applied to team)
Problem is we all don’t want to be police.
By Bike Bubba at 9:57 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
You know, Smithers, you may have a great point, but I shudder to think that the only thing that can bring order to a bike race (or whatever) is draconian fines and such–it is as if we’ve arrived at the point where self-government is impossible. Is our society at a point where avoiding indecent exposure is problematic for a large portion of people?
By (dis) at 10:27 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
providing a toilet would help quell the unrination…
bins might help with the trash…
opus is great, and LSC does a great job. We are F’ing it up for sure. BUT, LSC should provide these basic needs for any bike race.
..of course, (like skibby said about marty), we also need to take some responsability.
Whether it deseves it or not, Opus is TNW now. It’s a “real” event, not a lowkey office park crit.
Sorry LSC, no more shoestring budget Opus.
Sorry Mn racing community, no more pissing on LSC’s (or any promoters) hard work.
Like racers in the Cat 5 field, we need to work together.
By Super Rookie at 10:33 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
I squarely put the blame on Smithers and the Tuesday Night Tuff Guy ride for failing to help police the TNWs.
By b2b at 10:58 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
This isn’t so bad. I once saw a guy take a crap in a someone’s yard at the East Union RR way back in the day. The bathrooms were 20yards away in the School across the parking lot.
I rode with Bob Benedum (durand rr promoter) who jumps out of the van and goes off on the guy in mid-crap.
it was awesome.
By A-Train at 11:25 am on May 16, 2008 | Reply
I blame Ray.
“I love roadie pissin’ matches.”
By Steven at 12:14 pm on May 16, 2008 | Reply
providing a toilet would help quell the unrination…
bins might help with the trash…
opus is great, and LSC does a great job. We are F’ing it up for sure. BUT, LSC should provide these basic needs for any bike race.
I agree. However, I seem to remember a toilet the first week, or was I mistaken?
By (dis) at 12:20 pm on May 16, 2008 | Reply
there was one that a construction crew had last year, and i used it every week! even mid-race!
fabulous!
By Baba at 3:05 pm on May 16, 2008 | Reply
“providing a toilet would help quell the urination…”
NOT!!! I have seen riders peeing BEHIND the porta potty at the old Crystal Crit I put on. If it was busy they went to the bushes or front yards. Like Smithers said, they are a selfish bunch. Penalties would work.
By Steven at 5:13 pm on May 16, 2008 | Reply
All of the above would have helped I’m sure, but it’s too late now. Hopefully something else works out for next year. Wasn’t there a series at 3M back in the day? How about that Ford plant that’s going to be shut down?
By super rookie at 8:17 am on May 17, 2008 | Reply
3M has speed bumps.
By pcomeau at 11:14 am on May 17, 2008 | Reply
super rookie
“3M has speed bumps.”
Wouldn’t that just make it more “epic”?
ducks, covers…
By Bill Basso at 3:31 pm on May 17, 2008 | Reply
Isn’t there a velodrome they could hold races at in the Twin Cities?
In an effort to preserve courses, maybe Minnesota could require all racers to follow Greg Lemond’s lead and use a catheter during races. I do, and it’s great!