OBRA: OBRA Chat: FW: last Sundays race

FW: last Sundays race

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mmur-@teleport.com

2001-08-31

Mark Greenwood commented on inappropriate language at bike races. Below are

rules on this subject:

OBRA rules:

"13. - RIDER CONDUCT ...

13.2 - Misconduct may be punished at the discretion of the Chief Referee.

The forms of misconduct include, but are not limited to:...

- Using foul or abusive language or conduct toward any individual "

USCF rules:

"1O5...

(b) No rider or licensee may use foul or abusive language or conduct during

a race event [disqualification and 15 day suspension]."

Profane language is not only bad PR but it is against bike racing rules and

may be punished according to those rules. There are many reasons for these

rules and maintaining access to race venues is just one.

Mike Murray

DaViD AuKeR

2001-08-30

I didn't detect any rudeness from the local motorists, as

sometimes happens.

I did have one large American car honk, and after passing, drive with

his two outside wheels on the gravel shoulder. Luckily he was far

enough beyond me so that the dust kicked up wasn't a bother. He looked

like he was really proud of himself that he'd found something

"constructive" do do that Sunday morning. I wonder how his full load of

passengers felt about it.

The original memo was basically a complaint of aloofness and perhaps

some foul language on the part of riders:

Hello. I live in St. Paul, Oregon. ?Last Sunday, I walked the "loop", which

takes me in front of the high school and thru town. ?In case you've ever

wondered why you get such a cool reception to descending upon small towns,

let me explain my experience. ...

It would be great p.r. if we could somehow "leave it better than we

found it," like Cycle Orgon donating to the towns that host it. Any

ideas?

With the town's support, we could have a great tt venue for years to

come. (Banana Belt passed through there at least one year, too.) A

little thank you in their newspaper (do they have one?)...

David

Mark Greenwood

2001-08-30

I'm sorry to hear this person had a bad experience. The course was

great, and for what little exposure I had to the residents they seemed

friendly. I didn't detect any rudeness from the local motorists, as

sometimes happens.

This brings up something that has disturbed me, though. Very often, I

have heard a significant amount of foul language being used at race

venues. Not by a majority of people, mind you, but all it takes is a

few. What language people use amongst themselves isn't really any of my

business, but I hope those who aren't so careful about censoring their

conversations might consider that there are often young kids present at

these races. I'm sure most of the parents would prefer that you spare

their kids from learning all kinds of "interesting" new words. And as

indicated in this case, it doesn't do much for our PR with the general

public.

I'd ask that people at least consider who's in the vicinity at our

events before they speak so freely. Let's set a good example and save

the "adult" language for other areas...

Chris Bright wrote:

Fellow OBRA members,

This morning I received an e-mail (see below) which I wanted to share

with everyone from a resident of St. Paul regarding last Sunday's TT.

This person took the time to write an e-mail to share his/her

experiences which, unfortunately, were not positive. Admittedly, this

person probably has an axe to grind and, to my knowledge, this is the

only piece of negative feedback that we've received (other than a

perturbed motorist) so I don't want to blow it out of proportion.

However, this person lives in St. Paul and can *easily* prevent us from

holding the TT there again by contacting his/her local government (in

such a small town, this person probably sees the mayor regularly). We

have received enthusiastic reviews of the course so it would be a shame

to lose it.

My point in sharing this e-mail is to remind everyone that we are guests

in any town in which we visit. We are privileged to be there, not

entitled, so we need to try to make even those residents with negative

opinions learn to like us. It is very difficult to find locations for

races and we need to treasure them. We spend a lot of time to find TT

courses that are safe and accessible and they are hard to come by. From

my perspective I thought we all behaved well but we need to try even

harder.

Thanks for reading,

Chris

-----Original Message-----

From:

Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 7:59 AM

To: cbri-@pixelworks.com

Subject: re: last Sundays race

Hello. I live in St. Paul, Oregon. Last Sunday, I walked the "loop",

which

takes me in front of the high school and thru town. In case you've ever

wondered why you get such a cool reception to descending upon small

towns,

let me explain my experience. Face on, coming directly towards me, I

encountered, conservatively, at least 50 bicylce riders. Of those 50, 2

nodded in my direction, 1 actually said good morning. (They were all

males;

not sure if that has any meaning..) The other 47 looked down or away, or

just

looked at me as they rode by. One was extremely put out that I wouldn't

get

out of his way. I encountered loud conversations, several with

language,

fairly unimpressive on a Sunday morning. Why aren't you having your

races on

Lower Drive in Lake Oswego? Is it because you've worn out your welcome

there? Or most likely, that your neighbors don't want several hundred

rude

sportsman descending upon them? On your web page, you caution your

riders to

"please be courteous!" As a group, bicycle riders are known to be rude,

and

obnoxious, and known to completely think they are above the law. They

do not

obey stop signs, and use no common sense when encountering semi-trucks,

farm

equipment and on-coming traffic. Do you wonder why?

Chris Bright

2001-08-30

This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand

this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.

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Fellow OBRA members,

This morning I received an e-mail (see below) which I wanted to share with everyone from a resident of St. Paul regarding last Sunday's TT. This person took the time to write an e-mail to share his/her experiences which, unfortunately, were not positive. Admittedly, this person probably has an axe to grind and, to my knowledge, this is the only piece of negative feedback that we've received (other than a perturbed motorist) so I don't want to blow it out of proportion. However, this person lives in St. Paul and can *easily* prevent us from holding the TT there again by contacting his/her local government (in such a small town, this person probably sees the mayor regularly). We have received enthusiastic reviews of the course so it would be a shame to lose it.

My point in sharing this e-mail is to remind everyone that we are guests in any town in which we visit. We are privileged to be there, not entitled, so we need to try to make even those residents with negative opinions learn to like us. It is very difficult to find locations for races and we need to treasure them. We spend a lot of time to find TT courses that are safe and accessible and they are hard to come by. From my perspective I thought we all behaved well but we need to try even harder.

Thanks for reading,

Chris

-----Original Message-----

From:

Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 7:59 AM

To: cbri-@pixelworks.com

Subject: re: last Sundays race

Hello. I live in St. Paul, Oregon. Last Sunday, I walked the "loop", which

takes me in front of the high school and thru town. In case you've ever

wondered why you get such a cool reception to descending upon small towns,

let me explain my experience. Face on, coming directly towards me, I

encountered, conservatively, at least 50 bicylce riders. Of those 50, 2

nodded in my direction, 1 actually said good morning. (They were all males;

not sure if that has any meaning..) The other 47 looked down or away, or just

looked at me as they rode by. One was extremely put out that I wouldn't get

out of his way. I encountered loud conversations, several with language,

fairly unimpressive on a Sunday morning. Why aren't you having your races on

Lower Drive in Lake Oswego? Is it because you've worn out your welcome

there? Or most likely, that your neighbors don't want several hundred rude

sportsman descending upon them? On your web page, you caution your riders to

"please be courteous!" As a group, bicycle riders are known to be rude, and

obnoxious, and known to completely think they are above the law. They do not

obey stop signs, and use no common sense when encountering semi-trucks, farm

equipment and on-coming traffic. Do you wonder why?

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Fellow

OBRA members,<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

This

morning I received an e-mail (see below) which I wanted to share with everyone from

a resident of St. Paul regarding last Sunday’s TT. This person took the time to write an e-mail to share

his/her experiences which, unfortunately, were not positive. Admittedly, this person probably has an

axe to grind and, to my knowledge, this is the only piece of negative feedback

that we’ve received (other than a perturbed motorist) so I don’t want to blow

it out of proportion. However,

this person lives in St. Paul and can *easily*

prevent us from holding the TT there again by contacting his/her local

government (in such a small town, this person probably sees the mayor

regularly). We have received

enthusiastic reviews of the course so it would be a shame to lose it.<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

My point

in sharing this e-mail is to remind everyone that we are guests in any town in

which we visit. We are privileged

to be there, not entitled, so we need to try to make even those residents with

negative opinions learn to like us.

It is very difficult to find locations for races and we need to treasure

them. We spend a lot of time to

find TT courses that are safe and accessible and they are hard to come by. From my perspective I thought we all

behaved well but we need to try even harder. <o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

Thanks for

reading,<o:p></o:p>

Chris<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

-----Original

Message----- 

From: 

Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001

7:59 AM 

To: cbri-@pixelworks.com 

Subject: re: last Sundays race

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

Hello.

I live in St. Paul, Oregon. Last Sunday, I walked the "loop",

which 

takes me in front of the high school and thru town. In case you've ever 

wondered why you get such a cool reception to descending upon small towns, 

let me explain my experience. Face on, coming directly towards me, I 

encountered, conservatively, at least 50 bicylce riders. Of those 50, 2 

nodded in my direction, 1 actually said good morning. (They were all

males; 

not sure if that has any meaning..) The other 47 looked down or away, or just 

looked at me as they rode by. One was extremely put out that I wouldn't

get 

out of his way. I encountered loud conversations, several with language, 

fairly unimpressive on a Sunday morning. Why aren't you having your races

on 

Lower Drive in Lake Oswego? Is it because you've worn out your welcome 

there? Or most likely, that your neighbors don't want several hundred rude 

sportsman descending upon them? On your web page, you caution your riders

to 

"please be courteous!" As a group, bicycle riders are known to

be rude, and 

obnoxious, and known to completely think they are above the law. They do

not 

obey stop signs, and use no common sense when encountering semi-trucks, farm 

equipment and on-coming traffic. Do you wonder why?<o:p></o:p>

</div>

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</html>

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