Velothon and Mamils

The Velothon in South Wales has divided opinion.

Tacks thrown over the road at some points in the race and graffiti on the road signs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-33113259

Cycling does divide people in the UK, maybe because in the UK it is the preserve of men between 35 and 45 who are just plain aggressive. From the "cycle track lobby" to the "I'll cycle anywhere and how I like" but car users and pedestrian look out and keep to the rules.

In Europe cycling is done in family groups in a more sedate manner, here they seem to have the need to log exactly how fast, how far and how high they have climbed that day.

The business I work for was directly affected by the event and when I rang their attitude was "hard luck" this after I e-mailed them multiple times with out even a response.

I felt like protesting myself at the event!

Driving on main roads on a Sunday (for business) has turned into a nightmare, every hundred yards there is another middle aged man with all the gear out to prove that he still has it. What other recreation done by a small number affects the majority?

Rant over.

It's 1 day FFS. I signed up for this last September so it's not as if this was done overnight. Those cretins who chucked tacks on the road need to be done for attempted murder. Valley oiks doing their best again MAMIL wouldn't describe 25% of those on the road today, plenty of women, youngsters and oldies about today. A real great event, hopefully will run for many years to come

I don't see the big problem. I haven't taken part or watched it, and it has only marginally affected me even though my town has been pretty much difficult to get around all day. Personally I think it's been good for Caerphilly just as us having the Caerphilly 10k next weekend is (which will also close roads all morning).

And less of the 'Valley oiks' please, no need for that. They were just daft bastards regardless of where they were from. There were loads of people from up here in the caves also taking part.

It's just a shame a minority of the uncouthed north of the M4 resort to this just because half a day out of 365 the roads were closed. If they had the foresight they would have parked elsewhere so they could get up to whatever important business they had to attend.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... al-9453156

Words of defiance from the organisers and you got to agree with them, this has been a tremendous event and shows Wales is a positive light (except for a couple of the knuckle draggers).

A lot of the tacks were found in Caerleon - hardly a town full of 'valley oiks' - grumpy Ukipers more like!

I do have some sympathy with the owners of Usk Garden Centre which had to close. I'm sure Sundays in June are really important for a business like that but a lot of the moaners seem to be the usual anti-cycling brigade. We don't seem to have the same sort of complaints when roads are closed for fun-runs, half marathons, the Wales GB rally etc. etc.

It's not my scene but it appears that the velothon was a good event which a lot of people enjoyed. The organisers could probably have communicated better with those effected but no doubt lessons will be learned for future years.

I think the complaint is that roads were closed for 12 hours rather than just a couple.

Saying that is was advertised well in advance so I don't see why you couldn't park your car where it would have been unimpeded for the day. Parking outside your house is not a right

Anything north of the M4 is where the hordes of barbarians dwell

In other news... Cars 'punctured by Velothon protest tacks' on A4042 near Abergavenny

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/1 ... ergavenny/

Those pesky cyclists! Seriously though, those who did this need prosecuting.

Seriously though, those who did this need prosecuting.

No one would disagree with that - although the chances of catching them must be pretty small. Was the route checked before the event? I'd have thought there was a way of detecting stuff like this.

If we're going to complain about road closures and middle aged men's sports - Harbour Drive in the Bay is being closed for two weeks for the Extreme Sailing Weekend. That's truly ridiculous. (ed: not that I think cycling is a middle aged mans sport, but sailing sure as hell is)

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... ic-9453814

Utter scumbags