Editor:
Just wanted to share an experience I had with a poorly marshaled racein a residential neighborhood.

A few years ago, there was a crit held in Fox Point, Wisconsin (justnorth of Milwaukee), on the Fourth of July. I figured that it would bea good final test for the legs before Superweek, and a cool race for mymom to come watch.

Almost until the end, it was a fun race on a good course. On the lastlap, as the field came out of the last corner and accelerated towards thefinish line, an ambulance pulled onto the course, trying to get acrossto the fire station - not a good thing during a sprint. The rider in frontof me, Carl Zach, slammed into the ambulance, and I tumbled over his bikeinto the grassy median. The finishing straight was long enough that mymom couldn't see what had happened, only that I wasn't coming across theline.

I was lucky. I came away with several scrapes. Carl wasn't so lucky.My mom finally ran down to see if I was OK, and while I waited for someoneto clean me up, we saw Carl die. It was the most awful thing I've everseen in my life.

Bicycle racing is inherently dangerous. Cyclists do not need the distractionof having to watch for cars on a course! Race organizers need to make surethat races are as safe as possible. Carl's death was totally avoidableand unnecessary.

I congratulate Jonathan Vaughters (see "Vaughters'View: Safety First!") and all the pros who were unwillingto ride a course that was so unsafe. Unsafe courses are a matter of lifeand death.

Maciej Pike-Biegunski

Better luck next time
Editor:
I was so excited to watch the race in Redwood City (see "SeaOtter slows to a crawl over safety concerns") since I live in anadjacent neighborhood. I rode the course a few days before - marking theclimbs, fast corners, and best places to watch the race on my map.

During the women's race I watched the race from various spots and noticedthe parked cars and undesirable traffic on this narrow road. During thefirst lap of the men's race, another spectator and I had to persuade ahome-building supply truck driver to park his monster truck or go backdown the climb.

In the end, I completely agree with the riders. The course was dangerous.I don't think we should expect riders to race full-bore and try to be mindfulof traffic - it just cannot happen.
I hope the Sea Otter uses this as a learning experience and comes backnext year with an improved race course.

Jason Jones
San Mateo, CA

Disappointing decision, but the right one
Editor:
My company is a secondary sponsor of the new Webcor Cycling Team. WhileI cannot speak for the team management, I was more than a little disappointedpersonally that the Redwood City stage of Sea Otter did not go on as planned.It was the local debut of the team, and riders and sponsors alike wereabsolutely jazzed about participating.

Having said that, I must admit that I was relieved when the riders decidedto put a halt to the proceedings. As I stood at the intersection of twomain roads near the feed zone, I was becoming increasingly anxious aboutthe lack of traffic control. It was obvious that the rolling enclosurewas ineffective in securing our intersection. We watched as the policeescort would pass well in front of the peloton, only to have cars turninto the street behind them and head in the direction of the oncoming riders.

I cannot find fault with the riders. However unpopular, they did thewise and responsible thing under the circumstances. Having gotten to knowour team members a little, I can attest that these guys are definitelynot whiners. And they certainly aren't in it for the money. They race forthe sheer love of the sport. You cannot expect them to put it all on theline over a very technical course if they are concerned for their safety.

For their part, the organizers clearly put a lot of effort into stagingan exciting and competitive race. It seems they simply miscalculated whatit would take to adequately secure the course. I am disappointed for them.I hope they get a chance to try again next year.

Mark Lynch
Rosendin Electric Inc.
San Francisco, CA
 

Why did officials approve this course?
Editor:
I don't race any more, but I do officiate. When I raced, I was alwaysworried about my safety. Now that I am an official, I feel that it is myduty to make sure that the riders have a safe and fair race.
I will not hesitate to tell a promoter that a race may not be heldunless what I see as safety issues are addressed and corrected to my satisfaction.Promoters don't see the problems or are too quick to brush off concerns.

One cannot be too concerned about safety. Unmarshaled corners and residentialstreets can only lead to a disaster. The riders were right to protest.I find it hard to believe that the officials were going to let this racego off in such poor
conditions.

Charles Matthews
Spokane, WA
 

Vaughters tarred all promoters with one brush
Editor:
Jonathan Vaughters wrote:

"This is only to demonstrate that race promoters very rarelytake into account anything other than pleasing sponsors when putting arace on. The sponsors are the very reason the race runs at all. That said,it's no reason to make cycling a trashy barbarian sport with no considerationfor anything but the financials."

Beware statements like the ones above, lest people start believing thatall bike racers are as ignorant as your statement makes you appear to be.Speaking as a race promoter, the riders and their safety are always theNo. 1 priority. If you think that everything is driven by sponsorship,then you've never produced a race. And if this is indeed the case, youshould be very careful when making statements regarding the motivationsof race promoters, not having any experience as one.

Our motivations are many, and I'm sure that "love of sport" tops manylists. There are not that many promoters making half of what you will probablyearn this year, so your point about everything being driven by the financialsis way off the mark for most of us. My point is simply that you are notqualified to speak for me, so please don't.

Jonathan, why would you wish to alienate an entire group of people uponwhom your entire livelihood depends? No races, no racers – it’s as simpleas that. I can understand you being pissed at one promoter, but you dothe ranks of hard-working, honest, and conscientious race promoters, aswell as the cyclists that benefit from their labor, an incredible disservicewith your stereotyping. If Rick Sutton goes away, if I go away, if allthe other race promoters simply quit, then you would have no job.

As far as The Sea Otter goes, from more than 1000 miles away it lookslike you made the right call, and I applaud the solidarity of the pelotonas well as the very articulate commentary from a group of professionals.Your blanket conclusions, however, I consider suspect and slightly offensive.If a race director displeases you then vote with your presence and stayaway next year, or just don't start the race. Lashing out at everyone whoshares the trade with GaleForce is in poor judgment, manners, and taste.

Mike McCormack
Maverick Sports Promotions
Breckenridge, CO
 

Hopes for dialogue, not division
Editor:
It was a pleasure to read Jonathan Vaughters’s comments this morning.It is heartening to see the riders and team managers working with the promoterto create a manageable solution to a potential crisis. Sponsors and hostcommunities are better served when races are run safely. I hope yesterday'sevents open a dialogue between athletes and promoters rather then a riftbetween these mutually dependent groups.

Bruce Wenting

Dangerous course, but a good idea
Editor:
I have to agree with Jonathan Vaughters’s opinion on the safety ofthe Sea Otter race in Redwood City. I live in the area and regularly ridethose roads. It's an epic place to ride, with lots of hills and turns.However, even in a group of eight or 10 riders, you have to be carefulof cars pulling out in front of you.

The promoter had a great idea, holding a race in this area, but thecourse was totally wide open to cars pulling out in front of the racers.The motorcade would go through, then the cars would try to get on the road.

As spectators, we informally marshaled intersections we were standingat, but that wasn't nearly enough. This course needs at least 100 marshalsto be safe, at every intersection, and others to make sure people didn'tback out into the middle of the pack.

I hope Rick Sutton tries again next year with a different course.

Kevin McKee
President, SCCC

No, it was a dumb idea
Editor:
Racing through American residential areas is really dumb. I commute12,000 miles a year and make it a point to avoid as many driveways as possiblein choosing my routes.

The men's peloton showed much more common sense than the women's, butmaybe the women were just desperate to have a race at all.

Gary Gromet
 

Cheers for putting safety first
Editor:
I say good work to the riders for making safety a top priority. I havepromoted races in the past and honestly can't imagine why a promoter wouldwant the headache of trying to put on a race in a crowded neighborhood.It is stressful enough in an empty industrial park.

Yeah, money and sponsors are important, but this is a case where thebig picture and the long-term health of the sport should come above short-terminterests. I'm just glad I didn't take a day off to go watch the race (althoughseeing Genèviève win would have been cool).

Karl Etzel
San Jose, CA

Grass-roots racers could take a page from the pros
Editor:
After reading Jonathan Vaughters’ perspective on stage 1 of the SeaOtter Classic, I'm glad to see the pros take a stand against unsafe racingconditions. As a category 4 rider who's only raced for about three years,I've already seen a number of race courses that begged the question, "Whatidiot planned this course?"

There's one particular stage race in Louisiana each summer that causesmore bloodshed than the rest of the season combined. Its criterium courseis horrible, yet year after year the promoters run the same course.

Seeing the pros unite within the peloton gives the rest of us some hopethat we can stand up for our safety and cause some changes at the grass-rootslevel.

Jamie Stout
Jackson, MS

Poor traffic control was appalling
Editor:
I just read the report from Jonathan Vaughters concerning Wednesday'sSea Otter stage in Redwood City. I wholly agree with him.

I went down to watch the race and was appalled by the poor traffic control.There were lots of cops on motorcycles, and they were trying to keep thecars out of the way of the race. Unfortunately, the cops were far aheadof the riders, and as soon they had sped past, the drivers, not seeinganything on the road, would continue on their way. The cyclists could notbe seen for a long while after the police had motored by - and I'm talkingabout the front of the race here, not the groups that were minutes behindthe leaders.

There seemed to be three main problems today: a public that is not familiarwith the workings of a road cycling race, motorcycle police who are notproperly trained to control traffic for such an event, and too few racemarshals. These last two points were emphasized to me during the secondlap of the women's race when a motorcycle officer asked me (a spectator)to stop any cars from turning onto the course at the intersection whereI was sitting. He then motored away. I thought this was simply bizarre.After all, I'm not getting paid to do that, he is, and I have no authorityto do that, which was made clear when several drivers ignored my warningsabout oncoming cyclists and ended up driving out onto the course just asa group of riders arrived. There was no marshal at this intersection, thoughtwo were at the corner one block away. I watched both the women's and men'sraces, and the conditions were the same for both.

I hope the organizers and the municipalities can learn from today'sproblems and bring the race back to Redwood City next year under safe conditions.As Vaughters said, it was a great course in a lovely setting. Properlyexecuted, it could be a wonderful addition to a great cycling event.

Kevin McLin
Davis, CA
 

It’s part of a pro’s job to stick around post-race
Editor:
You are right on that pros should set a good example, promote theirsponsors, and stay around after their race - especially if they placedwell (see “Two scoopsin every box,” by Andrew Juskaitis). I like to stay around afteranyway, because that is part of the fun.

 Ellen Carroll

Save the helmets!
Editor:
The helmet issue is indeed controversial and, of course, there aremany salient issues to consider, ranging from rider safety to personalautonomy.

However, I am deeply disturbed by the lack of sensitivity to the issueof helmet safety. The UCI's mandatory helmet policy will result in thedestruction of countless helmets. Who is speaking out on behalf of theshattered and scared helmets that will surely meet their demise once thepolicy is implemented?

Please, let's not forget the helmet in this noteworthy debate.

Matt Masucci
San Jose, CA

We’ll pass your concerns on to Greenpeace,Matt. Look for the new Rainbow Warrior moto soon at a kermesse near you.- Editor
 

We have freedom of speech, so shut up that O'Grady guy
Editor:
I am not a big fan of, nor do I spend any time reading, articles titled“Foaming Rant.” But I couldn't help reading some of your readers’ comments.I then proceeded to read O'Grady’s article referenced by your readers.I sure hope he is paying you guys to write such dribble! My 9-year-oldcould do a better job on her worst day. And the closing comments aboutthe war - has O'Grady ever lived (not traveled, but actually lived) outsidethe United States?

I choose to live in the United States because we have freedom of speechand expression (although some people seem to abuse the English languagein the process). My point is, if you have an opinion about the war, oranything else, do something about it (peacefully) and don't waste our timebeing cute or sneaky, slipping it in at the end of one of your rant-and-ravecolumns. Now I know why I don't read your junk!

I love the mag, it's just O'Grady's writing (or lack thereof) that Ifind ill-placed in a otherwise well-written sport journal.

Patrick Buono

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