SOS mtb race class act...think again.

Riggedfmx

Riggedfmx

Well-Known Member
I would love to make the positivity rain on this event, but to say the least it was dry as a bone. I was racing the cat2 ss and had a pretty good lead. Needless to say I was off to an awesome start! During the 1st lap, I came to section which I must have missed and winded up doing again. At this point a spectator or helper or whatever they call those people that help you where to go was telling me to go in the direction of the loop I had just completed twice. I stopped to tell him I had done this. He proceeded to tell me that I was the only f$&@ing a$&$hole that didn't know where I was going. What a class act! At this point, I finished my lap biting my tongue. When I got to the start, staff pointed to the gentleman I should speak with. I told him what had happened. In this case, he replied "a I don't know that's not right, well sorry. Go eat food and ride the course." Too my knowledge, this situation could have been handled much better. Safe to say I love Stewart! However, this group of people might want to start working on social skills and respect!🙁:thumbsdown:
 
I hear your frustration. Stewart is always a fun race. Now that I know the section where this happened I am not sure how it happened without some ill willed attempt by the volunteer to just make you keep going the wrong way. I think the course was decently marked but I did hear of atleast 3 or 4 other people making the same mistake. Not all promoters do a great job like mtbnj or dark horse but atleast we have these races to attend. Write it off as a snafu and come back swingin next time you race. Good job with your speed progression the last few months! For the record the course went from almost dry on my first lap to monsoon with6" of water everywhere on the last lap in cat 1.
 
David Taylor said:
I hear your frustration. Stewart is always a fun race. Now that I know the section where this happened I am not sure how it happened without some ill willed attempt by the volunteer to just make you keep going the wrong way. I think the course was decently marked but I did hear of atleast 3 or 4 other people making the same mistake. Not all promoters do a great job like mtbnj or dark horse but atleast we have these races to attend. Write it off as a snafu and come back swingin next time you race. Good job with your speed progression the last few months! For the record the course went from almost dry on my first lap to monsoon with6" of water everywhere on the last lap in cat 1.
Click to expand...

I understand. I'm the only one to blame for making the mistake. It would be alittle more bennifical if the volunteer had some common courtesy. Being frustrated to begin with is one thing but having someone speaking to you like that is another thing. With this being said, im just going to going harder and faster. Thanks for the support! By the way, if there is anyone that is a great role model, I'd say the mtbnj crew deserves a standing ovation. Each event is incredible, course mapped well, and very friendly people. Anyways, awesome job on your first cat 1 race!
 
Where was it that you were going in circles?

Bummed I couldnt make it yesterday, I try to make all races at stewart.
 
I thought it was a well-run race but the course marking was TERRIBLE. I know where you went backwards and I almost did the same. At least 5 others (that I heard) went the wrong way on the course somewhere.

I skipped the last section of single track by accident on my first lap because I didn't see the sign to make a sharp right into the woods off the asphalt. So easy to miss because you are going about 20 mph on that road. I came cranking through the finish/start with at least 20 people seeing that I came up the road and missed the last section and nobody said a word to me. So I just kept going. On the second lap they put cones at the turn I missed so I certainly didn't miss it this time. I didn't know I was DQed until the times came out and my name wasn't listed. Very frustrating considering registration is $40.
 
Good morning, This would be the first time hearing anything like this. I am the race director of this event and personally along with a few others marked the course. Keep in mind I am a racer myself and thought the course was marked great, we used 150 or more arrows on a 9 mile course. Now whom ever it was that gave any racer an attitude I personally apologize for that. We at The Bicycle Doctor, Stewards of Stewart, and NYS MTB series thank you for coming out in the rainy weather and supporting the SOS and the series.
 
I'm not sure how you can go off course with the markings they had out. I did the race and did not have one issue finding my way around the course. I never once went through an intersection without an arrow showing the way. There were arrows before, at and after the turn. As far as going past that turn coming up the road you must be riding with blinders on as the arrows were on both sides of the road. This course had plenty of arrows and tape where you weren't supposed to go. Unfortunately every race has one or two people that go off course and then blame it on the lack of arrows or not enough course markings. I think if a promoter painted a white line around the entire course someone would find their way off course.
 
mjshortell said:
I thought it was a well-run race but the course marking was TERRIBLE. I know where you went backwards and I almost did the same. At least 5 others (that I heard) went the wrong way on the course somewhere.

I skipped the last section of single track by accident on my first lap because I didn't see the sign to make a sharp right into the woods off the asphalt. So easy to miss because you are going about 20 mph on that road. I came cranking through the finish/start with at least 20 people seeing that I came up the road and missed the last section and nobody said a word to me. So I just kept going. On the second lap they put cones at the turn I missed so I certainly didn't miss it this time. I didn't know I was DQed until the times came out and my name wasn't listed. Very frustrating considering registration is $40.
Click to expand...
I saw you come up the road and then the next guy out of the woods lol. You were the first one through. I didn't know where the course came out until others started coming. Then another racer went and put cones down there
 
Firedawg20 said:
Good morning, This would be the first time hearing anything like this. I am the race director of this event and personally along with a few others marked the course. Keep in mind I am a racer myself and thought the course was marked great, we used 150 or more arrows on a 9 mile course. Now whom ever it was that gave any racer an attitude I personally apologize for that. We at The Bicycle Doctor, Stewards of Stewart, and NYS MTB series thank you for coming out in the rainy weather and supporting the SOS and the series.
Click to expand...
I know as a fact @Riggedfmx went and made note of it at the timing stage immediately after it happened and they said something like "oh, that sucks, go out and ride the course though and enjoy some free food".
 
jeffstick said:
I'm not sure how you can go off course with the markings they had out. I did the race and did not have one issue finding my way around the course. I never once went through an intersection without an arrow showing the way. There were arrows before, at and after the turn. As far as going past that turn coming up the road you must be riding with blinders on as the arrows were on both sides of the road. This course had plenty of arrows and tape where you weren't supposed to go. Unfortunately every race has one or two people that go off course and then blame it on the lack of arrows or not enough course markings. I think if a promoter painted a white line around the entire course someone would find their way off course.
Click to expand...
I said the same thing but another good friend there said he had three close friends make the exact same mistake. I personally was looking how he messed up and couldn't figure it out though.
 
So basically 5 or so racers out of 150 took a wrong turn which tells me it was marked very well. As a racer myself I've been taught while out on any course to pay extra attention for markings/arrows/warnings, etc. There also was Friday afternoon,evening and all Saturday to pre-ride which the racer could send us a note about the course.
 
Actually that was just 5 or 6 of a close group to me. I'm sure it's not those few in my group of friends that were the only ones.
 
Just playing devils advocate hear... But are we sure that this wasn't a case of deliberate course sabotage? Wouldn't surprise me to find out that he/she wasn't even an actual volunteer. That sort of thing seems to be happening more and more these days. 🙁
 
Juggernaut said:
Just playing devils advocate hear... But are we sure that this wasn't a case of deliberate course sabotage? Wouldn't surprise me to find out that he/she wasn't even an actual volunteer. That sort of thing seems to be happening more and more these days. 🙁
Click to expand...
Well, the person was there in a poncho 3 hours later for cat 1 so not sure. I know the crew up there does a great job. Probably just a grumpy worker...hey the weather was grumpy too. Won't be my last race at stewart for sure. I love that place.
 
Firedawg20 said:
So basically 5 or so racers out of 150 took a wrong turn which tells me it was marked very well. As a racer myself I've been taught while out on any course to pay extra attention for markings/arrows/warnings, etc. There also was Friday afternoon,evening and all Saturday to pre-ride which the racer could send us a note about the course.
Click to expand...
I'm not here to bash the series, bike shop, or promoter. The fact is I understand I made a mistake which I previously said. I am not blaming it on the number of signs. However, what you need to understand is that people may misread signs if they fall off, get twisted, or are not properly placed. Whether it's 1 rider or 10 riders, mistakes happen. But when someone helping out whom I thought knew where to go told me to go the same way twice and calls me a f$&$king a$&&hole because I don't know where go; now it becomes more than just a mistake but a problem. Regardless, 5 or 6 riders misinterpreting the signs seems like there could be an issue. For one second let's put yourself in their position. I'm sure the riders weren't day dreaming while they racing. In that regard, there goes a whole day for those riders - 4 hours or driving, $40 to ride, food, and gas. To be told "aaaa... Well that's not good, you can ride or go eat something." Easy to avoid confrontation when is not you. Bottom line is riding in first place or not if you have trouble finding the route unfortunely it's always going to be your fault. Just seems like if there's ever in issue they never deal with it appropriately. It's always easier to point the finger or ignore it, than to address it in an appropriate manner.

-Side note: it's great to have a Preride option. However, not everyone can make it. I really don't want to have to go into reasons why. What I'm saying is if they can't make the Preride automatically they're written off.
Firedawg20 said:
So basically 5 or so racers out of 150 took a wrong turn which tells me it was marked very well. As a racer myself I've been taught while out on any course to pay extra attention for markings/arrows/warnings, etc. There also was Friday afternoon,evening and all Saturday to pre-ride which the racer could send us a note about the course.
Click to expand...
 
All it takes is the first guy in a group of two, three or four to make a wrong turn and there is a good chance all will follow the leader and make the same mistake.
 
jeffstick said:
All it takes is the first guy in a group of two, three or four to make a wrong turn and there is a good chance all will follow the leader and make the same mistake.
Click to expand...
Correct, I thought it was laid out decent. A couple areas that could have been confusing were a left and right arrow pointing at each other?
 
@Firedawg20 - i see you have a new member banner, so i'll assume you joined to promote the race, take a pulse,
and check on chatter. glad to see you back to discuss the issue.

there is no need to defend your course markings - people go off course. it happens. race pace, following, sabotage,
i'm sure that isn't the issue.

1st - i'm nobody. but i've seen plenty of confusion in my limited mtb and trail run racing - where i thought it was clear, people went the other way.
it is kinda simple to keep people from going the wrong way by stringing some tape across the wrong trail. but again, that isn't the issue.

you can contact all your participants through bikereg, do it. ask them what happened. identify the cause. throw the unhappy people a discount code, and an apology,
and show them it is fixed for next year. if someone intentionally misdirected people to benefit someone else, there is a fraud problem and it will get out.
If you don't find it, and someone else does - you (plural) lose credibility. if there was a saboteur, you might be able to id him - and as suggested, it could be some random
a*hole - but ya gotta follow-up.

there is also no need to air it here - other than the OP may not have known whom to complain to directly, or was totally unsatisfied with the response.
seems like you are willing to take it on - do it.

so again, i thank you for identifying yourself, and engaging. and even more, taking on the thankless task of running a race.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom