“Rider Etiquette – Yeah Right!”

by Vaughan Hunt | Nov 27, 2014 | Archive(News)

In response to Steve Loversuch letter “Rider Etiquette – Yeah Right!” I feel a reply is due and as the 16 Nov ’14 Hunterville ride co-ordinator it is appropriate the response is from myself. It is sad to read Steve’s letter when looking at his local cycling history, Steve has been a good friend and great advocate to recreational cycling for many years and has helped many cyclists take up bunch riding in his Saturday morning circuits.

Firstly, it should be kept in mind the Hunterville ride of 140km was advertised as a training ride with a target time of 6-7 hours, i.e. aimed at cyclists entered in this weekends Taupo 160km solo event, it was not advertised as a “long slow ride” such as Tom & Catriona Pirie hold.

Secondly and to the ride, all 27 or 28 that assembled formed one bunch and left Memorial Park at 7AM. The decision to form one bunch was due to the strong head wind and early morning low vehicle density on the roads we were using. The plan was to proceed into the strong westerly to give shelter until reaching SH1. Surprisingly along Campbells Road near the Taonui Aerodrome a message from the bunch advised that Steve Loversuch had dropped off the back after 15-16km of the 140km ride, I dropped back to with the view to help Steve but the gap was very wide so I rode to the front of the bunch and advised them to slow and allow Steve to catch-up, the bunch rode much slower all the way to Feilding. Also along Campbells Rd, an observation and another surprise, the bunch had swelled in numbers to mid-thirties since we left PN, late arrivals joining on the tail as we proceeded. Through Feilding a long route was taken, South and West Sts to Sandon Rd, but no still no sign of Steve and at this point someone in the bunch advised that Steve had not planned on doing the whole ride, that was news to myself, but relieved my concern at the time.

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