Subject: RE: London Triathlon Mike_D - 2012-11-29 4:10 PM serious question --- do you have to ride on the left?
Wish they'd had this race when I lived there.... Well, yes, you're supposed to. There are often quite a few crashes in this race though as it's become a bit of a 'thing' to do and there are quite a lot of non triathletes that do it to tick it off the list - a bit like the London marathon entries who sort of amble round in seven hours to get the medal. It's not for me to judge and I don't but the problem in the London triathlon is that people mistake closed roads for permission to ride anywhere (or alongside their two friends chatting three abreast!) which makes for dangerous situations for those trying to pass them or race seriously. You get the same problem on the run because the pavement isn't very wide so it causes a bottleneck trying to get past three people having a conversation and is obviously a bit frustrating too. It's not as prevalent as I might be making it sounds and organisers do try to address it in briefings. Although I heard one lady complain that the draft buster was telling her off for drafting and she didn't even know what it was, and that she wasn't trying to gain an advantage, just chat to her mate. It's great that triathlon is becoming more popular and the success of the Olympics has inspired lots more to take it up but it needs managing to ensure everyone gets to have the best day they're capable of in a safe environment. Personally, I think the best quintessential English triathlon is Windsor. Swim in the Thames, cycle through beautiful green fields and heritage sites and then run around the castle, Eton wick and Windsor high street. Love that race. |