Marshalling

[screenman]

Off to stand on a windy country lane in Lincolnshire dressed in a dayglo vest watching cyclist go past at one minute intervals. Anyone else enjoy the same when not competing.

 

[fossyant]

Used to do it as well as organising TTs before the invention if the internet.

 

[Globalti]

A window country lane?

 

[screenman]

A window country lane?

?

 

[screenman]

So not that many putting something back into the sport then, I honestly thought we would have a lot more than this.

 

[zizou]

Ive helped time keep a couple of times and marshalled once. Had to deal with barriers blowing over in the wind blocking the road about a minute before the bunch came past...that created a bit of panic to say the least!

 

[Globalti]

You went back and changed your window to windy!

Yes, I've marshalled for a town-centre crit in Blackburn for three years. This is quite an exciting form of racing; better I would imagine than a big time trial circuit or a sportiff in the country.

 

[VamP]

I marshall for my club when I can. Freely admit to being selfish and competing far more often than marshalling.

 

[PK99]

I do it once a year for a 4up open TT our club runs.

 

[compo]

I have spent may a day marshalling both cycling and running events. Some through my clubs and others through membership of a CB club in the '80's where we provided radio cover for different events.

I also had CB on my motorbike with speakers and mike in my helmet and a handlebar mounted mike key. I was often invited to do mobile marshalling on the motorbike, a job I really enjoyed. Saw myself on TV a couple of times!

I will always remember one occasion when marshalling on the bike. I was 5 minutes ahead of the race leaders and stopped to talk to the static marshalls on a sharp left hand turn. As the lead car came past I moved off and promptly stalled the bike in the middle of the road. Within seconds lots of riders came round the corner at race speed not expecting some wally sitting in the middle of the road on a motorcycle. All I could do was pull my shoulders in and hope for the best. Thankfully no harm done.

It is very satisfying when people come up at the end and thank you for what you have done.

 

[fimm]

Have marshalled at a couple of triathlons that my club (including once sending all the runners the wrong way, oops). I gets me out of having to enter the big tri we run (which has a nasty-looking sea swim).

 

[jazzkat]

I take my turn marshalling at the club TT and occasional open events. The time passes pretty quickly and it is an important job.
When I compete I always like to shout my thanks at the turn, it's only one word and no matter how knackered I am I can always manage a quick "thanks" before battering myself with the last five miles
It surprises me how many people don't say thanks though! Mind you it surprises me how many people will ignore a marshals call to slow down or stop, and ride out in front of fast moving traffic, but that's for another time

 

[VamP]

On occasion, my beloved wife comes to pit-bitch for me at CX races. Her preferred attire for this is a hi-viz waterproof coat. She is ''always'' mistaken for a marshall, and ''always'' thinks it's hilarious to pretend that she does know which way the start/loo/race HQ/etc is.

Oh how we laugh...

 

[palinurus]

I do it from time to time, TTs and occasional road races. Once a year a bit of assistance setting up a cyclocross course.

 

[palinurus]

I do it once a year for a 4up open TT our club runs.

Can't be many of those about, is that the Antelope RT one?