Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

I totally understand where your coming from on this one.


IMHO all the markers we used last year met the above criteria. So with that in mind I think thats both sensible and achievable. Theres no point setting the bar to high and then it not being achievable. I'm not 100% on the IAM membership bit though.

This happened as far as I can tell during AR08 I am reasonably confident that Mattsv marked a junction and stayed there till a marker with a bib on caught up to the front and marked the junction instead allowing him to move on again.

I saw Stu stop and mark an exit of a roundabout, IIRC Sid Squid was there at the exit and stopped either just before or at the same time as Stu did. I definately recall seeing two Kwaks at the roundabout and neither of them had a "bear shaped" rider on them...

IIRC as well Cazza stopped to mark a junction as we peeled off to go over the ranges before we stopped at the view point overlooking Swanage / Lullworth she stopped at the junction till Sid Squid took over and she waited with Sid until I caught up ( I was TEC at that point )

Personally even if theres dedicated markers quite happy for peeps to stop I'd much rather that they stopped and marked rather than leaving a junction with nobody on it.

I'm still concious that some people use marking as an excuse to hoon through the pack a few people have said it on the forum in the past and I've also seen it happen. I am keen on making sure its not used as an excuse in this way.

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

Yes I agree. Maybe add to the rules no overtaking markers. And markers cant overtake markers (unless they are marking) - then have lots of qualified markers... :lol: that ought to work.

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

I don't get it! I really don't!...what's the big deal about being a marker?!!:smt102 Does it make you more attractive to the opposite sex or something? Aren't people grateful that marshalls are laid on for them? I know I wouldn't want to do it - far too much responsibility!...Oh wait a minute...of course! if I was to do it I could show off my riding skills:notworthy:!;-)....No, I just want to enjoy the ride and if someone else has gone to the trouble to organise, lead and marshall it - great! Seriously...what IS the problem?! :rolleyes: :-?

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

I like being a marker. I have done it before and have the confidence and experience to position myself so that I can be clearly seen to all the following bikes. I also enjoy progressing back to the front as usually a rideout pace may be slower than I prefer to travel. I may inadvertendly buzz someone or been perceived to do so. We are not all perfect riders all of the time. You cannot vet all the riders on a rideout whether they be markers or not. I have had bikes I'm passing pull out in front of me without looking or indicating. **** happens. At the end of the day we are all mates together as far as I'm concerned.

I do get a buzz from doing marking but also feel I'm helping, in a very small way, towards the smooth running of everybodies day.

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

I have no idea why anyone wants to be a marker. I like being TEC, you never need to overtake anyone, and if you need to stop for a wee, nobody even knows :smt003

On 06, at one point I went completely off the rideout route, because there was a bike parked just off a roundabout who was nothing to do with the rideout. Luckily I twigged almost immediately otherwise I'd still be in wales to this day. Not to mention quite a few totally unmarked junctions where it became a leap of faith. Instead of picking holes in the system we have, just look at what it avoids.

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

Northwind exactly my point about it being a responsibilty - I would much rather be TEC too if I had to choose :)

IMO there seem to be 5 types of rider in this whole debacle...sorry - scenario -

• those who have the riding skills/attitude necessary to be a marker and don't need to massage their ego but genuinely are the type to enjoy helping out.=D>
• those who have the riding skills necessary to be a marker and AND an ego they want to massage :rolleyes:
• those who have limited/mediocre riding skills AND an ego that they want to massage. :rolleyes:
• those who have limited/mediocre riding skills and ADMIT that to themselves BUT don't need to prove anything.=D>
• those who have the riding skills/attitude necessary to be a marker and NO ego BUT they just want to enjoy the ride :D

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

Pete, were you bothered about not being asked to be marker on AR08 and what did you think to the marker system that was run on the day ?

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

I think this was after we left Dorchester, opportunities for the markers to work their way back up were a bit limited due to the narrow roads, and eventually I found myself behind your Dad - we got to a T Junction, and there were no markers available so I stopped to mark it. I actually stayed and marked until quite a few 'official' markers had gone past - thought it better to give them a chance to work back up the front. It also gave me an opportunity to take a few pics of people approaching/leaving the junction

I had no issues with the choice of markers - whils Fizz would not actually have been responsible had anyone been lost/injured etc on the ride, I know that he would have been gutted if anything had happened. As organiser, he needed a team of people he could trust, without causing issues for anyone else on the road.

I would have been very happy to have been an 'official' marker, not because I wanted to 'feel special' to to have 'the right to blat through the pack' (although that is a buzz) - more because I would have felt that I had been able to help and contribute something to the day.

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

+1
+1

Re: AR Marking Discussion
 

:lol: I dont know about the others but I personally dont think stereotyping and categorising folks would work to well on the day :D

No harm in wanting to TEC though.