So........ it happened again this year (as it has done every year for the last 22 years (so I am told))
Think Bike Marshals were fortunate to be on the scene again and we worked in a number of areas:
- Working in the Joint Operations Centre;
- Working Escorting the various Cycle Groups around the route;
- Working in the "Neutral Zone" which is a non-racing part of the route, between the "start" and the actual "race start";
- Working as a rapid reaction team to assist wherever needed.
- Working in the Ground Crew.
I thought it may perhaps be of interest to you if I shared with you what each of the above roles provides (If not of interest to you, immediately pass "GO" collect 200 "Nothings" and move on to something more interesting)
- The Joint Operations Centre, more commonly known as the JOC, is really the nerve centre of a big event like the 947 Cycle Challenge. It is large room equipped with radios, telephones, WiFi and bunches of large screens reflecting everything from traffic flow and weather conditions to position of ambulances and riders. The JOC is manned by anything up to 200 people representing different agencies such as ORRU (Off Road Rescue Unit), SAPS, JMPD, Netcare 911, JRA, Health and Safety, Think Bike Marshals, Security Companies, Caterers, Fencing companies and a host of others - but you get my drift right?
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The Think Bike Marshal JOC Team usually consists of three experienced Marshals who use Radio, Cell phones and WhatsApp to control and direct the 40 odd Marshals who are out in the field. It is this team that provides the link between the event organisers, the other agencies, the public and the Marshals "out at the rock-face" This is a high pressure job requiring high EQ and an ability to work in chaos without being sucked into the stress zone![]()
- Group Escorts. These are the guys and girls (yep we have a number of Lady Marshals as well) who are out there and are allocated to escort a group of cyclists around the route. It is their job to keep the cyclists safe and also to report any issues back to the JOC Team. Examples could be anything from riders who have fallen to traffic control issues. These are the unsung heroes, for them an event like the 947 is really hard work!
- The Neutral Zone Marshals are Marshals who are designated to ensure that the cyclists do not pick up too much speed and start racing before the actual "race start". You may wonder why there is a "Neutral Zone"? Usually it is because too much speed on a certain section of the route could be dangerous. In the case of this year's 947, there was a steep down hill from the "start", followed by a sharp right hand bend at the bottom of the hill - dangerous?
Definitely! The answer was to move the "race start" to after the right hand bend and stop the cyclists from accelerating too fast down the hill. This is performed by positioning Think Bike Marshals ahead of the riders and not allowing the cyclists to pass the Marshals. For this duty you require very skilled (and very large
) Marshals!
- The Rapid Reaction Team - These are the "Glory Boys" (Joke!!!) - In the airforce they were the fighter pilots
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These are the Marshals specifically tasked to respond rapidly to problems anywhere on the route. This task calls for Marshals with great geographic knowledge of the route and surrounds, as well as excellent riding skills as they generally are required to travel quickly from point to point. Also required is the ability to diffuse high temperature situations without resorting to brute force
- Last but most definitely not least - The "Crew". These are the ladies who look after the well-being of the Marshals in the field. It is they who provide food, drink and a place to "chill" on a long event like the 947. Without them we could not function
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I talk of a long event..... to give you an idea the first Marshals had gathered by 02h00 on Sunday morning and we stood down at just before 17h00 on Sunday afternoon - 15 hours!And most of it in the saddle with temperatures up to 35!
You have gotta ask yourself why we do it........ because we are the Think Bike Marshals and we CARE!!!![]()