Hello TOSRV Riders:
I have started and completed 26 TOSRVs, (that means both
ways, Saturday and Sunday) with my first TOSRV being in 1972. I can tell you
that
the railroad tracks in Rushtown have always been a concern to riders and to
the organizers of this great ride.

Having said this, I can honestly say that the Tour Directors have always done
everything possible to warn riders of the impending dangers of the crossing.
This may sound a bit harsh, but if cyclists choose to ignore these warnings,
the fault is with the riders, not the Tour.

I have seen many people go down in this section, and without exception, the
accidents were mostly due to rider error. I am not saying that there aren't
other reasons for these accidents, I just haven't seen them personally myself.

Besides which, these tracks really aren't that bad. In over 30 years of
cycling, I have seen crossings far more dangerous than the ones in Rushtown and
there were not any good people volunteering their time to warn me of them. I
just
used common sense when crossing them.

Here's a few tips for you folks nervous about these tracks:

1. Slow way down, gear down to a climbing type gear and cross the tracks at a
right angle.
2. If you are in a group of riders or paceline, drift to the back of the
group prior to the crossing so that you have plenty of space between you and the
other riders you are with. Then exercise the technique above. You can always
sprint to catch your group once you cross the tracks.
3. The best solution if you lack confidence or are a new rider, is to
dismount and walk your bike across the tracks. Its better that risking broken
bones
or worse.
4. Give plenty of verbal warnings and hand signals to the riders coming up
behind you to let them know of the tracks ahead. Ride defensively!

Again, the vast majority of accidents I have witnessed were due to rider
error or, careless and reckless riding. Make very effort not to join this vast
majority by exercising extreme caution. Like someone else said in this forum
which I agree with, Don't Blame The Tracks.

Happy TOSRVing!

Chris Manack
Pataskala, Ohio




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