[WALKERMAN]

Got to agree with most of the previous comments but if I can get back on the initial topic of Stupidity on the roads;-

I finished work at 2.00pm on Friday and set-off on my bike heading for home which is about 7 miles. I knew there was going to be a Cycle 'Tour of Britain' stage passing along the route at about that time as some posters had been put up on the route previously.

When I got onto the main road there were a handful of spectators waiting there but nothing much else was happening. A bit furthur along the road I was suddenly aware of flashing lights and several police motorcyclists drove past on the other side of the road going in the other direction. It seemed the race was imminent.

I wasn't prepared for what followed next. Dozens of motorcyclists went by followed by the main pack of racing cyclists who were followed very closely by dozens of their support vehicles. The max speed limit on this road is 40mph but they must have been going well over this. They went through like an express train. Some of them were even driving on my side of the road. What amazed me was that the road hadn't even been closed but traffic was still attempting to go in the same direction as I was.

Once they had passed the traffic started off in my direction again but within a couple of minutes there were more sirens and flashing lights as another group came into view and we hastily pulled over out of their way.

Yet again we set-off and came to temporary road works and lights. Just as some vehicles were about to go through on green another group of cyclists and motorbikes came hurtling through with the lead race car in front blasting his horn at the surprised drivers. There was almost a massive pile-up and people would most likely have been killed at the speeds they were doing.

Allowing this event to take place in this way was sheer madness. It was akin to driving the wrong way round a race track on a race day.

I still can't believe that this was allowed by the authorities. Any unsuspecting person crossing the road wouldn't have stood a chance.

I think this was another form of 'Stupidity on our roads', using it as a race track and sending a very bad message to youngsters and others as to what the roads are for.