Why do we mark routes with paint?
From what i have read here, the SOP on a big charity ride or century is to send somebody out with a big can of dayglo spray paint and mark all the turns by painting on the road.
Isn't this a bad idea, I would think so because:
1) it is destructive and vandalism, the paint stays long after it is wanted.
2) it ticks off the people that live there (a friend lives here on a road often used for rides, they had the guy painting on the roads arrested for vandalism)
3) shouldn't people be able to follow directions anyway? Hand out a nice map, maybe laminated even?
4) wouldn't a nice sign be better, then come take it up when the ride is over?
Maybe you guys use water solulable paint or go black over it when you are done, but I bet not.
I'm not opposed to organized rides, I just don't like hanging out with non cyclist friends and having to listen to a 10 minute tirade on what a bunch of asshats cyclists are. The least we could do is try not to vandalize peoples neighborhoods.
take care,
Jester