Quote:
Originally Posted by YTDelivery
Yes, I've been several times before and this year was the worst atmosphere. How long has it been under this new management?
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The main organiser is Briony Wheeler, who took over last year. She seems to be a hardline woke nutjob. That ride was relatively small, at least partly due to the continuing concerns about Covid. That one also had a pretty toxic atmosphere, with two drunk idiots attacking random people with super soakers. That being said, the weather was lovely and the riders very friendly once away from Preston Park. My guess is that 2021 had a relatively decent number of lady riders because some were thinking it would be business as usual. Having seen this was no longer the case, I reckon word got round.
I knew something was up as several women I spoke to who did the London ride said they were no longer doing Brighton. The most common reason given was that it just isn't fun any more. Having looked at the Facebook group, it becomes obvious why so few ladies now do the ride. I cannot believe the organisers are so delusional as to be congratulating themselves for putting on a great event. Away from the park, things were a bit more relaxed but with such a massive disparity between male and female participants, this ride is doomed. Instead of being inclusive and welcoming, Wheeler and co have guaranteed that it's anything but.
The completely unacceptable behaviour of Chris Hermon (clear case of small man syndrome), who repeatedly shouted profanities at a press snapper and various others, certainly scared off a good number intending to ride. The gathering in the park was large. By the time the ride was underway, it became clear that many of the ladies who had been at the initial gathering weren't taking part. Given that even those naked in the painting area were being told they couldn't take pictures or they'd be ejected from the ride, it certainly wasn't nuisance photographers putting people off. The police repeatedly stated that folks were free to take pictures and shoot video in a public place but Hermon just ignored them and carried on with his relentless tirades. The look on the faces of the riders as they left Preston Park summed the event up perfectly. Compare the pictures from 2022 to those taken in years gone by.
Meanwhile, you had men playing with themselves (and occasionally each other) and the usual blind eye was turned. One of the water pistol guys from last year was clearly very drunk. But that apparently is entirely acceptable too. Every snapper I spoke to said this would be their last Brighton ride unless things changed radically between now and next year. So...Wheeler and Hermon have succeeded in driving away those who used to cover the event. Job done.