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@Greenbank
The problem with "just ride, they're public roads" isn't the roads but the cafes used as controls. Rides are usually limited because of space at one or more of the controls.
If too many people turn up and swamp a cafe then the cafe owners may not want the ride back the next year. If it's the only decent cafe in that area it scuppers the choice of route and, if there's difficulty, the organiser gives up on putting the ride on again.
The same goes for people who turn up with soaked and muddy arses after ignoring the "please have mudguards" comment and make all of the nice cafe chairs dirty.
It's rare, but it has happened in the past.
It's also a bit discourteous to use the route that someone has spent time researching, planning, test riding and checking without some money going their way. Dropping the organiser an email and asking what their preferred charity is could be one way of dealing with that dilemma.
But if the ride is full and you ride the same route ignoring the standard controls and feed elsewhere I can't see why anyone can get too upset.