27 replies to this topic

[Rodgers]

2Ninr, on 11 June 2012 - 12:44 PM, said:

Rodgers, on 11 June 2012 - 09:20 AM, said:

Ya some of it was b/c of momentum down the hill from the back being protected by the wind in the pack compared to guys in the front working in the wind.  However I did see a few guys, whom I wont mention names, brake on purpose before a hill climb.....it almost caused me to rub wheels with the guy in front of me.

Thats just racing tho, some people get it, some people dont and the ones that get it have to figure out how to race with the ones that dont.  This happens both in Road races and Crits so if you dont like the dynamics/unpredictability of pack racing, I would suggest sticking with TT's or some other non group racing forum.

Kind of an elitist attitude you have there. Braking hard and causing squirrely movements in the peloton is a rather amteurish move.Thats not "just racing"-thats stupidity if you ask me. And the people who "get it" move on to higher categories.

Didn't intend to sound elitist at all - apologies if I came across that way.  My point is that people make mistakes at all levels, even stupid ones.  So as you race, at any level be aware of those that just dont get it, even after you talk to them about it and learn to race around them.  If thats to much of a risk, the option is to not race in group type activities and do things like Mtn biking, TT's etc... You cant control what people do, you can talk to them for sure but sometimes people just dont learn or listen.  That was the point I was poorly communicating before - sorry if I came across as an elitist, Im far from that - at least I hope I am....

[jmayer4420]

Near catastrophe,

Fun race with a few tense moments we all learned from.
    On to the next race!
  Jim

[darneezy]

Everyone needs mentors, and some don't have them.  I would never take advice from opposition.  And that did sound pretty pompous.  Takes a bit of humility sometimes

[2Ninr]

Rodgers, on 11 June 2012 - 01:12 PM, said:

2Ninr, on 11 June 2012 - 12:44 PM, said:

Rodgers, on 11 June 2012 - 09:20 AM, said:

Ya some of it was b/c of momentum down the hill from the back being protected by the wind in the pack compared to guys in the front working in the wind.  However I did see a few guys, whom I wont mention names, brake on purpose before a hill climb.....it almost caused me to rub wheels with the guy in front of me.

Thats just racing tho, some people get it, some people dont and the ones that get it have to figure out how to race with the ones that dont.  This happens both in Road races and Crits so if you dont like the dynamics/unpredictability of pack racing, I would suggest sticking with TT's or some other non group racing forum.

Kind of an elitist attitude you have there. Braking hard and causing squirrely movements in the peloton is a rather amteurish move.Thats not "just racing"-thats stupidity if you ask me. And the people who "get it" move on to higher categories.

Didn't intend to sound elitist at all - apologies if I came across that way.  My point is that people make mistakes at all levels, even stupid ones.  So as you race, at any level be aware of those that just dont get it, even after you talk to them about it and learn to race around them.  If thats to much of a risk, the option is to not race in group type activities and do things like Mtn biking, TT's etc... You cant control what people do, you can talk to them for sure but sometimes people just dont learn or listen.  That was the point I was poorly communicating before - sorry if I came across as an elitist, Im far from that - at least I hope I am....

  Cool. My point  is if someone does something wrong accidently, thats "just racing", and that person is more times than not apologetic if it is pointed out to them. Unfortunately there is some real risk in bicycle racing of all kinds-One of the surest riders I know broke his collarbone in a TT.  I am talking about the guy who adds risk to the sport by knowingly making a dumb move like the one you mentioned. He needs to be called out and the officials made aware of the incident.

[cleeland]

FACT: there will be crashes in bike races.
FACT: some of them will be true accidents.
FACT: some of them will be due to someone's stupidity or willingness to take risks.
FACT: some of them will be due to others' overreaction to someone else's accident/stupidity/risk

You can only control what YOU do on a bike.  Learn to read what's going to happen (or what can happen), plan an exit strategy, and decide whether that place is worth a potential ER co-pay.  If you get bumped DON'T OVERREACT.  If you bump someone DON'T OVERREACT.  Shoot...it might even be better if you didn't react at all because more than likely neither of you did it with malice.

Conventional wisdom is that being on the front is generally safer, though I've seen that strategy explode spectacularly as well.  In the words of Mad-Eye Moody (from Harry Potter): "Constant vigilance!"

[itsboz]

2Ninr, on 11 June 2012 - 02:00 PM, said:

If thats to much of a risk, the option is to not race in group type activities and do things like Mtn biking...

where your race results actually depend on your fitness and your ability to handle a bike and things like "pack finishes" are about as meaningful as "where did I finish on the Tuesday evening, no-drop, group ride?"

[Zak Hafner]

Over the years, I have been in races where people have slammed on their brakes (actually skidding the tires) in an effort to break up the pack, and in one instance, it was "to get someone off of my wheel".  I kid you not, these riders thought that these were legitimate tactics.  And believe it or not, these were in Cat 1/2/3 combined races....not Cat 4/5.

So, the original poster might not be off base when calling the actions deliberate.

[2Ninr]

itsboz, on 12 June 2012 - 07:18 AM, said:

2Ninr, on 11 June 2012 - 02:00 PM, said:

If thats to much of a risk, the option is to not race in group type activities and do things like Mtn biking...

where your race results actually depend on your fitness and your ability to handle a bike and things like "pack finishes" are about as meaningful as "where did I finish on the Tuesday evening, no-drop, group ride?"

Careful there Boz-you might hurt some feelings

[2Ninr]

Zak Hafner, on 12 June 2012 - 08:38 AM, said:

Over the years, I have been in races where people have slammed on their brakes (actually skidding the tires) in an effort to break up the pack, and in one instance, it was "to get someone off of my wheel".  I kid you not, these riders thought that these were legitimate tactics.  And believe it or not, these were in Cat 1/2/3 combined races....not Cat 4/5.

So, the original poster might not be off base when calling the actions deliberate.

Collegiate races?

[pylondesigner]

2Ninr, on 12 June 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

itsboz, on 12 June 2012 - 07:18 AM, said:

2Ninr, on 11 June 2012 - 02:00 PM, said:

If thats to much of a risk, the option is to not race in group type activities and do things like Mtn biking...

where your race results actually depend on your fitness and your ability to handle a bike and things like "pack finishes" are about as meaningful as "where did I finish on the Tuesday evening, no-drop, group ride?"

Careful there Boz-you might hurt some feelings

this heer's the skinny tire board!Dems fighten werds

This race actually did get the separation according to fitness, it just happened after the 1 hr plus of typical cat 4 pack riding and complaining, then we hit the first real hill. So now  I know my fitness level compared to a 30 yr old cat 4

Edited by pylondesigner, 12 June 2012 - 03:26 PM.

[motorthings]

what i'd like to know is who was putting on MY brakes as I was climbing the hills!

[rallentamento]

motorthings, on 13 June 2012 - 11:53 AM, said:

what i'd like to know is who was putting on MY brakes as I was climbing the hills!

I hear ya my brakes are always rubbing when the grade goes over 3%

[tileman]

cleeland, on 12 June 2012 - 07:12 AM, said:

You can only control what YOU do on a bike.  Learn to read what's going to happen (or what can happen), plan an exit strategy, and decide whether that place is worth a potential ER co-pay.

Yes, yes, listen to Cleeland you must!  I would have still been racing if I had exit strategy engrained in my brain, now I just have tree bark!