Racing etiquette.

[KaKa]

i once rode with in a group at a race. when i was suffering i was help by the group and I rode my best time yet. help and be helped. but sometimes u get left behind as a thank you

Edited August 6, 2012 by Kaka'

[Karooryder]

Also, if you are relatively new to road cycling, bunch riding can be a very intimidating thing - not to mention taking the front, keeping the pace and observing obstacles. In my experience, some of the so-called wheel suckers are pretty much just not that experienced in bunch riding and they would rather hide in the bunch and try to keep out of the way of the serious-looking, clean shaven, colour matched die-hard roadies on their Bianchi's .

[Tubehunter]

Some of my most memorable races (rides for Bob) have been down the field and connecting with a group of 20 or so other chaps and we start a proper functioning paceline with each person doing 15 - 20 seconds at the front. At some races, (err rides) we've even managed to ride in the stronger better seeded groups ahead of us.

 

As mentioned you need an uphill piece somewhere on the route to shake off all the wheelsuckers to establish a proper working group!

Edited August 6, 2012 by Tubehunter

[DaLoCo]

Different scenario. Racing in teams vs solo riders

But it worked for Voeckler the Hut when he took KOM....sat in his opponents slip and just sniped the points....

 

Useless f***ing frenchie

[Red Zone]

If you don't have the legs to help in the front it is almost certain that you are going to be nowhere in the sprint anyway. Just do whatever you want, hang on for the whole ride or if you want to have a dip at the sprint go for it. I don't care if you didn't put any work in, if the pace setters want to shell the hangers on its up to them to do it.

[T.XTERRA]

well, I usually feel so bad that after a while I try the front. then, 20 seconds later, I feel worse cause everyone has overtaken me again cause I am too slow.

It's the thought that counts

[RockCoach]

 

hahaha! ok, I get that we're talking about roadie etiquette here. But in comparrison to this (4X) it seems that almost anything done on a skinny bike is courteous

 

 

That's what happens when you get wheelsucking noobs trying to move up the paceline. They take everyone out.

[4barlinkage]

Just throw the Road bike away and buy an MTB. No groups to suck wheels and worry about which knob is going to blow a fresh greeny onto your new 'SKY' team kit even though you're riding a specialized.... Ride for fun dammit!

 

MTB - Much more fun in my opinion.....

[Agteros]

But it worked for Voeckler the Hut when he took KOM....sat in his opponents slip and just sniped the points.... Useless f***ing frenchie

Time = Money = Power

Power corrupts, ultimate power corrupts ultimately

so....

If you don't have the legs to help in the front it is almost certain that you are going to be nowhere in the sprint anyway. Just do whatever you want, hang on for the whole ride or if you want to have a dip at the sprint go for it. I don't care if you didn't put any work in, if the pace setters want to shell the hangers on its up to them to do it.

whatever...!

[Trubie]

learning to race is much like going to school, nowadays youngsters go to school in grade rrr/rr/r.....

you get there and you have no idea what to expect (so you suck wheel and plenty air), what to do and how to behave

as you go along you learn all these things and more, and hopefully graduate to the next grade etc

some kids dont learn these things and dont graduate, so they just stay where they are

next year new kids (new breed of wheelsuckers) come in and the process repeats itself

 

we all start off by entering a race and have no idea what to do , what to expect, how to behave, etc

as you learn more you tend to behave different - hopefully within the accepted norms of the sport

some graduate and stop sucking wheel, others never do and will always be wheelsuckers.

they're those kids in school who you love to hate cause they irritate you - sometimes without you even knowing why (suppose its the same anywhere in life)

can't get rid of them, our roads also doesnt allow for riding more than 4/5 abreast

 

so Peter if you wanna suck wheel, do so, but try and graduate at least

[Scooterza]

Let me start by saying I ride in the lower leagues so take this from that poitn of view. But I have always maintained that I will suck wheel for as long as the guy in front doesn't move out and to the side. ie - it is not my responsibility to overtake the leader to take the front. That person must move over when tired and I will then gladly do my bit.

[andydude]

To what groups were you referring to Spiderman? League, A or Z?

 

A few thoughts:

 

- Racing etiquette... perhaps an oxymoron?

- I like some etiquette at the dinner table, but at races?

- Why is there a negative connotation to "wheel sucking". It's a strategy and if you can't drop him, then you are the weakest link.

- A good group will work out people they don't want there.

[Naushie]

I ride the short distance races, but if I get into a group and I can stay with them, I will; wheelsucking all the way. If the guys at the front want to stay at the front and take us all the way to the finish, so be it. If they want the rest of the group to take a turn I'll gladly do my bit. Plus our finishes don't result in sprints, so there's no need to worry about that.