Patchelicious Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I wanted to comment in the Emperors thread, but it is probably more appropriate here. My question is rather, why should I as an individual work in the front of the group (not a break or group trying to bridge back to the main group) when there are teams present? I'm not going to get involved in their tactics and I feel it is a good tactic for me to sit behind them and conserve energy for when the break goes. Smart racing or wheel sucking conserving energy?Fixed
Skirminkel Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I find some of the team tactics very 'interesting". Or I will just say they don't make sense. I ride for a fairly successful/strong team. It seems like for some teams it's OK to just finish in the bunch. So they wont let a break go or will try to pull back a break with no real plan for when it does. You have to race to win a race. What is the use of just finishing in a bunch. If you haven't got a strong finisher/sprinter, try to set it up in a break. Otherwise how are you going to win a race? Tip: don't attack when you're feeling strong/good. Chances are the others are also feeling strong as well and the attempt wont succeed. Attack when you're feeling on the edge. Know it's not as easy as it sounds but it wont work otherwise.
Long Wheel Base Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Things got quite heated on the emperors thread so lets see how it goes here...........
Underachiever Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I wanted to comment in the Emperors thread, but it is probably more appropriate here. My question is rather, why should I as an individual work in the front of the group (not a break or group trying to bridge back to the main group) when there are teams present? I'm not going to get involved in their tactics and I feel it is a good tactic for me to sit behind them and conserve energy for when the break goes. Smart racing or wheel sucking? I race VB. I tend to work irrespectively of the situations and how many teams there are - sometimes probably too much. Reason - perhaps this will get me an opportunity to be included in a team? (Which it did :-)) or if not - it at least buys me some respect in the group.
Patchelicious Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 To those guys who ride for teams..... What have you found "works" for teams, both logistically and from a fit perspective? How often do you guys ride together? Are you from very different walks of life? What is needed in a team from a support point of view etc. I'm just interested in hearing what works and doesnt......Ahem....
Skirminkel Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Ahem....The guys on our team comes from very different walks of life but we do ride together a lot. And you have to race together a lot as well. And if there are no races, race each other. Riders will be different, different strengths, different weaknesses. The only way to know that is to be tested. I dont think you need much support. Think 90% of the guys fund their own cycling anyway. So the challenge is to find like minded people. Guys who want to race. It's good to be part of something and getting a result definitely makes it worth it. What is the use of riding in the same jersey but still racing solo. Have some tactics together at least.
Spinnekop Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 To those guys who ride for teams..... What have you found "works" for teams, both logistically and from a fit perspective? How often do you guys ride together? Are you from very different walks of life? What is needed in a team from a support point of view etc. I'm just interested in hearing what works and doesnt......Of all the teams I have seen come and go, the teams with the most friends stay together.Friendship.
JA-Q001 Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Ahem.... We are 4 guys that came together at the start of the year, 2 sets of 2 guys that knew each other, that came together to form a team for this year. Most of us have raced together in elites and know each other well, so we know each others strengths. All 4 guys like racing, they like being active and we all have a common goal, to get one of our guys on the podium. This has worked so well that we have had more than one race with 2 guys on the podium. We believe in taking the racing to the competition and do not sit and wait for others to do the racing. We do not get a lot of training time together and live mostly wide apart, but it works for us. We have a sponsor, but would have raced together without one. A sponsor is not needed, but it helps. If you can have 3 friends to work on a common goal, then you can form a team. Guys should try this in their respective clubs, maybe that will later encourage the club to support the team some more. Teams and budgets should not become too big or too professional, we aren't elites and the money should stay with them. VA racing should remain fun and not become a job.
Spinnekop Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I wanted to comment in the Emperors thread, but it is probably more appropriate here. My question is rather, why should I as an individual work in the front of the group (not a break or group trying to bridge back to the main group) when there are teams present? I'm not going to get involved in their tactics and I feel it is a good tactic for me to sit behind them and conserve energy for when the break goes. Smart racing or wheel sucking?You as individual must decide what your objective is with cycling.I never win. Very seldom have a guy in the break. Very seldom IN the break. But my objective is to RACE. To MAKE racing. Not just sit and get a time. That I can do at home. For free. So for me the racing and attacking and pacing is what makes a race a race.
nochain Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Not in VA anymore but here are my 2 cents after racing there for many years.If you are new to racing lic(first 2 years) the worst thing you can do is just sit in the bunch and try to finish with the guys.I know some guys that has done that for years and years and never got any better because of that mindset.So what should you do? Attack...everywhere you can, good or bad...Chase until you drop but make sure you get involved in the racing. The best way to get better is to race lots and to make sure you try things that you are not comfortable with doing..stretch yourself each time you race and you will get better.You also will get to know the real strong riders and learn from them when you are there and trying. The tactics start when you are strong enough to race and get results...until then have fun and go BIG every race.
Skirminkel Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 You as individual must decide what your objective is with cycling.I never win. Very seldom have a guy in the break. Very seldom IN the break. But my objective is to RACE. To MAKE racing. Not just sit and get a time. That I can do at home. For free. So for me the racing and attacking and pacing is what makes a race a race.Like your strategy. I would much rather finish a race totally broken than wonder what if......
Skirminkel Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Which are the teams you guys ride for?The strongest one
SwissVan Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 1. Shave your head or dye your hair - don't let the other ou ballies know how old you really are.2. Don't shave your legs - fools the serious ou's into thinking you are a weekend fun rider.
Barend de Arend Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 To those guys who ride for teams..... What have you found "works" for teams, both logistically and from a fit perspective? How often do you guys ride together? Are you from very different walks of life? What is needed in a team from a support point of view etc. I'm just interested in hearing what works and doesnt...... Nobody in the vets nobody gets rich. It's all for friendship. Just get two friends who regularly race, put on the same shirt, and alternate attacks. Do it a few times, and you'll figure something out. There must be a few on the hub that are in the same boat as you. There are some CSA rules about official clubs and teams. Worry about that next year. At Northcliff we usually pile into a bus, get to the start, race, have a coke, and ride home. Everyone's welcome. It's about having fun.
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