VA racing tips and tricks

[devocean]

When there's crosswinds and echelons form, I find if I do a turn at the front of the echelon, okes don't let me back in and I end up right at the back and in the gutter. How do you avoid this?

[Skirminkel]

When there's crosswinds and echelons form, I find if I do a turn at the front of the echelon, okes don't let me back in and I end up right at the back and in the gutter. How do you avoid this?

Vloek, skree en gaan tekere.

[JA-Q001]

When there's crosswinds and echelons form, I find if I do a turn at the front of the echelon, okes don't let me back in and I end up right at the back and in the gutter. How do you avoid this?

This is very difficult, because you wont be let back in, that's the point of the gutter, to get people off the back.

 

Learn how to ride gutters. Remember that the guys in front are still working harder than you, but because you expect slip, it feels like you are being hammered. Concentrate on the 3rd guy ahead of you and be ready to go over them when a gap developed. Further, drop a gear and lower your cadence (this takes practice), you will have a smoother acceleration, so wont have to pedal - brake - pedal - brake. lastly, tilt your head into the slip, you will see wat's coming on the side of the road and will find it gives a sense of sitting in slip.

[Nibali]

Sometimes the wind puts people in the gutter for you

 

Thomas.jpg

 

This is literally how I feel during the Argus

[megs]

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.

 

Based on this objective, is exactly why you had the legend ride at 94.7! And one of the other cyclists in that particular break away has the exact same objective as you!

[Spinnekop]

This is very difficult, because you wont be let back in, that's the point of the gutter, to get people off the back.

 

Learn how to ride gutters. Remember that the guys in front are still working harder than you, but because you expect slip, it feels like you are being hammered. Concentrate on the 3rd guy ahead of you and be ready to go over them when a gap developed. Further, drop a gear and lower your cadence (this takes practice), you will have a smoother acceleration, so wont have to pedal - brake - pedal - brake. lastly, tilt your head into the slip, you will see wat's coming on the side of the road and will find it gives a sense of sitting in slip.

You should really stop giving all the good tips now. 

Soon we won't have any more tricks up the sleeve to dish out pain!   

[Spinnekop]

Based on this objective, is exactly why you had the legend ride at 94.7! And one of the other cyclists in that particular break away has the exact same objective as you!

 

That ride will forever be in the history books me thinks. 

Perfect day out on the bike.

[megs]

 

That ride will forever be in the history books me thinks. 

Perfect day out on the bike.

[devocean]

This is very difficult, because you wont be let back in, that's the point of the gutter, to get people off the back.

 

Learn how to ride gutters. Remember that the guys in front are still working harder than you, but because you expect slip, it feels like you are being hammered. Concentrate on the 3rd guy ahead of you and be ready to go over them when a gap developed. Further, drop a gear and lower your cadence (this takes practice), you will have a smoother acceleration, so wont have to pedal - brake - pedal - brake. lastly, tilt your head into the slip, you will see wat's coming on the side of the road and will find it gives a sense of sitting in slip.

 

But isn't the idea to drop the guys that are in the gutter, not the guys in the echelon though right? So I'd expect if you coming off the front after a turn, the last guy in the echelon (before it becomes the gutter) should let you in so you keep rotating that way, keeping the other guys in the gutter? Otherwise surely you just gonna be losing all the guys off the front of the echelon and replacing them with guys in the gutter?

[JA-Q001]

But isn't the idea to drop the guys that are in the gutter, not the guys in the echelon though right? So I'd expect if you coming off the front after a turn, the last guy in the echelon (before it becomes the gutter) should let you in so you keep rotating that way, keeping the other guys in the gutter? Otherwise surely you just gonna be losing all the guys off the front of the echelon and replacing them with guys in the gutter?

You see, that is where you have to take your gamble. Teams will not let you back in, they dont need you. Other individuals that want to go for the end, they will also keep you out, because you are either helping to hurt him or out of the bunch. So it seems stupid, but it depends on the race. If its done in order to reduce the bunch while chasing a break, chances are they will let you in, if its at the head, trying to force a break, then you will be forced back.

[Wizzard]

I got seeded in VA for the 94.7 and I do not have a racing license (or the legs for that matter).

Now I'm wondering if I should try and hang onto VA or maybe it would be wise to fall back to A or B batch rather..

 

What race time would VA/VB/VC be achieving +-?

 

Not sure if this is the right thread, I just searched VA.

[Spinnekop]

I got seeded in VA for the 94.7 and I do not have a racing license (or the legs for that matter).

Now I'm wondering if I should try and hang onto VA or maybe it would be wise to fall back to A or B batch rather..

 

What race time would VA/VB/VC be achieving +-?

 

Not sure if this is the right thread, I just searched VA.

My guess would be 2:20-2:30

Reversed ride....not sure.

 

GO for it.  What do you have to loose?  

[Spinnekop]

Based on this objective, is exactly why you had the legend ride at 94.7! And one of the other cyclists in that particular break away has the exact same objective as you!

I wonder who will be up for such a "challenge" in VC this year..........mmmmm

[Wizzard]

My guess would be 2:20-2:30

Reversed ride....not sure.

 

GO for it.  What do you have to loose?  

Thanks for the reply, I will try my best! 

After reading this thread it seems like all hell will break lose from the gun.

[Dicky DQ]

But isn't the idea to drop the guys that are in the gutter, not the guys in the echelon though right? So I'd expect if you coming off the front after a turn, the last guy in the echelon (before it becomes the gutter) should let you in so you keep rotating that way, keeping the other guys in the gutter? Otherwise surely you just gonna be losing all the guys off the front of the echelon and replacing them with guys in the gutter?

Hmm, If you come off the front keep enough in the legs to sit it out in the wind a bit while you FORCE your way into the gutter where you feel comfortable. No one will give you a gap, you have to take it. Everyone is expecting the guys at toe front to fall off at some point and because they are the strong riders they want you off the back while they are "resting" till they feel it is time to make a break.

[Furbz]

Also seeded in VA.

not sure i have the bang to hold the group the full race, but will give it my all.

managed to hang with the front group (mix of all vets and youngsters) at the mogale spring race until 60km then got dropped. even did some turns on the front pulling back a very big break group.

TT in and finished 11th - 5min back.

 

my goal is to RACE in the group.

give me a few more months(year - lol) and i will hopefully be strong enough to crank it with the top guys.

 

i'm 31, weigh 70kgs and did 300w average up suikerbosse in CT the other day. the full effort was just over 7min. so i think i have a decent starting point.

that said i was toasted at the top.

last time i really raced was when i was U18!

 

 

NOTE: loved reading this thread!