mtbride Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Problem is it's human nature to GO SLOWER when faced with an obstacle, instead of using momentum and going faster through it. People freeze up in these situations and cause issues for the guys with more confidence behind them. Same as a tank slapper on a bike, open the throttle, don't close it ...
Headshot Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Everybody goes as fast as they can. The people who are slower than you have just as much right to have fun at a level that they are comfortable at than what you do. You can start a thread called "Slower riders up hills and Rider Etiquette"nand the EXACT same argument could be used. Hi guys,Nonsense, if it was an issue, there would be threads about it. Besides on a tech single track climb the skill free riders would battle whether they are fit or not.
Headshot Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Problem is it's human nature to GO SLOWER when faced with an obstacle, instead of using momentum and going faster through it. People freeze up in these situations and cause issues for the guys with more confidence behind them. Same as a tank slapper on a bike, open the throttle, don't close it ...Well exactly which is why skills training is vital.
AlanD Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 This is why i dont do races anyomre, apart from the cost. When you want to go fast, you slowed down by the slower riders in front of you and when you slow, you always consious of the faster riders behind you so you can move over. It takes some of the fun out of it and riders can get really upset. At the end of the day you have to expect all levels of skill and fitness in races and do your best to work with that. More and more people are enjoying the sport at all levels and being part of the events and everyone needs to respect each others levels and make the most of it.
droenn Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 The problem isn't going to away anytime soon. Slow people in front of you, as well as the fast guys in the group behind you trying to push past on dangerously fast sections. It just takes some common sense, but that all flies away as soon as people are in their"I paid to ride here, I'll ride as I like" mode.
mtbride Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Well exactly which is why skills training is vital. Either skills training, or what I did, forced myself to ride the black routes at the places around Gauteng with my buddies. It probably helps if your buddies call you a wuss for not riding certain drops etc. haha.
karma Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Skillzzzz has spoken!! I would hate to get in her way
Skubarra Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 I think too much emphasis is being put on making riders go faster on technical stuff. How about we just put more emphasis on being more patient and accommodating of each other? Patch, that is just about the best post on this thread... On a mass participation event like w2w and sani the singletrack aren't there for your exclusive enjoyment, you are sharing it with fellow riders. Inevitably a whole lot of people doing these events will be newbies, dirt roadies, occasional mtb'ers etc with bad skills, no point in punting skills lessons and moaning about bad skills. Also inevitably most of these okes will be in the middle to back of the field and it is far more feasible for you to upgrade your own fitness & seeding than to expect everybody else around you to up their technical skills so that you don't have to train harder to get open singletrack. I rode w2w in group C, most of the people had decent technical skills, were patient when the person ahead of them struggled, I rarely had to ask track, people pulled over voluntarily very often I had open singletrack ahead of me (with no queues behind me...), the a-holes we encountered were few and far inbetween.
Patchelicious Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Except not, because we move out the way of the faster rider when we can.... That can be said in 90% of the cases, be it up a hill or on single track. Remember that the person who is shaky on the single track is already nervous and making extra room to let you pass is not that easy.
supertorro Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Myself and partner at the Sani2c actually stopped on the long descent on day 2 and let the slower riders get ahead, and then when the grumblings got too loud from behind we would cane it down until we caught the riders again... Effective and most of the other guys seemed to be willing to buy into the tactic so that we could at least get a little fun in.
Mojoman Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Do you need to 'qualify' to enter the stage races like Epic etc? Maybe you need to show that you have done at least 3x 70km races before you can qualify? Don't you have to do a couple of marathons before you do the Comrades?
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Do you need to 'qualify' to enter the stage races like Epic etc? Maybe you need to show that you have done at least 3x 70km races before you can qualify? Don't you have to do a couple of marathons before you do the Comrades?bank balance and / sponsored entry.
Patensie Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 This thread reminds me why I don't do any mass participation events anymore (only do so when I get invited to corporate days). Had a blast over the week-end riding Eselfontein: Red 35km on Saturday with a buddy and a 20km section of the black on Sunday on my own. Both days I was the first bike on the trail (small antelope and guinea fowl spoor over older bike tracks) and I was back with the family at 9:00. This is my kind of "stage racing". Yes, it is more risky riding alone, but I ride within my limits. And the only person I get the moer-in with, is myself.
GLuvsMtb Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 It has been done before and still is. Google the BC Bike Race in Canada. Its a marathon type race although to your average SA rider the trails would be way too hard, and see how they have added enduro timed downhill stages into every days racing. Perhaps if there was an enduro race in every marathon, people would get out of the way on the downs, although you'd think that ruining someone elses fun would be a big enough incentive....I've done BCBR in 2013 and its not as simple as simply adding an enduro section or 2. The rider skill is on a whole other level to ours. You could spot the Saffas and Mexicans by how hesitant they were through the roots, rocks and mud (about 90 mexicans and 30 saffas made the trip). You do learn a hell of a lot though by letting a better rider through and seeing what lines they ride. Since getting back I've been working on my skills with friends who are much more capable than me technically.
EmptyB Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 This thread reminds me why I don't do any mass participation events anymore (only do so when I get invited to corporate days). Had a blast over the week-end riding Eselfontein: Red 35km on Saturday with a buddy and a 20km section of the black on Sunday on my own. Both days I was the first bike on the trail (small antelope and guinea fowl spoor over older bike tracks) and I was back with the family at 9:00. This is my kind of "stage racing". Yes, it is more risky riding alone, but I ride within my limits. And the only person I get the moer-in with, is myself. Couldn't agree more!
Patchelicious Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 If you dont like riding behind people, come ride with the roadies, we will let you ride in front all day...
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