Popit Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 I think we all watch too much racing on TV and mostly our expectations outweight our talent . As Bateleur post .... just have fun
Harryn Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Being a weak cyclist, in almost every race I have ever done, I have been in the habit of unashamedly sucking wheel, and have only very rarely contributed to the work. The rules do not require the contrary. (Mostly, i have been dropped anyway). Drafting is allowed, so I have never really understood all the bitching after every race by the strong men who pulled the bunch blah blah, and then moaned about the oke who did no work, before going on to impeach the inevitable **** who threw a gel onto the ground. In my value system, there is no moral imperative, which impels me to act like some kinda hero, when all I wanna do is gasp to the finish, boep still in tact, and then go pass out for the day, drinking 32gi recovery acting like I am a real athlete and all. But, the other side of the coin is that sitting in the bunch is plain dangerous. In the last couple of races I did, I have stayed away from this strategy, and have either gone to the front or just stayed right out of the bunches altogether, and ridden on my own, or in very small groups. I just don't trust some nameless asswipe not to switch me. Road racing, even in the dregs of the alphabet soup, has become too dangerous for me. Hence, i prefer to ride on my own, time is not an issue for me. I do this for fun and to try get fit, not to create hospital records. MTB races, are much safer, and less stressful. They give one the opp to manage your exposure risk.
Gen Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Actually not. Just get on your bike and have fun. Simple.Too true hey. For a noob it is just a bit confusing as to how much to work when to work and why to work..esp in a small group of just 5/6 people. You know you also don't want to upset the others..you know I have heard it can get quite woes out there.[emoji12]
Spoke101 Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Better to be the weakest in the break , than the strongest one chasing the break Haha, not sure about that. Chasing you can ride your own tempo. In the break you forced to ride the stronger guy's pace ie.(get pulled through your a$$).
mecheng89 Posted January 31, 2017 Author Posted January 31, 2017 There are so many different do's and don'ts in road cycling it is making me confusedHow is it in the ladies' bunch? As many complaints?
coppi Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 You pay my entry .... you tell me where and how to ride !!!I pay my entry .... I decide .......Really ?Have you never read or informed yourself of cycling etiquette? Come on dude that is not cool.......
coppi Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 You pay my entry .... you tell me where and how to ride !!!I pay my entry .... I decide .......Really ?Have you never read or informed yourself of cycling etiquette? Come on dude that is not cool.......
mecheng89 Posted January 31, 2017 Author Posted January 31, 2017 Being a weak cyclist, in almost every race I have ever done, I have been in the habit of unashamedly sucking wheel, and have only very rarely contributed to the work. The rules do not require the contrary. (Mostly, i have been dropped anyway). Drafting is allowed, so I have never really understood all the bitching after every race by the strong men who pulled the bunch blah blah, and then moaned about the oke who did no work, before going on to impeach the inevitable **** who threw a gel onto the ground. In my value system, there is no moral imperative, which impels me to act like some kinda hero, when all I wanna do is gasp to the finish, boep still in tact, and then go pass out for the day, drinking 32gi recovery acting like I am a real athlete and all. But, the other side of the coin is that sitting in the bunch is plain dangerous. In the last couple of races I did, I have stayed away from this strategy, and have either gone to the front or just stayed right out of the bunches altogether, and ridden on my own, or in very small groups. I just don't trust some nameless asswipe not to switch me. Road racing, even in the dregs of the alphabet soup, has become too dangerous for me. Hence, i prefer to ride on my own, time is not an issue for me. I do this for fun and to try get fit, not to create hospital records. MTB races, are much safer, and less stressful. They give one the opp to manage your exposure risk. I agree with you on the MTB races. Did Fast One MTB a couple of weekends ago and joy of joys, I was all by myself after about 40km dropping okes/being dropped by okes and the only fight I had to fight was with my own limits, not another rider.
Gen Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 How is it in the ladies' bunch? As many complaints?You'd have to ask a Elite lady or someone that has successfully made it into a decent sized bunch.. Me I know nothing ..[emoji23] [emoji23]
NotSoBigBen Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Being a weak cyclist, in almost every race I have ever done, I have been in the habit of unashamedly sucking wheel, and have only very rarely contributed to the work. The rules do not require the contrary. (Mostly, i have been dropped anyway). Drafting is allowed, so I have never really understood all the bitching after every race by the strong men who pulled the bunch blah blah, and then moaned about the oke who did no work, before going on to impeach the inevitable **** who threw a gel onto the ground. In my value system, there is no moral imperative, which impels me to act like some kinda hero, when all I wanna do is gasp to the finish, boep still in tact, and then go pass out for the day, drinking 32gi recovery acting like I am a real athlete and all. But, the other side of the coin is that sitting in the bunch is plain dangerous. In the last couple of races I did, I have stayed away from this strategy, and have either gone to the front or just stayed right out of the bunches altogether, and ridden on my own, or in very small groups. I just don't trust some nameless asswipe not to switch me. Road racing, even in the dregs of the alphabet soup, has become too dangerous for me. Hence, i prefer to ride on my own, time is not an issue for me. I do this for fun and to try get fit, not to create hospital records. MTB races, are much safer, and less stressful. They give one the opp to manage your exposure risk. Harry my man, you said that so well for a hacker like me!
mecheng89 Posted January 31, 2017 Author Posted January 31, 2017 Actually not. Just get on your bike and have fun. Simple.I think the individual's interpretation of fun must be understood. If you are a strong rider, "fun" could mean testing your limits against an adversary, or your mates. For a social rider it could mean completing the race. Mixing different types of "fun" in one race is a balance (most) organizers are yet to discover.
s14phoenix Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 In smaller groups I always get left out front and no one continues the rotation after I did my turn. I have since devised a tactic of dropping speed until someone else comes past or riding them off my wheel. problem with the latter strategy is that I then tend to go too hard too soon and cramp or start to cramp rendering me useless and then the same group then passes anyway. Smaller groups are fun as you could have a small group sprint just for kicks. as for etiquette - most cyclists entering races these days have no idea and furthermore couldn't care to learn - even when making it to higher seeding groups - licenced or not. they all ride for themselves and thus hide in the bunch until the finish. There where some ladies in our AL batch at Fast One and man they cannot hold a line at all - dangerously swerving to suit themselves with no regard for the people around.(note I am not generalising just an eyewitness account of what actually happened) Now It does not matter who you are - ride responsibly. Recklessness should not be tolerated no matter who you are.
Patchelicious Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Its all about goals. Ive said this before, if you are racing open seeded, its is stupid to wheel suck and only wheels suck. Go do a few turns on the front and everybody's time will be faster. If you are strong enough to sprint at the end, you could have helped the bunch go faster. NOBODY cares if you win your open seeded bunch, get over it, but everybody cares about a better seeding, therefore a better a finishing time. In the racing categories where its about placing and not time, if you have a teamie in a break, nobody expects you to help real the break in. If you don't have teamie in the break, go and help on the front, else you won't place its simple. If you are in the break, do your fair share to try and stay away. Law of percentages. 10 guys in a break, share the work 10% each, 5 guys, 20% etc. Everybody must draft to recover and conserve energy, but if your face doesn't hit the wind at least once in a race, maybe a bit of introspection about what your goals are is needed.
JanJan Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 If you are in a breakaway and you have 2 non-contributing wheel-suckers and your nose is a bit runny... And you gooi a nice snot-rocket. Should you feel guilty?
Popit Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Really ?Have you never read or informed yourself of cycling etiquette? Come on dude that is not cool.......I didn't say I don't do my share of the work .I am just saying , if you paid , you tell me what and where .If I paid I will decide what kind of race I will have . Anyone who knows me knows that I do more than my fair share of work , whether in the break ( not too often ) or chasing ( VERY OFTEN )
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