Wheel sucking debate

[Gen]

Ladies racing can be a bit rough

After the elite pros break away those of us left behind have to organise our selves. My first Amashova roundabouts Inchanga I hooked up with a few ladies, first thing they wanted to know was what age cat I was racing in Once it was determined that each of the four of us was in a different cat the ladies decided to work together. Meow

Yoh

[Escapee..]

Ladies racing can be a bit rough

After the elite pros break away those of us left behind have to organise our selves.  My first Amashova roundabouts Inchanga I hooked up with a few ladies, first thing they wanted to know was what age cat I was racing in   Once it was determined that each of the four of us was in a different cat the ladies decided to work together. Meow

 

I would wheel suck behind Blonde 

[eddy]

I would wheel suck behind Blonde 

That is not wheel sucking. It is called having a scenic ride.

[Harryn]

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. 

 

100% , I loved the race. The only other fight I had was get the mud outta my nostrils, deraileur, and MTB shoes, but I delegated the latter 2.

[Hennie VR]

The way I see it:

 

The finish/sprint is but 1% of the race. For me the real racing is what leads up to the finish. I don't enter the race for the finish/sprint, I enter to test myself against the fast/strong guys at the front of the bunch for 80-90% of the race......the guys that go on breakaways......that's the guys I race against. I don't care about the people at the back because for most races during the year they can't compete and it's only the few guys that sat at the front doing the work anyway that will dice it out for the win. It's only on The Fast One that the bunch really stays together.

 

And I have received/gave more complements from/to fellow riders that have raced hard up to the finish than I have ever received after just placing well in a sprint. 

[Frosty]

Problem is getting someone to commit to this or to join the break... everyone is way to comfortable in the group including the strong who pull and complain about the wheelsuckers.

I would have loved to join a break or any sort of group at 947 but E batch had no-one who wanted to stay together - everyone for themselves - I hope higher seeded groups try to use a grouping this year if my seeding moves up.

 

True... in the tougher races there is more dropping and also better chance for break aways. - Trying to break when the group is doing 60kmh on the flat and 100strong is not always so easy or possible. (well not for me just yet) Climbs provide a better platform for me and groups often split on the climbs - the light and strong coming out on top and the heavier powerhouses tend to drop to group 2.(who hunt you down on the flats again).

This thread would be so different if the wind blew a bit

[Patchelicious]

This thread would be so different if the wind blew a bit

Dont try and make out as if the wind is a good thing just because its always blowing at your race

[Bateleur1]

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. 

 

Exactly that.  Each one has a different view.  So go on and have fun. If it is to stick to the bunch for dear life and wheelsuck all the way so be it.  If it is getting a break together and stay away so be it.  Can't expect race organisers to have a TT for 20 000 riders on one day to cater for everybodys needs.

[Vetplant]

I loved what happened at the Sattelite Classic in 2016, the B Batch of the Medium course specifically:

Massive group pacing along nicely, but only 3 people working. A lady, her dude and me. Every time we request some help only one guy helps for a single turn and then nothing. Eventually about 5km from Hekpoort the lady lost her patience and dropped the entire group. I then paced back up to her and just made it before hekpoort where she dropped me. I found some wheels from other batches all the way to the end and finished somewhere around 5th or something. The lady beat everyone except 1 dude, who beat her by 5 minutes or something, which makes me think he somehow rode in another batch.

 

Point is, if someone was wheelsucking to sprint for the win in the end, it backfired and a lady beat the entire B-batch.

 

Pick your tactics and be prepared to take it on the chin when it backfires. 

 

Edit: Was the Medium course, not the short

[L46]

If you want to win the open seeded bunch, then you must plan accordingly.

 

If you arrive at the finish and there are 50 guys in the main bunch, they will all try and sprint, meaning you have very low chance of winning.

 

If you truly want to win, you might need to risk a break away, get 4-5 guys to go with you and stay away. That way you up your chances of winning from 2% to 20%.... If your break fails, you will be back in that 50 main bunch and your chances are back at 2%

 

Beside, if you are 5 guys in a AL break, chances are there are only 5 guys puling the main bunch, so staying away should be easier than one thinks. If there in no cohesion in the chasing bunches, breaks stay away. To be honest, I am surprised that not more people take advantage of this.

 

Exactly this...  

 

We are all amateurs here. Each decide on their own tactic/goal for the day and go with it.  Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't, then try again on the next race.  At the end of the day it's all fun and games over a beer at the finish.

 

I don't have a problem with "wheelsuckers", if you can't beat them at the finish your tactic didn't work and theirs did, move on... But my oh my you'll get those windy tough conditions and hills where you can put down the hammer and give the wheelsuckers a well deserved hiding.

 

That said, if you're in a break you join forces with whoever is in there against the bunch at the back, main objective not to get caught.  If you wheelsuck in a breakaway you defeat the purpose, unless it becomes clear that you won't be caught by the bunch, new objective arises.

 

Bunch riding is part of road racing, that's why I do both MTB and road, on the MTB you test your strength against your limits, the route and karma,  on the road you test your tactics against that of others, 2 different spectrums but love them both.

['Dale]

I take my 20 seconds of wind somewhere on the course.

 

It is not just good for my confidence, but also good for my engine.

And the overall performance gains of the bunch.

 

And, because we are not paid to play a role like a roleur at Ettix Floors, the average amateur is not compelled.

 

And there are certain unspoken rules / customs in the tradition of cycling e.g. take your turn.

Take your turn. It is good for you and everybody else.

[GLuvsMtb]

I take my 20 seconds of wind somewhere on the course.

 

It is not just good for my confidence, but also good for my engine.

And the overall performance gains of the bunch.

 

And, because we are not paid to play a role like a roleur at Ettix Floors, the average amateur is not compelled.

 

And there are certain unspoken rules / customs in the tradition of cycling e.g. take your turn.

Take your turn. It is good for you and everybody else.

Best response yet to this fred.

If my laaitie one day comes home to brag about taking a win, while sitting on the whole time, I would tell him to rather come second and do his fair share of the work next time.

[Mamil]

My first road race this weekend. Reading with interest. Getting an education. 

[obree]

Back in the good old days we used to solve this issue in a number of ways, unfortunately today cyclists are just too well mannered. The following steps should be followed

1. ask the wheel sucker to come through for a pull
2. swear at said wheel sucker
3. give said wheel sucker a snot rocket
4. make them ride in the gutter
5. push them off the road
6. drop your pump into their front wheel 

['Dale]

 

Back in the good old days we used to solve this issue in a number of ways, unfortunately today cyclists are just too well mannered. The following steps should be followed

1. ask the wheel sucker to come through for a pull
2. swear at said wheel sucker
3. give said wheel sucker a snot rocket
4. make them ride in the gutter
5. push them off the road
6. drop your pump into their front wheel 

 

 

 

7. It's 2017. Pepper spray has become an option.

[partydave]

I am far from a front buncher, much less a podium finisher, so for you to come hook onto my back wheel when I'm already broken and struggling, only to pull away when I get too slow and move to the next target, is a seriously dick move. 

 

Don't be surprised when I write you a rude letter after afterwards.