FLCC> Words versus Action - Tuesday B's

[Donal Fitterer]

Words

 

Most of you have been keeping up on the messages concerning safety and
racing. Glenn led the discussion prior leaving the parking and I have
listed the main points of the conversation below:

 

*	Racing is dangerous. 
*	Tuesday nights have been going on for over 20 years.
*	All it will take is one complaint from a motorist to the Sheriff
and we will be shut down.
*	We need to be courteous to the motorists. Many of the cars that
pass us contain people who live on our routes.
*	We need to change our habits at the corners, specifically
Whitechurch/Coddington, Midline/Irish Settlement, and Midline/Rt 79. If
you are in the lead entering the corner, slow down and look for cars.
Announce "Clear" or "Car Left" loudly. Enter the corner and do not start
racing until the pack is through the corner.
*	If while racing you notice a car behind you yell loudly "Car
back!". If the car turns off yell "Clear back!". If you hear "Car back"
move safely to the right usually by accelerating not braking. The race
is neutralized until the car is past. Maintain position.
*	If you are off the bike after the race lap or before the race
stay off the road. Talk while you and your bike are well off the road.
*	Ride 2 abreast out to the start. Leave gaps so cars can get
around us.
*	Racing is actually safer if you ride aggressively. This means
attack often. Don't sit in until the final sprint. Keep the pace high so
the pack doesn't bunch up.
*	Don't cross the yellow line.

 

 

Actions

At the start of the race we all still stayed on the road. Luckily, we
had no cars drive up behind us. Glenn led out the A's and I decided to
enjoy myself in the B's. Ernie decided that he was fried and wanted an
"easier" pace. I planned to do my best to make him work. We took off and
I noticed that Sara B's friend John was in our group and looking strong.
John picked up the pace rather quickly and I hoped that everyone made it
around the corner. Other people had also heeded Glenn's words and we had
several good attacks right from the start. ARIDK and I had a good attack
but the group caught us easily. I stopped pedaling and allowed 4 to 5
riders to go ahead. Immediately the group responded and rode them down.
Whenever I recovered I attacked again. I happened to be at the front
when we made the turn onto Coddington. I grazed the yellow line, slowed,
looked left and yelled clear. I rode at 15mph up the hill until I heard
someone yell "Packs through!" and then I cranked up the speed to 21mph.
There were several riders able to hold this pace and soon I was passed.
At the top of the hill we regrouped and started to bunch up again. At
this point Cracker Jack was ahead of me and to my right. I thought I was
in good position until Marko made an attack on my left. I saw Jack look
left then move hard left. Jack is not know for his acceleration and as
he stood to follow Marko his bike slowed and bam, contact was made with
my front wheel. I stood and kept weight on my bars and pushed my front
wheel hard against his rear. Your first reaction is to move your wheel
away from the contact. Usually this will cause the bike to tip and down
you go! The trick is to maintain pressure and stop pedaling while the
person in front continues to pedal. Jack and I were rubbing long enough
for me to unclip and start dragging my right foot hoping to stay
upright. I had too much pressure on Jack's wheel so that when we
released I went right and off the road. I kept upright and let everyone
go by and then moved back onto the road. Ernie was the last one by and
asked "What the hell you doing in the dirt!" No harm, no foul. It was my
fault for being too close to Jack's rear wheel. I have now recalibrated
my safe distance measurement.

 

As we neared the final uphill to the race the rain started and I could
see Ernie starting to work his way through on the right side. I stayed
on his wheel and only had to ask "The Animal" for permission to continue
by. Ernie never really attacked, he just kept the pace really,really
hard. I kept expecting someone to ride by us but then I noticed that I
was having difficulty staying on his wheel. No way!! I'm working 30%
less than he is by drafting I can do this! My can do attitude lasted
until my arms started to go rubbery. I was having a difficult time
keeping my front wheel from wobbling. I wasn't in any pain it was just
like all my blood and energy was going to my legs and I was losing
control of my arms. I reached into my suitcase of courage (courtesy of
Phil Ligget) but a gap opened up well before the finish. Pretty soon a
young RIDK with a red polka dot jersey rode up on my left. I maintained
my pace and expected him to ride by me. He looked at me and I looked at
him and our position stayed the same. We rode less than a minute side by
side and all of a sudden he said, "That's it! I'm done." I finished
about 30 yards behind Ernie and considered it a good race. 

 

The Animal said that she was done and heading to the parking lot. I
decided to keep here company since the rain wasn't much fun to race in
and I needed to get home. Kelly said that she tried to be aggressive but
ended up sitting in because of the pace. I bet others were saying the
same thing. It's tough to attack and then stay on, but the more you try
it the better you'll get at it. It won't be long before we'll have
trouble keeping up with her.

 

I hope others will write and let us know if they thought this Tuesday
was safer. From my point of view things were better.

 

Cheers,

 

Don 

 

 

 

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