FLCC> [Cookies] A cute little article for most of us

[Donal Fitterer]

Bill,
Cat 5 racers are expected to make mistakes. Don't worry about it. Try something and see what happens. I attacked once on the flats from Midline to Snyder Hill on Rt 79. I had a huge lead until I hit the hill just before Snyder. One of my friends rode by and said, "Attacking on the flats before a hill didn't work very well did it?"
 
Just one of many lessons learned the hard way!
 
The point of the article really is to try and prevent accidents by rushing up to the front at the wrong times or by attempting to sprint from the back of huge group. 
 
For example, on the Brootondale course everyone starts to bunch up near the finish. The new guys up front are now tired and want to draft so they slow down. The new guys that aren't quite strong enough to lead now see a chance because the race is slowing down. Pretty soon the entire situation becomes incredibly dangerous as riders start twitching, crossing the yellow line, moving up into non-existent gaps.
 
I do one of two things. If I feel good I am at the front of the group catching up to the new guys that have been at the front and now want to draft. I say "On your left please!" The majority of the time there is an expression of relief on their face that someone is willing to go to the front. As soon as I am clear I take off as hard as I can. 90% it is too soon. Plus, most of my friends know I am going to do this so they are positioned to get on my wheel. Soon the real sprint is down to 4 or 5 of the strongest riders.
 
If I don't feel good I either relax and let the lead group go so I won't be involved in a crash or I still do the same thing I do above but make sure that I am on the very edge of the road so some idiot doesn't try to pass me on the right. I still go as hard as I can but run out of steam way before the real sprint starts.
 
Whatever you do, hold your line! Don't move to the right when you slow down thinking you are helping by getting out of the sprinters way. That is a recipe for disaster. Don't stop pedaling either. Keep a strong (non-sprinting) sitting pace all the way past the line. Slowing down rapidly has the same effect as moving right.
 
HTH,
 
Don

________________________________

From: flcc-bounces at icycle.org on behalf of Bill Goffe
Sent: Mon 4/21/2008 10:55 PM
To: Mark Rishniw
Cc: Flcc
Subject: Re: FLCC> [Cookies] A cute little article for most of us



I understand the point, but what is the appropriate strategy for less
capable 4/5 riders that even under ideal circumstances don't have a chance
of winning? With one offensive move you may well be off the back in a big
way.

        - Bill


Mark said:

> The biggest issue with this blog is exactly the philosophy this rider
> proposes - pass/fail.  Most cat4/5 racers do not race to win, but
> rather, they race not to lose.  In other words, they don't try
> anything offensive, they just defend, defend, defend.  That's why
> it's relatively easy to win as a team in these races - teammates are
> prepared to sacrifice themselves to have one of their team win.  And
> it's also the reason so many crashes happen - riders try to "not get
> dropped" and react to every single move as if it were the winning one.
>
> Twinkie.
>
>
> At 04:51 PM 4/21/2008, LiLynn Graves wrote:
> >*Caution:* This article is by no means meant to discourage trying to win
> >the C's on Tuesday nights in Ithaca. This is the time when you pretend
> >you are winning the tour de france as you're coming to the finish with
> >the last pack of 3, sprinting till you puke!
> >
> >http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/04/sitting-in-and-bowing-out-art-of.html
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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>
>
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         | Bill Goffe                 goffe at oswego.edu          |
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