Originally Posted by
Flatballer
It's racing, I don't see why the need for all the rules about where you can and can't go on the track, other than the actual rules, and the ones during training.
It's like any other bike racing discipline - or just about anything else. There are the Actual Rules, and then there are the guidelines that are really important, slightly flexible, difficult to codify into rules, and good to communicate as Rules to beginners.
Cycling is a different kind of sport. Nobody's calling fouls or penalties - instead, we have to look out for ourselves and each other, and since we become part of this writhing, dynamic animal called a peloton, there have to be some common understandings in order to help keep it safe.