longe

Sometimes things get squirrelly. Sometimes things get tight. Sometimes other racers do <insert adjective> things.

Where are the lines between being vocal in a good way and being overly-vocal? I sometimes have the mouth of a sailor and let squirrelly mistakes around me set me off, loudly, if only for a few seconds. It's a goal of mine to stop swearing (loudly) during races. On the other hand, I like making it clear to people where I am relative to them, so I bark "here" and "go" enough. These obviously aren't mutually exclusive, but wondering veterans' thoughts on it.

carpediemracing 

You'll hear some feedback like this:

"Usually the guy yelling is the one that doesn't know how to race"
"If you need to yell then you're in the wrong place"
etc.

If you need to let people know where you are then you're probably in the wrong place, whether you're actually in the wrong place, if you're next to someone that isn't safe, or you're in a spot where you don't need to let people know you're there.

If you need to put your hand out on your hip the same applies.

Even in Cat 3 races I have people tell me they're just behind to my left or right, or I get people touching my hip to let me know they're there. Totally unnecessary.

I have to believe there are times when it could be necessary to say something or do something (touch a hip etc), but other than in a friendly greeting way I don't remember any at the moment.

Having said that I'll say that saying things, as long as you're receptive to feedback, seems pretty reasonable in Cat 5s and 4s. I did a number of Cat 3-4-5 training races this year and vocalizing worries and concerns is good, it lets the others know if you're uncomfortable or if someone else really is doing something weird (swerving etc). As an assigned "patron" of the race (the promoters, including a local coaching guru, actually pointed me out at the line as a rider that might be giving advice/etc to the others) I did receive reports of squirrely riding by some riders who I thought were fine. At the same time a couple riders just didn't listen to or understand some of the feedback. As one other rider said to me about one of those riders, "He just doesn't get it."

In this vid there are a few moves in the 3:30-4:00 move where other riders do some weird stuff. One is someone telling me they're on my right, which is fine, except they have a ton of room, they don't move closer, and therefore it was unnecessary to say anything. In the same race a guy tightens high line suddenly in the hairpin and I hit his rear wheel pretty hard with my front wheel. It's a total non-incident so either I didn't include it or I couldn't find it quickly. I don't say a word and saying or doing anything at that point would have been useless.

At the beginning of this video I give a pretty big shove to a rider to get him to close a gap (it's about 1:44 or so, rider shoved is in yellow/black). I gave him a long shove and he soft pedaled across the gap. At the time I didn't know who it was and I didn't say anything. I knew that when I gave him the shove I'd move back a bit relative to those around me so I started the shove soft and pushed harder, giving any riders directly behind me time to respond. I checked to make sure I was clear before giving the shove, but you never know if someone blasts up the middle so I had to assume that someone was directly behind me.

globecanvas

I know the OP is talking about yelling and not contact, but on our team rides, a couple of my teammates constantly bump and grab each other on team rides, all in fun, partly just to horse around but partly to be comfortable with contact. Grabbing somebody's saddle when he's trying to attack, slingshotting, that sort of thing. They have fun but it's kind of annoying to be honest. The other week one guy ripped the other guy's pocket off the back of his jersey.

Wylde06

Completely unreleated to the op, but last year in an early season training race I was doing my 2nd race of the day (B race..cat 3/4) immediately after the first race and one of the A racers that was riding off the back to warm up saw that I was struggling towards the end of the race (and was just off the back after the slight uphill section) and gave me a pretty big shove that launched me back into the pack. Thanks to that shove I was able to finish the race. I never did see who it was to thank him after.

Creatre

You can be disqualified for language, just FYI.

Also, I don't think there is any reason about being vocal in the middle of a race. If you have a problem with how someone is riding talk to them after. You won't be able to get anything across other than anger in the middle of a race, that is, if he can even hear you.

I also people over exaggerate mistakes. Stuff happens. I'll put a hand on people every once in a while, or let out a 'Hey!' if I have a guy pushing me into the gutter. But that's about it.

topflightpro

I've seen it happen too.

longe

Yeah, not being DQ'd is a perk of my goal for sure. I'm thinking about this as a part of developing integrity and poise as an athlete. It's my second year as a transplant into racing and being 27, I don't know if I really have the same demeanor as some of the experienced or even collegiate riders I see.

All above points well received.

mattm

those who talk the most have the least to say.

i think its true on and off the bike.

furiousferret

The only time I ever talk (which is rare) is to tell someone to speed up during a pull, or close the gap. All a ruse to make someone else do more work. I figure if some dude is squirrely yelling at him isn't magically going to teach him bike skills.

gsteinb

things I've said in races:

'work with me, we've got a gap'
go **** yourself.

'you have to work harder'
I've got shoes older than you. You work harder.

'on your right'
I'll put you into the curb

'your teammate sucks'
you should hear what he says about you.

19 laps into a crit:
right turn!

Creakyknees

I like it when I hear guys *****ing at each other during a race; it lets me know they are getting tired / winded / frustrated etc... adversity for them means opportunity for me.

grolby

I would suggest keeping your mouth shut and your eyes open.

himespau 

hehe

spectastic

I cuss when I get pissed off about something

other times, I say something to make sure the guy knows I'm there.

ridethecliche

I once started singing 'why cant we be friends' at nutmeg when someone started cursing. A teammate joined in. People started laughing. It was pretty great.

revchuck 

Saved for future use!

YMCA

we've all been the cranky baby at some point, but it's the constant shouter who needs the longest nap

tetonrider

i saw a guy get DQ'ed at the end of stage 1 of a 4-stage stage race. he'd traveled 10+ hours for it.

shovelhd

At the Kermis a guy doing his second race missed the start while he was changing numbers/jerseys. As he rode by the start he flipped the bird at us (the officials) before he starts his chase. When he came around we waved him over to chat. We told him that we were going to give him a free lap and restart him at the back of the field on the same lap as the leaders. It would have been very easy to sit there and watch his futile chase only to DQ him later for his actions. It just goes to show you that officials make decisions based on common sense and not emotion.

I am am normally quiet in the field unless I am chatting with someone. If a problem is brewing up ahead I might utter something under my breath.

Wylde06

99% of the time you won't hear anything from me. Unless I am (rarely) chatting with someone I see no reason to be vocal in a race

Homebrew01

+1 for being honest enough about yourself to work on fixing things.

rkwaki

Omg I've said almost everyone of these things. That's hysterical.
I often shout out "shut the **** up..." Mid race when guys start chirping.

jsutkeepspining

I just pee on people who annoy me. Worked for the yellow jersey guy at the Tour of the Valley a year ago (on the road race stage he just pissed in the middle of the pack, didn't even try to move to either the left or right side)

bbbean 

I am occasionally aware of people yelling during a race, but I never pay attention to what they're saying. At most, I'll cast a glance to each side to see if someone is passing too close.

furiousferret

jsutkeeppeeing