Shemp

Just to play the devil's advocate, let's say the peloton (why is this misspelled so frequently on a cycling forum?) comes up on this first-time rider faster than he could have expected as a first-time racer. If safely getting off the road means hitting the brakes or slowing with the pack on his tail, isn't that even more dangerous?


As for the comments about one's pride getting in the way, I'll take another stand as devil's advocate. This is amateur racing. Everyone paid the same entry fee, and as much as the new guy is riding for pride, the top finishers aren't riding for much more than that.

chipcom 

Getting out of the way is one thing...stopping and/or getting off the course is another. Does anyone see auto racers stop and get off the course when being lapped? A slow rider is just another of many obstacles one faces in any race...or any ride - and 'professionals' will deal with it in the same manner, without complaint. If the riders in the peloton don't have the handling skills to do so safely, perhaps they are riding at a speed above their competence level and might consider going back a cat or two to ride at speeds they can handle.

patentcad

Get back in your Fred Trailer CC, we'll call you when it's time to shoot your scene.

fmw

Now there's an adult comment.

indygreg

I have never been in a cycle race . . . so I am totally clueless with the specfics. I have run many a running race and this weekend will be my first Tri (different rules in the bike leg compared to a cycle race) . . . but I really have an issue with the 'race is over for you at this point' comments. Granted, I am into endurance sports (I was just a distance runner for a while) and my POV is 99% of the people involved are only racing themselves. The race is not over for me when someone else wins or passes me.

I cannot see how stopping and dismounting would in any way be safer or nicer than getting as far right and keeping a straight line would be. That seems like a recipe for a crash. Also, if it is a loop, how many times do you want him to get off his bike?

Now, if this is some higher level race this might not be the case. I admit, I am clueless here . . . I am used to open races . . . people with much different skills.

If I am wrong or need a clue, instead of just saying so or slamming me, inform me please.

Bobby Lex

+1.

The scenario of a dropped solo rider plugging away @18mph being overtaken by charging peleton @28mph could end very badly.

Bob

P.S. It is irrelevant whether there was "room" to pass or not. You are assuming that the entire line of racers to the left will make room to allow the line of racers on the right to go around the slower rider. If just one of them decides to hold his line and not give way, the guys on the right are screwed. In that event, it would take hours to untangle the carbon, metal, fabric, and flesh.

chipcom 

Why, your ole lady miss me, gramps?

ChristopherM

+1

merlinextraligh

It's the diffence between running races, or even the bike leg of a triathlon, and a mass start bike race. For the most part when you're dropped from the pack, the dynamics of the race are such that you can't possibly catch up, and at that point you're no longer really racing, but just finishing out your training ride.

As for a "loop" that would be a criterium race. In a criterium, the officials make a decision whether to pull riders that are out of contention based upon the course and the situation. In the lower category races, the officials try to let people finish if its safe to do so, but they'll pull riders that are getting lapped to avoid safety issues, and usually will pull them in the last 5 laps anyway.

In the higher categories, the riders out of contention just pull themsleves.

dcbikeguy

This thread is FINALLY getting interesting.

rdk

+1 (my opinion is worth nothing, but this sounds sensible to me)

If a peloton can't pass a slower rider, then it obviously can't cope with windy roads, or roads that change width. I do agree though if it was the last few hundred metres of a bunch sprint it might be different.

botto 

voltman

No need to call the OP a moron.

UT_Dude

*sigh*

I've been on both sides of the story. Be considerate. If you're off the back, you're not going to win, so don't make their race more difficult.

In Texas, they inform riders that if they are off the back, they are to yield/get out of the way for other fields.

WCroadie

I too have done many running races, that's a totally different thing, comparing running races and tri's to road/crit racing is like comparing apples to oranges.

Again, I am not being an elitist or a snob but for those of you who have never been a road race you don't really have an idea of what it's like. It's totally different then a large group ride, etc. Some fields can be 100+ riders and a slower rider not getting out of the way can be a disaster, not because the 100+ guys can't handle a bike.

At the Union Grove race my field caught the masters 50+ field and guess what, they had to stop and get out of the way, while we passed them, pride and all.

It's a judgment call, if the pack is 15 riders, then yes they should be able to pass you easily without incident but I've raced with as many as 125 racers and the first few laps the pack was together.

Yes you should get off the road as many times as a pack is going to catch you, it's the appropriate and safe thing to do. I once got dropped in a crit, after I realized I would not catch back on and the main field would soon catch me, I pulled out. Yes I paid as much as the rest to race that day and the whole road was closed, but my race was over so I packed up my pride and went home. Why put other at risk just cause you had the right to be there?

WCroadie

incorrect

Dubbayoo

He likely would have had to slow and stop BEFORE getting off the road, in which case I got a fiddy saying he would have gotten even more sh*t about stopping in the road. Why should he risk a flat (possibly losing control and sending his bike back into the road) because you want an extra 2 feet of roadway?

DrPete 

I'd be curious to know how many folks responding have actually raced in a 100-plus rider pack on a narrow road with the yellow line rule in effect and come across a slower rider, especially if you're pinned on the white line.

I have my guesses.

ElJamoquio

100 people? At a race?

You're talking about all Categories combined, and counting both spectators too, right? Do pregnant women count as one or two?

UT_Dude

100 people at a race is normal for Texas. That's per field, with at least 3-4 fields that size.

With packs that big, trust me, a person does get in the way. That's not me being elitist, but they really are a hindrance to the pack.

DrPete 

ElJamoquio, you need to come down here for a couple weeks. All the flatness of Michigan but with actual bike racing going on.

Dubbayoo

I have my guess too and it's ZERO.

Per the USA Cycling rule book.

https://www.usacycling.org/forms/RdTrkCx_rulebook.pdf

UT_Dude

Soooo.... Everyone's a Cat 5?

ElJamoquio

That doesn't preclude higher than 100-person events...

ElJamoquio

Sounds like fun. I might actually be making a trip to Baltimore in a few weeks, but I don't know if there will be room for cycling in the itinerary.