3 + 4 cat races, so serious
Alex99
Posts: 1,407
3+4 cat road race at the weekend, was a good race, but I really noticed how serious a lot of people were. I don't mean serious about the racing (which of course is fine and understandable), I mean shouty, snappy and just so on edge generally, about pretty much anything.
Examples:
1) a rider sends a snot missile to the ground and the guy behind catches a bit of snot mist and goes mad shouting and swearing.
2) a rider tries to move into a (admittedly small) gap and says "in the middle". The rider to the right turns and says straight to his face "f*&k off".
3) coming into the last 500 m, a rider intends on leading his mate out and is shouting his name at the top of his voice. However, his mate is nowhere to be seen.
To be fair, there were plenty of polite moments too, which was nice.
Examples:
1) a rider sends a snot missile to the ground and the guy behind catches a bit of snot mist and goes mad shouting and swearing.
2) a rider tries to move into a (admittedly small) gap and says "in the middle". The rider to the right turns and says straight to his face "f*&k off".
3) coming into the last 500 m, a rider intends on leading his mate out and is shouting his name at the top of his voice. However, his mate is nowhere to be seen.
To be fair, there were plenty of polite moments too, which was nice.
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Posts
I agree, it wasn't like it was getting properly nasty. As you say, just some highly strung types. It was still good fun.
I got bollcked for going too hard thru.. I was trying to shift a few sitters in.. and it wasnt like I was in the break where if you do, you can fck up the rhythm.
However , 20 minutes later I got a grunted thank you, 'cos he lost a wheel going up and I got meself across again and towed him back.
Racing is all very strange .. then again, has no one 'lost it' on a club run ..??? even funnier when that happens.
Better trade in my licence for a blanket and a thermos.
Well, it's hard being on the front. How am I going to get 9th in the sprint if I'm all tired?
yes you could buy a cheap sh1te thermos and blanket ..... but then again, you could do all the cheap sh1te races on a provisional license.
Fair enough in the last 500m, when as you say it's to your detriment. But some riders seem to have this 'I will not give an inch' attitude around the whole race and get quite highly strung about it. This mentality is a bit petty. One bike length in the middle of the race isn't critical.
If someone is moving up the leeward side then put the race in the gutter. If the race isn't in the gutter, then the pace isn't really on, so I'd say that's an OK time to move up and it's not a time you need to get stressed about letting people in. If there's a tactical reason you don't want people moving up then apply some pressure to the front yourself.
I generally let people in. I can't think of many times in a race when one bike length is critical. Plus, when someone is moving up, it usually signifies they're going to do something, in which case, being first on their wheel is no bad place to be.
I find in return, people are usually more willing to let you in, which can be handy should you want to move up a few corners before attacking.
The only time I tend to think twice is when scrabbling for wheels and a rider is drifting back. Then I only let them in if I'm confident they won't let a gap go. However, if it's a strong ridder I'll happily let them in as I can then ease off a bike length or so
And to be fair you get some insane behaviour at sportives too (which has never really bothered me).
Ultimately - until someone throws a punch, it's just noise. Get some thicker skin and ride your own race.
Not sure what you mean by that. Plenty of experienced 'career' 3rds (like me) who just like to turn out and race - and ex Elites, 1s or 2s can also drop down to 3rd if they've been out for a couple of seasons.
the points changes a year or 2 ago, mean its hard to keep up an E/1 licence, there has def been a trickle down of riders from e/1/2 into 3/4. (in the s/w at least)
fwiw i ve found that whatever the race cat, you get shouty types, usually they get dropped later on and who cares what someone says? your in a grp of xx riders, and i always think "he cant possibly be shouting at me, as im the perfect rider" :shock:
BUT
everynow and again, during moments of stress, excitement disappointment, the ability to hide the basic emotions of our 5 year old selves is somewhat diminished and we revert temporarily to the child mind ... men generally shout and get punchy, women generally cry ... both get embarrassingly stroppy
The best thing to do is talk to them like they are a 5 year old ....... it doesn't help the situation, in the same way it doesn't help when you talk to a 5 year old that way .... BUT ..... it does piss them off more
IME of Cat 4 only races you do get authoritative sounding shouts of 'Hold your line!' which do make one wonder. I was on the front of a Cat 4 circuit race once and we were coming up to overtake the Ladies so I took a line to give them space. No swerving or anything properly amateur, I probably even waved. Plenty of space for everybody. Cue the shout from somebody behind not paying attention.
The next post will be from somebody complaining about a rider on the front in a race they rode last August wobbling about all over the place...
Paul
There are too many people who forget everyone has to go to work in the next day and injuries are not cool. Those who shout in races have not changed that yet so you might as well chill and enjoy it the best you can.