Crit racing etiquette

Try to keep it single file around tight bends, faster and safer for everyone. I dont like it when people nip up the inside on bends but.. if you want to make it to the front of the group you will have to do this now and again as on the straights its normally to strung out to make up places.
Lose a wheel and expect someone else to take it from you and push you out of the line, but also make sure you do this to other people.
Their forcing you to the back of the group, do the same to them. (without contact)
Dont switch anyone is the main rule, other than that, get stuck in.

Ride at the front - problem solved

my rule of thumb is don't half wheel anyone and don't allow anyone half wheeling me to push me off my line

If you have the position you want then be prepared to aggressively defend it. In most cases people are pushing as far as they are prepared to go in order to intimidate you into giving up your position. Make it clear you're not moving by keeping tight on the wheel in front and if necessary shout at them to **** off so they get the message that you aren't giving in. They'll find a weaker rider to bully - it's like those wildlife documentaries where a lion is trying to detach a weak antelope from the pack

Fortunately, I'm usually dropped coming out of the first corner on a crit so don't have to worry :oops:

Not switching is the flip side to holding your line.

If you assume the bunch is riding 4 abreast and you are second from the left the fastest way through a tight left turn would probably be to go wide right and turn in to hit the apex. The problem is that to do that you've just run two people to your right off the road and then cut across someone to your left. If you ride with the flow of the bunch you'll find you move to the right a bit (but leaving room for the two riders outside you) and then cut in so that the person to your left can hit the apex. Your line wasn't the best through the corner but was the best that you could safely ride.

Cutting in or switching is moving from one line to another e.g. moving from 2nd from the left into the line that the 3rd from left rider should be in and then cutting back in to hit the apex. The danger is fairly obvious, sooner or later you'll cut across someones wheel and cause them (and probably whoever is behind them) to crash.

It's also why diving up the inside annoys people, that's where a rider (in this example) overtakes up the left of the bunch into the corner and forces the person who was on the left to make room effecting the 'line' of all 4 people hitting the corner with them (not all of whom necessarily even know they're there).

tut tut okgo. DQ for swearing

Its good to train within a group leaning against each other with shoulders or go 3 abreast right hand on guy on rights left shoulder etc - it helped me get used to a bit of contact...first time it happened to me (before the practice) i paniced, swerved and took out the guy on my left :oops:

Love it when someone in a 4th cat race at Hillingdon, trying to squeeze up the inside, virtually on the grass, will announce to the bloke in front of him, "coming through on your left". "Er, .......... no your not, f*ck off!!"