Lots of howling at the moon in this thread.
What I've learned in my short tri career is:
- Many people don't properly seed themselves in the swim
- Many people don't know how to ride the bike and/or are oblivious to others around them
Your choice is to control what you can control.
I hear you that running up on people pedaling 15 MPH when you are pushing 25 sucks and is dangerous. You just need to be prepared that it is going to happen and you might need to come out of aero or pull that thing on your bars called a break. It's not optimal, but as the experienced rider and the one who is visually aware that you are trying to pass, it's on you to do it safely.
Should they be riding right? Yes.
Should they listen when you yell "left"? Yes.
Should you be able to stay aero and push your 400 watts? Yes.
Problem is you can't.
Like I said, you are the experienced rider and you should control the situation.
I've done all the Delmo races multiple times except 70.3. They are organized and well run. Compared to other RD's, I do believe he cares as much about me and my race experience as he cares about my money. My knock on him, which I have conveyed, is that he never addresses the novice athletes directly. His pre-race meetings are full of helpful information but I've never heard him say to the newbies "don't ride 5 across while having a conversation". Nonetheless, every race I do has athletes (usually in the same tri-club gear) riding 5 across having a conversation. I contend most of these athletes just don't know any better and it would only take someone telling them this to change their behavior.
When I was a newbie to tri, I didn't know roadies weren't comfortable riding close to me while I was in aero. I was training for an IM and did some rides with a local group. I thought I should spend as much time in aero as possible. I felt safe and under control. No big deal. I now understand these roadies were secretly wishing harm to me. It would have just taken one person to say something. Nobody ever did.
Golf is the same way. It took a 2-handicap to tell me to be aware of my shadow on the green for me to not have my shadow cast over someone else's line or ball.
Somebody just needs to educate these newbies in a way that doesn't require them to read pages and pages of USAT rule 7.2-5.66-a(4). Most of them are scared as hell and just trying to get the medal. They are not out to ruin your day. Worse, in a 70.3, I'd say that person riding 15mph on the bike is probably wondering how the hell they are going to run 13 miles. They have little regard for your 400 watts.