eye3md wrote:
This is very frustrating and I've had it happen in a lot of races recently. People riding side by side having a conversation during the race. ....
I kinda grumbled to my wife after a recent local race that it seemed there was a lot of this, and people riding right down the middle of the lane, or the meandering cyclists. More than usual in this race.
And then, I remembered, I'm a MOPer (although, if I could run and wasn't in my 40s racing against some fierce competitors with more time and more money, I'd be an upper MOPer) and if it weren't for all these people, this race in my own town wouldn't cost $100. It would probably cost $500. Which, in reality, means it wouldn't exist.
So yeah. I get it. Those people are frustrating. That's why I personally do everything I can to make everyone else's race (no matter the race) as good as mine. Meaning, you won't catch me doing that stuff, unless I space out for a minute and outright "lose track". Not going to deny that it hasn't happened on rare occasions.
But, without "us", there'd be no Chattanooga 70.3 and there'd be exactly one IM distance race. And you probably wouldn't have to qualify to race in it. They'd be begging you to race in it. It would likely cost about $4000 to enter it. Any actual prize money would be a pittance. The bikes would cost 5x as much as they do and would probably still look very much like road bikes.
That all being said, it's not a justification. I'm trying to think of a way not to say "it is what it is". I think "poor riding" is the most common gripe (outside of breast strokers) people have about racing and encompasses bunching, drafting, packs, unsafe and inconsiderate riding. It's generally the only thing I'll grumble about. Not sure what more they could do, but I hope RDs at the "local levels" are constantly looking for ways to address it.
Heck, we don't even generally bitch about parking. We just know it's not easy and likely going to be a hassle and accept. And sometimes it never is. I just parked for a race of 700+ racers and my car was 100 feet from my rack? And I arrived fairly late.