I have always thought that people complaining about draft packs were being babies. I officially apologize!
What I saw at Clearwater was simply shocking. Some have written that the venue was the problem. It was not. They said we “only had one lane” in which to ride. ONLY a lane? Most events only have a shoulder (read: Vineman). And if anything, the wide lane meant room for 5-abreast riding, which caused the huge jams. If it were wide enough for only two or three bikes, then single file would’ve been more or less forced.
No, the problem was the athletes. You know who you are. Well, then again, maybe you don’t. Nearly everyone seemed to be blaming everyone else (like I am about to do). If you were on the left of someone for more than 30 seconds and didn’t get ahead of them, you were blocking. Period. If you did get by them, then the rider you passed was cheating by not dropping back. Period. I saw you cheaters everywhere.
There are 3 big problems. 1) Blockers. 2) Arrogant cheaters who refuse to concede the pass and drop back when passed (and that INCLUDES you cheaters who think you don’t have to drop back before re-passing – if you would just drop back 10 meters, you’d find that the pace isn’t so easy after all back there when you aren’t drafting, and maybe you’d think twice about re-passing). 3) People who are drafting those who are passing others. This is the NUMBER ONE problem. When you do this, not only are you cheating, you are making those getting passed unwilling to concede the pass and drop back.
Clearwater didn’t have to be that way. Pass or drop back, no matter what, and it will work. You arrogant cheaters (and that’s a majority of the field, including and ESPECIALLY those who were bitching about it while riding in a BLOCKING AND DRAFTING POSITION) ruin everyone else’s race. I don’t care if “everyone is doing it”… you (and I mean YOU) still cheated.
As for me, I eventually got tired of riding “solo breakaways” only to be chased back down and swallowed up by 4- or 5-wide packs of 30-100 a$$hole cheaters. I got tired of riding on the wrong side of the cones to ride as clean as I could, got tired of riding into oncoming traffic to get around you idiots on your aero bars riding 12" from the wheel in front of you. My voice is hoarse from screaming “on your left” and “you are blocking” and “move!”
If you think you didn’t cheat, then ask yourself if you commited any of the 3 problems I list above.
Was this pack drafting an issue for the whole bike course, or just the first 20km? Reason for my question is based on some recent HIM races where the first 10 or 15km is pretty jammed up and there is not enough road to ride 100% clean, and maintain your own cadence. After about 15km everyone seemed to space out and it was simple to keep a good 10m or more between competitors.
I’d like to see all cheating drafters have starving weasels stuffed down the front of their trisuits, instead of the current penalty system, but for big races I’m not sure its possible in the early stages of the ride.
The whole course, baby. Actually, it was fine until I caught up to the packs at around mile 10-15. I got around a lot of it, but at mile 25 or so, it was jammed too tightly for me to get by without huge efforts since the pack was so long.
I could also see on the out and backs what was happening. It was rampant, and throughout the course.
The officials absolutely could’ve helped. Ride the motorcycle up behind the jammed group and start honking. Wave them ALL over to stop. Or at least honk until they make room, then go by and warn them all to get AND STAY in single file, even if it means 10 mins at 15 mph until it’s all fixed.
I was caught in a huge pack of guys. MOST of us tried to ride fair but there really was nothing you could do. Most of us were staggering ourselves the best we could. The lane wasn’t even really an entire lane, the cones were in our lane. Everyone was really pushing the pace. Tensions were high and the lead revolved around 4-5 stronger bikers. I tried a few times to break away but was eventually caught. A marshall on a bike was yelling at our pack to break it up. How do you break it up? This marshall was generous as he made an example out of a couple when there were many. Things opened up around mile 45. Saw lots of accidents. Our group had many close calls. It is obvious which guys don’t have a lot of time in a group. I wonder what they will do next year to fix this.
If I had let it, the drafting would have ruined the entire race for me. There were a few trying not to draft but most where along for the free ride and clearly got away with it.
I too was pushing solo break aways for the first 30 mile often hammering 30+ to get around a pack. Hell at one point I had to hop up on a curb to avoid a 5 abreast pace line! At mile 30ish and the first turn around I destroyed my legs and probably a good bike split pulling out a lead over the larger pack. My quads failed in the last 10 miles and the peletons cruised on by.
At least the run was fun and draft free the packs had no protection then!
Yes, I always did. But it really gets you pissed when you are on the right and a freight train of guys comes past you, all drafting. These are the times I tried to get away but was caught each time. What do you think the race director should do for next year?
I also cooked my legs trying to get around the huge packs but there were also points where a pack would swallow me up and the road was so narrow Id get pinched in. It was scarry out there. Im just glad no one got seriously injured that I have heard of. The worst story was a friend of a friend, he hit a cone, bike flew into traffic and he fell into the race lane, bus ran over his bike, game over. I think I will stick to regular 70.3 and full IM races from now on. Drafting stilll takes place but not to this extent. Too many big egos with too little ability.
Cut the field to 1200 from 1800 (or whatever it was). Raise the fee enough to be revenue neutral (thus around $375, because they make money from more than just the fee). Attendance was excellent, so a fee increase will change nothing.
Break it into more waves (I hate waves, but it has to be done here).
Space the waves out a little more, say 7 mins instead of 5.
Alternate fastest and slower waves (e.g., M30-35, then W45+, then M40-44, etc).
Try to route the course so that there are more wide sections.
SEVERLY warn everyone of drafting rules before the race. Ruthlessly enforce by busting entire packs at once, even if it takes 5 mins to get all the cheaters’ numbers down. Post a stationary draft marshall in a few spots.
Yes, I imagine that you made no violation what so ever on the course the entire day? Maybe just one incident where you were 3 bike lengths back instead of 4? Or where you were in the draft zone or maybe blocking for :21 of :20 sec. (blocking is :20 not :30 if I remember correctly)
Your rant sounds rather self righteous btw.
Do you actually think that people are going to ride 15mph for 10-15min to get out of that quasi legal/illegal situation?
Do you really think on the causeway that a moto is going to pull over the entire 60 person peleton? Have you thought about safety?
I saw a very clean race for the first 25miles, then I saw the first pack ride up on me. In fact until that point it was just one or two other riders around me. There were huge packs behind that.
What solutions are you thinking abouut that could alleviate the problem. Have you thought about emailing them those constructive thoughts?
I talked with Jimmy for 15+ min about the things that could/should be changed. If you have constructive I’m sure you can email someone here http://ironmanlive.com/corporate/contacts to offer constructive critism. Most of them are open to listening and I’d bet $100 that some of them have already been on ST seeing what has been said.
I also cooked my legs trying to get around the huge packs but there were also points where a pack would swallow me up and the road was so narrow Id get pinched in. It was scarry out there. Im just glad no one got seriously injured that I have heard of. The worst story was a friend of a friend, he hit a cone, bike flew into traffic and he fell into the race lane, bus ran over his bike, game over. I think I will stick to regular 70.3 and full IM races from now on. Drafting stilll takes place but not to this extent. Too many big egos with too little ability.
I was there for a big wreck on the long causeway. I went over the cones to the right, and still hit someone who wrecked out there. I didn’t think about where cars were (they could’ve been next to those cones?).
Someone crashed really hard at a late aid station when hitting a bottle. Went face first and was twitching on the ground. I haven’t heard how he did. Fingers crossed that he’s OK.
I saw that guys bike at the chainwheel drive tent. I’m very very glad it was his bike that ended up under the bus and not him as it was frigging destroyed!
There was someone air lifted out with a head injury, however that means nothing as its often standard procedure before they know the extent of the persons injuries. I saw a lot of road rash about, more than any other race I have raced in.
You have to admit, if you were an honest guy, that that ride was awesome. Being honest to yourself and riding hard. Pulling people and not complaining and making great efforts to bridge the gap to the next group. I had a blast. I think adrenaline fuel a lot of that bike ride. I too was wasted 75% in. It wasn’t that fast of a bike course. This was the world championships. Everyone was hammering out there. Look at all the bad run times in 70-80 degree temps.
Yes, I imagine that you made no violation what so ever on the course the entire day? Maybe just one incident where you were 3 bike lengths back instead of 4? Or where you were in the draft zone or maybe blocking for :21 of :20 sec. (blocking is :20 not :30 if I remember correctly) <<Never said I didn’t. Sure, I cheated, and way worse than you describe. I would also say that I tried way harder to avoid drafting than just about everyone else I saw (other than the few I saw riding 100% clean). It sucked because I was torn between pure ethics and wanting to still somehow cleanly PR the race, so I tried to ride my pace around the packed up cheaters.>>
Your rant sounds rather self righteous btw. <<I know. I took the risk, and figured it would come off that way.>>
Do you actually think that people are going to ride 15mph for 10-15min to get out of that quasi legal/illegal situation? <<No, I don’t think they are. But I think they SHOULD. Pass or be passed. But no wheelsucking, ESPECIALLY those that are passing others. Draft all you want on the right, but leave the left open or you F up the race for everyone else who is trying to pass you.>> Do you really think on the causeway that a moto is going to pull over the entire 60 person peleton? Have you thought about safety? <<Yup, and yup. Ride up, honk, scream for single file, and it’ll happen. That lane is WIDE. Plenty wide enough for a single file and a motorcycle and still room for riders to go by. It’s wider than the usual shoulder we’re limited to, no?>>
I saw a very clean race for the first 25miles, then I saw the first pack ride up on me. In fact until that point it was just one or two other riders around me. There were huge packs behind that.
What solutions are you thinking abouut that could alleviate the problem. Have you thought about emailing them those constructive thoughts? <<I listed them above. I don’t have anything to add to the solutions that 100s of others will suggest, but I’ll send it to them anyway.>>
I talked with Jimmy for 15+ min about the things that could/should be changed. If you have constructive I’m sure you can email someone here http://ironmanlive.com/corporate/contacts to offer constructive critism. Most of them are open to listening and I’d bet $100 that some of them have already been on ST seeing what has been said. <<I’m sure. They know what time it is. >> **** <<I read your earlier post about dealing with it. I’m not sure what you meant by that, but I am having a hard time knowing I probably went 5 mins faster from drafting (more, but I burned up some matches trying not to). I could’ve drafted like the majority out there and gone 15 mins faster, and felt as dirty and joyless as if I’d done EPO. Now, maybe if this weren’t clearly going to be a PR race for me, I would’ve gone ITU style and just had fun in the pack.>>
I had the same problem in Kona. Very frustrating. About half the riders I passed didn’t fall back like they’re supposed to. Blocking was a huge problem also. I agree that these cheaters know exactly what they are doing.
Sounds very much like Steelhead 70.3 to me: hundreds drafting, big groups, crashes, ‘blowing up’ due to passing/being passed/repassing … And also the groups formed way into the race and got bigger of course.
Same criticism came up after that race. In the discussion on this board after Steelhead, the organizers said they would try to put more time between waves. My opinion is that is also requires more marshalls and more penalties. 70.3 is fast, very fast riding. If there is no threat of penalties, the groups will form sooner or later, no matter if waves are at 5, 7 or 10 minutes.
It was really bad. I tried to ride clean as much as possible. When I got caught by a group, I would sit up and let them pass me. Then sometimes I would catch them and repass while screaming on you left, then they would repass again… It was just frustrating, I am not the best cyclist out there, but averaging 25 mph and haviig 200ish bike split is silly. My wife told me that a group of 100 guys rolled in 5 minutes before I did. Oh well, I am not going to let it ruin a otherwise fun event. The way I figure it, if I learn how to swim faster I wont have to be stuck in the mess of it all. Fun event, but the cheating was very disappointing. Well at least I had a decent run.
If I can find a race to qualify for next year, I’ll be back in Clearwater. As a better swimmer this time.
If you have constructive I’m sure you can email someone here http://ironmanlive.com/corporate/contacts to offer constructive critism.
i think you are being ridiculously harsh to a reasonable and typical forum post…this is the ‘world championship’ and it is entirely reasonable for athletes to have expectations that they do not have to ‘educate’ the rd…sure doesn’t sound like the rd ‘thought about safety’ nor fairness of the race as much as you want the participants to, post-race. i can see ‘helping out’ a first time local rd on soemthing like that, but this race? from the posts givne the number of problem (and from what people have told me), i think people are being 1000% too nice to the rd for this race. if it was a local event, you’s see 100 flames about how NOT TO DO THIS DANGEROUS RACE…
I had a blast on the bike but paid for it on the run. I think I left my quads on the bridge the last time over it. Im not going to pinch a fit because others were drafting out there and I want to finish higher in my age group. I knew I was going to be outgunned ( my new pr earned me bottom half of my age group). I am concerned about the safety issue however. Most of us dont do this for money and have families that count on us and it would be a shame if we ended up in the hospital all because we were trying to shave a couple of minutes off our finish time.
the packs had no protection then!
>> **** <<I read your earlier post about dealing with it. I’m not sure what you meant by that, but I am having a hard time knowing I probably went 5 mins faster from drafting (more, but I burned up some matches trying not to). I could’ve drafted like the majority out there and gone 15 mins faster, and felt as dirty and joyless as if I’d done EPO. Now, maybe if this weren’t clearly going to be a PR race for me, I would’ve gone ITU style and just had fun in the pack.>>