After witnessing a large amount of drafting in the “open” wave of a race this past weekend, I found it hard to bite my lip when seeing the “pack” in the transition area. Is it poor form to call them out, or should ya just let them have to live with their cheating ways?
Let it go; it’s not worth it.
They might have been cheating, in which case their cheating is its own punishment.
They might have been on an area of the road crowded to an extent that drafting was unavoidable (this happens way too often).
Either way you’re going to come off looking really bad. If they’re true cheaters they’re going to hate you for calling them on it. If it was an accident you’ll look like a real prick.
The moral is that you never know becasue you may very well be wrong. Leave the drafting calls to the marshalls and race your own race.
Caleb
Even more difficult, how much do you call out someone you know but is not necessarily a close friend or training partner?
I said something during the race but they continued to draft. It really got my goat when they told me how good their bike split was after the race. Of course it was, you cheated the whole time.
You bet I’ll call them on it. If it’s a non-draft race, I’ll let those drafters know about it after the race. If you’re competitive at all, it behooves you to call the drafters out. Hell, I’m out there busting my @$$ on the bike and a pack of riders (in almost a paceline) comes around me – you better believe I’m call them out. That is BS. If you keep letting people “get away with it”, more people are going to try it. It is wrong and it’s not what this sport is about. It has happened to me and I have indeed called the drafters out during and after races. What gets me is sometimes it’s the faster cyclists that draft. I do not “let it go”. And don’t even ask what I do to wheelsuckers trying to draft off me…
You don’t have to call them out. They stand out on their own.
Its usually the guy w/ the ‘booger’ stuck to his forehead.
That’s how I can tell if they were drafting behind me…
I can see your point BUT I think it is very hard to race and be a draft marshal. I would hate to accuse someone of drafting unless I was 100% sure and that would be hard to do while racing. I have accidently gotten in a draft zone before . I felt terrible and got out ASAP. I would not want someone to hollar out in front of everyone that I cheated. Sometimes you don’t know what is going on behind you.
I light matches under their voodoo dolls when I get home.
“I would hate to accuse someone of drafting unless I was 100% sure and that would be hard to do while racing.”
Hmm. From my experience, it is obvious to spot drafters. Usually because I am neck and neck with them so I see them right there. I choose not to draft and get run down on the run. But that’s Ok. Because they know who they are and how they made it to the podium a few places ahead of me. Slackers!
I can’t be bothered. I had a guy draft me a whole race one time. It was annoying but what the heck, his doing so isn’t shortenning my life span or effecting my credit rating so I keep it all in perspective. Yes, he’s cheating but that’s up to the marshalls to make the call.
If you’re certain it was drafting…hell, yes, call him out. Do it as soon as you see it. Do it while the drafting is taking place. Shame the cheat in the act and do it with witnesses.
I call’em out all the time… somthing like… GET OFF MY FREAKING WHEEL!!!
snot rocket or two usually does the trick.
I tell the drafter and everyone else around that it is a non-drafting race. I don’t get mad at them, I just try to embarrass them.
I also do the same thing to litterers. At Wildlfower I saw a guy throw his empty gu packet on the ground during the bike. I rode right up next to him and told him that there was no reason he should litter on the course.
I agree, If you call the guy out I would think he is gonna realize the game is up and get off your wheel, otherwise snot rockets or peeing off the bike could prove great weapons in the fight against drafting.
I don’t call them on it after the race, but I make sure the race directors know about it after the race. I also like to send a little email to the race director of their NEXT race so he can keep an eye out for it.
Ultimately the only person who can make the situation right is a USAT official in the right place at the right time. I see a lot of USAT sanctioned races these days, but race directors are not hiring officials like they should.
A drafter is not affecting my speed, so I just let it roll. If it does start to bother me, I just shift up a gear and put some distance between me and the drafter. If they are having to draft to stay in the game, then you can probably burn him anyway.
----->Trent
If I pick up a drafter I tend to slow down a little, I’m not placing anyway.
Trent,
Drafters aren’t affecting YOUR speed, that’s correct. But a pack of them WILL affect your place in the race – make no mistake. It’s happened to me. Don’t let them get away with it. Yell, scream, embarass them, tell the officials, but don’t just let it go. That just leads to more drafting and bigger packs. And if you shift up a gear to put some distance between you and them, it has just affected your race. And sometimes not for the better, if you blow or get emotional.
Just my .02 worth…
If its obvious and flagrant you have to call them out. If someone is on your wheel for more time than necessary give them a big luggie. Of course it could turn into road rage, that almost happened to a friend of mine. But ive also been in situations where its impossble not to draft, like when the course is overcrowded and there is no where to go, in situations like that you have to let it go. They should have some kind of process where competitors can report other competitors or have marshals be like cops and hide in the bushes waiting for unsuspecting cheaters. I really dont like drafters!
I don’t suppose you were at the Half in NC were you?