I would not say anything… I’d let it go.
Usually, if there is someone trying to draft off me, I’ll give two or three nasty looks at them. They usually get the picture.
If that does not work, spit …they will stop drafting you. Or simply ride harder and drop them.
Maybe we can come up with a list of ways to get people off your tail… like:
“wow these tri bikes are really hard to ride!” (after swerving and randomly applying the breaks, bonus points if you hit something but don’t crash).
ok someone else come up with one…
No one has drafted me (that I know of) that should tell you that my bike leg is my worst leg. PC’s anyone?
Soft pedal for a bit, let them come right up on your wheel. Then stand up suddenly, but don’t pedal hard when you do it. Your bike will slide backward (relatively speaking) about 1/3 bike length. when they run into your back wheel, they’ll figure out that they’re too close.
drafters actually help you out, and make you a bit faster, no kidding
yeah, its illegal, but only if they get caught
so next time someone hops on your wheel, just think of it as a benefit, they are keeping your pace going and providing a draft benefit
.
“when they run into your back wheel,”
Splatt…not a great idea. This happened last night on our group ride. Two riders went down. A bit of a fluke since both were experienced roadies, but a “walk(ride) of shame” just the same.
Sometime back, Tom D. had mentioned that he knew of several ways to shake off drafters drafting your wheel. He did not mention how though. So i hope that he would follow up on this topic & share his wisdom.
Paul
You know, if I stopped talking to all my friends who end up drafting during races I wouldn’t have any friends left. You missed a BIG old draft fest in the “open wave” this weekend. And I’m sure it was because I was told:
“I couldn’t help drafting, guys were passing me in groups and I just got sucked up in it. Boy you sure did looked pissed off at the little out and back section.”
Funny thing is, I saw marshals on the bike. And the quotable fellow above said a marshal was riding with the mini-peleton for a while. Makes you wonder if the marshals are a little hesitant to ding NEARLY ALL the guys at the front.
Guess you can’t call someone out when they offer it up first like it’s just normal. Actually, it IS probably more normal than not. But you know what, screw it. I don’t have drops on my bike and I’m not putting them on anytime soon.
END OF RANT. Want to swim open water on Friday?
mobiusnc
Are your initials N.B.?
Saturday looks to be pretty busy so I probably should spend some time with the wife and dogs on Friday night. Missed you at Derek “Magic” Powers TT last night. Twas a little wet, but fun.
USAT has a rule of thumb on the amount of Officials needed for races, number of particiapnts etc.
Remember, it is up to the RD to bring in and pay Officials at his/her race. Also, I believe if it is an
Championship designated race, RD has to have Officials there. I believe I am right on all this. If an
RD sanctions his/her race, it is his/her option to bring in Officials and have motorcycles waiting. No
motorcycles, usually no Officials on the course (Tri-America Louisville). Safety.
USAT Officials do there job on a voluntary basis and do the best job possible under the circumstances.
They can not be everywhere all the time. I give lots of respect for the Officials. They have families,
jobs, most race, some do not. Lets give them a break.
With respect to White Lake Half on Saturday, the drafting was getting annoying, but there was one guy even more annoying: as a faster rider approached from the rear, and started to overtake him on the left, the slower guy would, about the time the passer’s rear wheel started to pass his crank, accelerate, and wear-down the passing cyclist until the passer gave up and fell back behind. As the disgusted cyclist fell back, the first guy would stop pedaling and force the second guy to really fall back to keep out of his draft.
I watched him do it to others three times, and to me once. As he went for his second attempt at me, I hollered out loudly and called his number for several people to hear as I hammered and passed him. The guy fell back, I never saw him again, even on the out and back. Two other athletes thanked me later.
Doesn’t Slowman do that?
It is within the rules. . .
according to USAT:
(g) Being Overtaken. When the leading edge of the front wheel of one cyclist passes beyond the front wheel of another cyclist, the second cyclist has been “overtaken” within the meaning of these Rules. A cyclist who has been overtaken bears primary responsibility for avoiding a position foul and must immediately move to the rear and out of the drafting zone of the passing cyclist. The overtaken cyclist shall first move completely out of the drafting zone of the other cyclist before attempting to re-pass the other cyclist. In no case, however, shall a participant move into the path of another participant possessing the right of way.
OK, technically then I guess you’re guy was in violation of the rules. Would you have found it less objectionable if he sped up just before your front wheel passed his?
just knock him over and use your blade to slice his hamstring right above the knee … leg will give out during the backswing, every drive will slice … he’ll never golf again. let me know if you need some help with that … just call me carl spangler.
I’m not so interested in drawing that fine a line of technicality. I suppose the spirit of the rule is to keep the second cyclist from blocking the first cyclist’s pass attempt. After all, in a long course race, most athletes aren’t doing sprint intervals; they’re using a pretty consistent speed/HR and if a cyclist passes there’s a good cance he’s faster, and you’ll not see him again. I think USAT is saying - ‘just let him go on. If you were having an abnormal lapse in your speed, then recover, and have another go at him in a few minutes’. I suspect the ‘front wheel’ detail is to allow the passed cyclist an opportunity to have a good chance at knowing he’s being passed before he’s required to respond by falling back.
Realistically, most of us know when someone’s on us, and is passing. Thus, I think the spirit of the rule is likely more important than the letter of the law, and I’d say that by time someone is clearly overtaking, regardless of their exact wheel position - the second rider should be prepared to give way.
You bet I call 'em out, before, during, and after the race. I usually let rip with a full-blown f-bomb, and make sure I finish with a nice apology that goes like, “oh, I’m sorry, you must be training for the ITUathon at the Olympics!”
-Mike
I’m mostly concerned with the etiquette of calling someone out after a race. How would you do it without looking like a fool?
Personally, I think that someone drafting off of you for an extended period of time would be quiet flattering. They obviously don’t have the power to pass you…or they would…
It’s if they pass that you need to put the hammer down. And how you react to** that** is most important of all.
test message on draft.
Ride into the draftzone, ride right up on their back wheel, (think bike racing close) then slingshot around the person. Stay close to them, about 2 feet max from their side and you can maximize your time in their draft zone. Once you get your hips even w/ their shoulders/upper torso area swing to the left a bit to minimize any draft they may get.