One small part of the solution

Triathlon Forum
1

“I don’t honestly see a solution ever being found for this problem.”

this is a quote from the thread on first-time racers, and refers to the “ride on the right, pass on the left” rule that seems so obvious but doesn’t appear to have gotten into the common consciousness of the riders out there.

while on the course a motorcycle came past with an official on back. funny thing, it came by at the perfect time, there were people all over the road in front of me, not passing, not dropping back, and one guy was riding just across the double yellow, like one foot on the other side of it, and without any real urgency to get back to OUR SIDE of the road, let alone to the right of the road.

now, here i am, buzzing along at a speed 3mph faster than this guy, and i had to basically stop in my tracks, because if i rode past him on MY side of the centerline i’d be guilty of passing on the right. there was an official right there, so what could i do? i had to wait. (i don’t know whether a penalty was handed down or not, that’s not my issue, it’s not why i’m writing).

i write all this as preparatory to my question: i have nothing but admiration for the job our officials have done, and we have a very well officiated sport, esp if you grade on a curve. one thing, tho, our officials are absolutely forbidden to exercise any proactivity.

this has been the doctrine for a half-dozen years, and i must ask, has it worked? the riders in the wildflower tri do not yet get the rule. they didn’t get it six years ago, they don’t get it today, and i was, i guess, struck by the fact that it was MY job to gently remind everyone on the course to ride on the right unless passing, while the official was entirely mute. what bad thing would happen if the official was to spend his day repeating, while on the back of his motorcycle, “ride on the right unless passing.”?

to me, it seemed like the waste of an official’s good time. he’s out there. he obviously didn’t have good attendance at his pre-race meeting. why not extend the pre-race meeting out onto the course, and just keep repeating to everyone, “ride on the right unless passing.”?

i just don’t see the harm in this, esp in view of the abject failure, for all their good intentions and good work, for the officials to get triathletes to understand this rule. it’s a sales job, and in sales, when your customer isn’t buying, you can’t just continue to blame the customer. at some point you have to look at your sales presentation. USAT has tried to punish our customer base by giving penalties out with vigor – penalties sometimes exceeding 25% of the entire field. the notion was that a couple of harsh years would whip our sport’s populace into line. it didn’t happen. so now what do we try?

personally, i feel that allowing the officials to exercise a little on-the-road education can’t hurt. otherwise, i and other riders have to do that job, which i don’t mind doing, i just wish i was doing it WITH the officials who are out on the course, not INSTEAD of them.

i’d be much obliged if those in the officials community would care to comment. i know a variety of them read slowtwitch. i don’t want to hassle them, because they do a fabulous job. it’s just that there has been this doctrine, and it’s been the doctrine for a good long while, and my question is, “is there room for an adjustment in this doctrine?” other sports regularly look at the way the officiating is implemented, and perhaps there’s a tweaking of how it’s done in triathlon that might make for a worthwhile discussion.

2

Dan,

I am not sure of where the exactly the Muteness of the officials started, but it might possibly have been the 1993 IMH race.

After swimming a 1:00 flat swim split I hooked up with large group of athletes that went on to finish the bike around the six hour mark ie cycling in the 4:50 to 5:00 split range. It was like the Tour de France as we hurtled along to Hawi. Numerous officials motorcycles pulled up alongside and tryed to break things up proactivly. There was a significant amount of abusive language hurled back at the race offcials much of which is to profane for printing here.

If I was an offcial and a volunteer one at that, I would be saying. “Who needs this?” I can see why offcials would, A) Unfortunatly for the sport, NOT want to be involved at all and B) If they do stay involved, operate by stealth, so as to avoid the abuse.

3

Anybody who shows such poor sportsmanship and lack of class should be banned from competion in said event, it’s as simple as that. The officials should have the authority to do their job, and they shouldn’t fear abuse nor tolerate it.

4

Agreed. Abusive behavior towards other athletes, and especially officials should not be tolerated. It’s really depressing how many a-holes there are in the world.

5

maybe it is time for tiered structure of races… not necessarily based on distance (although that is worth some thought) but based on either experience or attending a certification seminar so as to not be in the rookie heat or race.

6

IMO the people who can not seem to ride on the right are the same ones you find driving in the left lane on the highway and walking/riding 3 abreast on a multi-use trail. They are either clueless about their surroundings or don’t care. Either way they are a pain. IMO these people need to be pulled over during races and made to read a card which states “I will stay to the right unless passing”. In the UK of course card would read “I will stay to the left unless passing”

7

I’m guilty of the above.

I raced the Vineman 1/2 last year. Riding borrowed wheels with tubulars I was petrified of flatting. Since I didn’t know how to change a tubular, I didn’t bother taking one. I just prayed and rode a bit out into the lane to stay out of the road debris that accumulates right of the white line.

I was only passed by one rider the whole way. (It’s not that my bike is that strong, I just swim slow! My AG was also one of the last waves, so I did a lot of “catch up” on the bike) I was well aware of all around me and never got in anyones path.

Afterwards I was shocked to see a 4 minute penalty for “position”. Not knowing what it was, I asked the ref. He explained it was due to riding too far left in the lane. Even though I never blocked anybody, and there were no riders around me, I was caught riding too far left of the line. I was ticked, but I was wrong and I accepted it. (As I thought back, I remember seeing the ref on the motorcycle. I didn’t know at the time that he was the ref. I just smiled and waved.)

I was ignorant to the fact that I was breaking the rules. He reminded me that at the pre-race meeting they said, “stay right except to pass” but it just didn’t register that this means “even if you’re alone on an open stretch”. I learned.

I guess my point is…I agree, a little verbal warning out on the course would have really gone a long way.

8

I raced the Vineman 1/2 last year. Riding borrowed wheels with tubulars I was petrified of flatting. Since I didn’t know how to change a tubular, I didn’t bother taking one. I just prayed and rode a bit out into the lane to stay out of the road debris that accumulates right of the white line.<<

I’m slayed. WHY would you even consider this? Much like many (but not all) of the newbies who come ride with us who have no clue how to change a tire (clincher or tubular). One ride, a gal shows up with an already flat tire expecting us to change it. She got a quick lesson on how to do it yourself. Another guy shows up on a rented bike without any equipment (tubes, irons, anything). Of course, he flatted, but at least it was near a bike shop.

9

Numerous officials motorcycles pulled up alongside and tryed to break things up proactivly. There was a significant amount of abusive language hurled back at the race offcials much of which is to profane for printing here.

Gee, in swimming you can get DQ’d for doing the wrong thing even if you are the slowest in the heat. In every other sport I’ve seen a player gets a foul or thrownout for things like that. Seems to me the officials should just DQ anyone who give them lip - that’s the only way to get their attention it seems. Maybe have signs every few miles saying “stay to the right, dont draft etc” At least that might make them feel a bit more guilty. BTW. shouldn’t a person who had to qualify for the event in the first place know what the rules are? No excuse - just get rid of them.

10

“people who can not seem to ride on the right are the same ones you find driving in the left lane on the highway…”

Ahh yes, my biggest pet peeve. These are the same morons that become indignant when you pass on the right. Well, if you stayed to the right (which is the law in many states) it would be impossible for me to pass on the right. Driving slow in the left lane gives me no options. I actually know a few people who have been ticketed for sitting in the left lane. They still don’t understand why. I digress…

Some people just don’t get it. I think TriBaby is dead on that way too many people are incapable of thinking of anyone other than themself. Oh how I wish the Golden Rule ruled.

11

I was offered a chance to borrow some sweet race wheels the week before the event. I also put new tires on them (as a thank you to the guy loaning them) to reduce the risk. With new tires and a little luck I figured the odds were with me. I was looking to finish near the top in AG, so flatting would have ruined my plan regardless. And what the heck, a little risk keeps life exciting!

FWIW, my risk taking put no burden on any other participants. (other than possibly needing a sag) I’m extremely competent on bike maintenance. I own numerous bikes and do 100% of the maintenance and rebuilding of them. (On group rides I’m usually the one assisting others.)

-Newbie

12

Eventhough it was only 10 years ago, that was still the early days for the sport of triathlon. At least in terms of cracking down on things such as drafting at big races such as IMH.

The situation was comical, because it involved a number of top ranking age-group men and some pro-women who shall remain nameless.

13

Disqualified.

Imagine the same situation Slowman described only at 8-10 mph faster, that’s when it gets really scary.

Change the rules to allow a first infraction disqualification for the worst offenders. It’ll piss some people off, ruin some legitimate racer’s racers. The bitch and moan squad will be out in full force.

When 15% of the field at a big race gets disqualified… then people will take notice.

14

Maybe have signs every few miles saying “stay to the right, dont draft etc” At least that might make them feel a bit more guilty.

Ya know, corny as it sounds, this actually sounds like a really good idea!! It might be a hassle for race directors to have to plant a bunch of signs all over the bike course and pick 'em up afterward, but I think it might actually do some good! It would at least give the rest of us more clout when we holler at the numbskulls to move the heck over. Although with the truly obstinate and belligerent out there, I’m sure it would still have no effect. But hitting them with this message in the middle of the course might actually sink in a little more.

I think the sign should also say, “It’s the rules, stupid!” (the “stupid” could be optional, I guess…)

TriBaby

15

One of the reasons why I do not enjoy Gulfcoast as much as I used to. I am in one of the last waves, and I fly on the bike. I spend the first half of the race yelling, “On your left! On your left! Get out of the %$^&#*@% way!”

I was stuck behind some lady putting makeup on during our morning commute. I could not get around her, she was all over the place and driving very slowly and eratically. If somebody told her that she should not do that, she would tell them to do something that may be impossible.

I have made that pass on the right, and I have done it in front of an official. If they are over that yellow line, or on it, and are cycling slower than I am, they are out of position and safety dictates I pass how I can.

Officials need to start calling this stuff on the course. If the racer does not follow the directions, they should record the infraction and move off. Then two minutes later, repeat. They should do the same for packs, recording all the numbers and then coming back a few minutes later to do it all over again. Make sure the racers know they are getting penalties each time. (Get rid of that stand-down crap, just wave a yellow card at them and be gone.)

Better yet, mount tennis ball cannons on the back of the motorcycles. If cyclists do not move over, shoot them. Repeatedy.

16

"i was, i guess, struck by the fact that it was MY job to gently remind everyone on the course to ride on the right unless passing, while the official was entirely mute. "

This year at Powerman AL I was cursed when saying “on your left” to a woman that was riding on the centerline with no other riders nearby. I was coming up behind her at the bottom of a downhill at almost 40 mph and she didn’t have any desire to move over. The guy she was riding with (and by “with” I mean they were trading off who was doing the pulling) sprinted up next to me and yelled that she couldn’t move over because there were slow riders over there, then he called me some choice names and dropped back to her. She wasn’t passing anyone at the time, there was no other rider within 200m of us. They caught me on the next uphill just to recreate the entire scene again, only this time “on your left” was said with a little more vigor by me. Of course this helped motivate me to ride a little harder and not get caught on the next uphill. Luckily I didn’t see them again for the rest of the day.

My point is that having other racers trying to get this point across does not work, the offenders just assume you’re being an a$$hole who is making a point that you are riding faster and that there is nothing that says they HAVE to ride right. I think the only way this point will be taken is by warnings/statements from officials and penalties. I also like the idea of signs posted on the race course reminding people to ride right/pass left, just something more official appearing than other racers.

17

“When 15% of the field at a big race gets disqualified… then people will take notice.”

i wish that were true. USAT assumed that would be true and tried it. i’ve been at races where double that amount were penalized. but it still doesn’t sink in, mostly because there is a steady stream of new athletes coming in. that’s a good problem to have, and there ought to be a better way of managing the problem. i mean REALLY a better way, not just circle jerking on this forum, but a real remedy.

perhaps it’s a new way the officials look at the problem. perhaps it’s at the club level, maybe USAT can try to work with the clubs to educate their people better. maybe it’s at registration, where USAT strongly urges a “station” at registration, just like chip activation, or t-shirt pick-up, that is specific to teaching at least CERTAIN rules. maybe not everyone will come to a pre-race meeting, but everyone must come to registration.

maybe it’s at the race start. we were all sitting around for 5 minutes between waves, hoping no one could tell we were peeing in our wetsuits. why not have a USAT ref giving a few pre-race tips right there, before every wave leaves? you can’t escape hearing that sermon, can you?

there are MANY ways this can be tackled. it just takes somebody in authority actually making an affirmative decision to change the way it’s been done in the past.

18

If 15% of the field was penalized/DQ’d consistantly then the message would get across, even to the newbies. If it is not consistant, then it will never work. Consider the following analogy, I think it applies very well.

When training your dog, you can get them to obey just about any rule that you consistantly enforce. If you selectively enforce a rule, your dog only gets confused and eventually belligerant.

19

The person who said “make people stop and read a cardsaing I will not …etc” has a good point.

To me its dealing with your kids:

  1. You need to explain the rule;
    2.You need to explain why the rule exists;
  2. You need consequenses (ie stand down)
  3. You need to apply the rule consistently (to avoid the “but he does it” response). If everyone does it maybe you have no choice but to join the masses.

It make no sense for the officials not to be able to give a warning. If we have inflexable rules like this that don’t make sence it shows the sport may be heading in the wrong direction

21

Maybe start with the race entry. For online entries include a short multichoice quiz of the basic race rules. Competitors can’t complete their entry until they achieve a 100% pass. This would highlight to the novice competitors the race rules from day one. Then you reinforce this in the race info, at the race briefing, registration and on the course.