When I say “gone soon,” that’s locally gone. You are out of their zone. Now if the downhill is right after that, then you’ll leapfrog them on the way down. Then you’ll be the one who is “locally” gone soon from their perspective.
I assume that everyone is riding consistently. If they pass you up the hill, then they should be continually pulling away at some constant rate. I also assume that under that circumstance, an official won’t ding you no matter how long it takes them to get around you (going uphill), within reason of course. All bets are off if the official isn’t taking intention and lack of drafting benefit into account.
As a generalization I agree. But it does happen sometimes that this assumption fails.
There were a couple of sections where we did go over a basically flat bridge where they would catch cross and head winds then I would catcj back up . I guess since I had the momentum going it was easy to pass the pack till their "pack " momentum started back up again. Newbz and Spicoli kicked ass btw in this race.
Especially when people get in front of a group and have no draft effect (legal or illegal). Many people will pass and then slow down once they begin pushing their own wind.
I’d pull over and have some GU’s and re-read my manual.
Who’s going 25mph in a 70.3 that would be behind me out of the water?? That’s what I’d like to know.
There are a lot of guy’s out there that cannot swim for shit that are averaging 24-25 mph. I had hit the 25 and 27 mph mark a couple times when trying to pass and on the down hill. Not great pacing by me But I a am still a green behind the ears newbie as I have only did this distance once before. Still think I kept it in check for the most part though. I only averaged 20.2 miles MPH on my comp and 20.1 mph on their time. Not fast by ST standerds at all but it was planned for the most part as there were high widns and crosswind’s
I do guess I am a bit on the heavy side at 167 and 5’9.
BTW: Where do I get a manual were they supposed to send me that when I joined ? Them Chocalate gu’s are pretty good Had my first one yesterday.
LOL. Yeah you mean you didn’t get one? Prolly just you. haha
I’d pull over and have some GU’s and re-read my manual.
Who’s going 25mph in a 70.3 that would be behind me out of the water?? That’s what I’d like to know.
There are a lot of guy’s out there that cannot swim for shit that are averaging 24-25 mph. I had hit the 25 and 27 mph mark a couple times when trying to pass and on the down hill. Not great pacing by me But I a am still a green behind the ears newbie as I have only did this distance once before. Still think I kept it in check for the most part though. I only averaged 20.2 miles MPH on my comp and 20.1 mph on their time. Not fast by ST standerds at all but it was planned for the most part as there were high widns and crosswind’s
I do guess I am a bit on the heavy side at 167 and 5’9.
BTW: Where do I get a manual were they supposed to send me that when I joined ? Them Chocalate gu’s are pretty good Had my first one yesterday.
LOL. Yeah you mean you didn’t get one? Prolly just you. haha
Yes, EXACTLY! This is why i don’t buy the ‘You have to draft at Clearwater’ argument! I got passed by large packs, they were going faster, they went up the road…done.
This is a good question actually. Ill be out on a training ride and there will be a group of roadies riding by me in spurts. Theyre going faster than I am as they ride in these 6+ rider groups and are going for high speed segments (I end up passing them not short after as I am carrying a constant speed). I let them pass but sometimes pick up my cadence a little to stay within a few feet of the last man and usually off to the side (like 3 ft back and 1-2 left). What is the “legal draft zone?” Where am I allowed and not allowed to be?
If you’re training and don’t care about whether you’re at legal distance for racing a tri, then ride at any distance you’re comfortable with. If you’re trying to train at what would be a legal distance, you should keep 3 bike lengths between you and the bike in front. Riding at 3 bike lengths, you’ll get some draft, but you’ll be legal.
Here’s the simplest list of the US rules I’ve heard:
Ride right, pass left.
A pass is complete when the passer gets his front wheel just in front of the other guy’s front wheel.
At any time, you should be doing one of three things:
Riding at the same speed as the bike in front, keeping at least 3 bike lengths between you.
You just got closer than 3 bike lengths; you’re in the draft zone, and now must complete the pass within 15 seconds. (It is legal to ride right up to the bike in front before moving left to complete the pass, just make sure you’re not going to move left into the path of someone who is moving up to pass you!)
You just got passed; you must drop back 3 bike lengths before thinking about repassing.
Had my first one yesterday.