Wow, that is all I can say. Not much of a sprint in my legs…but I was able to take off for the stop ahead signs way out…and just time trial it in to win the sprints by default. The road boys never really expect that a Tri geek in “short shorts” would just pull away from them. Had my heart rate up to 196bpm trying to hold off one guy to a City Limit sign…held him off and took the victory…hardest ride for me in a long long time. Feel pretty good about that, I may need to go back to the USCF some day.
freaking animal
I have been flirting with the thought of jumping back into some curcuit racing this summer … but I keep thinking about my last RR and all the crashes
Same experience here. Started doing Crits a couple weeks ago. I just go off the front with about 5 minutes to go and try to stay ahead to the finish. Been working so far. Super fun workout.
I’m new to my area and just started going out with the roadies. Yesterday was my first day on their long weekday loop. Started pacelining it, and of course, took my turn in front. It seemed like I was out there quite a bit longer than most, but eventually, backed off. Next time up, they asked that I take it a bit easier up front! I guess being a triathlete, I’m not phased by being out front and picking up the pace. Since I’m the newbie, I’ll play by their rules for a while, get accepted into the group, then start pick’n it up again.
But, third week in a row, crashes! Two guys went down this week (huge rock in the road kicked up by a truck in front). Last week, three down, dog ran into the pack. The week before that, wheels crossing! I think this group is jinxed.
If you were on a bike with Aero bars it was all your fault…Aerobars are bad mojo in a pace line…and the roadies will blame you for anything and everything.
The big rule about pacelining is maintaining the pace. It is very bad form to pick it up when it’s your turn, take a longer pull but unless your a leader don’t go faster. The purpose of the ride isn’t to go as fast as you can.
…but I was able to take off for the stop ahead signs way out…and just time trial it in to win the sprints by default. The road boys never really expect that a Tri geek in “short shorts” would just pull away from them.
And I’ll bet they didn’t care that you did, either.
If I were in the group and you continued to do that, we would wait for you to do your manly pull, and when you “backed off”, we’d jump and leave you to do your solo riding by yourself. Riding in a group isn’t a time trial. Find out what their program is, and either stick with it or go ride by yourself.
I remember that quite a few years ago, a group of top pro triathletes formed a team that competed in a top domestic road race. With one exception (Mike Pigg-go figure) most of them were shelled off the back on almost every stage.
Just because someone can hang with a group of Cat 4/5 and 3 tagalongs they think that they can dominate the roadies. There are a few top triathletes who can hang with the fast Cat 1 and above road groups, but not too many. Those guys are amazingly fast, of course they cant swim or run to save their lives, but why would they want to?
I know all about paceline ettiquete, and riding with roadies. Plus, I consider myself a team player, so I try to play like a team player. It’s just that as a triathlete (this being a triathlon forum and such), I can pull in front without maxing out my HR. Once I understood the level of riders, and definitely some would out ride me, I followed in suit. I don’t drop into my aeros (dangerous in this situation). Point is, triathletes can be pretty strong pullers, since they train this way. I know roadies are wary of triathletes in group rides, so I am careful not to perpetuate this reputaion.
The big rule about pacelining is maintaining the pace. It is very bad form to pick it up when it’s your turn, take a longer pull but unless your a leader don’t go faster.
Actually, speaking as a roady (Cat 2), I dont think we mind a subtle change in the tempo of the group nor do we hate outright attacks. What is disliked is when someone disrupts the tempo of the group by instantly increasing the tempo/pace (like 2-3-4 mph) while pulling through after the last rider. In the groups that I usually train with, a sustained tempo normally ranges between 26 and 30 mph, so if you are a rider that can simply solo off the front at that pace without attracting a chase group - assuming the others take the tempo change seriously and you are not using up a lot of lateral road surface causing those behind to get nervous - then such efforts will earn the respect of the other riders!
Michael
I had the luxury of training with a small group composed of a few Cat II’s and a couple of strong Cat III’s in the past and agree that if you are going off the front solo and riding people off your wheel that two things are present: 1. You are going solo at 30mph + for quite some distance, or 2. the group is sitting back laughing at your hammering off the front, waiting to shell you on the next hill.
If you are riding a bunch of Cat V’s or citizen racers off your wheel, then good for you and keep teaching them that tri guys are not to be messed with 
If I were in the group and you continued to do that, we would wait for you to do your manly pull, and when you “backed off”, we’d jump and leave you to do your solo riding by yourself. Riding in a group isn’t a time trial. Find out what their program is, and either stick with it or go ride by yourself.
Really. How many Cat 2 races have you been in? I cant even count mine…tell me about road racing…please. How does it work?
The big rule about pacelining is maintaining the pace. It is very bad form to pick it up when it’s your turn, take a longer pull but unless your a leader don’t go faster.
Actually, speaking as a roady (Cat 2), I dont think we mind a subtle change in the tempo of the group nor do we hate outright attacks. What is disliked is when someone disrupts the tempo of the group by instantly increasing the tempo/pace (like 2-3-4 mph) while pulling through after the last rider. In the groups that I usually train with, a sustained tempo normally ranges between 26 and 30 mph, so if you are a rider that can simply solo off the front at that pace without attracting a chase group - assuming the others take the tempo change seriously and you are not using up a lot of lateral road surface causing those behind to get nervous - then such efforts will earn the respect of the other riders!
Michael
Thank you - and EXACTLY. I guess the Tri folks may not all know about the Stop Ahead sprint, the City Limit sprint, and the Top of the Hill sprint. Paceline is good and all…fact is that the first one to the sign wins.
Really. How many Cat 2 races have you been in? I cant even count mine…tell me about road racing…please. How does it work?
I wasn’t talking to you, I was responding to someone who is disrupting the paceline work of a group of cyclists. And you know nothing about my road racing background, so knock off the sarcasm.
I’m with you Klehner.
Ken, easy cheeta. Your post came across as elitist. His response lightened that up and called you on it in a rather humorous way.
It really depends on the type of rider and the group. The people I train with are a tight bunch of guys. We all know each other as friends and most have been riding together for years. When a stranger shows up we’re always a little weary and if they decide to be a macho man and take off the front were more than willing to let them go and crack a few jokes at their expense.
Sorry that my post came across that way; I can see how that would happen.
As a former roadie turned to the dark side (but one who still rides with roadies), I’ve seen and continue to see triathletes (and even a couple of roadies) screwing up the work that a group of roadies are trying to accomplish by doing what the OP is describing. His response didn’t seem to address the fact that his ability to do long pulls at high speed detracts from the work that the group is doing; maybe they don’t want to have a long rest? His response addressed the other concern (squirrely-ness) roadies have with triathletes.
As a former roadie now in the tri land, my beef is with triathletes in draft legal races who don’t understand how to compete in a pack.
If you are passing someone, you don’t pull over on them when you are a wheel in front, if you are lurking in a bikers blindspot you tell them where you are etc. There is actually an enormous amount of communication, verbal and non verbal, that goes into riding in a successful (and safe) peloton, and it takes some learning.
Some triathletes I have seen shoot to the front of packs, drop the hammer for about 10 mins, then plummet like a stone to the back need their heads read.