Was looking trough my wires pics of IM Cozumel 2011 and found some interesting non-drafting shots of the race.
I don’t remember ever seeing a ref or something on the course either! 
Of course there is drafting. And more importantly, there is legal drafting within the confines of the rules.
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
Are you really this stupid, or being deliberately obtuse?
Lots of drafting at IMCOZ, and while I saw officials on mopeds, and observed those officials observing blatant drafting (not legal drafting), the penalty tents were empty every time I went by.
I understand that it’s difficult to marshal a flat course, but what’s the deterrent to would-be cheaters when there’s no effort at all? At least at IMFL, there are plenty of people that receive penalties, even if it’s only a fraction of the offenders.
This was my only real complaint about the race. Unfortunately, I dropped out of the run before the downpour, but the poor drainage on the streets was apparently a problem.
USAT needs to stop this absurdity and legalize drafting.
Of course there is drafting. And more importantly, there is legal drafting within the confines of the rules.
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
What?? I am sorry, can you please elaborate a little bit more on your theory on how this group of around 13 cyclist riding with less than 7 meters or approximately 4 bike lenghts of each other might not involve drafting even if it is a one millisecond in time shot?
Just curious as I might not be taking advantage of the **legal drafting within the confines of the rules **situation!
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
Are you really this stupid, or being deliberately obtuse?
That was my exact thought…
What is more amazing is all the ones in the middle sitting up and not in the aero position.
M~
Of course there is drafting. And more importantly, there is legal drafting within the confines of the rules.
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
What?? I am sorry, can you please elaborate a little bit more on your theory on how this group of around 13 cyclist riding with less than 7 meters or approximately 4 bike lenghts of each other might not involve drafting even if it is a one millisecond in time shot?
Just curious as I might not be taking advantage of the **legal drafting within the confines of the rules **situation!
My guess on the theory would be that there’s a defined passing/drafting zone, once you enter it you have to complete your pass within a given time. During that time you are legally drafting - if you stay a second longer, you are cruising for a drafting penalty. So to take full advantage, overtake slowly(?)
How that would work for this group is a mystery to me. Then, if they were trying to draft, surely they’d get a bit closer together?
So, whats the solution when you slowly reel in a pack like this? Do you just hammer your way around or do you sit back and wait?
When it happens to me, I try to move through the pack as quickly and safely as possible. Sometimes I pass on the right, sometimes I cross the center line, and sometimes I am in the draft zone too long. My personal justification is that breaking the rules is not my intent, and I am making a progressive forward motion through the pack.
Come on. It’ Mexico. Everyone knows there are no laws in Mexico. For god’s sake, have you ever been to Donkey Show in Tijuana? If they will let a stripper do that with a donkey, do you think they care about a bunch of dudes in spandex riding their $10,000 bikes too close to each other?
You can buy a gram of blow from a 3 year old at Carlos n Charlie’s for $40.
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
Are you really this stupid, or being deliberately obtuse?
You’re The Authority, so break it down for us…identify a single competitor that you would penalize for drafting based on what you see in this photo. Go.
Come on. It’ Mexico. Everyone knows there are no laws in Mexico. For god’s sake, have you ever been to Donkey Show in Tijuana? If they will let a stripper do that with a donkey, do you think they care about a bunch of dudes in spandex riding their $10,000 bikes too close to each other?
You can buy a gram of blow from a 3 year old at Carlos n Charlie’s for $40.
+1
Odelay!
I would like you to point me to one person who has ever said there is no drafting at IM races.
Of course there is drafting, and packs, and cheaters, and people trying not to cheat, and people who don’t even know the rules.
Same as all sporting events…Get used to it.
Of course there is drafting. And more importantly, there is legal drafting within the confines of the rules.
No comment on whether that particular photo involves drafting outside the confines of the rules and subject to penalties since it is a still frame photo, as in one millisecond in time.
What?? I am sorry, can you please elaborate a little bit more on your theory on how this group of around 13 cyclist riding with less than 7 meters or approximately 4 bike lenghts of each other might not involve drafting even if it is a one millisecond in time shot?
Just curious as I might not be taking advantage of the **legal drafting within the confines of the rules **situation!
My guess on the theory would be that there’s a defined passing/drafting zone, once you enter it you have to complete your pass within a given time. During that time you are legally drafting - if you stay a second longer, you are cruising for a drafting penalty. So to take full advantage, overtake slowly(?)
How that would work for this group is a mystery to me. Then, if they were trying to draft, surely they’d get a bit closer together?
Yes a single photo can’t tell whole story but I think with some high probability you can say these bikes are not going to spread out to 7 meters lined up(not side by side) in 15 to 20 seconds just not human nature same goes with traffic )(wolfpacks)… As to why aren’t they closer well most figure they are less to get caught or tick off the rider in front if they don’t get right on the wheel so its not as obvious. Then others sort of get caught up in the pack then in their minds not their fault because they don’t think they should put on burst of speed to pass through or slow down and therefore they are doing nothing wrong but its up to the athlete to take measures not to draft. Videos I posted for ironman florida 2009 using front and rear gopro cameras and a vhold helmet cam show something like this… Shows myself slowing down letting them go by then speed up to
get around and away from them at aid station only to get swallowed up by the same pack… Now I could have done like those in the pack just stayed in it but that would be drafting. I will sacrifice my race strategy not to draft just way I feel. So if I have to push my heart rate to get away or slow down to stay out of draft zone I’ll do it.
At one level that’s not drafting and it might not be from an ariel photograph. What I mean is they are not wheel to wheel getting maximum benefit from each other as would a pro peleton in road racing. To the comment just legalize drafting what would happen is that they would ‘try’ to draft like a pro peleton. One point being that the bike handling skills are pretty good in respect to the average road racer, very mixed when it comes to triathletes and I think we would se a lot of riders taken out from behind as people chase on then touch wheels.
They are certainly getting a big psychological advantage and a lesser physical advantage. In an ideal world there would be nothing remotly close to being able to get a physical advantage. In an ideal world there would be marshals to enforce rules, fields would be limited in size and race fees would be cheaper, but we don’t live in an ideal world and this is the reality.
I would like to add how much effort speed difference would it take as a slower swimmer to come up to and be able to pass this lot on a flat section as shown? I suspect if it happened the whole block would pick up a bit of tempo and match the lead pace unless it was at least a good few km per hour faster. After a bit that block might get stretched out but for the effort is it worth being the psychological rabbit. Or do you save a bit of that psychological energy for the run.
hahahahahah!!! right!!!
Isn’t that a marshall in the background on a red scooter?
I don’t remember ever seeing a ref or something on the course either!
So, whats the solution when you slowly reel in a pack like this? Do you just hammer your way around or do you sit back and wait?
When it happens to me, I try to move through the pack as quickly and safely as possible. Sometimes I pass on the right, sometimes I cross the center line, and sometimes I am in the draft zone too long. My personal justification is that breaking the rules is not my intent, and I am making a progressive forward motion through the pack.
Regardless of the cause, passing on the right or crossing the center line are both rules infractions that could garner a penalty. However, moving through the pack is not illegal drafting, as long as you aren’t spending more than the allowed time in any one person’s draft zone. You may be drafting the entire time you’re going through the pack, but it’s not illegal.
The Capital of Texas tri here in Austin is a great example of where you can do this. The Olympic course is 4 loops through downtown. The two-loop sprint is going on at the same time. There are a lot of people on the road. I’ve never had a problem with crowding, as it’s typically 3 or 4 lanes wide in each direction. However, it allows for a rolling draft pretty much the entire race as I slingshot from one person to the next. Nothing illegal about it, since I’m never in the draft zone of any one person for longer than it takes to pass them.
I got yelled at by an official in town on lap 2 for being too close to someone (I was passing) and as he saw me pass he said it was ok to pass. shrug. IMCOZ was reffed by FMTRI. I saw a TON of refs on the bike course and the run course. I actually had a couple refs give me encouragement on the sly (as I was wearing the colors).