…You know, “That guy” at a Tri that you look at amusedly from afar because he is acting liking a complete ass. Yep, I became “That Guy.”
A combination of not being a morning person and admittedly jumping the gun and yelling at two guys for thinking they moved my bike when the didn’t. One guy actually set his bike up before mine, but being the moron that I am, I did not notice.
At the very least, I like to think my humiliation was not total as I at least had the decency to apologize, but of course, not until after the race.
My favorite part was when one guy said, “Yeah, I told my wife about you, She said you need to lighen up it’s LBI.” Humiliation complete.
I used to want a disc wheel until I realized that a large number of competitors with disc wheels at the events I frequent are assholes. Cutting me off, drafting, passing far too close, leaving trash on the race course, etc.
At least you’re man enough to own up to your mistake.
Over the years, I’ve developed a personal ass**** theory. It goes something like this:
You’re only really an ass**** if you act like one and don’t realize it. If you act like an ass****, but you’re fully aware that you’ve acted like one, then you’re really not an ass****. I know I’m an ass****, therefore I’m not an ass****.
Get it?
Based upon your post race discernment, I conclude that you’re not an ass****.
Ease up on yourself, Bro. Everyone makes a mistake, at least you had that character to make it right.
You are “partially” correct in my eyes. Of course, I did do my last tri of the year today … with a disc.
You unfortunately can draw a few conclusions based on athlete’s bodies, dress, shoes, bikes, etc. Not always, but …
At my race today (Toyota Challenge), there were SIX different races going on and I had to come through a lot of bikes (Sprint competitors) and the people riding left right down the middle of the road (or on the left side of the road) were pretty much the ones you would expect (often a MTN bike). So lots goes through my mind - do I pass left on the left shoulder and risk myselft, pass illegally right, yell out ride right, yell out on your left, etc. I want the newbies to learn the proper way (I sure remember being mentored), but I know it can get taken the wrong way by a guy yelling, flying by with a disc. So I just quietly biked along and said nothing.
At each tri, I attempt to help a few when I can (one guy on his sisters hybrid didn’t know how to inflate tires! Shocked, but I patiently explained the tires, valve, pump etc.) Riding in trainsition, iPods, setting up transition, etc. normally helping stuff.
However, in the heat of battle, it sure gets a lot harder! Are guys (and gals) with discs faster? Usually. Are guys/gals on MTN bikes/hybrids slower or newbies. Usually. Big deal. Loved the super mix at this race today! One guy swam with only some jammers and had to be 400 lbs. I saw him walking the course when I was leaving and can’t believe he even made it out of the water. Not sure what drove him to do this race, but I was as amazed watching him as any other athlete. Also, I saw a dad (age 43) doing the entire Sprint with his daughter (age 10!) that I thought was awesome (yes, she ran the entire way too).
(Well, I wasn’t being fully serious. My finely tuned sarcasm doesn’t survive the transmission via electrons. Internet forums and all that, right?
I’m fully aware that my chance encounters with disc users doesn’t mean that all disc users are assholes – it just seems that way. And I agree with you that sometimes you have to be an asshole in a race. Some people just seem to be willfully ignorant of common race courtesy. It seems to happen a lot on the collegiate circuit because you have so many newbies who think they’re hot stuff despite the fact that they can’t follow basic rules. Riding on the left is a huge problem, or at least it has been at a majority of the races I’ve been at. Your only options are to: A) illegally pass on the right and get a penalty, or B) be an asshole and yell at them to ride on the right. I try to be nice about it, but I imagine I come off as an asshole anyways. Oh well.
Your only options are to: A) illegally pass on the right and get a penalty, or B) be an asshole and yell at them to ride on the right. I try to be nice about it, but I imagine I come off as an asshole anyways. Oh well. <<
I find it works pretty well if you ride by and say loudly (not shout), “It’s much safer if you keep clear to the right”. Many times I’ll get an “oh! thanks”.
Never appologize for worrying about being an asshole in regards to the above problem. Slow cyclists riding left is a huge problem. I have had to spend half of my summer riding the center line yelling on your left. The slow person riding left is the asshole. They create a horribly dangerous situation for everyone. I don’t sign up races to go ride 18 mph. I can do that on my own for free. If your worrying about being an asshole for yelling at them, stop. The more people that yell will finally gain the attention of the ignorant slow cyclist racing illegally. Now someone is thinking well if you swim faster then you don’t have to worry about that. What about the brilliant race directors this year that stick the M30-34 AG in like the 7th wave behind every M&F age group 49 and under. ie. Columbia Triathlon. In that case I was that guy with the** disc wheel** yelling at people the whole time. If I didn’t I would have been that guy with the disc wheel averaging 17 mph on the bike. I guess that wouldn’t be money well spent now would it. Disc wheels are faster, and if your a fast cyclist you should exploit your strength and buy a disc. Who cares if the people you are passing think your an asshole. **Remember"It’s better to be a fast asshole, than a slow asshole." **E.D That’s my quote for the day.
dude, i was at the Escape to Miami today on my bike watching the bike portion of the race…the drafting was stupid, i mean if i would of called out the numbers and someone turned 5-6 people pile ups…1 guy nearly hit the curve and fell because he was waving and saying hi to a lady goin in hte other direction!! i was cheering for the fall lol…Passing on the right i must have seen every 25 cyclists!! either because a slower person was riding in the middle and being passed on the left so a faster rider would pass both on the right, or because groups would be in the middle and so they would be passed on the right…retarded!! and i tell you i was out there atleast an hr and NOT ONCE saw the referee on a motorcycle drive by, but i saw him at the finish line when i came back…retardedness as far as illegal passing lol…
I used to want a disc wheel until I realized that a large number of competitors with disc wheels at the events I frequent are assholes. Cutting me off, drafting, passing far too close, leaving trash on the race course, etc.
At least you’re man enough to own up to your mistake.
Could you explain exactly how someone cuts you off when it is YOUR responsibility to drop back once their wheel is infront of your wheel
