Remember back in the late 70’s early 80’s when cops would sit along the side of the road, with their hood up in a sorta beat up looking car? And then some unsuspecting jackass would speed by and the cop would hop in the car which was actually a super beefed-up 454 hemi, posi-traction, yadda, yadda, yadda…(I really don’t know that much about cars) and they would chase them down. Weellllll…
Why don’t we do that with triathlon? RD’s could plant a few people out on the bike course that everyone thinks is just another competitor. These undercover marshalls would be patrolling the course and stealthily (probably not a word) nab those damn drafters. Everyone knows to look for the motorcycle, but maybe that fear of the unknown would convince them to quit cheating.
Or how about this…you know how the cops will plant one cop on an overpass shooting with his radar and then dispatch another cop down the road to catch the speeders? Well, post one cyclists on the side of the road with a “flat tire” who is actually marshalling and then dispatches another marshall up the road.
I don’t know, the marshall on the motorcycle certainly isn’t working. Especially when everyone is smart enough to look around and not see any motorcycles around at the start of the race.
My step-brother was really into cars. He was one of those guys who just didn’t pick up on social cues. He would start telling me all about this-that-and-the-other and never caught on to my deer-in-headlights/I-really-don’t-give-a-rat’s ass look. Guess I just took a few terms I remember him throwing around and mashed them together.
What does it say to the masses about our sport if we start sending out secret rule enforcers? I agree the drafting needs to be addressed, but that should be dealt with through limited field size and course logistics rather than something like this. The other things to consider here are limited resources (certified officials, cash to pay them) and validity of the calls - a guy standing on the side of the road doesn’t get to see 15 seconds worth of position. my 2 cents.
The flat tire thing would not work as you have to draft for 15 secs and that’s 550 feet at 25 mph so they would not have you in view long enough. If the marshall was on a bike they would have to ride slow enough to let a lot of people pass but fast enough to keep people in view for a while and would only get one shot at each competitor. A stealthy electric scooter would be better.
I’m envisioning a triathlon “Red Scare” in which everyone looks at the next guy wondering if he’s the informer.
Anyway, my sense of hearing has become finely tuned to lock in on the peculiar hum of a Honda Gold wing from hundreds of feet behind me. I like things the way they are.
A course marshal is usually in a car (or on a motorcycle) He (or she pc) will be riding at a pace slightly greater than the pace of the pack. He gets to see the people drafting for longer.
When someone is just stadning at a corner, they have a disproportional view of the distance between people until they go right by. (which lasts less than a couple of seconds.)
The one potential problem would be, that if you were unfortunate enough to be in the process of getting ready to pass someone when you went by, you could get unfairly snubbed.
I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, I’m just trying to explore all the possibilities.
It’s better to let ten guilty people walk off, than to punish one innocent person. (sorry can’t remeber who said it.)
To be honest, I put this out there mostly in jest. Just venting. But I do think that these people who were drafting at the Camp Pendle Du would have cheated if there were 100 competitors or 1000. They just had that attitude. Hell when I yelled at them during the race they just laughed at me, they clearly didn’t give a shit.
or - each competitor’s bike has affixed to it - a brightly colored orange tube that protrudes rearwards from the seatpost - the exact length of the draft zone.
You could put spikes on it to ensure no-one encroaches!!
Havig the draft busters on M/cycles is very proactive - and I agree - that we all know when they are coming - hence the arguement for using the m/cycles - if you are still in the zone - even though there is a motorcycle right near you - then obviously - your intention is to draft.
We should all take it upon ourselves to note where possible - any other athlete on the course that is blatantly drafting and then remember their number - use their number as your mantra over the run leg and then submit a protest at the end of the race.
We are entitled to do that!!! Might make a lot of athletes think again - knowing that we can police our own.
Just ribbing you…rebuilding cars is a hobby of mine but had to take a back seat due to the expense. Triathlon and cars don’t mix unless you’re a millionaire…which I’m not.
I like the idea and am all for enforcing the rules in creative ways like you mentioned. In fact, stationary draft marshalls stationed randomly throughout the course will be more effective than the current manner…however…the only problem is these guys are stationary and most likely cannot observe a pack for 10-15 secs which is the amount of time allowed for overtaking, falling back, etc. How can they make a judgement call if they only see a snapshot of riders going by?
What I would be for is enlisting the help of a roadie team, college cycling club, or other roadie organization that we could train and turn into race marshals.
Put them out on the course at various intervals and have them ride along side of us.
They wouldn’t pose the hazard that these motorcycles pose.
They’d blend in and catch more drafters.
Probably could recruit more marshalls this way or supplement the motorbike crowd.
There’s an incentive for them to come out…they get their training in…and help us at the same time.
Great idea! When it gets going, I want to start a betting pool. How many races until the first person is busted for drafting off of the marshall on the bike?
Doesn’t really need to be a roadie team…any triathlete who isn’t doing the race can come in and ride the course with the other competitors…stronger riders go with the front and stagger the abilities accordingly.