…actually the 20 sec rule is the time allotted to execute a PASS. Once you enter the zone you MUST pass. There is no provision for entering the zone and dropping back out. If you enter the drafting zone and do not pass you are technically in violation. Again, I think the GTG officials have more latitude in assuming intent. Picture a rider on a coursecontinually entering the zone of the rider in front and hugging his wheel for 18 seconds and then dropping out for a second or two before moving back up again…that is the purpose for this rule being as it is.
WWFSMD?
Noticed this in your signature line.
Does this stand for “What Would Fucking Slow Man Do”?
I can see how that would be difficult to enforce, considering it could be difficult to adhere to. If you pull up behind someone to attempt a pass, then that person passes the rider in front of them, technically you are obligated to pass both of them. Not very practical, but I appreciate the intent of the rule.
No, but that’s not bad either.
Flying Spaghetti Monster.
That certainly makes more sense. I sat there and talked to Charlie for like an hour. (only a bit was arguing my case, the rest was just discussing the rules in general and how they were enforced)
One thing he told me - if the front tread of your tire so much as touches the line, you get 4 minutes. That’s the same penalty as someone intentionally and blatantly cheating by drafting. I asked if he didn’t think that seemed wrong - I mean even if you touched the line (which I didn’t) would that person have gained any advantage or caused any safety issue? I don’t think so.
His response was basically that is the rule, so that is how it has to be called. But I think although in every sport there are rules, in most all the officials have some discretion. I think that was certainly lacking under the USAT enforcement.
Another example - there is a significant climb about 7 or 8 miles into the bike ride at LP. I came out of the water about 1:04, among the masses of people. Going up this hill I’m spinning up it doing about 10 mph or so with many people ahead of and behind me. The marshalls are pulling people over left and right penalizing them. Unbelievable. We’re all doing about 10 mph, there is no way anyone is gaining any advantage, and you would have to stop and wait a half hour to ride that hill without being in someone’s zone. Yet there they are handing out penalties. No discretion.
<My one penalty in 20+ years of racing came last year at Lake Placid when I got bumped 4 minutes for supposedly crossing the dismount line in T2.>
I can’t comment on the original poster’s question concerning IMFL and drafting, as I am not familiar with GTG rules or enforcement procedures. But I do want to let you know that USAT has changed its enforcement procedure concerning dismount.
USAT officials no longer monitor dismount lines. If a race director wants to monitor one, stationing his or her people there, and those observers document the infractions sufficiently, the head referee will issue penalties. Personally, I haven’t seen one since the procedure was changed.
David Schoonmaker
Cat. 1 USAT official
When I found myself in this situation, I maintained a position where I felt that I was taking on the full headwind, if for no other reason to appease my own conscience that I was not drafting. When I felt that I fell into the zone where an advantage would be gained, I passed or dropped off. 98% of the time, I maintained a position that wouldn’t be in question by any standard, but with the fluid nature of the event and 2000+ riders out there, it wasn’t always possible to be picture perfect. Just being honest.
Very well said. I felt the exact same way. I absolutely did not want to draft or cheat at all, but knew that I was for some fleating moments as it was impossible on the crowded course.
I think the fact that you are “aware” of this (I’d like to think like most of us) makes it O.K. in my book too. I only wish everyone was like this.
I dont get it. If the rule says you must stay back 7m why would you think you were cheating if you were 7 or 8m back yet getting a break from the wind?
The rule does not say no drafting it simply states a safty distance that must be maintained between all cyclist unless passing.
“Another example - there is a significant climb about 7 or 8 miles into the bike ride at LP. I came out of the water about 1:04, among the masses of people. Going up this hill I’m spinning up it doing about 10 mph or so with many people ahead of and behind me. The marshalls are pulling people over left and right penalizing them. Unbelievable. We’re all doing about 10 mph, there is no way anyone is gaining any advantage, and you would have to stop and wait a half hour to ride that hill without being in someone’s zone. Yet there they are handing out penalties. No discretion.”
This is what gets me as well. I got out of the water in 61 1/2 minutes, about 282 overall. Short legs means a lot of people ran by me to T1, but still, I’m in a thinned out part of the race at that point. Yet, the bike traffic didn’t thin out until the second time around on the downhill to Keene. I averaged 20 mph for the first 80 miles, so it wasn’t like I was being passed by everyone (unlike last year at IMC).
Both times through the Wilmington gap, the bike traffic bunched up significantly. I just barely avoided a penalty of passing on the right due to a situation described earlier in this thread. I was riding well inside the white line to keep out of the constant passing. A gal had passed me back and came up on the rider in front of her who was slowing, just as a race marshall came up on a motorcycle. The gal braked and sat up to avoid a drafting call, I ended up shooting past her on the right. The marshall let me off with a warning, for which I was grateful. I am particularly vehemently against passing on the right as I have nearly been wiped out twice in the last year in races by nitwits doing just that.
What gets me is, how do people who come out of the water between 1:05 and 1:15, where almost 1000 people exit deal with the traffic? I cannot begin to imagine the road being five times more crowded. Even at 61 minutes, the first 30 miles are so clogged that infractions are inevitable and unavoidable
David -
My case was last year (2004) as LP - at that point USAT officials were still monitoring the dismount line and enforcing penalties.
I’m glad to see that this has since changed. Although I guess it is a moot point for IM races at this point, since it is now GTG rules. I suppose by IMFL next year they could be under the yet to be determined WTC/USAT/GTG/WWF/ESPN rules, which could be entirely different.