*There is always a lot talk about drafting in races. I would like to hear from the folks that purposely draft during a race. I don’t think I have ever heard anyone admit it on this forum. Are we the only ones that don’t? It is like my late Father once told me about golf. If you are going to lie about how many strokes you took, improve your lie, or kick the ball out from under trees, why not stay in the club house, have a beer, and write down any f%&king score you want. *
*“Because everyone else does” is not an answer. *
I was going to go with the ‘because everyone else does’ but I gotta modify that some. More often than not I will avoid jumping on the bandwagon so to speak when a pack goes by…BUT…I have had times when after the third or fourth pack goes by I finally gave in to my darkness and jumped on. Funny thing is there would normally only have been maybe one or two people in any of those packs that could have gone one on one with me…take away the pack and things thin out pretty quick. My way around these packs…avoid the races where the number of athletes taking part has gotten out of hand. Any more than 250 in a sprint or shorter distance is asking for trouble…one local race where the distances are 375m/10/2.5 had over 500 this year. This was the first time since the race started that I did not do it…and I am thankful. While a lot of those athletes had done at least one a larger portion were first timers…and that’s dangerous. No way to avoid drafting then.
Since all I ever do is short stuff it is all I can comment on…you longer distance guys…no excuses…shame on you;-)
Yes I have done it…no I am not proud of it…when sanity rules I avoid it…but there are times when even I snap. Either join the spawning or wipe out the incoming pack with an erratic swerve from edge of road to centerline and see how many triathletes really know how to handle a bike.
I don’t think I have ever heard anyone admit it on this forum.
I’ve confessed the sin of drafting several times on this forum.
There, I’ve just gone and done it again.
I generally don’t draft on triathlons but Have been “forced” into it a couple of times by (a) being caught in a pack of drafters or (b) some guy insists on speeding up every time I go to pass. On group rides with the roadies it’s a different story. Drafting is the only way to hang on to them. Once you’re dropped from the main group, you’re toast.
There are many reasons but I think the big one would be just the attitude of those who do tris for the chops. Seeing at just one more thing to add to the list they have no real connection to the sport and do what it takes to finish.