Kris Flatlander

Well I just had a bit of a no-no happen tonight at the club race. Little bit of a line change without checking . Anyways are there any safe ways to change lines in a sprint (I was kinda boxed in that's why I moved) or is it a once you're set in you're line you just hold it through all the way. It was my first ever pack sprint so I need to learn a bit I'm sure. Thanks all.

recneps

The biggest thing in a pack sprint is you dont change lines suddenly. I'm pretty into squeesing through gaps and crowding people in a pack sprint if I really want to do well.

you can tell when someone is on next to you, you can tell when someone is just behind you to the point you would take out theyre front wheel, but having said that you cant really look back in a sprint.

Just be aware of everyone around you, if you get boxed in you get boxed in better luck next time. If theres a small gap you might need to take a risk and squeez through.

Youll get used to it.

recursive

If you think there's a chance someone is coming behind you, don't move. Before you jump, it's good to look around if you can, so you can see the structure of things.

yonderboy

A head check under the leg (like you're checking what gear you're in) or through the arm should let you know if there's someone overlapping your wheel. Depending on the light, you should be able to see a shadow or something to indicate where the rider behind you is.

I treat it like downhill skiing. The guy ahead of you has the right-of-way and it's your job to watch out for him. If you're going to make a move, you need to commit and follow through.

San Rensho 

The guy in front always has the right of way (assuming you are at race pace). If someone is stupid enough to overlap your wheel, thats their problem.

You will know when someone is right next to you and obviuosly you can't move over and push him out of the way. But if no one is showing you a wheel, go where you want to, but within limits. Don't go halfway across the road just to get around someone.

If someone is in back of you speeding up to pass you, they have to yield to you.

Don't look back, don't worry about whats in back of you. Worry about whats up ahead.

asgelle

You better let USCF know about this, someone over there got it wrong in their rule book. For example, 1O6, 3B10.

curveship

While that's true for general riding, it's NOT true for the sprint. We're talking just about the last 200 meters. In that situation, the rule is that you can't change your line to impede another rider. Taking out someone's front wheel is certainly "impeding" them. So if you're going to change your line in the sprint, the responsibility is on YOU to make sure you are doing it cleanly and safely.

Anyway, if you find yourself sprinting through traffic, then it usually means that you screwed up your positioning coming into the sprint and you're unlikely to finish in the top 5. So take it easy and save someone (maybe you) a trip to the hospital.

stea1thviper

tell that to robbie =)

recneps

Yeah all my sprints are 10-15 people back, seems to me that usually the top 3 riders coming into the sprint never finish in the top 3.