redmist

why is an ironman competitor competing in class 5 bike racing in prospect park?

https://triresults.com/triathlon_athl...ipant_id=21448

https://www.customcyclewear.com/2008c...cupoverall.htm


does this seem right? call me crazy but it smacks of cherry picking.

urbanknight

Because he hasn't earned the right to compete in the higher categories in USAC events yet. It's more of a safety issue than a speed issue, as a triathlete doesn't necessarily have ANY experience riding in a tight pack.

redmist

i guess so- kind of like making a Formula 1 racer race local oval races against jim joe billy bob in Podunk before letting him race in nascar...

sprintf

You've never raced your bicycle, have you redmist?

urbanknight

I wouldn't know the NASCAR licensing requirements, but I would venture to say it's more like making an NHRA drag racer prove worthiness before racing NASCAR since drag racing and triathlons are both clocked events with no pack traffic.

urbanknight

Probably not. When I reinstated my USAC license after 12 years of not racing, I remained a Cat 4 not because I was fast enough (far from it) but because I didn't want to be side-by-side with all those blubbering newbies that twitch and squirm into everyone's front wheel taking out half the pack in almost every race.

If someone ever complains about another rider being too fast in Cat 5, it should be because he is coming in second place behind that guy every time. In such a case, the complainer should move up to Cat 4 himself. The same could probably be said for Cat 4 and Cat 3 racing as well.

redmist

i'm racing that series with the ironman tri-athlete in it. that's why i'm wondering why he's racing with us. he's also a tri-athlete coach at the super-fancy "Cadence Cycle and Multisport Center". at the last race, he left the pack after one minute with us with another rider in tow, so he's not really learning how to race in the tight confines of a group, is he?

kukusz

It happens - and although he goes off the front he is still getting the experience of race pace bike handling. He will cat up in no time and be out of your hair. We have a cat 5 on our team that used to be an expert mountain bike racer, and a good one at that.

Enjoy being a cat 5, don't sweat losing to a triathlete. Once you get to 4 or 3 you have to worry about the real sandbaggers

urbanknight

True, he's getting very limited pack time, but that means he will upgrade soon and he won't be your problem for long (as kukusz stated). Plus, when he becomes a 3, he'll be one of the few people carrying around his big arms as dead weights. Life just isn't fair, is it?

sprintf

Well, you can't force the guy to stay with the pack. The 10 mass starts rule is pretty much the best that can be done to force folks to learn pack skills before moving on to faster races with larger packs. I'm sure the guy wants out as much as you want him out, but 10 races is the rule.

redmist

big arms is right! the guy's a monster! he's gotta be at least 6-5.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/1406098...7605746994081/

botto 

cheery picking in a cat 5 race? more like picking peanuts out of dung.

gsteinb

he's obviously doing it for the glory and money of winning a cat 5 race. they should make him give back his winnings.

Snap

And the chicks. No more dating the Cat 5 podium girls!!

That will get rid of him.

gsteinb

I read a rumor that she's the podium girl for the 5s tomorrow

roadwarrior

That's the best...

brians647

Can't you park yourself on his wheel when the race starts and just draft him? Or is his pace that insanely high?

I'm a tactical novice, but it would seem to me that if you allow him to do all the work, you should be able to outsprint him. If he gets pissed that you won't work, he'll drop back with the pack and get his "pack experience." There's got to be something that you can do to make things interesting.

gsteinb

the NYC 5 races are wars of attrition.

John Wilke

Sure he can motor, but can he accelerate? Wait until he's marking moves that jump from 32 to 42 mph !

Snuffleupagus

That'd be the way I'd go about it. He's very probably got a massive motor, but little snap. Just sit on his wheel and enjoy the ride.

redmist

i'm gonna go with him when he makes an early move. hopefully, a few others will too. i don't have anything to lose. if i get dropped, i get dropped! his pace must be pretty good as the pack couldn't catch him, but then again, the pace last race wasn't quick at all.

Snuffleupagus

Plenty of good Ironman level guys can sit at 25mph all day long, and from what I recall from the 5s, that's more than enough to stay away.

Treefox

Though Tri's are usually light on the hills.

Suzie Green

And plenty of guys that have completed an Ironman can't ride more than 19 mph and that's certainly more than enough to go off the back.

Suzie Green

Tell that to those who have completed Ironman Lake Placid.