"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - One race one wreck.

Did the training race in Alachua today for my first race of the season. Road the B race (4's and 5's). Large pack about 75 riders. Starting the 4th lap, the pack comes out of the last turn rolling along at a good clip,, up a little incline,and just the dynamics of the race are such that the pack slows way down, and a narrow line becomes 5-6 wide across the road. At this point a couple of guys overlap wheels, bunch of people slam on brakes,and 5 guys stack it up right in front of me. I have absolutely no where to go, with the 5 basically forming a semi circle around me. So I t bone the 2 on the ground in front of me, and roll over them, (as in handle over spout)


Fortunately I pop up basically unijured except for some busted knuckes and rejoin the race. Amazing thing is my new bike does not have a single scratch. Put me at the back of the pack and never really threatend after that, but had a good training ride and finished witht the pack.

A few observations:

1) it was really nice day, end of Janury and low 70's, got a good workout so I really can't complain.

2) it helps to practice falling. I tucked and rolled, kept my hands on the bars, and escaped with a couple of busted knuckles and a scrape on my forearm. Had I stuck my hand out, very likely a broken collar bone.

3) I'm frigging lucky. Not a scratch on the new bike. Actually as I'm rolling over the pile of bikes, I'm thinking oh **** my new bike. I'm still clipped to one pedal, and I extend my leg to make sure none of the others coming into the pile behind me run over my bike.

Not only the bike, but I almost always wear a rather expensive watch. Its waterproof and I just never take it off. This morning I just forgot to put it on. Based on the scrape on my forearm very good chance the watch would have taken the brunt.

4) this is why you should always wear gloves.

I'm glad to hear you survived unscathed.

In my 4/5 race today there were no crashes at all which was pretty cool. The 3/4 race had several.

--Steve

Ouch. Going down is never fun. Good on ya for getting right back in it though man.

The stupid thing was that one corner was slightly downhill, off camber, with a little sand in it, the obvious place to worry about.

The wreck happens in a slight uphill section with 2 wide lanes of road and dead freaking straight.
, and at a time the pace is relaxing.

The stupid thing was that one corner was slightly downhill, off camber, with a little sand in it, the obvious place to worry about.

The wreck happens in a slight uphill section with 2 wide lanes of road and dead freaking straight.
, and at a time the pace is relaxing.

Well that's exactly why it happened. The guys behind the front runners ran up the back of the leaders, and had to slow down, the guys behind them had to slow down even quicker, and it was more than likely a chain reaction type thing. The slope of a short/slight hill will almost always slow the guys in the front more than the guys behind them, who are in the draft.

did you catch the field after the crash or did you get a free lap? usually after a crash the pack always seems to attack, hoping to get away the riders trapped behind the crash.

Well, look at the bright side...statistically, the average cyclist crashes every 3000miles, so....

...you're good 'till about June or July before your next one!

Glad you're o.k. In our first training crit of the year last year, one of my teammates went down in a mass pile-up. Broke three ribs and punctured his lung. Basically ended his season right then and there.

Bob

Well that's exactly why it happened. The guys behind the front runners ran up the back of the leaders, and had to slow down, the guys behind them had to slow down even quicker, and it was more than likely a chain reaction type thing. The slope of a short/slight hill will almost always slow the guys in the front more than the guys behind them, who are in the draft.

True, but without nervous overeaction of slamming on brakes, it shouldn't be a problem, particularly when the course is 2 wide lanes wide.

I'm glad to hear you survived unscathed.

In my 4/5 race today there were no crashes at all which was pretty cool. The 3/4 race had several.

--Steve

Did you race the wake motor speed way crit?

I was right in the middle of all that. The guy that went down was in front of me and I got through before the pileup. No attack after the crash, the pack just rolled away. I don't think anyone got hurt too bad and it was a good day to race.

Andy

I'm glad to hear you survived unscathed.

+1

but i'm wondering what in the hell you were thinking of when you entered a 4/5 crit (if that was what it was) on such a fancy bike.

merlin--glad you came out OK. Hardly a good way to start the season.

Did you race the wake motor speed way crit?

Yes. See my other thread in the racing subforum.

--Steve

did you catch the field after the crash or did you get a free lap? usually after a crash the pack always seems to attack, hoping to get away the riders trapped behind the crash.

I got a free lap. I popped right back up and thought about chasing, and I think I could have caught on, but at my current fitness level I wasn't sure I wouldn't blow trying.

+1

but i'm wondering what in the hell you were thinking of when you entered a 4/5 crit (if that was what it was) on such a fancy bike.

First it's called a racing bike for a reason. Second, wasn't he riding a Giant?

+1

but i'm wondering what in the hell you were thinking of when you entered a 4/5 crit (if that was what it was) on such a fancy bike.

Well, I bought the bike to race it. And when there's no Master's race, that's my category.

Purely economic terms, relatively cheap Al frame would make a lot more sense, but I can afford a nicer bike and I like it.

Second, wasn't he riding a Giant?

WTF does that mean? :rolleyes:

Glad to hear you're relatively unscathed and that your equipment came out aces. From reading your race report I cant tell where you were positioned in the pack, but it sounds as though you were pretty far back. A big lesson you can take away from your experience, IMO, is get near the front of the race early, at the start whistle, and stay there! Easier said than done, but I try to stay in position 5-ish, especially in crits. Road races, top 10-ish, but since they're longer I tend to drift more. This isnt breaking news or anything, but getting to the front makes it safer, smoother, and easier as well as putting you in position to dictate or react to the race more attentively. This time of year, not having ridden in a race pack for a few months, I like to do some "training series" races with objective #1 to be positioning.

Well, I bought the bike to race it. And when there's no Master's race, that's my category.

Purely economic terms, relatively cheap Al frame would make a lot more sense, but I can afford a nicer bike and I like it.

fair enough.

Glad to hear you're relatively unscathed and that your equipment came out aces. From reading your race report I cant tell where you were positioned in the pack, but it sounds as though you were pretty far back. A big lesson you can take away from your experience, IMO, is get near the front of the race early, at the start whistle, and stay there! Easier said than done, but I try to stay in position 5-ish, especially in crits. Road races, top 10-ish, but since they're longer I tend to drift more. This isnt breaking news or anything, but getting to the front makes it safer, smoother, and easier as well as putting you in position to dictate or react to the race more attentively. This time of year, not having ridden in a race pack for a few months, I like to do some "training series" races with objective #1 to be positioning.

About 30th in a 75 person pack. I know your point, and its probably even more true in a Cat 4/5 race.

About 30th in a 75 person pack. I know your point, and its probably even more true in a Cat 4/5 race.

I did a 4/5 RR last year that started out flat and fast, then hit some short, steep rollers. I was about mid-pack at that point... The pack slowed on the first roller and one of the Cat 5's went plowing up the back of the pack and took out 10-15 guys.

I like the front... It's safe(r). :D

I did a 4/5 RR last year that started out flat and fast, then hit some short, steep rollers. I was about mid-pack at that point... The pack slowed on the first roller and one of the Cat 5's went plowing up the back of the pack and took out 10-15 guys.

I like the front... It's safe(r). :D

I think I might have some video of that incident, right here: 'ay ya... oh no' (http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=7abddd51.flv)

WTF does that mean? :rolleyes:

Just what it sounds like.

Just a Giant. I will say that it is still a step up from a Trek.

Ok, them's there's fightin words :) . I'll grant you that it doesn't have the cache of some Italian brands. However, its good enough for Jan to ride, and Giant in fact makes a number of those fancy Italian bikes.

It may be just a Giant, but it's a 15 pound, extremely stiff, $6,000 Gaint.

No slight intended.

I have a TCR Comp built up as my rain/beater bike.

But when the time came to for upgrading to a new bike Giant wasn't on my list.

Just what it sounds like.

Just a Giant. I will say that it is still a step up from a Trek.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/images/smilies/Yawn.gif

yeah, just a giant tcr advanced with an integrated seatpost. :rolleyes:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/images/smilies/Yawn.gif

yeah, 'JUST A GIANT' TCR advance with an integted seatpost. :rolleyes:

Yup

when the time came to for upgrading to a new bike Giant wasn't on my list.

Out of curiousity, what was on the list, and what did you get?

And by the way, I'm not touting my bike as the be all end all. However I do think some people discount it unfairly because of the name. Which is fine, because that's part of what makes it a value.

:rolleyes: nobody likes a bike snob...

Out of curiousity, what was on the list, and what did you get?

And by the way, I'm not touting my bike as the be all end all. However I do think some people discount it unfairly because of the name. Which is fine, because that's part of what makes it a value.

On the list were the Cerevlo R3, LOOK 585, Time VXR, and Ridley Damocles.

Got the 585.

I saw the prices for the 2007 Giant framesets and I wouldn't say value was part of the equation this year.

Yup

congratulations. you've just made the most asinine series of posts in one thread for january 2007. your mother will be proud.

On the list were the Cerevlo R3, LOOK 585, Time VXR, and Ridley Damocles.

Got the 585.

I saw the prices for the 2007 Giant framesets and I wouldn't say value was part of the equation this year.


When it gets to the top end, I think it gets very hard to find much objective difference in bikes. However, I think you'd be hard pressed to come up with any objective reason why a TCR Team Advanced wouldn't be in the same league as each of the bikes you list. See this summary of various 2006 Pro Tour team bikes including the Look 585. http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2006/probikes/

And by the way you'd be hard pressed to bulid up a Look 585, with comparable componets, even after its been superceded by the 595, for what I paid for my Giant. An identically equipped (except obviously the seat post) from Wrench Science would have cost me $350 more. (obviously there may be some better mail order deals, but Wrench Science has 585's and a convenient configuration tool)

the race that you described is all to familiar to me..... The thing that seems to happen in 4-5 races (at least around here).. is that a few riders (that usually know each other) will get together and go to the front.. then when they get the whole group together behind them .. (usually at the start of a climb or right before they go into a turn.). these few riders will spread out across the road and all hit their brakes at the same time..(this is a very slight manuver but it creates havoc behind them) this causes the whole field to jam up into each other.. and screws up the whole field.. the few who do this then jump on the gas and go around the cormer.. or up the hill leaving everyone else in a pile.. or thier momentum... gone.. and pretty much screwed.. from a spectators standpoint it looks like the few have gotten a gap on the field but in reality they havent they have performed a manuver that is really dangerous.. this doesnt usually happen in the stronger firelds (cat 3 and up) because all the riders are so much more experienced they can push past that kind of thing.. the cat 4-5's that do this kind of thing are the scum of the earth... they cant win a race straight up so they pull that kind of crap..

I got DQ'd once cause a group did this a crit I was in... and it caused a pileup I went down in.. and the next week in a road race I saw the same 4 guys go to the front... and as we were turning on to a very narrow road that went up at 6% for about a mile.. I wacthed them looking at each other ( I suspected they were getting ready to pull that same stunt again).. (I was right on their wheel.). and sure enough about 100 feet into the hill they all four jammed across the road and I heard the jerk on the far left say "now" and they all hit their brakes I had dropped a gear and instead of hitting my brakes i went through them.. I hit one of them pretty hard as I went by.. and the race official.. DQ'd me..

I lost a front wheel to one of these stunts.. and have watched more than a few riders eat it.. because iof this.... I am really all about beatin the **** out of fools that race this way,,,

Cat4's and 5's dont usually win any money anyway ..so what the hell are they trying to prove?? its sad for newbies.. and people trying to get in this sport... but that pretty much is the way it is..

On the list were the Cerevlo R3, LOOK 585, Time VXR, and Ridley Damocles.

Got the 585.

I saw the prices for the 2007 Giant framesets and I wouldn't say value was part of the equation this year.

Uh, not a single one of those models would fall into the "value" category.

Uh, not a single one of those models would fall into the "value" category.

Agreed.

What I said was that the Giant framesets were not value priced for 2007 as they have been previously.

(at least around here).. is that a few riders (that usually know each other) will get together and go to the front.. then when they get the whole group together behind them .. (usually at the start of a climb or right before they go into a turn.). these few riders will spread out across the road and all hit their brakes at the same time..(this is a very slight manuver but it creates havoc behind them) this causes the whole field to jam up into each other.. and screws up the whole field.. the few who do this then jump on the gas and go around the cormer.. or up the hill leaving everyone else in a pile.. or thier momentum... gone.. and pretty much screwed.. from a spectators standpoint it looks like the few have gotten a gap on the field but in reality they havent they have performed a manuver that is really dangerous.. this doesnt usually happen in the stronger firelds (cat 3 and up) because all the riders are so much more experienced they can push past that kind of thing.. the cat 4-5's that do this kind of thing are the scum of the earth... they cant win a race straight up so they pull that kind of crap..

I got DQ'd once cause a group did this a crit I was in... and it caused a pileup I went down in.. and the next week in a road race I saw the same 4 guys go to the front... and as we were turning on to a very narrow road that went up at 6% for about a mile.. I wacthed them looking at each other ( I suspected they were getting ready to pull that same stunt again).. (I was right on their wheel.). and sure enough about 100 feet into the hill they all four jammed across the road and I heard the jerk on the far left say "now" and they all hit their brakes I had dropped a gear and instead of hitting my brakes i went through them.. I hit one of them pretty hard as I went by.. and the race official.. DQ'd me..

I lost a front wheel to one of these stunts.. and have watched more than a few riders eat it.. because iof this.... I am really all about beatin the **** out of fools that race this way,,,

What!?! are these riders on the same team? are you sure you're interpreting what is going on correctly? I find it nearly impossible to believe that 1) you could convince 4 or 5 riders that this was a good idea; 2) they could actually orchestrate this in a race situation; 3) that it would work; 4) that they wouldnt get a either a serious butt kicking or warned and DQd. Blocking is one thing; being "uncooperative" is another; but what you're describing is malicious, dangerous, and needs to be corrected at an official level. I wouldnt advocate confrontation, but if its the same folks doing this I'd report their names, #s, and specifically what they are doing to the officials so that an unsafe practice can be stopped. Also, if you have a district list server you can post to, call them and they're team out on it, public scorn has a way of righting these kinds of issues. But, if you do this, be sure that what you're perceiving is what is occurring otherwise you'll look like the horses business end.

Of course, a practical solution is dont let them get to the front of the race to begin with, that way even if things get blocked up, you're beyond the pinch point in a breakaway you didnt have to attack to initiate.

oh make no mistake it was intentional and it was malicious... it is a cat 4/5 thing... and you are right it can't happen in any race where the people understand or have any experience with what is going on... (Ie Cat 3 or better)... It was like they had practiced it.. and thought it was a cool way to get a gap...on the field..they were in the same club.. they did it over a period of several races that I was in and they caused several people (novice racers) a lot of problems.. The thing was when I got DQ'd I brought it up.. and the officials had heard the same thing... from others.. the officials didnt see them.. but they saw me bowling ball em to the ditch... .. I had enough.. I didnt race for a few weeks after that and when I did the fools didnt pull the stunt (I told the officials before the race I would be watching for the same crap).....

This happend several years ago... but when the guy described the incident above it sounded just like the problems I had.. I started racing kind of late in life I was 35 when I was a cat5 riding in the event i described and the group that pulled this crap were all 5's and 4's who rode together (from another town).. they were all in there teens.. they wre all acting like they were pro's and had huge ego's (RACING AS CAT'5s!!!!!) you cant fix stupid...