Road Bike Racing - free lap rule - cross post from road cycling

I cross posted this but wondering if any racers had experience with the free lap rule. Couple of examples:

Assuming a race has a free lap rule:

During the race, you are caught behind a crash and got dropped, can you ask for a free lap? Some people said that unclipping and putting your foot on ground, right after the crash, can qualify for a free lap. Of course, you'd have to ride to the official to ask for the free lap and answer some questions.

Does chain coming off during a race qualify as a mechanical that can qualify to get you a free lap?

On a separate note: does wheel support carry Shimono and Campy rear wheels?

I cross posted this but wondering if any racers had experience with the free lap rule. Couple of examples:

Assuming a race has a free lap rule:

During the race, you are caught behind a crash and got dropped, can you ask for a free lap? Some people said that unclipping and putting your foot on ground, right after the crash, can qualify for a free lap. Of course, you'd have to ride to the official to ask for the free lap and answer some questions.

Does chain coming off during a race qualify as a mechanical that can qualify to get you a free lap?

On a separate note: does wheel support carry Shimono and Campy rear wheels?

"Free lap" is for flat tire, hitting the pavement, or other legit mechanical that prohibits you from continuing.

-Getting caught behind a crash, getting dropped, unclipping and putting your foot down after a crash does not get you a free lap

-chain coming off, if you mean your chain broke and you somehow can fix/replace, then probably yes. If you just dropped your chain, then no, that would not likely be a legit mechanical.

-wheel support is typically bring your own wheels. if there are actually wheels provided, which is pretty rare IME, then yes, they will have both campy and shimano compatible wheels.

thanks

if you get all tangled in the crash but don't go down, typically the ref will be cool and give you a free lap...just in case you can run your bike into the barrier or unclip both feet and jump off the bike... :)

if you get all tangled in the crash but don't go down, typically the ref will be cool and give you a free lap...just in case you can run your bike into the barrier or unclip both feet and jump off the bike... :)
Where did this happen? I got pinned between the curb and the carnage of many riders falling and they wouldn't give me a lap because I didn't go down. Unclip to "catch your balance" or stop short of running over someone's neck and fall over (like a clipless moment) to ensure your free lap.

i had a friend successfully fake a crash on the back-side of a crit once (well, he got caught behind the crash and was OTB), and he unclipped and made sure his calf was nice-and-smeared with chain grease, came around the start/finish, and got his free lap.

i'm not saying it's right, i'm just saying i've seen it done.

Well, its a bit more complicated than what has been posted above. Go here http://www.usacycling.org/forms/RdTrkCx_rulebook.pdf and then look at rule 3D5 on page 69 for most of your answer. I assume that you meant lap as in a crit. While this seems self evident, there are road races run on a circuit that has multiple laps. There are no free laps in a RR. If you want all the details, look here http://www.usacycling.org/forms/officials/2005_Officials_Manual_Part_2.pdf and go to page 23 and 24. Note that there is distance from the end during which you can't get a free lap no matter what happens.

FWIW in a nutshell in a Crit you can not get a free lap due to a crash unless the crash has resulted in a mechanical failure on your bike. You have to get your bike over to the pit. There the pit referee will make the determination if you are allowed to reenter the crit based on the condition of your bike. According to the rules if there is a crash and you don't have a mechanical but are delayed, you do not get a free lap. Having said that, I have seen instances where the referees have played it "cool" and let riders have a "free lap." This happened in a Crit I officiated at in Fort Collins last year. A crash happened on the first corner of the second lap of the SM Pro 1,2. The crash was at the very front of the group. Nearly everyone was delayed. 95% of the riders cut through a parking lot and descended on the pit ref and lined up for their free lap (they were smart enough not to ride backwards on the course - a violation which results in disqualification). He let them go when the leaders (the only few who were not delayed) came around. Reasoning - what good is a crit where 95% of the field is not racing? The "leaders" were very upset. But the chief referee scored it as if all racers rode the same distance.

Funniest free lap rule interpretation I have seen was when a Cat 5 (riding with the group) rolled into the pit and said, "I'm taking my free lap now." The racer thought that free lap was a rest lap! :D

Funniest free lap rule interpretation I have seen was when a Cat 5 (riding with the group) rolled into the pit and said, "I'm taking my free lap now." The racer thought that free lap was a rest lap! :D
lol but please tell me the guy was no awarded a lap? Or better yet, asked to withdraw from the race.

Where did this happen? I got pinned between the curb and the carnage of many riders falling and they wouldn't give me a lap because I didn't go down. Unclip to "catch your balance" or stop short of running over someone's neck and fall over (like a clipless moment) to ensure your free lap.

I got mine when I ran into the back of some people and clipped out and the bike fell over. The ref didn't think twice and said go to the pit for your free lap.

FWIW in a nutshell in a Crit you can not get a free lap due to a crash unless the crash has resulted in a mechanical failure on your bike.
The rule refers to a mishap, not a mechanical failure. Going down in a crash is considered a mishap and is always grounds for a free lap. This is per the Officials training clinic.

The rule refers to a mishap, not a mechanical failure. Going down in a crash is considered a mishap and is always grounds for a free lap. This is per the Officials training clinic.

Actaully it refers to both, the definition of a "mishap" in the USA Cyling Rules is "a crash or mechanical accident."

I stand corrected, however, on my statement that only a mechanical can result in a free lap. In the Offical's Manual there is this quailfier, "If the mishap (edit - I presume they are talking about the crash side of the definition here** is questionable, give the rider the benefit of the doubt. For instance, if the rider says he has crashed but is not scraped up or dirty and the bike looks fine, give him the free lap but warn him that if the mishap cannot be verified he could lose a lap. The Chief Referee will then make any further decision based on your input and that of the other referees that were out on the course." This should certaily give pause to anyone trying to claim a free lap after putting a foot down due to a crash in front of him.

Here are some clarifiying qustions and answers from the offical's manual Question, "What must a rider do to get his free lap?" Answer, "A rider must report to the pit and the mishap must be deemed valid for them to get a free lap." The next question is, "Where do you reinsert a rider who has reported to the pit who does not have a valid mechanical?" The answer is, " A rider who has reported to the pit who does NOT have a valid mechanical must be put back into the pace as quicly as possible. Do not delay his restart. He must chase, he is not entitled to a free lap.

So thanks for catching my error. I learned a lot researching the true maning of a mishap.

I got mine when I ran into the back of some people and clipped out and the bike fell over. The ref didn't think twice and said go to the pit for your free lap.
Makes sense. You technically crashed, while I didn't touch anyone but just couldn't move forward anymore. I should have clipped out or fallen over.