Road Bike Racing - what would you do?

I was in the practice crit today. I rode with the "C" group (since that's where the club that organizes the event puts Cat 5s). As we started to roll and covered about 1/3 of the first lap, the people in front of the group slowed down (from about 20 mph to about 18 mph). I managed to avoid braking or touching someone's wheel, but the guy behind me apparently wasn't able to slow down and touched my wheel. I suspect that he freaked out and slammed on the brakes.

The next thing I heard was I big bang. I turned and saw the guy hitting the ground really hard. I stopped (safely), went back to the guy and stayed with him until paramedics showed up. A few other racers stopped as well.

So, I guess my question is what would you do in situation like this?

Keep riding, not your fault he freaked out.

Crashes are racing.

Like Mike sez, it's not your fault other dudes can't ride.

Keep riding, not your fault he freaked out.
That's right; if you stop, you'll never make it to the Tour

Keep racing, it's a crit. There are plenty of others around to help him out. Then afterwards, check on him. If it was a practice RR out in the middle of nowhere, miles from the finish, then that call might be different.

If you stop everytime somebody crashes in a crit, chances are you won't finish too many races.

It sounds cold...but there are officials and EMTs that are at the races for just such events. You can always talk to the guy after the race, or next time you see him.

I think you did the right thing. If I was that guy I would be very glad someone stayed with me till help arrived. This was a PRACTICE crit guys......not a race but a practice.

It was a practice crit. If the guy looked really hurt, and no immediate assistence, I'd stop.

Also, in most practice crits you can jump back in on the next lap if you're dropped (as long as you don't contest the sprint). So unless that was prohibited, I would have gotten back on, i.e. for the practice.

I've crashed out of my share of crits. I never expect other racers to stop. In fact, I encourage them to keep riding, not that any have ever actually stopped.

Just race.

The thing is, I wouldn't look. When a crash occurs behind you, it's important to keep your eyes up the road -- you were already really close to a guy's wheel. I never look back at a crash unless it's a long road race with likely slow paramedic response times.

The thing is, I wouldn't look.

+1 To the OP, you look, you're probably gonna swerve a bit. At worst, you cause another crash, at best, you make it harder on the guys trying to figure out how to get around the downed rider. Fighting the impulse to look is an important part of learning to race.

Kudos for keeping an eye on what the guys at the front were doing. A lot of accidents like this happen because riders develop tunnel vision and only look at the wheel in front of them. That doesn't leave them time to react when slowing happens.

I think you did the right thing. If I was that guy I would be very glad someone stayed with me till help arrived. This was a PRACTICE crit guys......not a race but a practice.


For a lot of racers, practice crits are their races. Especially B's and C's. It's a crit, someone will be over to help within a minute.

For a lot of racers, practice crits are their races. Especially B's and C's. It's a crit, someone will be over to help within a minute.

Just my opinion. Even if it was a real race and I saw someone who was hurt I would stop. To me helping someone is more important than winning. Keep in mind....I am old :) My priorities are a bit askew....:D

it's important to keep your eyes up the road -- you were already really close to a guy's wheel.

Best point yet......

Unless you're trained as an EMT/medical first responder, keep racing. Races have EMTs/first responders on hand to respond to situations where a rider goes down and unless your medical training is greater than theirs, or your involved in the crash, trained in first aid, and already stopped with the injured rider, the crashed rider is better off with EMT/first responder assisting them than you. If a crash occurs behind you, all you can do by looking back, stopping, etc. is cause more crashing (think of "rubbernecking" accidents that occur on highways).

Rule of thumb: crash behind = attack, you've got a gap. Some might say that sucks, but it's the way it is. I've never been in a race that a crash occurred and someone didnt yell to get on the gas.

Thanks everyone for the replies. As I pointed out, the crit was just a practice. But those who pointed out about looking back are also correct. I'll definitely keep this in mind.

Was this at a sjbc crit??

I wouldn't have looked back (self preservation) therefore I wouldn't have known what had happened and I wouldn't have stopped. If I had looked back, this being a practice crit and all, I would have stopped. I've been on lots of training rides that guys have crashed and no one stopped to help. I always stop now, especially if it looks bad. To be honest if were a real race I'd have kept going, like it was said, that's why there are officials.

In general when racing you have to learn that anything happening behind you is of no concern. There is enough going on in front and beside to occupy your attention.

Was this at a sjbc crit??

yup

I stopped when all 4 guys around me crashed in my first crit. I somehow managed to not go down, but i literally had to pick up my bike to get out from amongst the guys who went down. I waited to make sure they were ok, and could never catch on the pack....i learned my lesson, don't wait.

I stopped when all 4 guys around me crashed in my first crit. I somehow managed to not go down, but i literally had to pick up my bike to get out from amongst the guys who went down. I waited to make sure they were ok, and could never catch on the pack....i learned my lesson, don't wait.

Remember to go the the wheel pit with the crashers, check your bike over, and take your free lap if the race allows. Nobody but you knows you didn't go down.

Remember to go the the wheel pit with the crashers, check your bike over, and take your free lap if the race allows. Nobody but you knows you didn't go down.


Not always true. We have DQed plenty of riders for trying to get a free lap, when all they did was unclip and avoid a crash. Other riders will tattle as well. Best to fall over gently, or take a rock and scrape your arm. The best thing to do, is just get around quickly and chase back on, that way you avoid trying to prove your innocence, when you are fully guilty.

In general when racing you have to learn that anything happening behind you is of no concern. There is enough going on in front and beside to occupy your attention.

Best advice so far. If the guy in back of you had just watched out for what was in front of him, he wouldn't have run up your wheel and crashed.

Remember to go the the wheel pit with the crashers, check your bike over, and take your free lap if the race allows. Nobody but you knows you didn't go down.


My last crit, I would've expended more energy getting off of my bike than actually doing a lap with the slowbies.

Not always true. We have DQed plenty of riders for trying to get a free lap, when all they did was unclip and avoid a crash. Other riders will tattle as well. Best to fall over gently, or take a rock and scrape your arm. The best thing to do, is just get around quickly and chase back on, that way you avoid trying to prove your innocence, when you are fully guilty.

That is the risk, ive never been DQ'ed but was once sent back out 3/4 lap down in a 1/2 race :o Chased for 10 laps before I gave it up. If it's a fast race and you get caught up loosing a lot of time, take your chances on the DQ, your odds are better than catching.