Road Bike Racing - Jocks on bikes

OMG there was some strange ***** going on in the Tuesday Nighter A group tonight. I had a strong Cat 2 rider (wins some TX races) try to push me off a wheel, I didn't budge, we bumped knuckles, then he goes and gives me a bunch of grief "it's just a wheel man, what the hell?" Hey, if it's "just a wheel," why the hell are you trying to bounce me off it?

Then, I'm just maintaining my top 15 position, which occasionally means dropping off a wheel and going back a place or two (I had no reason to go all the way up and work). So I gap this rider, another strong Cat 2/M35+ guy is next to me (I'm out in the wind now) points to get moving up on the wheel. I patted him on the back, and said he could come in if he wanted. Then we got into this argument about why I wasn't working to drag the pack around.

I have a pretty short temper, and these two interactions nearly had me going roller derby in there. I was about to start asserting my 6'4" self on these skinny elite riders.

After I thought about it a while, it reminded me of high school. It's like I'm on the varsity team, but a benchwarmer, and the starters are walking around with all this attitude. f-ing lame jocks.

The 2nd guy also grabbed another rider roughly by the jersey and pushed him into the paceline in front of him to do some work. If he pulls that ***** with me I'm jumping off my bike and we're both going to lose some serious skin. I was actually about to approach this team because they're so strong in the M35+, but forget that -- I'll stay unattached. Bastards.

Then, the two Cat 2s with the attitude nearly got into a fist fight with each other at the front of the pack over some bullsh!t, and they were making fun of first names like gradeschoolers. Three guys nearly crashed from the resulting deceleration.

Anyway, there was a break of about 10 off the front that we couldn't catch, but I ended up getting 3rd in the bunch sprint, nearly catching a couple early sprint/breakaways and dropping the rest of the pack running on pure anger.

So, next week I'll get with this Cat 1 and a Cat 2 I'm friendly with, and I'm initiating the biggest f-ing attack I can muster on the first hill. These guys always get away on the first lap and stay away, so I'm going to do everything I can to stick with them and earn my place. I'm going to ride until my legs just don't work any more and I have to get a ride back to my car.

Waterrockets has a fire burning inside...

http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/images/Nuke2.JPG

go getum tiger. way to not take *****

great report, awesome photo. Be sure to tell us what happens next week!! Some people in the master men's categories have enough ego for 3-4 people. Good that you are not sinking to that level. On occasion at real races out here, things have gone from the course to arguments in the parking lot after the race over stupid stuff.


I like your approach, get with a few strong ones and run those other peoples' @$$ into the ground.:)

Should have come up North and rode the Tuesday Nighter North. No fights, everyone was cool and I got the honor of lasting 1 whole lap before getting spit out like wood from a chainsaw. First time at this ride, fun, but I am not close to being competitive with them.
I bet I know what team you had the run in with. Seems like a lot of ego's in cycling. Probably could'nt make it in football and such but now they think they are studs. Just drop um on the hill and laugh at them for getting punked.

great report, awesome photo. Be sure to tell us what happens next week!!

Im thinking his picture pretty much describes what's going to happen ;)

^^^^Yeah, a washed-up cat 3 isn't going to pwn an elite field, but I'm not going to be around for any nonsense. It's either off the front or off the back for me.


Should have come up North and rode the Tuesday Nighter North. No fights, everyone was cool and I got the honor of lasting 1 whole lap before getting spit out like wood from a chainsaw. First time at this ride, fun, but I am not close to being competitive with them.
I bet I know what team you had the run in with. Seems like a lot of ego's in cycling. Probably could'nt make it in football and such but now they think they are studs. Just drop um on the hill and laugh at them for getting punked.
Yeah, I'll have to get up there for that sometime. I work like 5 minutes from the Tuesday Nighter though...

Excellent narrative, waterrockets! I felt like I was there. Good luck next week...eat right, train right, hydrate, and get lots of sleep.

So, next week I'll get with this Cat 1 and a Cat 2 I'm friendly with, and I'm initiating the biggest f-ing attack I can muster on the first hill. These guys always get away on the first lap and stay away, so I'm going to do everything I can to stick with them and earn my place. I'm going to ride until my legs just don't work any more and I have to get a ride back to my car.

Waterrockets has a fire burning inside...


Getting in touch with your inner Vino? ;) :beer:

Getting in touch with your inner Vino? ;) :beer:

Ain't nuthin better.

After nearly 20 years in the local amateur racer peloton I have discovered the solution to all the mid-ride bullsiht:

http://www.ministryoftech.com/images/new-ipod-shuffle-lg.png

Mine goes to 11.

That is all.

Getting in touch with your inner Vino? ;) :beer:

One can only hope



Jocks on bikes: a tale of one of Lance's contributions to the sport (set in Texas for added effect)

Yeah, one of these guys is a good friend of Lance's, actually. :rolleyes:

One can only hope



Yeah, one of these guys is a good friend of Lance's, actually. :rolleyes:

"college"?

Are you sure this 'jock' wasn't throwing his friend into the front like in a Madison?


Go and kill them. You might be outnumbered, but you'll never be outguaded.

"college"?
Not really much point in not naming him, huh? :)


Are you sure this 'jock' wasn't throwing his friend into the front like in a Madison?

Yeah I know Madison throws, no way. This was his way of trying to make others do more work. It's pretty stupid, because I know he wasn't working hard, like he needed help.


Go and kill them. You might be outnumbered, but you'll never be outguaded.

I ought to write "GUAD^" on my calves with arrows pointing up.

where is that youtube video of cyclist fighting?
kinda brings things into perspective.

Cyclist fighting is like some incredibly lameass version of bar-girl mud wrestling.

http://www.stag-bratislava.com/tmp/asset_cache/content_embedded_medium_fixedwidth.6/0000014312.jpg

Not really much point in not naming him, huh? :)



Yeah I know Madison throws, no way. This was his way of trying to make others do more work. It's pretty stupid, because I know he wasn't working hard, like he needed help.



I ought to write "GUAD^" on my calves with arrows pointing up.

if that's the one, tell him i told you to tell him that his nickname is stupid.

thanks in advance.

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7vuGbfVlt0)

That would be so much more impressive if they would kick instead. Cyling legs beneath them, and they're throwing 2-lb arms at each other.

Wow I'm surprised by Colleges' actions. I've ridden with him quite a bit and he's been pretty cool. I know that he really takes charge of the group in races, and he does intimidate a lot of guys. FWIW he won't have his way with the 35+ group for much longer. A couple of the A- cat ones are moving to the 35+ and will make his life pretty hard.

Really, we shouldn't be all that ashamed...have you seen NBA players fight? Pretty much the same embarassing flailing of arms and slaps ;)

Wow I'm surprised by Colleges' actions. I've ridden with him quite a bit and he's been pretty cool. I know that he really takes charge of the group in races, and he does intimidate a lot of guys. FWIW he won't have his way with the 35+ group for much longer. A couple of the A- cat ones are moving to the 35+ and will make his life pretty hard.
Yeah, my past interactions with him were positive. I've never seen this kind of stuff in the Tuesday Nighter before. I'm not putting too much stake in it, but I am going to attack like an idiot next week. Hopefully someone will be waiting at the finish with a red jersey for me.

Ipod.

I've told you twice. That is enough.

You are in God's hands now (maybe not if you ride Campy, but that's another thread).

Maybe its a reason I'm an owner of 7th through 11th place, but honestly, when things get confrontational to the point of throwing elbows/shoulders and the like when fighting for a wheel, I usually give it up. Also a reason I almost always attack multiple times during races, even though I usually dont have the stuff to pull it off. IMO, better finishing a few places back than hooking bars and eating asphalt.

I've had lots of hip touching and that kind of pushing during races but never had anyone grab a fistful of my jersey during a race, that's a tool of a move and would set me off.

Ipod.

I've told you twice. That is enough.

You are in God's hands now (maybe not if you ride Campy, but that's another thread).

pass

Thanks though :)

Just announced - coverage of next Tuesday's ride on Versus. w/Bobke....

awesome post - look forrward to hearing how next tuesday goes.

Ack! I just realized "next week" is in two weeks... I'm out of town next week :rolleyes:

I'll post back then though.

Ack! I just realized "next week" is in two weeks... I'm out of town next week :rolleyes:

I'll post back then though.


Yea, thats right, im out of town, yea :rolleyes:

Yea, thats right, im out of town, yea :rolleyes:
I'll post my race report from the weekly crit in Golden, CO. :D

...gotta rent a bike!

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7vuGbfVlt0)
OMG my ol lady can puncher better than that LOL:D

pass

Thanks though :)

I'm sure I could convert you to iPodolatry if given half a chance. That goes for all you tuneless weenies.

Ipods are the Key to World Peace. If everyone was grooving to an iPod they wouldn't be interested in war or conflict.

nope. that's McDonalds (http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/telegraph_15dec96.html).

Correct.

As always.

This is one of the things that holds the sport back. This kind of attitude exists at all levels. Why would someone new to racing ever come back?

I sometimes think it's intentional. Everyone knows that cycling has a pretty shallow gene pool (compared to many other sports). When a bunch of new people come in, some of the people already in it are going to have to settle for lower placings. It's past time for cycling to get out of this "I'm a big fish in a small pond" mentality, start with grassroots and remember that it's the journey.

Cyclist fighting is like some incredibly lameass version of bar-girl mud wrestling.

http://www.stag-bratislava.com/tmp/asset_cache/content_embedded_medium_fixedwidth.6/0000014312.jpg


There is nothing lame-ass about bar-girl mud wrestling.

There is nothing lame-ass about bar-girl mud wrestling.

Correct.

However there are so many lame-ass things in cycling it's hard to know where to start.

Correct.

However there are so many lame-ass things in cycling it's hard to know where to start.

Like tights and booties? Sounds pretty manly to me.:rolleyes:

nope. that's McDonalds (http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/telegraph_15dec96.html).

Incorrect. (depending on how you define parties to war). Israel and Lebanon both had McDonalds at the time of the '06 conflict. Most call that a war between Israel and Hizbollah, but Israel did hit the Beirut airport.

I don't believe any two countries that are part of the WalMart supply chain have ever fought, however. None of them can make it to the front on their wallyworld bikes.

This is one of the things that holds the sport back. This kind of attitude exists at all levels. Why would someone new to racing ever come back?

I sometimes think it's intentional. Everyone knows that cycling has a pretty shallow gene pool (compared to many other sports). When a bunch of new people come in, some of the people already in it are going to have to settle for lower placings. It's past time for cycling to get out of this "I'm a big fish in a small pond" mentality, start with grassroots and remember that it's the journey.


I agree, have seen it at almost every race ive been in so far. Lucky I dont have those types on my training group rides.

This is one of the things that holds the sport back. This kind of attitude exists at all levels. Why would someone new to racing ever come back?

I sometimes think it's intentional. Everyone knows that cycling has a pretty shallow gene pool (compared to many other sports). When a bunch of new people come in, some of the people already in it are going to have to settle for lower placings. It's past time for cycling to get out of this "I'm a big fish in a small pond" mentality, start with grassroots and remember that it's the journey.

As a long time racer I have to disagree with this somewhat. Cycling is a hard sport, and many who take it up either don't understand that or discount it. After the 200th self proclaimed next cycling god comes along, only to move on the raquetball or Texas Hold'em after realizing how much dedication it takes, we may act a little cynical towards the 201st. Human nature.

I would agree that there are some who's egos are way out of proportion. But for most we just don't care to invest too much in a new rider till they've shown a little something. Tenacity is a cycling virtue.

Complacency is one thing, but grabbing jerseys is another.

Complacency is one thing, but grabbing jerseys is another.

I don't condone grabbing jerseys, yelling now thats a different matter ;)

How can rockets of water burn?

How can rockets of water burn?

Hmm. I'll try to get some photos next time I blow up.

^^^waterrockets is like the great Cuyahoga river. Now the question is whether or not he is as polluted as the Cuyahoga was when it caught fire.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t141/chideltfrog/pol02d_480.jpg

Will all the Oreo's make me flammable? That's some pollution...

Will all the Oreo's make me flammable? That's some pollution...

Thin mints maby, Oreo's no.

Hmm. I'll try to get some photos next time I blow up.

I'm no water rocket, but based on this:
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p138/ggg300/intro.gif

You may want to eat a lot of beans pre-ride. (Note: it also may help keep the wheel suckers at bay)

Ain't nuthin better.

Indeed, it is a very good thing. I like how he stirs things up and keeps it interesting. He was one of the few who was strong enough and not afraid to attack Lance at the Tour.

Behavior like grabbing a jersey and forcing a rider forward would make a better basis for the comparison between cycling and wrestling than doping. Especially if they guy being manhandled has had a bad day and tries to fight back. On second thought, as wrestlers, pro or otherwise, would likely have more grace on the ground than two guys in bike shoes (too many videos show what a bad idea fighting in such footwear is) the ensuing fight might at least be entertaining to the spectators.

Behavior as described by the OP belongs in middle school and should be avoided by adults. If the physicality is only one guy then he needs to be dealt with. Preferably peacefully but as someone recently said, "In a bike race, the easiest thing is to end up in a ditch." His behavior is a hazard and needs to be dealt with, again preferably peacefully.

I'm no water rocket, but based on this:
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p138/ggg300/intro.gif

You may want to eat a lot of beans pre-ride. (Note: it also may help keep the wheel suckers at bay)
Oh, you should have seen the water rockets my team built in college at CU. In the college of engineering, we took a technical writing course. One assignment was to evaluate a toy from an engineering viewpoint, and we chose water rockets. We bought every rocket available in Boulder brick-and-mortar, and were horribly disappointed. By the time the report came around, we had circumferential spliced 2-liter and 3-liter bottles into long rockets, with boosters, a 2nd stage, and parachute recovery systems. We'd flown one over 500 feet at just 110psi. I even got a single stage to 400 feet. I had also nearly tagged an unsuspecting coed with a stray 100-mph bottle :eek: (they're very predictable when launched vertically -- but don't mess with them horizontally unless you have some fins way behind the CM)

Those were the days. Man, when my kids get just a little older, it's going to be scary again -- part of my woodshop will be nothing but PVC scraps from building launchers :)