"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Attitudes: TT races vs. crit races

One of the turn-offs in crit racing for me was the over-abundance of holier-than-though, prima-donna types. Many of the whom would spend the whole race sucking wheel, never taking a turn at the front, just to save everything for a finishing sprint. I only did a couple of sanctioned TTs back then (9 years ago) but it seemed to be a much more laid-back crowd. Much more of an "I'm here to race the clock and myself" mentality.

Has this been your experience?

Isn't the idea, in a criterium, to spend as much time as possible sheltered from the wind, saving your legs for the sprint finish?

I'm no Pro (just a lowly Cat4), but my coach (former Cat1/semi-pro) tells me to "stay at the front but not on the front" before every criterium. In fact, after one race where I spent some time pulling the pack, he adamantly told me to "never pull like that again, stay in the pack, out of the wind."

Like I said, I'm not a Pro, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night......

EDIT: Now, I can't comment on the "prima-donna-ness" of crit racers in my area, 'cause all the ones I know have been super nice and more than willing to give advice off the bike. When we're racing, that's another story.....

avoid the sprint.

Hit out in a small group.

One of the turn-offs in crit racing for me was the over-abundance of holier-than-though, prima-donna types. Many of the whom would spend the whole race sucking wheel, never taking a turn at the front, just to save everything for a finishing sprint. I only did a couple of sanctioned TTs back then (9 years ago) but it seemed to be a much more laid-back crowd. Much more of an "I'm here to race the clock and myself" mentality.

Has this been your experience?

welcome to Crit racing. you too will become a wheel sucking ho if you start racing crits...or blow yourself up the first 3-4 laps and finish mid to back pack. My friend who is pretty good says "unlike nascar they are more than willing to give you the lead in crit racing". As far as racers being a bunch of sallies...there are cry-babies and A-holes in every sport...just stay away from them, most of the guys are cool from my experience...


[disclaimer] i too know nothing, and have also stayed at a holiday inn.

Isn't the idea, in a criterium, to spend as much time as possible sheltered from the wind, saving your legs for the sprint finish?

I'm no Pro (just a lowly Cat4), but my coach (former Cat1/semi-pro) tells me to "stay at the front but not on the front" before every criterium. In fact, after one race where I spent some time pulling the pack, he adamantly told me to "never pull like that again, stay in the pack, out of the wind."

Like I said, I'm not a Pro, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night......

EDIT: Now, I can't comment on the "prima-donna-ness" of crit racers in my area, 'cause all the ones I know have been super nice and more than willing to give advice off the bike. When we're racing, that's another story.....

Yeah, yeah. Someone's got to be at the front. What happens if no one steps up? The race stops?

Yeah, yeah. Someone's got to be at the front. What happens if no one steps up? The race stops?

ha ha. Well, *someone* will be at the front. Sometimes it will be a "sacrificial" team member, sent to the front to inflict pain on everyone else (but who himself will not finish well, maybe even get pulled). Or it might be a clueless newbie such as myself who is happy to be at the front so his family can see him on the first few laps before getting completely shelled by the end of the race.

One of the turn-offs in crit racing for me was the over-abundance of holier-than-though, prima-donna types. Many of the whom would spend the whole race sucking wheel, never taking a turn at the front, just to save everything for a finishing sprint. I only did a couple of sanctioned TTs back then (9 years ago) but it seemed to be a much more laid-back crowd. Much more of an "I'm here to race the clock and myself" mentality.

Has this been your experience?

The type of racing is much more intense so the mood is more intense.


Guys, who sit in the pack to sprint will never be respected and racers will never wont to work with them, also the people who usually do this are not strong in the first place.

Guys, who sit in the pack to sprint will never be respected and racers will never wont to work with them, also the people who usually do this are not strong in the first place.

Dont hate us because we're fast :lol:

So, what are your experiences w/ the TT crowd?

The type of racing is much more intense so the mood is more intense.


Guys, who sit in the pack to sprint will never be respected and racers will never wont to work with them, also the people who usually do this are not strong in the first place.
Dumb thing to say. Someone who stays at the front for more than a quick "courtesy pull" is usually one of these, or a combination:
a.) A teammate for a stronger guy
b.) Not very smart (me in my first race)
c.) Dumb
d.) Trying to prove something
e.) Doesn't think aerodynamics exist
f.) Thinks he can stay there for the sprint and win (read 'c')


Tell me, did you ever watch the TdF, Vueleta or the Giro? Did you ever see Lance, Di Luca, Contador, Ulrich, and especially Boonen in the front pulling more than a handful of riders? I really didn't think so. A smart racer stays in the front quarter to third of the peloton. That's like saying that you should do work the hard, strenous way just because it's harder than doing it the quick effiecient way. There are people willing to break the wind for you, take advantage of them.

Tell me, did you ever watch the TdF, Vueleta or the Giro? Did you ever see Lance, Di Luca, Contador, Ulrich, and especially Boonen in the front pulling more than a handful of riders? I really didn't think so.

Umm, those guys have domestiques who are paid to pull for them.

Can we get back on topic, please?

Dumb thing to say. Someone who stays at the front for more than a quick "courtesy pull" is usually one of these, or a combination:
a.) A teammate for a stronger guy
b.) Not very smart (me in my first race)
c.) Dumb
d.) Trying to prove something
e.) Doesn't think aerodynamics exist
f.) Thinks he can stay there for the sprint and win (read 'c')


Tell me, did you ever watch the TdF, Vueleta or the Giro? Did you ever see Lance, Di Luca, Contador, Ulrich, and especially Boonen in the front pulling more than a handful of riders? I really didn't think so. A smart racer stays in the front quarter to third of the peloton. That's like saying that you should do work the hard, strenous way just because it's harder than doing it the quick effiecient way. There are people willing to break the wind for you, take advantage of them.

Another person on my ignore list.

So, what are your experiences w/ the TT crowd?

I never raced a lot of TT's other than club rides or part of a stage race, unless you count Pursuits. Always seemed like everyone was pretty much into themselves, warming up apart, ect. Never took it as a personal thing, just part of prepairing for a solo effort.

Not sure what you're getting at with the crit "attitude"? Never really saw that myself.

So, what are your experiences w/ the TT crowd?

Exactly as you said, laid back People laughing, no one really gets that disapointed with a loss.

Everytime I go to a club TT, sanctioned or not (just as long as its not part of a pretty big stage race) people will talk and relax all the way to 5 seconds to go.

I never raced a lot of TT's other than club rides or part of a stage race, unless you count Pursuits. Always seemed like everyone was pretty much into themselves, warming up apart, ect. Never took it as a personal thing, just part of prepairing for a solo effort.

Not sure what you're getting at with the crit "attitude"? Never really saw that myself.

Crits are typically much more intense, people will yell and ride hard. Fight for wheels and rock people with the shoulder, Its much more competitive.

The type of racing is much more intense so the mood is more intense.


Guys, who sit in the pack to sprint have names like McEwen, Zabel, Bennatti, Petacchi, Freire, Casper, Nazon, on and on.Fixed.

Crits are typically much more intense, people will yell and ride hard. Fight for wheels and rock people with the shoulder, Its much more competitive.

I've raced hundreds of Crits. Typically ride around BS'ing during warmups, catch up on the weeks gossip, say your hello's and pull up to the line. No different than a Sunday training ride. Intensity starts after clipping both cleats in.

If I was allowed to ride next to you in a TT, would it be any different? It's a solo effort so a good riders focus is inward, if im racing against others my focus is on them out of necessity.

Another person on my ignore list.
Ooooh, I'm being ignored. Then you won't read this, however true or false it may be (I don't really care which, and I don't even think I mean it): You're a dolt.


Umm, those guys have domestiques who are paid to pull for them.

Can we get back on topic, please?
So? The guys at your local races have their loyal teammates pull for them. If you're on a team, any you've got a superstrong guy,a nd you ride at 70% of what he does, and want him to get the best possible finishing position, are you going to sit in the back and yell to the guys in front to pull faster or slower? No.

Time trials are called "The Race of Truth" for a reason.

One of the turn-offs in crit racing for me was the over-abundance of holier-than-though, prima-donna types. Many of the whom would spend the whole race sucking wheel, never taking a turn at the front, just to save everything for a finishing sprint. I only did a couple of sanctioned TTs back then (9 years ago) but it seemed to be a much more laid-back crowd. Much more of an "I'm here to race the clock and myself" mentality.

Has this been your experience?

No. This has not been my experience. My experience is that the bike racing crowd is a bunch of really nice folks and it cracks me up when I read about "elitist" attitudes, prima-donna types, etc. when directed at bike racers.

Dumb thing to say. Someone who stays at the front for more than a quick "courtesy pull" is usually one of these, or a combination:
a.) A teammate for a stronger guy
b.) Not very smart (me in my first race)
c.) Dumb
d.) Trying to prove something
e.) Doesn't think aerodynamics exist
f.) Thinks he can stay there for the sprint and win (read 'c')


Tell me, did you ever watch the TdF, Vueleta or the Giro? Did you ever see Lance, Di Luca, Contador, Ulrich, and especially Boonen in the front pulling more than a handful of riders? I really didn't think so. A smart racer stays in the front quarter to third of the peloton. That's like saying that you should do work the hard, strenous way just because it's harder than doing it the quick effiecient way. There are people willing to break the wind for you, take advantage of them.


Good luck winning races with that thought process.

Tell me, how did Lance win his World Championship? How has Boonen won a good amount of his Classics victories? What about Di Luca in the Ardennes classics? Damn near every Paris-Roubaix?

Solo breaks coming out of small groups, or a sprint among a half dozen guys, if that.

I've raced hundreds of Crits. Typically ride around BS'ing during warmups, catch up on the weeks gossip, say your hello's and pull up to the line. No different than a Sunday training ride. Intensity starts after clipping both cleats in.

If I was allowed to ride next to you in a TT, would it be any different? It's a solo effort so a good riders focus is inward, if im racing against others my focus is on them out of necessity.

Yeah, in a TT when I pass riders, I might yell something stupid like 'put it in the big ring' or slow down enough to say ' well its definatly uphill' (Both I've actuatly said in an uphill tt) with a little chuckle afterwards. Or maybe Ill give them a wink.

Typically the start line of a cirt is focused, people are jittery, they will tap their bars or saddle or mess with their wheels, check the break. People show signs of nerves, not gossiping. I cant say I've raced hundreds of crits only a handful of cat 2 crits in fact. So maybe it gets different at the pro level or after your first hundred crits.

Astute observation 666. I regularly participated in mass start racing for 7 seasons, but never did a TT. This spring I did my first USCF TT. What a nice change. Much more like a triathlon or running race - minimal elitist BS, more diverse crowd, all ages, very cool. It really surprised me, I loved it. Even the typical Cat 2/3 pinheads were less stand-offish. But some of stupid elitism exhibited by a few (and it permeates bicycle racing in my experience) couldn't spoil the vibe. Very cool indeed.

I understand that attitude. That's fine, not everybody is that way, and that is totally their affair. I never let that bother me when I raced. Actually the faster they are, generally speaking, the less douchy they tend to be. But regardless, that's bike racing, comes with the territory. Plenty of cool people, the camraderie is generally the best part, and the pinheads... they're the only people impressed with how fast they are, and nobody else really seems to care. I always chose to focus on the many friends and aquaintances that make the sport so much fun. If you approach it that way, the 'elitism' will never phase you. It becomes amusing after a while.

To some extent, these dudes are entitled to any head trip they want to take. They train hard enough. The sport is hard enough. I can respect that, even if I think it's a bit self absorbed and silly. I'm self absorbed and silly too. I'm just too slow to be stand-offish at a bike race : ).

Every race is different. How Lance won his WC is pretty much irrelevant as is how Boonen won a race like any classic when compared to riding in a crit. Choosing a hilly 260km plus road race and suggesting that the selection a course like that makes is somehow comparable to the selection a flat 1 mile rectangle will make is, well, let's just say it's a poor analogy.

Sitting in and sprinting is a fairly standard strategy in racing, especially in criteriums. It's part of racing.

Good luck winning races with that thought process.

Tell me, how did Lance win his World Championship? How has Boonen won a good amount of his Classics victories? What about Di Luca in the Ardennes classics? Damn near every Paris-Roubaix?

Solo breaks coming out of small groups, or a sprint among a half dozen guys, if that.

If you read my post, you'd see that I said sometihng to the effect of...

Tell me, did you ever watch the TdF, Vueleta or the Giro? Did you ever see Lance, Di Luca, Contador, Ulrich, and especially Boonen in the front pulling more than a handful of riders?
With reading skills like yours I have to wonder why you haven't run for president yet...:p
We're not talking about solo breaks, we're talking about pulling the main group, which is dumb and pointless unless you fall under the afforementioned circumstances.
Aren't you in college? I'm a senior in a vocational school in a farm town full of stoners and I can dissect a paragraph better. Jeez!:D

Exactly as you said, laid back People laughing, no one really gets that disapointed with a loss.

Everytime I go to a club TT, people will talk and relax all the way to 5 seconds to go.

Um, that's not been my observation.
I see TT riders get wound pretty tight fidgeting with their equipment, warming up, getting focused, and generally fretting over every little detail. I've seen them snap at their friends who are trying to help them get ready. I've seen them obsess over every millimeter of their bike. I don't see them relaxing in the moments leading up to their start time. In fact, I see them go internal when they get out of bed on the day of the race. I refuse to travel with them.

Afterward, they're fine, but beforehand, not fine.

In constrast, the tone at the Pro-1-2 start line of Saturday's race in Grand Rapids was downright jovial. End of season, no stress, let's have fun, and race 'til our eyes bleed.

Two different sports that both use a bicycle.

Um, that's not been my observation.
I see TT riders get wound pretty tight fidgeting with their equipment, warming up, getting focused, and generally fretting over every little detail. I've seen them snap at their friends who are trying to help them get ready. I've seen them obsess over every millimeter of their bike. I don't see them relaxing in the moments leading up to their start time. In fact, I see them go internal when they get out of bed on the day of the race. I refuse to travel with them.

Afterward, they're fine, but beforehand, not fine.

In constrast, the tone at the Pro-1-2 start line of Saturday's race in Grand Rapids was downright jovial. End of season, no stress, let's have fun, and race 'til our eyes bleed.

Two different sports that both use a bicycle.
Neat observations. I noticed the same thing about myself. I did both my first TT and first race [crit] this year. The TT was first; I was pretty stressed and nervous about it. I ended up doing very well.

For the crit[s], I was totally relaxed. Strangely relaxed, even, because my biggest fear was crashing, but I wasn't actively nervous about it. I did pretty well in these, too.

I enjoyed both, but you are right, they are vastly 'different sports' as you say.

-bullseye

What I liked about the TT was that I didn't feel I was racing anybody but myself. Not for nothing, but most of the participants in a large TT aren't going to hit the podium or crack the top 10, so it is really more about 'how fast can I go on the course this year'. Then you can see how you stacked up to the other Cat 4's, 3's, 35 or 45+ vets, etc. You just put your head down and ride as hard as you can for as long as you can. You spend time training to see how aero and fast you can get with your technique, training, and gear. I'm enjoying that aspect of the whole TT thing. Really looking forward to Silvermine, the first time I'll be racing the TT bike I've been dialing in since July.

A TT is like my own private race. Love that.

If you read my post, you'd see that I said sometihng to the effect of...

With reading skills like yours I have to wonder why you haven't run for president yet...:p
We're not talking about solo breaks, we're talking about pulling the main group, which is dumb and pointless unless you fall under the afforementioned circumstances.
Aren't you in college? I'm a senior in a vocational school in a farm town full of stoners and I can dissect a paragraph better. Jeez!:D

You said the Giro, the Tour, or the Vuelta. None of those guys are trying to break the race open with a breakaway during a grand tour. They want to crush people on the last climb, or win the final sprint. That's all, nothing more.

This is your post that I responded to:



Dumb thing to say. Someone who stays at the front for more than a quick "courtesy pull" is usually one of these, or a combination:
a.) A teammate for a stronger guy
b.) Not very smart (me in my first race)
c.) Dumb
d.) Trying to prove something
e.) Doesn't think aerodynamics exist
f.) Thinks he can stay there for the sprint and win (read 'c')


Tell me, did you ever watch the TdF, Vueleta or the Giro? Did you ever see Lance, Di Luca, Contador, Ulrich, and especially Boonen in the front pulling more than a handful of riders? I really didn't think so. A smart racer stays in the front quarter to third of the peloton. That's like saying that you should do work the hard, strenous way just because it's harder than doing it the quick effiecient way. There are people willing to break the wind for you, take advantage of them.

You started talking about one thing, then switch to another type or racing entirely. Of course they aren't going to take a pull in a grand tour. But in a one day Classic or similar race, you can bet your @ss they'd hit the front hard if they thought it would help them succeed. Which it often times does. Sometimes you need to do more than your fair share of the work to get away. Crazy, I know, but if you break legs and help people get away, they'll remember, and be more willing to work and help once the break is established.

And, in my experience a LOT of crits are won out of breaks.

What I liked about the TT was that I didn't feel I was racing anybody but myself. Not for nothing, but most of the participants in a large TT aren't going to hit the podium or crack the top 10, so it is really more about 'how fast can I go on the course this year'. Then you can see how you stacked up to the other Cat 4's, 3's, 35 or 45+ vets, etc.

You mean you love it for the same reason people here rag on triathlons? You non-racing participant you. ;)

Isn't the idea, in a criterium, to spend as much time as possible sheltered from the wind, saving your legs for the sprint finish?

That works in Cat 5 and some Cat 4 races, but seasoned racers know who's hiding in the draft and they know how to make them suffer when it counts. If you haven't experienced it yet, just wait. You will think all is going great when all the sudden you realize you aren't where you thought you were, then you're struggling, then you're staring at a bunch of lycra covered @$$es with the finish 300m ahead.

That works in Cat 5 and some Cat 4 races, but seasoned racers know who's hiding in the draft and they know how to make them suffer when it counts. If you haven't experienced it yet, just wait. You will think all is going great when all the sudden you realize you aren't where you thought you were, then you're struggling, then you're staring at a half dozen lycra covered @$$es hitting the finish 300m ahead.

Edited and corrected.

@carlfreddy: Put on your man pants and go up the road. You just might enjoy yourself.

I've raced a ton of crits and love'm. That's the intensity that keeps me coming back for more.

Those guys sitting in (if we're talking about team tactics) are your sprinters. That's what they're supposed to do. If you're not a sprinter then sitting while the race stays together just means that you will be looking at a bunch of butts ride away from you in the last 100m.

If you're not a sprinter, or aren't working for one, you want to get yourself up the road. That's the only chance you stand. Doing that means you're going to have to do a little work. Someone else made a good point. You need to show that you are willing to work so that other will work with you. This is a tricky thing because you also need to work as little as possible. Finding that balance, along with the timing of those efforts, is what is called experience.

There are also times when you find yourself in a position to force a selection. If you can make that happen, recover and then benefit by the selection, that is another example of when it is good to work. Maybe that's how you shell the sprinters and then you can sit in until later when it's time to go.

There are a ton of scenarios when it is worth the effort to work. But, like I said, it comes down to that balance and timing.

Edited and corrected.

@carlfreddy: Put on your man pants and go up the road. You just might enjoy yourself.

If it's a just a training race I like to move up and down in the pack (gotta work on your pack riding skillZ sometime, and the best way to move up is always inside the pack), otherwise I make it a point to never be further back than 15th wheel.

And just as a frame of reference, not a single break stuck over labor day weekend during the Pro/1/2 races of the Gateway Cup. No one was able to open up even a 30 second gap.

And just as a frame of reference, not a single break stuck over labor day weekend during the Pro/1/2 races of the Gateway Cup. No one was able to open up even a 30 second gap.

So, if a sprinter shows up (and you're not one yourself) you might just as well go home then 'cause everyone knows a break never sticks. Heck, why even show up at all 'cause there's always at least one or two sprinters' teams at every race. Well, if you're not going to show up why bother training. If you're not going to train might as well sell the bikes and develop an interest in something that has a guaranteed outcome, like WWF or American Idol.

I've seen and been in lots of breaks that stick. It's about getting the right combination of guys up the road at the right time and not having a sprinters' team that is overly dominant.

So, if a sprinter shows up (and you're not one yourself) you might just as well go home then 'cause everyone knows a break never sticks. Heck, why even show up at all 'cause there's always at least one or two sprinters' teams at every race. Well, if you're not going to show up why bother training. If you're not going to train might as well sell the bikes and develop an interest in something that has a guaranteed outcome, like WWF or American Idol.

I've seen and been in lots of breaks that stick. It's about getting the right combination of guys up the road at the right time and not having a sprinters' team that is overly dominant.

Say it ain't so!!

I don't sprint too well, never won a big bunch sprint. If the race is coming down to one of these, I'm screwed. I figure that I can try to make something happen and get off the front or just ride around and hope for the best. If I blow up and finish in the pack or off the back, it's all the same as a sprint finish to me. The second option isn't racing, it's a group ride that just cost $30.

I've not raced many crits, I personally like the longer circuits. I will pull through to the front and push the pace up to see how the other folks are feeling and if I'm able to stretch the break out a little bit @/above threshold or at whatever tempo I think I can go away near the end, not long and not a true attack. There are plenty of reasons to take the front.

Anyway, I had nothing better to do at work than post a response to this thread.

You mean you love it for the same reason people here rag on triathlons? You non-racing participant you. ;)

Triathlons or triathletes are just fine with Pcad. But they do scare me a bit on Sunday rides when they ride like this:

http://www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/wildlife/projects/flyingsquirrel/1.jpg

Triathlons or triathletes are just fine with Pcad. But they do scare me a bit on Sunday rides when they ride like this:

I did a tri relay with my daughter and a friend of mine. It was an absolute blast. Totally different than a bike race. Anouncer kept on about how this wasn't about beating the guy next to you, but about Personal Best. Then they had food.:) Lots of familys hanging around. A lot more women that at a bike race. All ages of people. But, at the end of the day, if I line up and somebody yells GO! I want to win, not do better than last year. Some people were obviously there to win, but most were participating.

Even if they are scary on group rides.:eek:

I did a tri relay with my daughter and a friend of mine. It was an absolute blast. Totally different than a bike race. Anouncer kept on about how this wasn't about beating the guy next to you, but about Personal Best. Then they had food.:) Lots of familys hanging around. A lot more women that at a bike race. All ages of people. But, at the end of the day, if I line up and somebody yells GO! I want to win, not do better than last year. Some people were obviously there to win, but most were participating.

Even if they are scary on group rides.:eek:

Yep. The tri-vibe RULES.

Even if they are scary on group rides.:eek:

That's it dude. I'm bringing out the tri bike the next time I see you and I'm gonna wobble into your wheel. :D

Pcad is not scary on a TT bike. But then I am not a bike handling ******. I'm actually starting to feel like quite the TT Ninja. A slow TT Ninja to be sure, but a TT Ninja nonetheless.

http://kirkhamsebooks.com/MartialArts/ninja.jpg

I will have to drag the Slice out on the Tour de Phred over the winter.

Pcad, try not to pass me too quickly at Silvermine.

To address the OP? I think MOST people tend to be a bit nervous at staart lines in either case. With a TT you are not often in front of, or behind friends, so you are not likely to be having the "deep" conversations with anyone. However, at almost all TTs I have been at, the people in front or behind know me and will start up a conversation and I will do the same if I know someone. TTs seem VERY relaxed during the warm up process, but that is usually because I am warming up with teammates.

Crits are also not tending to display prima donna elitism either. Again, usually am around the start with teammates and friends so talking is easy, but I tend to clown around and try some banter with the official to lighten the mood up because everyone is there to have fun. I have only come across a few "snobs" and for some reason they were in the lower cats, not the upper.

Yeah, yeah. Someone's got to be at the front. What happens if no one steps up? The race stops?

No, its called a cat 5 race, where everyone just sits up waiting for someone to go off the front.

Pcad, try not to pass me too quickly at Silvermine.


But you claimed to have not taken drugs since childhood. The delusional statement above belies that statement.

No, its called a cat 5 race, where everyone just sits up waiting for someone to go off the front.

I had a lot of fun when I "stopped" racing, and two years later did a Cat 5 race for fun on a one-day. Everybody was going so slow, so I went to the front and tried to get everyone to go even slower. We had to be doing like 10mph. Every time someone tried to pass (not really attacking), I'd half-wheel them back down to a crawl. I have no idea what was going on in everyone's head, but this went on for like 2 minutes. Funniest thing.

Then, when the pace did get back up close to 20, I faded into the pack. Then I started attacking with feigned efforts, and everyone responded like there was a bomb behind us. After about 5 of those, half the pack had died off the back. Really silly that day.

I had a lot of fun when I "stopped" racing, and two years later did a Cat 5 race for fun on a one-day. Everybody was going so slow, so I went to the front and tried to get everyone to go even slower. We had to be doing like 10mph. Every time someone tried to pass (not really attacking), I'd half-wheel them back down to a crawl. I have no idea what was going on in everyone's head, but this went on for like 2 minutes. Funniest thing.

Then, when the pace did get back up close to 20, I faded into the pack. Then I started attacking with feigned efforts, and everyone responded like there was a bomb behind us. After about 5 of those, half the pack had died off the back. Really silly that day.

I'm gonna have to do that some day.

Then, when the pace did get back up close to 20, I faded into the pack. Then I started attacking with feigned efforts, and everyone responded like there was a bomb behind us. After about 5 of those, half the pack had died off the back. Really silly that day.

That is just cruel. Funny as hell, but cruel.:beer:

That is just cruel. Funny as hell, but cruel.:beer:

Yeah, it's funny how different the response is in different fields. 5s freak out and chase you. Cat 3s probably have the pace too high to even mess with it without full commitment. M35+ will just let you go without any response at all, knowing that they're going to either absorb you into the real break or run you over later.

I had a lot of fun when I "stopped" racing, and two years later did a Cat 5 race for fun on a one-day. Everybody was going so slow, so I went to the front and tried to get everyone to go even slower. We had to be doing like 10mph. Every time someone tried to pass (not really attacking), I'd half-wheel them back down to a crawl. I have no idea what was going on in everyone's head, but this went on for like 2 minutes. Funniest thing.

Then, when the pace did get back up close to 20, I faded into the pack. Then I started attacking with feigned efforts, and everyone responded like there was a bomb behind us. After about 5 of those, half the pack had died off the back. Really silly that day.

Yarrr! That's some funny stuff.

We have some feisty noobs with something to prove around here that I sometimes mess with if they get out of hand during our training rides. Your experience sounds like even more fun. I bet there are still guys wondering what the heck was going on!