"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Need to vent

I just finished my last road race of the season, and it was rather disappointing. Not because of my performance but because of the actions of the pace vehicle.

There was a breakaway of three riders. I was in a chase group of four riders and we were slowing gaining on them with about 7-8 miles to go. The breakaway group ended up catching another field and passed the pace vehicle. Everyone in the chase group and the rest of the field figured they were going to be disqualified and we stopped chasing.

When we finish the race, we find out that they weren't disqualified. The driver of the pace vehicle told them to pass him. What's worse is that the driver came up to me and the other guys in the chase group and insulted us, questioning our ability to catch the breakaway and told us we weren't really racing.

I actually had no problem with the breakaway group not being disqualified - it wasn't there fault and they were all very strong riders. They probably would have beaten the rest of the field anyway. However the driver actually taking the time to insult the rest of the field was entirely uncalled for, especially since he broke the rules. Seriously, the first thing the officials tell the field before the race starts is DO NOT PASS THE PACE VEHICLE.

Assuming this was USCF? Was the pace car driver a volunteer? What field were you in and what field did the breakaway catch?

S**t happens, although it is always a bit of a pisser when you've got good legs and end up out of contention because of something outside your control.

Lesson?

Be in the break next time :D

Yeah, I know. I don't even mind that the breakaway got away because of the incident with the pace car. What ****ed me off was the driver coming up to me and the other guys to personally insult us. Totally unprovoked.

I have been in the break when this has happened. Essentially the P/1/2 field would not get out of the way for our pace vehicle and finally the vehicle told us to go through. So we did. Eventually the Pace vehicle got through to us, but I guess I write this to say that sometimes a mass of 80+ riders ahead can prove difficult for a vehicle to maneuver through.

The insults? Uncalled for. Perhaps he was chiding you guys a bit, but he really should have given you some sort of indication that this was the case.

He probably was chiding us (a little too much though), and I understand how it all happened. Ultimately I just need to HTFU and get over it. It's not worth being angry over.

He didn't break any rules. It's a judgement call: he has to pass that field safely. He chose to not neutralize his race, but allow the break to pass his car and enter the caught field.

Rise above his insults. People are people, and some people suck.

Say it with me: that's bike racing!

Are you talking about Squigglebration in Prospect Park? And if so, which field? I was in the 3/4s and there was some questionable mixing of fields, some of which, I feel, affected the race outcome. I didn't say anything to the race director afterwards, but there was some dodgy stuff going on.

Are you talking about Squigglebration in Prospect Park? And if so, which field? I was in the 3/4s and there was some questionable mixing of fields, some of which, I feel, affected the race outcome. I didn't say anything to the race director afterwards, but there was some dodgy stuff going on.

Yup, that's the race. I was in the 5 field (I know, why am I complaining?). I didn't say anything either mostly because I felt it wasn't worth it. In any case I'm over it now.

I was in a two-man chase in the 3/4s; two guys were up the road, out of sight, the main field somewhere behind, also out of sight. This other guy and I were just trading pulls, for like four laps. Then, four dudes come bridging up from behind. I asked who they were. Three of them were yer 5 break, and the fourth was a 4. I told them mixing fields was a no-no and we established two little groups, each in a respective lane. We rode for a lap and a half like that and I never saw your pace car.

What galled me was, that 4 who bridged up beat me in the sprint. If he hadn't jumped on with the 5 break, who knows if he'd have been able to bridge solo, and I might have picked up a place. Hell, the entire race might have ended differently.

Whatever. It was a late-late-season race on a freezing cold morning. Some lessons learned for next time, I suppose.