E.Q. #6 - The Free Lap

[EventServices]

You're caught behind a crash.
You have to come to a complete stop.
You do not hit the ground.
The field is gone.

Do you report to the pit area and take a free lap?

[Voodoo76]

You're caught behind a crash.
You have to come to a complete stop.
You do not hit the ground.
The field is gone.

Do you report to the pit area and take a free lap?

Without hesitation. And I don't consider that an advantage, sometimes it's hard to get back up to speed and in the groove after a free lap.

[Pablo.]

You're caught behind a crash.
You have to come to a complete stop.
You do not hit the ground.
The field is gone.

Do you report to the pit area and take a free lap?

Yes.

[kensuf]

No. You chose poor positioning, be a man about it.

Now, if you hit the deck in any way, shape, or form, then take the free lap.

[Snuffleupagus]

Make sure to pull your shorts up a little to make it look good ;)

[asgelle]

You're caught behind a crash.
You have to come to a complete stop.
You do not hit the ground.
The field is gone.

Do you report to the pit area and take a free lap?

Of course, at which point you'll be told to start chasing or you're a lap down. The rules are clear.

[slim_77]

No. rules completely govern this situation and you rely on the coin toss of the officials actually seeing you.

That said, first, I forget to unclip after I come to a complete stop and aim for a soft spot on the tarmac. Second, report to the pit.

[big chainring]

Just wait for the field to come around again and join in. Who's watching?

Took many a free lap in my day with no repercussions.

[EventServices]

No. You chose poor positioning...

We're assuming that all crashes take place in the back of the pack?
Or that I put myself behind crash-prone riders?


... if you hit the deck in any way, shape, or form...

So it would be OK to just topple over from a stand still.

[urbanknight]

So it would be OK to just topple over from a stand still.
There's where the ethics debate really comes in imo. Going down on purpose doesn't seem to fit the rules, but should you be penalized just because you can track stand until everybody else picks their bloody carcasses off the pavement?

I had that happen when I was young and stupid. Got pinned to the curb while the pack raced away (this was cat 5 and I swear at that time hearing a crash meant to sprint like hell!). When I asked for a lap, the official asked if I went down and I said (honestly) no. I went home.

[EventServices]

Good point. So the second part of this is: Do you sprint like hell when you hear a crash behind you?

[urbanknight]

Good point. So the second part of this is: Do you sprint like hell when you hear a crash behind you?
You need to make that E.Q. #7 but my answer will be no, I'm not a jerk, but it doesn't matter because if the pack sprints, I'm chasing. Now I've never seen this happen in any other category. Just the "crash 5s".

edit: I'd love to hear your experienced take on my situation, now that you got my mind going.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=6967441#post6967441

[ElJamoquio]

You need to make that E.Q. #7 but my answer will be no, I'm not a jerk, but it doesn't matter because if the pack sprints, I'm chasing. Now I've never seen this happen in any other category. Just the "crash 5s".

Yes, this should be #7. If it were up to me, *usually* no, but it only takes one person to disagree to make the whole pack take off.

[ridethecliche]

Good point. So the second part of this is: Do you sprint like hell when you hear a crash behind you?

Yes. For reasons of safety and for positioning. I'm not sure who caused the crash and I'm not going to turn around. If the causer got away ok and is still shaky, then I wouldn't want to ride with them and I'd rather get away.

I'm really not sure what I'd do if I got caught behind a crash. I'm pretty sure the rules say you can't really take a free lap, but how are you any different from a rider who went down for a split second and didn't have any damage at all to anything. Should you be penalized for having better handling even though you're in the exactly same situation?

[kensuf]

Good point. So the second part of this is: Do you sprint like hell when you hear a crash behind you?

Yes.

[Val23708]

if you really can't avoid stopping, hike the shorts up, when you get to the line, fix your shoes or check your wheels or have the official check your cleats (as they may be damaged from putting your foot down >_>). i'm pretty sure people would prefer you to stop from causing more pain and injury than to try to race out of a crash situation.

[ridethecliche]

Why hike the shorts up?
Sorry, but I've never heard that before now. Is that along the lines of being pushed and 'falling' in football?

[Treefox]

I've never been in a race with this whole free lap thing.

If you're in, or get stuck behind, a crash, you organise a pace line with those around you and bring it back.

[ElJamoquio]

Most/all crits in the US (70% of the races) have a free lap, Treefox.

[FatguyRacer]

If you did not hit the deck, then no. If you did then yes. Kinda a sucky rule, and I got bit by it at RFK this year in the Masters 35+ race. In retrospect I guess I shoulda fell on that guy who crashed in front of instead of just running him over after nearly comming to a dead stop. I wouldnt have gotten a free lap, since there wasnt a free lap rule for that race, but I also wouldnt have gotten pulled either when the officials wouldnt let me back in the main group a lap down after i rolled up and asked if I could jump back in. If I had crashed I coulda got back in from the wheel pit without issue, but a lap down.

Bike racing is interesting in that reguard. Not too many guys I know will take a dive to get an advantage like they do in many team sports.

I'll take getting yanked to crashing any day of the week.

[MDcatV]

Without hesitation. And I don't consider that an advantage, sometimes it's hard to get back up to speed and in the groove after a free lap.

+1, if the official denies, I wouldnt argue, I was fooked anyway.

[merlinextraligh]

Just wait for the field to come around again and join in. Who's watching?

Took many a free lap in my day with no repercussions.

The little red chip on the fork.

[Bob Dopolina]

Crash = sprint like hell.

This one is actually harder.

I might under certain conditions.

Maybe if it was a stage race and I just wanted to continue the next day I'd jump in the pit and take the free lap. I think if I had a chance at the podium I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't want a good result to come that way.

[ElJamoquio]

Yes, this should be #7. If it were up to me, *usually* no, but it only takes one person to disagree to make the whole pack take off.

I feel like I've been the moral police in this series of threads, so I'm changing my vote to '**** 'em, if they don't want to be stuck behind a crash, they shouldn't have been wheelsucking in the back'.

[EventServices]

Who was the Aussie Kilo rider who pulled his foot out of the pedal in the start of his ride in the 1996 Olympics. He was favored to win, but blew his start. Everyone around the track said he should have simply fallen over to get a restart, but he was so stunned that he forgot what he was doing.



edit: I'd love to hear your experienced take on my situation, now that you got my mind going.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=6967441#post6967441

Bad officiating. They should be watching for nuance things like that, but since it was such a young age group, I'm guessing they never thought that someone would play dirty.

Why hike the shorts up?

To pretend that you might have been involved in a skirmish on the backside of the course. You come into the pits checking yourself for scrapes and checking your bike for breakage. In actuality, you know everything's fine.

I've never been in a race with this whole free lap thing.

If you're in, or get stuck behind, a crash, you organise a pace line with those around you and bring it back.

The first part of your comment explains the naivety of the second part of your comment.

[Bobby Lex]

Bike racing is interesting in that reguard. Not too many guys I know will take a dive to get an advantage like they do in many team sports.

I'll take getting yanked to crashing any day of the week.

Cyclists don't dive because it goes against every self-preservation instinct we have. And in the heat of the moment (especially a crash) we're operating 90% on instinct. That's why the free lap rule works (mostly). Because cyclists who have the presence of mind to actually take a dive are few and far between.

Anyway, in reading the Rulebook, the free lap rule actually applies to a "mishap". Mishaps are divided into two categories: 1."mechanicals", with several examples cited to explain and clarify what is and what isn't a mechanical. 2. "crashes", with NO examples or explanations. Webster's dictionary defines "crash" to include a "collision" between vehicles. So, arguably you wouldn't even have to actually hit the deck to get a free lap. Just bump into another bike or object.

Clear as mud?

Bob

P.S. To answer the OP, yes, I would do whatever I had to to get my free lap if a crash impeded me and caused me to lose contact with the leaders. I think that is within the spirit and intent of the rule.

[carpediemracing]

Cyclists don't dive because it goes against every self-preservation instinct we have. And in the heat of the moment (especially a crash) we're operating 90% on instinct. That's why the free lap rule works (mostly). Because cyclists who have the presence of mind to actually take a dive are few and far between.

Anyway, in reading the Rulebook, the free lap rule actually applies to a "mishap". Mishaps are divided into two categories: 1."mechanicals", with several examples cited to explain and clarify what is and what isn't a mechanical. 2. "crashes", with NO examples or explanations. Webster's dictionary defines "crash" to include a "collision" between vehicles. So, arguably you wouldn't even have to actually hit the deck to get a free lap. Just bump into another bike or object.

Clear as mud?

Bob

P.S. To answer the OP, yes, I would do whatever I had to to get my free lap if a crash impeded me and caused me to lose contact with the leaders. I think that is within the spirit and intent of the rule.

I agree with this.

A racer at the Tour of PA was behind a crash, skipped his wheel, and bounced so hard his chain came off. His bike handling skills (and instinct and reactions under panic and whatever else) were excellent. He never went down.

If he'd been a worse rider and fell like the other guys in front of him, he'd have been in the race. Since he actually knew how to ride a bike, he didn't get a free lap like the guys in front of him. Didn't seem right but that's how the official on the moto called it. He was eliminated from the race, and this was in Stage 1B (the first crit).

If the rider had the presence of mind to topple over he'd have been in the race. I said this to his disappointed team sponsors who were watching the race.

If I took a free lap in this situation, I'd downgrade my goals for the race to becoming an excellent helper to someone (teammate or friend), or simply to HTFU, be a flahute, and finish the race. I've rarely been able to come back from a free lap, I think I got dropped pretty much right away in all the races where I took a free lap.

One exception - at Tour of Michigan, last stage (forget the town, but it was an 8 turn, 1/2 mile course, in pouring rain) the overall leader fell in front of me, looked like he was on a sit and spin, and I nailed him hard enough that I started to go over the bars. My bike landed back on its wheels, I was okay. I actually pulled out of my shoe and put a foot (not a shoe) down to balance myself. Now, at that point, I had not gone down. If that was all that happened, then I'd have been out of luck. However, in my 90% header I managed to potato chip my rear wheel. This got me a free lap. I finished the race near dead last, like 25th or so (20 places). Everyone else dropped out because only GC guys still wanted to race, including me. I think I got 21st or 22nd GC but there were only 20 places.

cdr

[asgelle]

Webster's dictionary defines "crash" to include a "collision" between vehicles. So, arguably you wouldn't even have to actually hit the deck to get a free lap. Just bump into another bike or object.

Arguably is the operative word. Officials are trained that a crash involves contact with the ground of some body part other than the bottom of the feet.

[caloso]

This exact thing happened to me a couple of years ago. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=94139)

I *****ed about it to my buddy and instead of sympathy he said "Well, that sucks. But that's bike racing." And no less an authority than Event Services commented "Truer words have never been spoken."

[wfrogge]

If you guys think taking a free lap is an advantage try it sometime....... Going 99% to a dead stop for a minute to 99% again sucks.

[ImprezaDrvr]

Yeah, we had this conversation after a teammate of mine flatted in a crit over the weekend, or at least we had part of this conversation. Our conclusion was that the free lap is a myth. You're largely hosed if you have to take it.

[Val23708]

Yeah, we had this conversation after a teammate of mine flatted in a crit over the weekend, or at least we had part of this conversation. Our conclusion was that the free lap is a myth. You're largely hosed if you have to take it.

i think it depends on your fitness. ive seen many cat 1's and 2's on my team crash then place in the top 5

[urbanknight]

Cyclists don't dive because it goes against every self-preservation instinct we have. And in the heat of the moment (especially a crash) we're operating 90% on instinct. That's why the free lap rule works (mostly). Because cyclists who have the presence of mind to actually take a dive are few and far between.
Slightly off topic, but rumor has it that John Warden used to take himself out in order to take riders with him who were threatening to his teammate's position.

Back on topic, all you have to do to "hit the deck" is hit your brakes and fall over softly... on the non drive side. Matter of fact, if you saw my ethics question, just putting your foot on the ground is "crashing" to some officials.


If you guys think taking a free lap is an advantage try it sometime....... Going 99% to a dead stop for a minute to 99% again sucks.
+1 I got a free lap for the first time in my life 2 months ago and I would have rather just stayed in the pack than be part of the crash. By the way, my "going down" involved me jumping off my bike while it collided with another rider (UMD) which shifted the rear wheel (mishap). That was satisfactory to the officials. Actually, they didn't even ask, but maybe the follow motorcycle radioed numbers to the pit.

[HillMut]

As pointed out you cannot take a free lap for being caught behind a crash & if there is a crash in a crit - everyone is watching and the ref is there. now, if I remember to fall over... i'll take my free lap :).

[EventServices]

And no less an authority than Event Services commented "Truer words have never been spoken."

I'm trying to find the page that it's on. Thanks for reading it!

[Voodoo76]

Who was the Aussie Kilo rider who pulled his foot out of the pedal in the start of his ride in the 1996 Olympics. He was favored to win, but blew his start. Everyone around the track said he should have simply fallen over to get a restart, but he was so stunned that he forgot what he was doing.


.

Can't remember his name, should have been there :D Kind of a Dave Grylls move.

+1 on the "Free lap is no bargin". If you're so gassed that you need a break you're probably just gonna get dropped again anyway.

[Bob Dopolina]

Can't remember his name, should have been there :D Kind of a Dave Grylls move.

+1 on the "Free lap is no bargin". If you're so gassed that you need a break you're probably just gonna get dropped again anyway.

Sometime back in the 80's I was doing this incredibly cool 8 corner, two hill crit when I crashed (in the rain) and got a free lap. I was so pumped after the crash that, two laps later, I won a prime (a box of steaks). A few laps after that I got 2nd (lost by a throw).

I did a stage race in China where I got pushed and ended up stuffing my front wheel into another riders derailleur. I broke some spokes in my front wheel and got a free lap. I jumped back in, went to the front and helped chase down a break (containing the yellow jersey) to protect our GC riders top spot.

Free laps can sometimes work to your advantage. That's why they stop giving them away near the end of the race.

[caloso]

I'm trying to find the page that it's on. Thanks for reading it!

First reply to the thread:

Truer words will never be spoken.

It's a phrase that has become the universal catch-all for the frustrating aspects of the sport, the fickle finger of fate that doesn't really care what you may have planned.

It's our way of letting everything roll off our back. There's never any malice involved in anything that happens to you. It's all random.

So you come back next week. All is forgiven.
Be assured that the good stuff far outweighs the bad.

Feel free to use it in your sequel "Roadie 2: HTFU." :)

[bitingduck]

Who was the Aussie Kilo rider who pulled his foot out of the pedal in the start of his ride in the 1996 Olympics. He was favored to win, but blew his start. Everyone around the track said he should have simply fallen over to get a restart, but he was so stunned that he forgot what he was doing.

Dunno, but for a long time that was a reason to add a strap to your clipless pedals.

Break a strap= restart (equipment failure, as long as it doesn't look like it started out ratty)
Unclip => no restart

I'm pretty sure current rules will get you a restart for unclipping, but if you do it again you don't get another restart.

[EventServices]

SHANE KELLY!

That's who it was!

[mollusk]

As for the "sprint if you hear a crash behind you" doesn't it really matter what your "job" is in that particular race? If you are supposed to protect somebody and position them for a finishing sprint or to protect them in GC if it as stage race, then you may be a total loser if you sprint in that situation.

I know this is splitting hairs, so I hope that nobody takes offense.

[Voodoo76]

Sometime back in the 80's I was doing this incredibly cool 8 corner, two hill crit when I crashed (in the rain) and got a free lap. I was so pumped after the crash that, two laps later, I won a prime (a box of steaks). A few laps after that I got 2nd (lost by a throw).

I did a stage race in China where I got pushed and ended up stuffing my front wheel into another riders derailleur. I broke some spokes in my front wheel and got a free lap. I jumped back in, went to the front and helped chase down a break (containing the yellow jersey) to protect our GC riders top spot.

Free laps can sometimes work to your advantage. That's why they stop giving them away near the end of the race.

Bob, sounds more like you race well when PO'ed! :lol: Could you have done either w/o the free lap, not because of it?

I've had similar experiences, once going down 2 times in the same Crit in a 10 lap stretch (same fast downhill turn) and still finished 3rd in a very fast field sprint. But Im certain I could have done just as well or better w/o the road rash, sore back and the free laps. For a fit rider there is no real gain.

Shane Kelly! That dude was fast.

[curiouskid55]

In California your bike needs to be on the ground. So roll up to the crash and stop then carefully lay your bike on the ground if you wre actually held up by the crash. Sprinting in front of a crash is a European thing. Decide which school of sportmanship you subscribe to for yourself.