MJH2
06-06-10, 06:01 PM
You've got a story to tell. Let's hear it. What happened?
Not to single you out. I see a lot of folks had a rough Saturday.
Not to single you out. I see a lot of folks had a rough Saturday.
Great Lakes - Paging carlosflanders!
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carlosflanders
06-07-10, 11:06 AM
The story is that there is no story. Saturday was the lamest Cat 4 race, in a long list of lame Illinois Cat 4 races, that I have ever done, Not even a race. You could have been ridng a unicycle and not been dropped.
Basically two teams put the dampers on any potential breaks, clogged up the front and handed the state champs jersey on a plate to the best sprinter in the group who was ridng with no teammates. Job well done!
The DQs I will write more about this evening, even though they were a non-event as well.
Sunday in Spring Prairie was probably the second lamest race I have done. Big turnout from most of the large Chicago teams. Who managed to get a combined total of one guy into the top 8 and score maybe one upgrade point for about 30 people. As usual, the podium was occupied by solo or unattached riders who were more than happy to accept the gift offered to them. Major fail in my book.
Basically two teams put the dampers on any potential breaks, clogged up the front and handed the state champs jersey on a plate to the best sprinter in the group who was ridng with no teammates. Job well done!
The DQs I will write more about this evening, even though they were a non-event as well.
Sunday in Spring Prairie was probably the second lamest race I have done. Big turnout from most of the large Chicago teams. Who managed to get a combined total of one guy into the top 8 and score maybe one upgrade point for about 30 people. As usual, the podium was occupied by solo or unattached riders who were more than happy to accept the gift offered to them. Major fail in my book.
John Wilke
06-07-10, 02:18 PM
That Non-WI 4/5's race in Spring Green was huge. 67 riders and largest field of the day by 14 riders (over Pro 1/2).
Mr. Scrooby
06-07-10, 02:57 PM
Big turnout from most of the large Chicago teams. Who managed to get a combined total of one guy into the top 8 and score maybe one upgrade point for about 30 people. As usual, the podium was occupied by solo or unattached riders who were more than happy to accept the gift offered to them.
I'm confused. Am I looking at the wrong results (http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2010-1570)? First place had four teammates. Second place had a teammate. Third place had three teammates.
I'm confused. Am I looking at the wrong results (http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2010-1570)? First place had four teammates. Second place had a teammate. Third place had three teammates.
mazrad
06-07-10, 03:16 PM
Sunday in Spring Prairie was probably the second lamest race I have done. Big turnout from most of the large Chicago teams. Who managed to get a combined total of one guy into the top 8 and score maybe one upgrade point for about 30 people. As usual, the podium was occupied by solo or unattached riders who were more than happy to accept the gift offered to them. Major fail in my book.
Wow. Who do those on the podium send their thank you cards to for the "gift"? Jeez.
Wow. Who do those on the podium send their thank you cards to for the "gift"? Jeez.
MJH2
06-07-10, 03:36 PM
I don't know this for a fact but, based on my in-person conversations I believe carlosflanders to be a European immigrant... and not the Spanish/Belgium mix his name would suggest. Having said that, I think what people here take as bitter is a fairly sarcastic sense of humor. Not doubt some bitterness, but I find it amusing.
And I'm somebody who's relegated himself to not even attempting to do anything in a race until the last 300 meters.
Anyhow, I was hoping this was going to turn more into a discussion on what I presume were several DQ's over the centerline rule. It seems to me that what the centerline rule actually says is not what we get consistently threatened with. The rule:
3B1. Center Line. If a course is not closed to traffic, all
competitors must keep to the right of the center line or
enforcement line, but may pass on either side of another rider
[warning for accidental crossing of the center line with no
advance in position; relegation or disqualification for
advancing position; 10 day suspension for a flagrantly
dangerous attack].
What it DOESN'T say is that if you go over the line but don't advance you'll be DQ'd. Not that it SHOULDN'T say that. But, I was curious as to how the rule was enforced down there.
On that note, I have looked over the USAC web page to see if they have some sort of rule committee or whatever. I found nothing. There are some rules in there that seem to be out-of-sync with the way things are actually done "in the field" and I wouldn't mind getting involved on this front. Anybody know if there is such a thing, or how to get invovled?
And I'm somebody who's relegated himself to not even attempting to do anything in a race until the last 300 meters.
Anyhow, I was hoping this was going to turn more into a discussion on what I presume were several DQ's over the centerline rule. It seems to me that what the centerline rule actually says is not what we get consistently threatened with. The rule:
3B1. Center Line. If a course is not closed to traffic, all
competitors must keep to the right of the center line or
enforcement line, but may pass on either side of another rider
[warning for accidental crossing of the center line with no
advance in position; relegation or disqualification for
advancing position; 10 day suspension for a flagrantly
dangerous attack].
What it DOESN'T say is that if you go over the line but don't advance you'll be DQ'd. Not that it SHOULDN'T say that. But, I was curious as to how the rule was enforced down there.
On that note, I have looked over the USAC web page to see if they have some sort of rule committee or whatever. I found nothing. There are some rules in there that seem to be out-of-sync with the way things are actually done "in the field" and I wouldn't mind getting involved on this front. Anybody know if there is such a thing, or how to get invovled?
MJH2
06-07-10, 04:10 PM
...and I just saw the Sh!tstorm on cbr.com.
My comments about volunteering actually had nothing to do with that. "Rules" are my thing. They're what I do.
My comments about volunteering actually had nothing to do with that. "Rules" are my thing. They're what I do.
carlosflanders
06-07-10, 04:58 PM
There's an old adage that cyclists have never been noted for their sense of humour. Sometimes I forget that. Then I get reminded again.
My principle: Whatever gets up the noses of self-centred roadies has got to be good. Maybe MJH2 gets it.
My principle: Whatever gets up the noses of self-centred roadies has got to be good. Maybe MJH2 gets it.
Mr. Scrooby
06-07-10, 05:05 PM
Sheesh. My day to be the ******* everywhere. Sorry for missing the punchline.
carlosflanders
06-07-10, 05:32 PM
With respect. I want to say that Mr Scroobys writeup of the SP race experience was the best he's ever done so far. I learned a lot from it.
Regarding teammates in the illegal aliens race. We lost about 20 guys on the first lap. The pack of about 40 stayed together for the rest of the race. I believe that all bar one of the winners teammates were shed on that first lap . As were two of the 4 BH guys. So the winner was riding with one teammate, There were two BH guys, two MOX guys and two Spider monkeys. That's the top 4. I wasn't counting two riders as a team. (I may have miscounted somewhere)
Nothing happened for the rest of the race. There's a Chicago groupthink going on in the Cat 4s that's characterized by a lack of ambition. Rather settle for sprinting for 25th instead of having a go and risk being DFL.
If any of the teams had gone to the front and dropped the hammer this race would have been blown apart. They would have guaranteed five in the top 15 and probably at least one of their guys in the top 3. And earned respect as well.
Instead we tootled around. I had my own pathetic dig off the front while wiggling my bum tantalizingly at the pack, but nobody had any interest in joining me. The larger teams did just enough to discourage anyone to have a go, the isolated guys sat in (as they rightly should) and then exploded up the final hill. That was it. Major fail by the big teams. I'm pathetic, but at least I know I'm pathetic.
Like Scrooby, I consider road racing to be a beautiful privilege. At least, driving 800-900 miles this weekend to do lame cat 4 races gives me something legitimate to moan about and brings a smile to MJH2's formerly-chubby face. Sure beats sitting at home and moaning about it on CBR .
btw, I didn't sleep last night because my muscles were on fire.
Regarding teammates in the illegal aliens race. We lost about 20 guys on the first lap. The pack of about 40 stayed together for the rest of the race. I believe that all bar one of the winners teammates were shed on that first lap . As were two of the 4 BH guys. So the winner was riding with one teammate, There were two BH guys, two MOX guys and two Spider monkeys. That's the top 4. I wasn't counting two riders as a team. (I may have miscounted somewhere)
Nothing happened for the rest of the race. There's a Chicago groupthink going on in the Cat 4s that's characterized by a lack of ambition. Rather settle for sprinting for 25th instead of having a go and risk being DFL.
If any of the teams had gone to the front and dropped the hammer this race would have been blown apart. They would have guaranteed five in the top 15 and probably at least one of their guys in the top 3. And earned respect as well.
Instead we tootled around. I had my own pathetic dig off the front while wiggling my bum tantalizingly at the pack, but nobody had any interest in joining me. The larger teams did just enough to discourage anyone to have a go, the isolated guys sat in (as they rightly should) and then exploded up the final hill. That was it. Major fail by the big teams. I'm pathetic, but at least I know I'm pathetic.
Like Scrooby, I consider road racing to be a beautiful privilege. At least, driving 800-900 miles this weekend to do lame cat 4 races gives me something legitimate to moan about and brings a smile to MJH2's formerly-chubby face. Sure beats sitting at home and moaning about it on CBR .
btw, I didn't sleep last night because my muscles were on fire.