"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Racers, what would you do?

I am a regular poster here on BF but created this vanity account to ask a question as team members lurk here and I dont want to cause more of a scene.

Our team is structured so that we have normal club riders that may race and several race teams. As many other clubs that are setup this way the requirements and benefits increase as you get selected to a race squad. After taking a year off the squad most on the team racers thought I would be voted back on for the 2011 race season but its not to be. Reasons given were that I raced for myself by entering in an extra event during a crit weekend 2 years ago and that I didn't race for the team last year (even though I wasn't part of the team due to taking a break). These opinions of me were viewed by only a few but it was enough. People can find a reason for anything but what was given is pretty petty IMHO. And to top it off the races I competed in last year where the team attended I raced for the team at the front until I popped.

I find myself in an interesting situation now as I really enjoy the club but see that I will be alone on the starting line while also expected (assuming after what happened last season) to race for the team (without getting the added benefits of racing as a team member). Guess my question is, what would BikeFourms do? Stay on the club and race solo ignoring the teams? Cut my losses and start fresh somewhere else?

IMHO if you really want to be a part of the race squad and get the extra benefits then you should race & work for the squad this year. Next year you should get the recognition for what you did and be selected back on to the race squad. If that doesn't happen then you find another team.

Score one point each

If you race for powerbars and free tubes
If you can't afford stuff on your own
If there are people on the team you can't stand
If your team chases you down*
If you never get a chance to race for yourself
If you have a better offer
If no one says thanks after you Jens at the front for miles to help your team
If you pay dues
If your kit is fugly

*triple points for this one

Score

0-2: HTFU.
3-5: Look at your options.
6 and above: Run away. You're better off racing unattached.

If you want the rewards of racing on a team, find a new club.

Talk to the president of your club, be frank with him and tell him that if you're unable to race with benefits you'd like to separate and move to a different club. Express to him that his team is your preference but, if for, what you feel to be petty reasons, are unable to race as a full member; cest la vie. Ask him if there are other options to entice you to say, perhaps several probationary race weekends to prove your willingness to participate as a team member. Be humble and be sure to go in there knowing that for the most part, nothing is owed to you.

There may be more to this story, however, perhaps you've done something else to begrudge your fellow teammates to you? I ride with the team I do foremost for the teammates, latter for the benefits and prestige. Most of us are never going to go pro, if I'm spending 30+ hours a week with these guys I better darned well enjoy their company.

What category are you racing in? How much race experience do you have? Wins/ lead-out for wins?

^^^ I'd agree with this. It sounds like there is more going on than meets the eye. I'd suss out what that really is as it may come to the fore later in the season.

I'd also go in with Ex's scorecard in hand. If, after the chat, you feel you really need to make a choice that would be a good place to start.

Score one point each

If you race for powerbars and free tubes
If you can't afford stuff on your own
If there are people on the team you can't stand
If your team chases you down*
If you never get a chance to race for yourself
If you have a better offer
If no one says thanks after you Jens at the front for miles to help your team
If you pay dues
If your kit is fugly

*triple points for this one

Score

0-2: HTFU.
3-5: Look at your options.
6 and above: Run away. You're better off racing unattached.
haha nice

do you mean expired powerbars

an interesting sock puppet test case


:popcorn

Score one point each

If you race for powerbars and free tubes
If you can't afford stuff on your own
If there are people on the team you can't stand
If your team chases you down*
If you never get a chance to race for yourself
If you have a better offer
If no one says thanks after you Jens at the front for miles to help your team
If you pay dues
If your kit is fugly

*triple points for this one

Score

0-2: HTFU.
3-5: Look at your options.
6 and above: Run away. You're better off racing unattached.

Nicely done.

I got chased down by a teammate once. I moved on the following year. Enough is enough. His pathetic excuse was that the break I was in wasn't going to stick. We were :40 up with 10 laps to go. I look back and he's leading the charge. One more story in the legend of Oompah Loompah.

Nicely done.

I got chased down by a teammate once. I moved on the following year. Enough is enough. His pathetic excuse was that the break I was in wasn't going to stick. We were :40 up with 10 laps to go. I look back and he's leading the charge. One more story in the legend of Oompah Loompah.

I know who you're talking about but my lips are sealed.

Just plan on dishing it back in the next year or so :)

I had a teammate chase me down once, in a thursday night crit. I was solo behind a three man break. He brought a guy up to me then got dropped. I still took fourth, but the teammate was cut loose at the end of the year.

I am a regular poster here on BF but created this vanity account to ask a question as team members lurk here and I dont want to cause more of a scene.

If you are going to post under an alias to avoid detection why would you call attention to that fact?

If you are going to post under an alias to avoid detection why would you call attention to that fact?

Just wanted to ask a question without it being tied back to my username and my team. They know about the drama but its best that true username and team name stay anonymous.

I'm assuming you race bicycles for fun, that club/team situation doesn't sound like much fun. I'd find a new group to race with - unless of course you enjoy an extra bit of drama and stress with your sports.

I'm assuming you race bicycles for fun, that club/team situation doesn't sound like much fun. I'd find a new group to race with - unless of course you enjoy an extra bit of drama and stress with your sports.

See Racer ex's scorecard #1

Do you really want to be on a team that doesn't really want you? I spend a lot of time training/racing/traveling with my teammates, and if there was bad blood there it would suck. Are there other teams in your area?

Nicely done.

I got chased down by a teammate once. I moved on the following year. Enough is enough. His pathetic excuse was that the break I was in wasn't going to stick. We were :40 up with 10 laps to go. I look back and he's leading the charge. One more story in the legend of Oompah Loompah.

Hmmm .... I wonder .... sounds like an old MBRC guy I've come across.

And also like another guy that I'm glad left our team last year.

Do you really want to be on a team that doesn't really want you? I spend a lot of time training/racing/traveling with my teammates, and if there was bad blood there it would suck. Are there other teams in your area?

+1 - I've been there and it sucked. I'm not much of a quitter though so they had to "kick me off" of the team. It's taken a year but I am on speaking and acquaintance terms with the majority of them again now and I am definitely in a much better team environment - hopeful, nice, not clique'y. All of that bad stuff will likely come in time but until then - I'm loving it.

If you have to ask then you're probably better off moving on. Wile it is a hobby/recreation/sport/enjoyment/fun for the majority of us, try to be professional about what you want to see corrected and if there is no move then be professional about moving on.

Teams are a two way street. Teams need to exercise some judgment.

Seems the team lacks the judgment part. Bye bye team.

cdr

If you are going to post under an alias to avoid detection why would you call attention to that fact?

The best part is that there are only few teams with significant representation in the 33, namely, the teams from Austin, Northern Florida, and Seattle.

I find it funny that Mollusk used a cut-out to start this thread, then called himself out on it under his regular account.

I find it funny that Mollusk used a cut-out to start this thread, then called himself out on it under his regular account.

Then responded :lol:

I find it funny that Mollusk used a cut-out to start this thread, then called himself out on it under his regular account.

well, good diversion tactic.

How do you know it's Mollusk?

an interesting sock puppet test case


:popcorn

Indeed. Wait until OP is banned as sock puppet of "x". Then things could get more interesting.

Pass the corn please :D

Oh...I really have nothing of value to add. I like what kvangundy & Racer Ex said

Oh...and apparently I should read the whole thread before responding.

Oh...and apparently I should read the whole thread before responding.

something tells me that the OP cleared it w/ the mods to create a sock puppet before starting the thread

I find it funny that Mollusk used a cut-out to start this thread, then called himself out on it under his regular account.

:lol:

something tells me that the OP cleared it w/ the mods to create a sock puppet before starting the thread

I wouldn't think there's anything wrong with creating a sock of yourself assuming you're not trying to get around a ban or something.

I find it funny that Mollusk used a cut-out to start this thread, then called himself out on it under his regular account.

Trying to throw us off the trail Ken?

I find myself in an interesting situation now as I really enjoy the club but see that I will be alone on the starting line while also expected (assuming after what happened last season) to race for the team (without getting the added benefits of racing as a team member). Guess my question is, what would BikeFourms do? Stay on the club and race solo ignoring the teams? Cut my losses and start fresh somewhere else?

Hey, if you live in Colorado, we'd love to have ya...PM me

Trying to throw us off the trail Ken?

I jumped teams at the end of the season, so have an alibi. I'm still good friends with my old team, I just wanted to be on something a little more organized.

Score one point each

If you race for powerbars and free tubes
If you can't afford stuff on your own
If there are people on the team you can't stand
If your team chases you down*
If you never get a chance to race for yourself
If you have a better offer
If no one says thanks after you Jens at the front for miles to help your team
If you pay dues
If your kit is fugly

*triple points for this one

Score

0-2: HTFU.
3-5: Look at your options.
6 and above: Run away. You're better off racing unattached.

Quadruple points.

Quadruple points.

I had a discussion about this with a couple teammates. There's this syndrome of "lemme help too".

Let's say I'm the domestique for the day. I attack to bridge to a break (to sit on it - no one will bring a sprinter to the line). The "leader for the day" may, in fact, come along with me because he was on my wheel when I jumped.

This is incorrect.

However, the FIRST instinct if you see a teammate attack should be to look for the counters and to get on those wheels. It should not be to follow along.

I call these the "me, too!" attacks. Teammate attacks. "Me, too!" "Me, three!" Soon there's a huge TTT going on at the front, everyone desperately hanging onto the wheel in front, no gaps, and all of the team's opponents watching from a few wheels back in stunned delight.

So I'd sort of discount the "teammates chasing you down" thing as an inexperience thing. Once the facts get laid down and the teammate still chases, then it's a valid point.

btw I'm friends with all the teammates that have been guilty of "chasing me down" (really chasing me down when I'm working for them, so there's a huge potential for misunderstanding - like they thought I was pulling them clear). I don't hold it against them.

cdr

Score one point each...
If no one says thanks after you Jens at the front for miles to help your team


"Jens" as a verb? I like it.

Indeed. Wait until OP is banned as sock puppet of "x". Then things could get more interesting.

Pass the corn please :D

Oh...I really have nothing of value to add. I like what kvangundy & Racer Ex said

I know who it is. My silence is negotiable.


something tells me that the OP cleared it w/ the mods to create a sock puppet before starting the thread

Everyone has a price. ;)

With all do respect CDR, in the situation I described, the teammate was not coming to help. He was coming to take the win away. He did no work once he bridged.

With all do respect CDR, in the situation I described, the teammate was not coming to help. He was coming to take the win away. He did no work once he bridged.

heh. I figured it wasn't a kind hearted naive mistake. I just wanted to point out that there are such kind hearted (but tactically naive) teammates. I don't mind the latter because that's education, not attitude. The former, or rather, what you describe, esp since I know who it is... yes, quadruple points.

cdr

Text analysis of every BF post indicates with 99.67% likelihood that lolwut is *********. Don't lose sleep over it *********!! (And, I'm not saying you are.) Plenty of open road out there for you. (I'm kidding people; I need more time to analyze all posts on BF.)