Originally Posted by
waterrockets
Agree that moving up as you did on the right is fine if people are making enough room. It's common.
It's good to learn to move up within the pack too. There are ways of filling the gaps as if you're a liquid drawn to the front.
Lastly, I'll often move up just with some power when things string out. It doesn't take much out of me to hop out when things start getting strung out, and just hammer up to the front. The last time I did this, things just didn't feel right mid-pack, and right when I arrived at the front, the winning break took off. Luckily, I had the position and the legs to join in and benefit. I know a lot of people will really fight the urge to just move up the side in the wind (when there's room -- which is only when it's fast), but it is more expedient.
I was able to do this a couple times today, but when I got up near the front, I wasn't sure what to do. Is it expected that you go to the front and pull, or will someone typically give you a gap? I just hung out in the wind until I could find an opening, but I wasn't sure how hard to push this. I also went to the front once to pull and then someone eventually pulled in front of me.