Completely agreed. TNW's around here are ridden just like a race. If there's a handlebar width between a rider and the shoulder, it's fair game. Granted, this is on an uphill climbing circuit, and it's steep enough on the downhill leg that nobody's fighting for the lead spot while at speed, since nobody ever gets (and stays) away on the downhill leg. But during the climb, it's all fair game. (although this runs true in our Thursday night world crit practice as well) I've had an aggressive and fearless junior sprint between myself and another for the finish, bouncing off of both of us on his way through. We continued to the finish and he nicely apologized for the contact, and everyone went about their business as if it hadn't happened. No crash, no hurt feelings.

A friend cat3 who's raced the local cat 1,2,3 race as well as many straight cat3 races commented that the contact and aggressiveness is much greater in the 1,2,3 races, but with FAR fewer of the incident's leading to crashes than in the '3 only' races.

At the higher/faster levels of the sport, you are expected to look after yourself, and have the experience to be far more aware of your own surroundings than new riders are. You're also expected to not do anything needlessly reckless.

I learned my 'heads up' lesson on one of my earliest TNW group rides when I was outgunned and chasing. I put my head down for a sec. and when I looked up it was all I could do to get the bike stopped before barreling into the group I was chasing...who were stopping for a u-turning car in the lane. For me it was a memorable learning moment, and I took the lesson to heart. Hopefully this guy will do the same, and maybe eventually admit to himself that he's got room for improvement. His "haven't hit anybody yet" comment is just juvenile, and silly.

-Jeremy