Originally Posted by
Racer Ex
The math is right statistically, but wrong from a racing perspective.
I always look at the mix. If I've got the best finisher and he's not going to be worked over by the numbers (I've been in breaks where it's me and 5 guys from one team) I'll let folks go up the road and make the break stronger, because I have 100% chance of winning (barring a flat or something like that).
If I go it often sets off alarm bells, so I'll help them get a gap if I can. But if our representation is weak or outnumbered, I'm going to be bridging or surfing a bridger at some point, or setting up a teammate who can win.
If I'm happy with what we have up the road I'll sit around the front. If the chase is silly enough to let me in the rotation I can pretty much guarantee the break will be getting more room and someone is going to have to come around me. If the team chasing asks me to stay out I'll honor the effort and protect and serve. It's funny how people will complain about you not pulling and keep silent while letting you in the rotation.
And there's a lot of Cat4 brains that think everyone will chase their own teammate down and let guys with representation in the break go to the front. You have representation in the brake and I'm chasing you won't get in the rotation and if you pull the old get to the front and break thing you'll see me flying by you.
Reminds me a bit of the guy complaining that you weren't pulling the first time we raced together at Lago, then you smiled at him. Ear to ear grin. IIRC, he jumped, and I was on your wheel when you retaliated, and you and I were OTF (chasing)
Originally Posted by
Racer Ex
Active blocking is low brow. Especially when one team blocks the entire lane. That's just classless.
I had a hotheaded friend back in Colorado. There was a team doing this in a Cat 3 race, and he dropped back about 15 feet from the line, sprinted full force, tackled the biggest blocker at 30mph, and beat the piss out of him on the side of the road. That was a suspension, but it was probably worth it to him and pretty funny. People talked about not blocking like that for fear of retaliation for several years. This guy also went to the can for throwing a frozen water bottle through a semi windshield, then getting into a fight with the driver. He was a nice guy though. Really.