ovoleg

To me, the cycling racing scene is small, even in SoCal so you oftentimes see the same exact racers week to week. I know a very large number of guys and I've only been racing here 5 months...That said, why would you act like an ahole in a sport that's super dangerous with the same people week after week...

So I'm doing the second race of the day and we go around a corner and things get a tad sketch so this kid yells, "Watch your line you idiots". Then I replied, "Relax dude you're not a pro here". Some guy in the pack starts giggling.

Going into the last lap, the race is pretty much over because 6 dudes went up the road in a break and I couldn't bridge up so the whole field is out of the points/money. Right before turn 4, the kid rides RIGHT INTO ME and bounces off then sarcastically says, "oops" and laughs. I didn't go down or close to it but it pissed me off that someone would endanger me on purpose in a freaking bike race.

So the race ends and I pull in to talk to the USAC official. I tell him the story and he just sighs and says, "we've heard similar stories about him". WTF? Why is he allowed to race then? This is sum bull****!

So I come up to his dad and I tell him what happened and his dad replies, "Thats just bike racing"

I told him if I see him doing anything similar, I will not hesitate to defend myself.

Just left it at that because I knew things were going to heat up and I'd lose it any moment. I was counting to 10 in my head trying to keep cool and not punch anyone in the face...

Rage level = maximum.

furiousferret

Bleh, sounds like a person that has never had to deal with consequences. With his reputation putting someone in the ER could cost him quite a bit.

Ygduf

Find him in the next race. Take his wheel, over and over and over. Let gaps open each time.

ovoleg

I rather just avoid the whole situation altogether personally especially since he's a minor. I just don't get how USAC can't ban him if there are MULTIPLE complaints against him.

Ygduf

don't ***** and not want a solution. WE'RE NOT MARRIED!

ovoleg

If he tries anything remotely dangerous in the next race I see him, I will not hesitate to check him. I don't get how his dad thinks acting like this is a good thing for this kids career in cycling.

hack

I'll guess the field would prefer a verbal "check" instead of a physical one. If you check him and he either goes down or bounces into other rides and takes them down, that'd be less than ideal.

RoadTire 

Just another reason for me staying out of racing. I can see it as a great incentive just to train harder and finish middle of the pack, but they seeming added danger of a crash because of some jerk or idiot (heck the latter that could be me) and anyone getting hurt just doesn't seem worth it for me. Too old to get beat up in a crash. But dang, racing is tempting as a goad to better fitness levels.

ovoleg

from talking to a few other guys that have raced with him, they've talked to him and he just lashes back and cusses them out mid race.

All I'm saying is he better not be trying the same crap he pulled today. I aint going down cuz of this kid so he better think twice.

nosignature

Ha, pretty sure I know exactly of whom Ovoleg speaks. I just try to ride as far away from him as possible in the field.

And his dad happens to be right. Dealing with dangerous, immature morons is definitely part of cycling. His son just happens to be one of them.

ovoleg

dude he seems like the exception. Everyone else I've meet in the scene is super friendly nice and doesn't want to crash, even the juniors. I know a bunch of local juniors and none of them are like this.

I asked the junior on another team if he's had to deal with him and he told me, "dude we all know that kid and everyone hates him he has been close to causing a few crashes on the track. He cusses everyone out when they try to tell him what he did wrong".

cruiserhead

what team or club does he ride for? What's his name?

hack

Understood...hopefully someone has or can get him on video. Just thinking I'd be even more pissed if I wash crashed out as collateral damage from an existing feud.

RoadTire 

Good to know! Thanks!

furiousferret

It's pretty rare to have someone like that, adults self police. Out here we have a blacklist of riders and a bunch of goons itching to put someone on it.

ovoleg

the bearded dude from your club/team killed it in both of our races today. He came out of nowhere in my first race and crushed everyones soul lol.

ovoleg

I agree 100%, thats why I am hoping USAC officials take care of this BS.

spectastic

what a punk.

smash his nuggets with a cassette wrench or something.

furiousferret

mattm

Sounds like no matter what you say, he won't change.

Your best option is probably just to ignore him.. until he respects the riders around him, he ain't gonna listen!

Either you upgrade and get away from him, he upgrades and gets away from you, or you both upgrade and hopefully someone in the next category can teach him respect.

waterrockets 

Yep. That's about it.

I wouldn't, however, pass up the opportunity to fark with him tactically, depending on what's going on with the rest of the race.

MDcatV

is the kid on a team? no team wants a rep for having dangerous riders on it. it's embarrassing and paints a bad picture of the entire squad. contact the team and tell them specifically in a well worded email that <name the rider> has developed a reputation throughout the <category #> of being a sloppy and dangerous rider. tell them that various folks within the peloton have addressed this verbally with <again name the rider> and he has responded with foul language and <describe the situation above>. tell them that you've identified this to the USAC official and will continue to do so, and cordially ask that the team discuss this with the rider to assist him with his development and nip the dangerous riding and behavior in the bud.

ips0803

^makes sense to me.

I know why you talked to his dad, since he's his guardian and all, but he honestly may not know a thing about bike racing and assumes his child's report of what goes on in the race is legitimate. Either that or the kid's got a case of affluenza.

rkwaki

Tough call to be honest (and that is coming from a thug). I have spoken to guys before and after races, sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much. You may be able to get through to the father but to be honest the best way to get through to someone is to have a very accomplished elitist prick like me say something....




I must be growing up or something, my standard response is normally very different than this...

himespau 

I think we all know the solution to this problem. A frame pump won't add that much to the weight of your bike. Especially not if everyone takes one until the problem is solved.