So are the days of our lives...
05-19-15, 09:54 PM
#8876
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Not as bad as 10 months
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05-20-15, 03:32 AM
#8877
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Interesting.
As a former Dutchie (lived in Voorschoten as a kid) I wish we had some of the passion/resources that one of my friends sees over there. He's living in Amsterdam and he was just astounded by all the venues near him, purpose made circuit courses for bike racing. They're almost like running tracks in the US, just everywhere it seems. I was too young and not a racer when I was there so I have no idea how widespread the circuits really proliferate. Might be just his area.
The thing the article doesn't say is that many of the grassroots promoters make little or no money. It's a huge money sink that if someone could finance grassroots promoters it would be a huge, huge thing. I haven't finished paying bills from the 4 races I promoted this spring but I'm looking at about $7-8k still to pay (guessing I've paid $10k so far?) and I have $4k left from the races (Aetna Nutmeg Spring Series). In the past I had savings/job to draw on but this year I have neither and it totally sucks. Because of that I've shelved any ideas of promoting other races this year. I secured two venues for 3 days of racing for 2015 but I can't even pay for permits right now. Someone asked me if I'd gotten in touch with a particular person about a circuit race (more expensive to promote due to needed lead cars etc) and I told him flat out that I'm so in the hole I can't afford to risk another $8-15k for one day of racing. There were three people asking about holding races on three new, never been raced courses in CT. I can't do them, I hope someone else can.
In a related thing the whole socialism healthcare and retirement thing would help ease some of that financial burden, at least at the level I understand it works in Holland. My mom said the biggest difference between living in the US and in Holland was the every present stress in the US of immediate bankruptcy/brokeness due to unexpected medical bills. There's the long term stress here of being responsible for saving for retirement. I have a brother and sister that were born in Holland and my mom said she just went to the hospital and it got handled. My dad made enough money to retire in the US but it's partly because he gets a pension from a European company (not sure exactly how that works but it does). I understand the money comes from somewhere but the ratio of cost/income in the US is high compared to other countries.
I say that with all irony because an insurance company sponsored my series.
As a former Dutchie (lived in Voorschoten as a kid) I wish we had some of the passion/resources that one of my friends sees over there. He's living in Amsterdam and he was just astounded by all the venues near him, purpose made circuit courses for bike racing. They're almost like running tracks in the US, just everywhere it seems. I was too young and not a racer when I was there so I have no idea how widespread the circuits really proliferate. Might be just his area.
The thing the article doesn't say is that many of the grassroots promoters make little or no money. It's a huge money sink that if someone could finance grassroots promoters it would be a huge, huge thing. I haven't finished paying bills from the 4 races I promoted this spring but I'm looking at about $7-8k still to pay (guessing I've paid $10k so far?) and I have $4k left from the races (Aetna Nutmeg Spring Series). In the past I had savings/job to draw on but this year I have neither and it totally sucks. Because of that I've shelved any ideas of promoting other races this year. I secured two venues for 3 days of racing for 2015 but I can't even pay for permits right now. Someone asked me if I'd gotten in touch with a particular person about a circuit race (more expensive to promote due to needed lead cars etc) and I told him flat out that I'm so in the hole I can't afford to risk another $8-15k for one day of racing. There were three people asking about holding races on three new, never been raced courses in CT. I can't do them, I hope someone else can.
In a related thing the whole socialism healthcare and retirement thing would help ease some of that financial burden, at least at the level I understand it works in Holland. My mom said the biggest difference between living in the US and in Holland was the every present stress in the US of immediate bankruptcy/brokeness due to unexpected medical bills. There's the long term stress here of being responsible for saving for retirement. I have a brother and sister that were born in Holland and my mom said she just went to the hospital and it got handled. My dad made enough money to retire in the US but it's partly because he gets a pension from a European company (not sure exactly how that works but it does). I understand the money comes from somewhere but the ratio of cost/income in the US is high compared to other countries.
I say that with all irony because an insurance company sponsored my series.
Insurance indeed is probably a large difference. Our amateurraces include a mandated insurance-policy of about 3 euro for a single race. Or 60euro for a season if I'm not mistaken. But that only covers any damages you cause upon others during races. Besides that every citizen in the Netherlands is obligated to have (at least a basic) Healt Insurance, covering most medical expenses. And also indeed often cover lost income due to (temporary) disability.
But at the same time, what you guys have in the states, the Cat system is something that we could copy in the Netherlands. Over here you only have basically two cats, Cat B: beginners and not-to-serious-racers, and Cat A: (wannabe) serious amateurs combined with elite amateurs. A nationwide cat 1-5 system with pro on top would be a nice sytem to have, as it is nearly impossible to do real amateur road races in the Netherlands unless you go elite-level. For the non-elites it is basically limited to club-races on the small circuits.
However, in Belgium there are cyclo-sportives that are open to all amateur that are very cool, but don't really work on a team-level and are more individual events.
05-20-15, 06:25 AM
#8878
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If an eBay seller isn't going to answer my questions, which are completely fair questions, then I'm just not going to bid.
I don't know why it is so hard for sellers to respond to a question.
I don't know why it is so hard for sellers to respond to a question.
05-20-15, 07:29 AM
#8879
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05-20-15, 08:56 AM
#8880
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While driving in to work today, the car two in front of me had their hood pop off and went flying. Car in front slammed on the brakes, car with no hood skidded out on the shoulder. Even though a car was there, I tucked in as tight as I could knowing the car was going to scoot off a bit to the left. Made it out unscathed, bpm didn't go over 100. nbd.
Crit skills can be useful in life
Crit skills can be useful in life
05-20-15, 09:12 AM
#8881
out walking the earth
Thread Starter
California is a wonderland where cat 4s have crit skills and earn domestic pro salaries. Since we can't find a home to move to I'm heading out there and hoping and I can land a role bringing fudgy water bottles.
05-20-15, 09:22 AM
#8882
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I have space in my barn.
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05-20-15, 10:33 AM
#8886
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Speaking of leadouts. I know leadouts are usually chaotic and rarely go by the book, but in a perfect world, what is the leadout guy supposed to do after he delivers his sprinter to wherever the sprinter wants to launch from? Hold his line and let the sprinter come around, wait for the sprinter to yell which way he should pull off, or wait for the sprinter to yell and pull off in some prearranged direction?
05-20-15, 10:40 AM
#8887
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If you're the last man, you go until you're sprinter comes around you. He may come around you solo, or he might have hitched a ride on someone who went earlier/too early. At that point you can't really make any side to side moves as you don't know what's going on behind you
05-20-15, 11:16 AM
#8888
Senior Member
Speaking of leadouts. I know leadouts are usually chaotic and rarely go by the book, but in a perfect world, what is the leadout guy supposed to do after he delivers his sprinter to wherever the sprinter wants to launch from? Hold his line and let the sprinter come around, wait for the sprinter to yell which way he should pull off, or wait for the sprinter to yell and pull off in some prearranged direction?
At Bethel, where I'd jump on a right curve but the finish is after a left curve, I'd yell at my guy to stay right, unless I went really early and then I'd want to sneak by on the right curb so as to force others to go the long way around the right curve.
In other courses I've snuck by on the curb, the idea being that many/most riders won't be able to jump quite as hard and therefore I can sneak by as the leadout guy is closing the door. This was my first leadout man's tactic, the one that taught me all about sprinting tactics. I knew I could clear him in 2 or 3 pedal strokes so he'd sort of ride an a very slight angle to the curb, I'd jump through the closing gap, either one or no riders would be able to follow, and ideally this would give me a slight head start in the sprint.
Finally, in a true leadout where it would be really hard to simply move around a guy, when I felt totally comfortable with my sprint form, I didn't worry about closing doors and such. I just went when I knew I could go to the line, and my leadout man would just pedal his heart out until I went by. Unfortunately for me these typically happened on the Tues Night Sprints or Gimbles, almost never in races (at least for the win).
If it's not a pre-ordained leadout guy, i.e. not my teammate or we didn't talk about lead outs, I just yell go-go-go and jump around when I want to go.
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"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
05-20-15, 11:48 AM
#8889
Version 7.0
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05-20-15, 12:42 PM
#8890
**** that
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If you're the last man, you go until you're sprinter comes around you. He may come around you solo, or he might have hitched a ride on someone who went earlier/too early. At that point you can't really make any side to side moves as you don't know what's going on behind you
05-20-15, 06:51 PM
#8891
Senior Member
Trying to give track racing a real shot, but every time I just really want to go home and relax instead. I really need this vacation coming up on Sunday
05-20-15, 09:50 PM
#8892
Senior Member
Speaking of leadouts. I know leadouts are usually chaotic and rarely go by the book, but in a perfect world, what is the leadout guy supposed to do after he delivers his sprinter to wherever the sprinter wants to launch from? Hold his line and let the sprinter come around, wait for the sprinter to yell which way he should pull off, or wait for the sprinter to yell and pull off in some prearranged direction?
After the race I asked a very good friend (we went to the Tour of Michigan together two years) how it went for him. He said he went to make a move just before the hill but the whole field shifted and the left side came to a virtual stop. Screwed up his race and all those guys were basically out of it after that. Oops.
The finish of that sprint. I'm the little guy, a bit of red with white sleeves. Blue/white (Pat Mac) beat me, he snuck past me on the curb and I declined to shut the door on him. I beat purple (Keith Berger I think, meaning the namesake of the crit coming up). Steve Gray in yellow is throwing his bike. Friend Gene C is sprinting to the far side, white with purple (our shop sponsored his team also). JJ slayed us all, he jumped, got his gap, and did a couple pedal strokes here and there to maintain the gap while he laughed and watched us sprint in vain trying to close the gap.
Picture (print and negatives) are in my possession, no idea who took it.
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"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
05-20-15, 11:29 PM
#8894
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Leadout depends on a lot of things...wind, race dynamics, Etc. Headwind you go until they come around, then just hold your line and keep pedalling. Crosswind you gutter then open a very small hole for your sprinter and make the others come around a double wide into the wind.
If you're the suspect you can decoy, or you can yank your guy away from the field and drop them at the doorstep.
Sometimes it's just a matter of keeping the pace high enough to keep things from swarming.
Done more than a few winning lead outs over the years and every one is a little different.
If you're the suspect you can decoy, or you can yank your guy away from the field and drop them at the doorstep.
Sometimes it's just a matter of keeping the pace high enough to keep things from swarming.
Done more than a few winning lead outs over the years and every one is a little different.
Last edited by Racer Ex; 05-20-15 at 11:32 PM.
05-21-15, 05:20 AM
#8896
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I've also done plenty over the years and I agree with Ex, they each have their unique parts. Speed is a huge factor. 1mph can change everything. It also depends where you are. A sweeper has a different role than the middle guy which is different than the last guy. One thing is for sure, they rarely go perfectly as planned. Another misconception is that if you are leading a sprinter out that you give up your chance for a strong finish. The win, yes, but you can podium or at least top ten as a lead out guy.
05-21-15, 05:26 AM
#8897
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05-21-15, 05:53 AM
#8898
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He's in the cat 3 field for Somerville on Monday. That's one wheel you definitely want to keep on eye on. CDR has mentioned before that he has mellowed out over the years although I have heard some horror stories about him from the 90s.
05-21-15, 06:05 AM
#8899
Ninny
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Eh, the guy's 58 years old. Not that that makes him slow, but in terms of personal risk, I'd be a lot more worried about some fast and inexperienced 20 year old you've never heard of.
05-21-15, 06:52 AM
#8900
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Late last month, I had an initial interview for a new job. It was with the HR person. After our interview, she said she wanted me to talk with the hiring manager and asked when I was available over the next week. I gave her some times. She said she'd get back to me.
I heard nothing.
A week and a half later, I called her back and left a voicemail saying I was still interested and hoped they were too. I still heard nothing.
Then yesterday, I noticed on their employment site that I was no longer being considered for the position.
Why tell me you wanted me to talk with the hiring manager if you weren't going to respond? Just say "Thank you, we are impressed by your credentials and if we want to talk with your further, we will get back to you?"
And in other news, I bought another SRM for my backup bike. I've been racing the backup bike more lately, I don't really know why, and I want power on it. I got it used and fairly cheap. It is only the spider for my Hollowgram cranks, which is part of the reason it was fairly affordable.
I heard nothing.
A week and a half later, I called her back and left a voicemail saying I was still interested and hoped they were too. I still heard nothing.
Then yesterday, I noticed on their employment site that I was no longer being considered for the position.
Why tell me you wanted me to talk with the hiring manager if you weren't going to respond? Just say "Thank you, we are impressed by your credentials and if we want to talk with your further, we will get back to you?"
And in other news, I bought another SRM for my backup bike. I've been racing the backup bike more lately, I don't really know why, and I want power on it. I got it used and fairly cheap. It is only the spider for my Hollowgram cranks, which is part of the reason it was fairly affordable.