| Subject: | Re: Sprint, and Portland Velo. |
| Date: | 03/31/2008 09:26 PM |
| From: | john <twotiretinker-obr..@yahoo.com> |
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The issue seems to be that many of us don't do enough road racing. I don't anymore, but use too in the midwest . If I wanted a chance at top ten in a field sprint i would start movingup at least 10 miles from the finish, this is not an exaggeration if large fields of skilled pack riders. It was hard to move up, usuallycould only do it at corners or if someone attacked and things openedup and then you had to jam faster than everyone else, and then once you were up front, you had to be assertive, and attack occasionally just tostay. In a real road race, ie POC, if the pack is bunched and your 2 k from the line and not in the first 3 or 4 lines, you don't stand a chance, ok slight maybe only if someone jumps soon and things open (i would usually be the guy sitting in 3rd line praying someone would jump things would open and soon). If you come up on 500 m and still bunched, and not in the first two maybe three lines, you really don't stand a chance even if your a great sprinter. Pros coming with lead out trains, thats not really controlling the pack, rather its power and speed and everyone trying to stay with or trying to get by with their own line. PIR finishing tactics are not on the same planet as road racing finish tactics. ----- Original Message ----
Ok. All this finger pointing is kinda lame. Personally, I've found PV riders are always willing to jump in the mix, help out, and work together. They're always willing to share the work, and race with class. I've never had a truely negative experience from them while racing. It sucks being a solo rider and having a larger team or two try and controll the race. It's fruterating as hell. In the end, if you're smart, that experience as a solo rider will most likely make you a better racer. now on to.... I don't think openeing the road before 200m would make anything safer to begin with. You'd just have more people with more space to get reckless in. Wide roads may make it easier to get around when you're cruising in the low to mid 20's, but when the pace picks up it strings out anyways, and one lane is plenty. As far as moving up is concerned. yeah, it sucks when there's not movement up front and the pace drops, or it gets hard to manouver around. But that's just the way it goes sometimes. After a season or two I think most people feel comfortable enough to ride between riders safely. Practice it on a group ride sometime. Some perceptions of what's dangerous and what's not change with experience, and comfort.
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