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#31
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#32
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Tom Paterson wrote:
Relax, there will be more races. Keith Alexander wrote: *** Sure. But there is only one first. Enjoy losing your virginity, just remember not to go on the attack to early or you might be a feeling a bit flaccid at the end :-) |
#33
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On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 12:02:06 -0400, Alex Rodriguez
wrote: Have you practiced riding in a group? *** I have not. Looking to join a club soonest. --- k e i t h a l e x a n d e r http://www.nootrope.net http://www.modernamerican.com aim: nootrope9 tailwind - - e n d t r a n s m i s s i o n - - |
#35
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On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 20:26:30 -0400, Keith Alexander®
wrote: On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 12:02:06 -0400, Alex Rodriguez wrote: Have you practiced riding in a group? *** I have not. Looking to join a club soonest. Riding in a group is something that you have to practice and a skill you have to learn. In fact if you don't do it regularly, you'll lose some of your ability. The main thing is to tell the group you haven't, to not cross their rear wheel (overlap), and to learn the basics of pulling and then coming off the front safetly. A good way is to practice with one other experienced person and have them show you, then integrate into the group once you have some confidence and knowledge of drafting techniques. Takes about half a dozen rides to start getting it down. I'm not sure how you'd handle things like drafting in your first race if you've never done it before - some things not to do are obvious. But it's hard to do well in a race if you don't do some drafting. -B --- k e i t h a l e x a n d e r http://www.nootrope.net http://www.modernamerican.com aim: nootrope9 tailwind - - e n d t r a n s m i s s i o n - - |
#36
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Badger_South wrote: A good way is to practice with one other experienced person and have them show you, then integrate into the group once you have some confidence and knowledge of drafting techniques. Takes about half a dozen rides to start getting it down. I'm not sure how you'd handle things like drafting in your first race if you've never done it before - some things not to do are obvious. But it's hard to do well in a race if you don't do some drafting. i've never drafted while cycling, but even on skates it can be terrifying (for the wussies like me)- hard to see what's coming, loud, no room to bail, the person in front of you could take you out, the person behind you could grab you and take down if they trip. the person behind you keeps yelling at you to get even closer to the ****er in front of you... plus, at race speed there's not a lot of time to react. i like to go to crits just to marvel that the cyclists can get around the corners without wimpering in fear. heather, not helping things |
#37
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Benjamin Weiner wrote:
snip Bike racing is unlike running, for example, where you can just sign up for a 5K or 10K with no prior knowledge and there's little risk, beyond hurting your knees. Sometimes the first K of a 5K feels an awful lot like a crit, at least as far as bumping, fighting for position, and closing gaps. But your point is right on--the difference between running racing and bike racing is huge, and almost everyone doesn't get that until they've raced a bike. |
#38
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On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 01:35:15 GMT, h squared
wrote: Badger_South wrote: A good way is to practice with one other experienced person and have them show you, then integrate into the group once you have some confidence and knowledge of drafting techniques. Takes about half a dozen rides to start getting it down. I'm not sure how you'd handle things like drafting in your first race if you've never done it before - some things not to do are obvious. But it's hard to do well in a race if you don't do some drafting. i've never drafted while cycling, but even on skates it can be terrifying (for the wussies like me)- hard to see what's coming, loud, no room to bail, the person in front of you could take you out, the person behind you could grab you and take down if they trip. the person behind you keeps yelling at you to get even closer to the ****er in front of you... plus, at race speed there's not a lot of time to react. i like to go to crits just to marvel that the cyclists can get around the corners without wimpering in fear. heather, not helping things It can be a lot of fun learning to draft, finding where you're out of the wind, and having that teamwork going on. It's just like anything else - when you haven't done it you can't dissect the ability, and you can't fathom how to get there (remember watching skiing on TV before you learned?) But once you've done it a little, then you're actually excited to practice it. You don't really have to get as close to the other person as you'd think, and you can be several inches to the side and back 6-8 inches and still be in the drafting spot. It's a matter of control. Once you experience the control you're eager to do it more. One way to get into the drafting position, I've found (and I could be wrong), is to be going a little faster than the person, but be well to the side. Then you coast a little and drop back into the 'slot' behind them, (but still a little to the side of his wheel) and seek the spot where the wind is less. From there it's just a matter of pedalling every several seconds to keep in the slot. IOW, you don't try and pedal into the slot directly from behind - that can be a bit risky. You come up on the rider just a little faster, but to the side, and then drop back. That, to me seems safer. If you significantly lose the position, then you start over, speed up well to the side and slip back. Of course the person knows you're doing this and concentrates on keeping a steady speed and stable course. You pre-arrange which side you're going to go to set up - usually to his left. I find it's best if you're wearing mirrors, so you can check now and then, but YMMV. Then, once you have that down, you can get into drafting position in any number of ways. Obviously you want to practice on the flat and straight, and where there's no traffic - maybe a large parking lot or low traffic dead end street. Again, I'm no expert. I'm just sharing some methods I use. Maybe others have a better way. -B |
#39
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On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 21:08:12 -0400, Badger_South
wrote: A good way is to practice with one other experienced person and have them show you, then integrate into the group once you have some confidence and knowledge of drafting techniques. *** May sound silly, but after reading about and watching pacelines, I asked my girlfriend to work with me on a mini version. We took turns pulling and then veering left while the other took over and the leader fell back and in. Did it for a while at about 17MPH. Definitely a skill. Thanks for the advice. Here is a related journal entry I posted. --- "I am so not ready to race. I'm working from home today, but decided to get as many miles in as possible during a long lunch. Geared up, hopped on and took off. It's way hot in NYC. Anyway, I do the usual route today but I see this guy ..25 mile ahead, obviously a racer. I decide to try to close the gap but I just can't. We're at about 26MPH and despite my best effort, no luck. When I get to the finish and turn around for another 10 miles, he's rested a second and takes off after me. He gets right into my draft and "sucks my wheel" for at least a mile. At that point he takes the lead and I drop into his draft. "Cool" I think, a mini paceline. We'll take turns pulling. At about the 3 mile mark I figure it's my turn to pull and I take the lead. Well ****, this guy was having none of it this time and he took off. Tore my god damned legs right off. I gave chase and did ok for 2 minutes. Problem is, my heart rate hit 189. That's theoretically impossible for me to keep up for more than 20-30 seconds without needing to recover, but I did and I paid the price. I dropped to 14MPH and realized my ass was firmly kicked. He passed me on the way back with not even a nod. Damn." --- k e i t h a l e x a n d e r http://www.nootrope.net http://www.modernamerican.com aim: nootrope9 gogogo - - e n d t r a n s m i s s i o n - - |
#40
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Keith Alexander® wrote:
On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 21:08:12 -0400, Badger_South wrote: A good way is to practice with one other experienced person and have them show you, then integrate into the group once you have some confidence and knowledge of drafting techniques. *** May sound silly, but after reading about and watching pacelines, I asked my girlfriend to work with me on a mini version. We took turns pulling and then veering left while the other took over and the leader fell back and in. Did it for a while at about 17MPH. Definitely a skill. Thanks for the advice. Here is a related journal entry I posted. --- "I am so not ready to race. snip I dont know if this has already been covered but the most important thing is DO NOT GET DISHEARTENED. You are probably in for a kicking but this is not unusual in your first race. I once nearly got dropped in the neutralised zone before the official start. If the bunch does manage to get away from you let it go. Here (UK) you can rejoin the bunch when they lap you as long as you dont contest for sprints or the finish. Oh and remember that when you think your lungs are about to burst this is unlikely to happen Have fun. Stan Cox |
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