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I am not so much of an expert, but here goes. There are 2 ways to do the
paceline. For a big group, like 20+ riders, the best thing is a rapidly
rotating double pace line. If the group is smaller, like last week, it is
probably better to have a single line with the pulling off riders dropping
back rapidly to the end off the line. (Think USPS at the TdF.) With a
double pace line short pulls and rapid rotation with the 2 lines staying
close to each other is essential. With a single line then the stronger
riders can pull longer and the weaker riders shorter. Also with a single
line it is less important whether the pull off is into the wind. It is more
important, though, that it is towards the outside of the turn. With a
double line the effects are just the opposite with regards to which
direction to pull off.
Something that people were ignoring last week is that the shortest line is
always the fastest. People need to take the as straight as possible line
through the turns and stay to the inside of the track on the straights.
When you pull off, don't pull wide instead just move a little so that the
shortest distance is traveled and everyone benefits from the maximum draft.
If you are not able to pull and are sitting at the back stay out of the way
of the rotation. Try to make it obvious to the rider coming back that he
needs to get in in front of you. You can say something but even better is
riding just a bit off to the side (generally into the wind) so that when he
looks back for the space in the forward moving line for him to get in he
does not see you there. If you do this you can pull through when you are
able but not make big gaps in the line when you are not. If you are doing
things correctly the most difficult portion is not while you are pulling but
rather while you are trying to get back on the end of the line.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Mullen [mailto:scmu-@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 12:28 PM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Handicap races
Mike (or anyone else), could you offer some additional paceline tips
specifically on pulling through as each rider rotates to the front of the
paceline?
Last week, some riders pulled longer than others. I was always taught to
pull over as soon as my rear wheel cleared the front wheel of the last
retiring rider. That way, the retiring rider gets the benefit of the draft.
Since you are pulling off into the wind, the advancing rider also gets some
benefit. Anyone have any opinions on this?
Another issue that I'm not clear on is, when do you change the direction
of rotation? There seemed to be a lot of confusion last week about whether
or not to change directions as we snaked through the S turns on either end
of the track. It seems you lose a certain amount of momentun every time you
change direction, so does it make sense to keep the rotation the same until
you hit the straight-away? Or are there different rules for cornering,
independent of the wind direction? Should the advancing line always take
the inside corner? Any team time trial experts out there want to talk about
cornering?
Thanks!
Steven Mullen.
In a message dated 9/7/2004 2:54:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
mike.m-@obra.org writes:
You are correct. Pull off into the wind. I had windward and leeward
transposed. You should see what my notes look like before spell
checking
;->
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve-@clark.wa.gov [mailto:Steve-@clark.wa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 13:49 PM
To: mike.m-@obra.org; ob-@topica.com
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Handicap races
That sounds excellent Mike. However, the riders that are moving to the
back
after pulling should do so on the windward side instead of the lee side
to
protect the other riders from the wind. Isn't that how it's supposed to
work?
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Murray [mailto:mike.m-@obra.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 1:40 PM
To: OBRA Remailer
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Handicap races
This month at PIR will be conducted as a handicap format. Candi asked
me to
post something about how to ride a handicap.
In a handicap race the riders are started at different times according
to
some pre-set handicapping criteria. The times are estimated to make it
probable that all the riders will come together in a single group just
before the finish. Obviously this is not what always happens.
Sometimes
the groups come together earlier and sometimes not at all. The winner
is
the first person across the line, regardless of which group they started
with. Handicaps change the dynamics of bike racing. They encourage
more
cooperative riding before the finish and they, obviously, make it easier
slower rider to win.
When you ride a handicap it is essential that the group works together
as
efficiently as possible before all the groups combine. This is just as
important for the slower handicapped groups as it is for the faster
groups.
The slower groups want to keep moving and stay away from the faster
groups
so that they will not need to sprint against them. The faster groups
want
to catch the slower groups as quickly as possible. To work together it
is
best if as many people participate in pulling as possible. Ideally
there
will be a long 2 abreast rotating pace line. The windward side will be
riders moving forward to take a pull at the front and the leeward side
will
be riders who have pulled and are rotating to the back. When you reach
the
back you switch back to the other line and move forward. Inevitably
there
will be people that will not pull, either because they can't or because
they
won't. Those people need to stay at the back and out of the way so that
the
rest of the group will work efficiently. They should never enter the
rotating group, go to the front and then not pull as this will slow the
entire group. Riders coming back in the line need to be aware of the
riders
that are not pulling and make sure that they get in back into the
forward
moving line without allowing a gap to open. If there are too many
people at
the back or if the people not pulling are obvious contenders for the
finish
it will make the group move less efficiently. Jumping off the front of
the
group should also be discouraged as this will also tend to slow the net
speed of the entire group. In fact, when going to the front it is
important
to avoid going to fast, creating a gap behind you that will need to be
closed. Ideally the rider in the lead will slow by virtue of being in
the
lead and the second person takes over the lead smoothly. As the groups
all
come together OR as the race approaches the finish the cooperative
effect
diminishes and regular bike racing dynamics apply.
Mike Murray
To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.
To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org
To unsubscribe send to
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<DIV><SPAN class=017473302-14092004>I am not so much of an expert, but here
goes. There are 2 ways to do the paceline. For a big group, like 20+
riders, the best thing is a rapidly rotating double pace line. If the
group is smaller, like last week, it is probably better to have a single line
with the pulling off riders dropping back rapidly to the end off the line.
(Think USPS at the TdF.) With a double pace line short pulls and
rapid rotation with the 2 lines staying close to each other is
essential. With a single line then the stronger riders can pull
longer and the weaker riders shorter. Also with a single line it is less
important whether the pull off is into the wind. It is more important,
though, that it is towards the outside of the turn. With a double line the
effects are just the opposite with regards to which direction to pull
off.</SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=017473302-14092004>Something that people were ignoring
last week is that the shortest line is always the fastest. People need to
take the as straight as possible line through the turns and stay to the
inside of the track on the straights. When you pull off, don't pull wide
instead just move a little so that the shortest distance is traveled and
everyone benefits from the maximum draft. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=017473302-14092004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=017473302-14092004>If you are not able to pull and are sitting
at the back stay out of the way of the rotation. Try to make it obvious to
the rider coming back that he needs to get in in front of you. You can say
something but even better is riding just a bit off to the side (generally into
the wind) so that when he looks back for the space in the forward moving line
for him to get in he does not see you there. If you do this you can pull through
when you are able but not make big gaps in the line when you are not. If you are
doing things correctly the most difficult portion is not while you are pulling
but rather while you are trying to get back on the end of the line.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=017473302-14092004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=017473302-14092004>Mike Murray</SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Steven Mullen
[mailto:scmu-@aol.com]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 13, 2004 12:28
PM<BR><B>To:</B> ob-@topica.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [OBRA Chat] Handicap
races<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Mike (or anyone else), could you offer some additional paceline tips
specifically on pulling through as each rider rotates to the front of the
paceline?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Last week, some riders pulled longer than others. I was always
taught to pull over as soon as my rear wheel cleared the front wheel of the
last retiring rider. That way, the retiring rider gets the benefit of
the draft. Since you are pulling off into the wind, the advancing rider
also gets some benefit. Anyone have any opinions on this?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Another issue that I'm not clear on is, when do you change the direction
of rotation? There seemed to be a lot of confusion last week about
whether or not to change directions as we snaked through the S turns on either
end of the track. It seems you lose a certain amount of momentun every
time you change direction, so does it make sense to keep the rotation the
same until you hit the straight-away? Or are there different rules
for cornering, independent of the wind direction? Should the advancing
line always take the inside corner? Any team time trial experts out
there want to talk about cornering?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks!</DIV>
<DIV>Steven Mullen.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 9/7/2004 2:54:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
mike.m-@obra.org writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
face=Arial>You are correct. Pull off into the wind. I had
windward and leeward<BR>transposed. You should see what my notes look
like before spell checking<BR>;-><BR><BR>Mike Murray<BR><BR>-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: Steve-@clark.wa.gov
[mailto:Steve-@clark.wa.gov]<BR>Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 13:49
PM<BR>To: mike.m-@obra.org; ob-@topica.com<BR>Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat]
Handicap races<BR><BR><BR>That sounds excellent Mike. However, the riders
that are moving to the back<BR>after pulling should do so on the windward
side instead of the lee side to<BR>protect the other riders from the wind.
Isn't that how it's supposed to<BR>work?<BR><BR>-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: Mike Murray [mailto:mike.m-@obra.org]<BR>Sent:
Tuesday, September 07, 2004 1:40 PM<BR>To: OBRA Remailer<BR>Subject: [OBRA
Chat] Handicap races<BR><BR><BR>This month at PIR will be conducted as a
handicap format. Candi asked me to<BR>post something about how to ride
a handicap.<BR><BR>In a handicap race the riders are started at different
times according to<BR>some pre-set handicapping criteria. The times
are estimated to make it<BR>probable that all the riders will come together
in a single group just<BR>before the finish. Obviously this is not
what always happens. Sometimes<BR>the groups come together earlier and
sometimes not at all. The winner is<BR>the first person across the
line, regardless of which group they started<BR>with. Handicaps change
the dynamics of bike racing. They encourage more<BR>cooperative riding
before the finish and they, obviously, make it easier<BR>slower rider to
win.<BR><BR>When you ride a handicap it is essential that the group works
together as<BR>efficiently as possible before all the groups combine.
This is just as<BR>important for the slower handicapped groups as it is for
the faster groups.<BR>The slower groups want to keep moving and stay away
from the faster groups<BR>so that they will not need to sprint against
them. The faster groups want<BR>to catch the slower groups as quickly
as possible. To work together it is<BR>best if as many people
participate in pulling as possible. Ideally there<BR>will be a
long 2 abreast rotating pace line. The windward side will be<BR>riders
moving forward to take a pull at the front and the leeward side will<BR>be
riders who have pulled and are rotating to the back. When you reach
the<BR>back you switch back to the other line and move forward.
Inevitably there<BR>will be people that will not pull, either because they
can't or because they<BR>won't. Those people need to stay at the back
and out of the way so that the<BR>rest of the group will work
efficiently. They should never enter the<BR>rotating group, go to the
front and then not pull as this will slow the<BR>entire group. Riders
coming back in the line need to be aware of the riders<BR>that are not
pulling and make sure that they get in back into the forward<BR>moving line
without allowing a gap to open. If there are too many people at<BR>the
back or if the people not pulling are obvious contenders for the
finish<BR>it will make the group move less efficiently. Jumping off
the front of the<BR>group should also be discouraged as this will also tend
to slow the net<BR>speed of the entire group. In fact, when going to
the front it is important<BR>to avoid going to fast, creating a gap behind
you that will need to be<BR>closed. Ideally the rider in the lead will
slow by virtue of being in the<BR>lead and the second person takes over the
lead smoothly. As the groups all<BR>come together OR as the race
approaches the finish the cooperative effect<BR>diminishes and regular bike
racing dynamics apply.<BR><BR>Mike Murray</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><PRE>To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.
To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org
To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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