Kelly Wieber
Mike, you are, in fact, somewhat of an expert here. I agree with your
points and will add a couple.
Can't agree more about the single pace line (one line with the front rider
dropping quickly all the way to the back). You have stated well the
advantage of getting to benefit from stronger riders taking longer pulls. I
have also long contended that this offers more rest for everyone, resulting
in a faster group.
In terms of the double pace line and changing directions of the rotation,
this quite often causes problems and results in a loss of momentum. When
the group is in sync it works very smoothly and greater benefit is gained.
Changing the rotation offers more protection to the group that is coming
through, again resulting in a faster more effecient group. Last week the
wind was out of the Northwest, more West than north. On the front stretch
only it was better to be coming through (faster side of the paceline) on the
right side, puling off to the left - getting a little protection from the
slight wind from the north. The rest of the course is really where
protection was key because of the head/side wind. Coming through on the
left, pulling off to the right, offered more protection on the back stretch
and was especially valuable in the turns when facing south.
In those particular conditions, per Steve's comments, there would have been
little lost in just keeping the rotation pulling off to the right for the
whole course to limit confusion and loss of momentum.
PIR has always been a great place to learn these skills and practice them.
Best,
KW
From: Mike Murray <mike.m-@obra.org>
Reply-To: mike.m-@obra.org
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Handicap races
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 19:56:39 -0700
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
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