I mentioned this to Candi off-list, but I'll repeat here.
The instructions we were given at the start line indicated that we were
able to use the full width of the turn on the corners that had corner
marshals. I don't recall the exact language used or that the
instruction were as crystal clear as what Craig recalls (maybe my memory
fails me), but I was certainly given the impression that going over
centerline was allowed in the corners that had corner marshals.
Common sense would dictate that the centerline rule would be in effect
elsewhere on the course.
The start line was another matter. Teams were staged 4 riders across at
the start line, which takes up the whole lane. Maybe I am mistaken,
but I thought there was a course marshal stopping traffic in the
oncoming lane near the start. Maybe not though, we did have an oncoming
car come through at us on our first lap. At any rate, there was no safe
way to observe the centerline with the way the start was configured,
since hugging the yellow line with the right lane packed full already
isn't safe either.
I don't think you should enforce centerline violations on a marshaled
corner if the official announces (at least to some teams) at the start
that you can use the whole road (or some such language that implies that
is the case).
Some of the photos in question were taken on the 90 degree left hand
turn about 2/3 of the way down the east side of the course (heading
south). This corner was not at an intersection and had no corner
marshals. I think that would qualify as a centerline violation. At
least it would in a road race.
So, what about marshaled corners in a road race? I don't think I've
ever seen the peloton stay within the yellow lines going around a tight
corner in a road race where corner marshals are holding back traffic.
So, is that because it is OK to cross the centerline where the corner
marshal has control of traffic, or is it becuase it would be near
impossible to enforce (try taking down 75 numbers after every corner)?
________________________________
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Craig Austin
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 4:13 PM
To: uma kleppinger; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Rules? The Letter of Law, etc.
I can't speak for the other groups, but the official at the start line
was very clear for my group; he said we could cross the line only where
there were corner marshals and traffic controls; he specifically
mentioned the start line as one of those places, as another team came by
us while he was explaining. He also mentioned the corner between the
finish and the start, the first marshalled corner after the start, and
the hard left-hander before the run-in to the finish. He said the road
was open to traffic everywhere else and that we should observe the
centerline rule. It seemed pretty clear to me at the time that he was
saying there were certain sharp corners where you might go wide, and
those corners were all manned to make sure traffic was controlled. He
never said anything about taking a shorter line elsewhere. Maybe he
didn't say it to everyone, I don't know, but at least in our case there
was no gray area over the centerline rule.
Craig Austin
________________________________
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org on behalf of uma kleppinger
Sent: Mon 5/14/2007 3:30 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Rules? The Letter of Law, etc.
At the recent OBRA officials training, Candi was quite clear about the
center line rule. I might say she hammered it home. In fact she said it
about 12 different ways. My favorite one was: "Cross the center line and
you're dead".
Having said that, I guess I'm dead or close to it. Our team had to cross
the center line to pass a large group of riders and bystanders
(officials, maybe?) fanned out across the roadway at the start line. (If
you look at the photos you'll see some 4 person teams straddling their
bikes at the start, taking up the entire lane or pretty near to it.)
There was no way for our team to safely pass when we did without moving
just to the left of center. There was an official there with the group
of riders waiting to start who was motioning for us to slow down. We
literally would have had to STOP in order to not cross the line at all.
We rode the line and moved back to the right side of the road as quickly
as possible after passing the team and officials on the roadway at the
start. It was the only safe option. I noticed most teams did the same,
and actually quite a few just moved well into the oncoming traffic lane
around the start.
No instructions were given to us regarding how to deal with this
situation prior to the race start. No special instructions were given
regarding center line at all.
Still, being a good student at the officials training, I figured center
line rule was in force. This assumption meant our team slowed for sharp
corners rather than shaving valuable time off our score by flying across
the road into a more shallow turn. It's the kind of maneuver effectively
"straightens out the road" and chops seconds off your time by shortening
your distance. I know this, but I chose to obey the rules. To find out
later that SO MANY did not is maddening. Perhaps I am naive and should
have known that rules don't apply to time trials where riders are going
faster (it seems this is the logic several people have used in defending
cutting corners).
Cornering that way would have won the race for us but I am absolutely
positive it would have improved our time, and while I wasn't competing
against the teams that *did* flagrantly violate this sacred rule, you
can't have a rule go both ways and only apply to *some* teams. When I
went online to look at the photos I was appalled at the flagrant and
certifiably unfair disregard for this rule.
As to the comment "it is a race, they are riding hard as a team and
trying to push the limit and get a championship medal. No one is hurt,
no one is worse off for it." I have to say: It is not just a race, it is
a time trial. Every second counts. Those teams who went shallow into the
turns well into the oncoming lane knew exactly what they were doing. Had
it been legal I would have done the same. Because every second counts
and because I know that I could save time and maintain a higher speed by
taking a corner that way.
As for no one being hurt, define hurt. If we don't all play by the same
rules, it's not a fair fight, it's hitting below the belt. If you were
racing, I think you'd agree, that kinda hurts a little. Time trialing is
painful enough without adding insult to injury.
As for photographers editing their pics, I say, just post the photos.
The work of the photographers is to document the races, not editorialize
by becoming ad-hoc race officials while they are editing for picture
quality.
Maybe everyone will have to be DQd to set the example that centerline
rules are omnipotent. Rematch, anyone?
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