Matthew Payson

As a novice men's racer, thanks for the advice. I know it was well
intentioned and was meant to be only helpful and hopefully avoid some
serious accidents.

I just think in general some of the advice-givers (and chimer-in'ers) could
take the tone down a notch. It's not necessary and no matter how well
intentioned it comes off as arrogant and a bit obnoxious.

Speaking from my personal experience, both in the clinic I attended a few
weeks ago (Memorial Day) and racing nights since then, I've either been told
directly or have overhead another novice racer being instructed (from the
mentors) that we should be racing in the drops for stability and bike
handling, and our elbows should be bent as well as as having our arms
relaxed, for all the the reasons that you good folks have already discussed.

That said, we are only racing 7 laps on a fairly non-technical closed
circuit course (i don't know all the appropriate terminology so let's not
get picky please – you get the point) so remaining in the drops, at least
during the majority of the race, especially in the more technical sections,
shouldn't be a problem.

I think it's quite patronizing that the image examples given were all from
open road races (either one day classics or stage races etc) where of course
racers (pros no-less who obviously have excellent bike handling skills) will
rest their hands on the hoods, amongst a number of more comfortable
positions chosen over the course of a race that might last up to 6 or 7
hours in duration.

Anyway, I've gone on long enough. But speaking for myself as a novice racer,
I do get it. And speaking for all novice racers, men and women, please just
remember, you all were a novice at some point, even if you didn't realize it
at the time.

Thanks. -matt

Message: 16
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 14:18:45 -0700
From: joe cipale
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tip for PIR Novice Men Part 2
To: obra@list.obra.org
Message-ID: <200906081418.46290.joec@aracnet.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Bryan,

Nice writeup and a worthwhile attempt. Sadly, most folks just dont get it.
:(

Joe