Ron and Dorothy Strasser
I know and accept rules of the "official racing organizations" but do have my own opinion.
This concept of pulling riders when getting lapped in a cyclocross race is where I do not agree with any of the organizations including OBRA. The one exception is if it is being done so the riders will not continue to straggle in so long as to throw the following races off schedule. I do not think there is any rider that has more right to be on the course than another based on leading or last. I am sure I am in the minority on this, but I believe the people racing for first through twentieth need to deal with the other riders on the course, including the riders being lapped. That is part of racing. Racers at the front can deal with this traffic and if some advantage or disadvantage takes place because of other riders.... that is racing. If riders other than the top forty or fifty riders are not considered worthy of doing the race, then they should get to race for half-price, or get their own race. Top riders who do not cry about having to deal with traffic or the like in a race get my vote as being humans who understand that life is not "just about him/her. That is one reason why I have little tolerance for any rider I hear yelling angrily at another rider to get out of the way or such when we are out there racing. Racing can be a very positive experience as long as we choose to make it so. Racing in traffic is part of what make cyclocross fun.
If the rules say we get pulled and I enter the race, then I do so knowing I may get pulled. I would just love to see this minimized so all racers get to test themselves as much as possible.
my two cents
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Russell @ Upper Echelon Fitness
To: Joel Morrissette
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Nationals field size
Joel - The answer is yes. The Masters field will have Cat 1 riders in it (but none who are classified as UCI Elite per the rules) who will lap high into the fields. But how often do you get to go compete at the national championships? Go for it anyway. It'll be fun while it lasts.
Riders are pulled as they get lapped or before they get lapped. Sometimes a rider on the cusp or getting lapped will get pulled. The reason is to keep the course clear for the leaders, especially at the end of the race near the finish. Of course it also means less riders to score at the finish, but not necessarily the reason for pulling riders.
Russell Cree, DPT
Upper Echelon Fitness, LLC
Coaching I Bike Fitting I Phys Testing I Physical Therapy
www.upperechelonfitness.com
Phone: 503.501.8121
Fax: 503.345.0999
On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 2:13 PM, Joel Morrissette wrote:
Given that all 4 categories are staged/started together in the Masters races, should I assume a significant portion of the field is going to get pulled? It seems highly likely that the cat1 and cat2 riders in any masters field will lap the 3s and 4s. As a 3, am I shelling out $100+ for a 20 minute race?
OBRA, I love you more.
-Joel
On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 2:08 PM, david baker wrote:
Usually they pull riders who are getting lapped. I think to avoid confusion
in lap counting and to keep the contenders from having to pass so many
riders.
At these Nationals field sizes are already approaching 200 riders so there
could be significant amounts of pulled riders. Beware...
----- Original Message ----- From: "Shane Y. Gibson"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Nationals field size
David Rosen wrote:
I am sure they will be pulling riders. They do it every year at the USGP as
well as the Star Crossed/ Rad Racing weekends. I was pulled 3 years ago from
the USGP and I was on the lead lap! Go figure.
I've never seen/done/or know about the Nationals. What are the reasons
they "pull" a rider? They don't like your bike color? :-) In all
seriousness - why do they pull riders?
--Shane
--
Wicked Race Director
Wicked Adventure Racing, LLC
http://www.WickedAR.com/
shane@WickedAR.com
503.679.8849
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life
is either a daring adventure or nothing." ** Helen Keller **
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