Racing Etiquette

[Labradorofperception]

I've been racing a season or two now, and have a question.

If I bridge to someone,then they sit on my wheel and get towed 5 miles all the way to the end, is it the done thing for them then to outsprint me to the line? We're talking about racing for pride at his stage, not points.

I was annoyed when it happened a couple of weeks back, but willing to admit it could be me being naive, it is a race after all.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Racing is racing.

Letting somebody win out of politeness isn't really racing. Though, people have told me I'm overly competitive

 

[ianrauk]

I would say in a competitive race. Points or pride. Then anything goes. Suck it up my man.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Your mistake for letting them wheelsuck for 5 miles

 

[swansonj]

Sounds like the sort of thing foreigners do* but not British people.

* along with winning

 

[Labradorofperception]

I suspected I was being a sport and a gentleman* - my butler said as much as we placed my Wolfblatter and Gripeson gentlemen's perambulator into the back of the shooting brake.


see also "muppet" and "noob"
.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

If you want a positive spin. You can always say you were to polite to win

 

[Ian193]

Should have made him do his turn on the front or dropped him

 

[Racing roadkill]

It's tactics. You want to be the hare, right up to the last 5 miles. Then you want to be the hound.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Toughen up. Lean how to plow him into the gutter. Fire snot rockets. Use your elbows creatively. Push him over the white line and then report him to the commissaire.
Remember, cycling is a contact sport.

 

[Labradorofperception]

I will return a wiser man next week and plunge for the line like a fat Abdoujaparov.

 

[Hacienda71]

It is tactics. If you suspect they are just waiting for the sprint at the end just pull off and let them pass you. The one I hate is when some of the bunch are working hard together to pull back a break and the rest are being towed along and then some of the sand baggers jump you on the line for the minor placings because the break wasn't caught, as they were too lazy or incapable to contribute.

 

[paraffinlamps]

Hacienda has summed up perfectly what to do and what happens in most local races weekly .

 

[mjr]

If I bridge to someone,then they sit on my wheel and get towed 5 miles all the way to the end, is it the done thing for them then to outsprint me to the line? We're talking about racing for pride at his stage, not points.

I've never raced seriously (and wouldn't want to with my health now) but I've watched loads and yes, it's the done thing and your mistake: cycle racing doesn't get called chess-on-wheels for nothing. If no points are left, I'd sit up and recover, then coast, then if they still won't lead you out or at least go for a side-by-side drag race, trackstand and make 'em choose between leading you out and getting overtaken by the next group!

 

[Labradorofperception]

Thanks guys - that's good honest feedback. I suspected I was being soft/crap/gullible.

I intend to race with a bit more tactical knowledge, look ahead and spot where I can sit in, work at th front and when I am bout to be sandbagged by someone sitting on.

To show how much of a good sport I am, I'll only rip one of his legs of next time, and make him write a polite letter asking for it back.