Triathletes on bikes - what a shambles!

[Globalti]

I rode down to Manchester yesterday and going south from the M65 through Wheelton towards Chorley got mixed up with the Ironman competitors for a few miles. It was heading south west, straight into the wind but I've never seen such a disorganised rabble, they were strung out all over the place making no attempt to work together. As I was on a 38 mile ride not 112 miles, I was going harder so I slowly overhauled a few of them; each time I had a bit of a chat and told the rider to get on my wheel and I would give them a bit of shelter and a boost. Not one single rider took me up, they all smiled politely and when I next looked back they were falling behind. If I was riding a triathlon I would try to get a chain gang together so as to reduce the effort for a few riders.... but then I would never do a triathlon because swimming bores me and I can't run for toffee.

I can only assume that triathlons are done by solitary athletes who have no interest in forming alliances for their mutual benefit. Strange folk indeed. Or is there a rule against drafting?

 

[chillyuk]

It's been a good few years since I did one and it certainly wasn't an Ironman, more like a milk bottle top man. In those days we weren't allowed to draft another cyclist and could be penalised or even disqualified. Perhaps no-one has told the bunch you saw that the rules have changed.

 

[VamP]

I rode down to Manchester yesterday and going south from the M65 through Wheelton towards Chorley got mixed up with the Ironman competitors for a few miles. It was heading south west, straight into the wind but I've never seen such a disorganised rabble, they were strung out all over the place making no attempt to work together. As I was on a 38 mile ride not 112 miles, I was going harder so I slowly overhauled a few of them; each time I had a bit of a chat and told the rider to get on my wheel and I would give them a bit of shelter and a boost. Not one single rider took me up, they all smiled politely and when I next looked back they were falling behind. If I was riding a triathlon I would try to get a chain gang together so as to reduce the effort for a few riders.... but then I would never do a triathlon because swimming bores me and I can't run for toffee.

I can only assume that triathlons are done by solitary athletes who have no interest in forming alliances for their mutual benefit. Strange folk indeed. Or is there a rule against drafting?

I think that as in time trials, drafting results in disqualification. Makes sense if you think about it, otherwise people's times would be down to pot luck as to who they managed to draft behind.

 

[VamP]

Yep, thought so:

Rules on drafting

 

[chris-s]

Generally, unless otherwise specified, drafting is against the rules. There are specific rules regarding the distance and time taken to pass slower riders, if caught then you will be penalised.

Some events are more strict about this than others. I find that when creeping up on a rider ahead, having the power to pass them within the rules can be a struggle so generally give them a wide berth and crawl past.

Chris

 

[Rob3rt]

I rode down to Manchester yesterday and going south from the M65 through Wheelton towards Chorley got mixed up with the Ironman competitors for a few miles. It was heading south west, straight into the wind but I've never seen such a disorganised rabble, they were strung out all over the place making no attempt to work together. As I was on a 38 mile ride not 112 miles, I was going harder so I slowly overhauled a few of them; each time I had a bit of a chat and told the rider to get on my wheel and I would give them a bit of shelter and a boost. Not one single rider took me up, they all smiled politely and when I next looked back they were falling behind. If I was riding a triathlon I would try to get a chain gang together so as to reduce the effort for a few riders.... but then I would never do a triathlon because swimming bores me and I can't run for toffee.

I can only assume that triathlons are done by solitary athletes who have no interest in forming alliances for their mutual benefit. Strange folk indeed. Or is there a rule against drafting?

You arent allowed to draft in an Ironman. Drafting each other or drafting you would have resulted in a time penalty or disqualification. Thats why they smiled politely and then didnt take up your offer.

There are some draft legal triathlons, but IM and 70.3 isnt one of them.

 

[chillyuk]

You arent allowed to draft in an Ironman. Drafting each other or you would be a time penalty or disqualification.

Further to my post, is it only Ironman events that ban drafting. Watching triathlons on TV riding in a group or a few riders working together seems to be the norm. I'm sure I heard the rules have changed to allow this.

 

[Rob3rt]

Further to my post, is it only Ironman events that ban drafting. Watching triathlons on TV riding in a group or a few riders working together seems to be the norm. I'm sure I heard the rules have changed to allow this.

You can draft in some events, but only if the rules specify this. Typically the elite events allow drafting, bottom rung of the ladder athletes, typically cant, for obvious reasons (i.e. they dont want in-experienced people in mass participation events crashing into each other). In draft legal triathlons you will see them use normal road bikes and occasionally very short tribars with the bars joined together at the end, in non-draft legal they will ride full TT bikes.

BTW, I know someone who did that Ironman yesterday, I'm still trying to find out if he finished/what his time was.

 

[zizou]

Probably due to the no drafting rules.

However despite that triathletes do have a bit of a reputation for being poor bike handlers - probably due to time constraints and the need to fit in the other training needed they end up doing a higher proportion of their bike training on turbo trainers rather than out on the road.

On a related note this video always amuses me

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRKajY5GlyI[/media]

 

[fossyant]

Shocking bike handlers, and most aren't very good cyclists. Those 'good' cyclists are usually elite class though.

That video is so funny. Far better off putting shoes on first, unless you can do it without crashing.

The Manchester 100 ran into a triathlon last year - that was entertaining.

 

[HLaB]

I watched the Strathclyde CP tri a few years back and one of the leading athletes jumped on his bike only to go head over the handlebars, I'm not exactly sure how he managed to do that from a standing start!

 

[Ravenbait]

Shocking bike handlers, and most aren't very good cyclists. Those 'good' cyclists are usually elite class though.

AHEM!




Because of course, all non-triathletes are experts, yes?

Sam

 

[davefb]

You can draft in some events, but only if the rules specify this. Typically the elite events allow drafting, bottom rung of the ladder athletes, typically cant, for obvious reasons (i.e. they dont want in-experienced people in mass participation events crashing into each other). In draft legal triathlons you will see them use normal road bikes and occasionally very short tribars with the bars joined together at the end, in non-draft legal they will ride full TT bikes.

BTW, I know someone who did that Ironman yesterday, I'm still trying to find out if he finished/what his time was.

fwiw

I went down to watch,,, it was pretty dammned amazing, I mean, 2.6 miles swimmming, 112miles bike

then a marathon............

To be honest, a lot of the people don't look like the right 'build' for marathon running let alone bike riding (not all though, some were quite svelte), but frankly, who am I to judge since I only saw them about half way through the marathon... there were some pretty tired/broken looking people! And this was only at about 3pm, the finish line stays open till something like 10 for the "stragglers"...

I'd do it (obviously) if it wasnt for that swimming (..... yeah right..)

 

[Globalti]

I followed a trail of gel wrappers, bottles, bidons and even a dropped Power bar up the hill from the M65. Nearly stopped for the Power bar....

 

[davefb]

I followed a trail of gel wrappers, bottles, bidons and even a dropped Power bar up the hill from the M65. Nearly stopped for the Power bar....

we were walking into town (bolton) and as we approached a water station manned by army cadets,,, we heard this BIG shouting..

some of the 'squaddie lights' were getting a right earbashing for basically 'not clearing up' the discarded cups and suchlike... 'stop watching the runners and get some work done!!!!'



cue a few quiet and trying to suppress giggles middle aged peeps........ then about 30 seconds later this 50yr old runner goes by saying 'blimey , i'd rather do an ironman than work for her'......



well we laughed