Race Tactics

[mogulhead]

Been racing a little bit with C grade at Footscray Cycling Club and I've been wondering about tactics. In the race everyone seems to rotate through there turns until near the end of the race where they go for the sprint. This seems to work out fine and dandy for the sprinters and those who think they can sprint but for everyone else its a bit dull. I was wondering what others thought about just sitting in on the bunch without working and trying the odd break away. Does this violate some unwritten code of cycling. Would I be ostracised or run off the road. I reckon it would make the race a lot more exciting. Currently I just do my turns and end up having little energy available to manage a break away.

In the A grade criteriums I have seen they seem to do break after break with little or no cooperation with pacemaking in the bunch. This seems like a much more interesting way to race.

Anyone got any opinions, ideas, thoughts on this.

Cheers

 

[BrettS]

mogulhead wrote:

> Been racing a little bit with C grade at Footscray Cycling Club and I've
> been wondering about tactics. In the race everyone seems to rotate
> through there turns until near the end of the race where they go for
> the sprint. This seems to work out fine and dandy for the sprinters and
> those who think they can sprint but for everyone else its a bit dull. I
> was wondering what others thought about just sitting in on the bunch
> without working and trying the odd break away. Does this violate some
> unwritten code of cycling. Would I be ostracised or run off the road. I
> reckon it would make the race a lot more exciting. Currently I just do
> my turns and end up having little energy available to manage a break
> away.
>
> In the A grade criteriums I have seen they seem to do break after break
> with little or no cooperation with pacemaking in the bunch. This seems
> like a much more interesting way to race.
>
> Anyone got any opinions, ideas, thoughts on this.
>

It's called tactics. Sitting on and then attacking is what the pros do.
Feel free to try it. Breakaways, especially solo ones, are harder
than they look. Not doing any work to chase when your mate is in the
break is almost expected, especially by your mate.

A grade races, from what I've seen and heard surge a lot more, which
means they hurt a lot more. They are without a doubt the best (and
hardest) form of interval training I've done!

Feel free to spice it up if you get easily bored in the bunch

--
Brett "Easily bored" S

 

[Bleve]

Race tactics 101 :

Rule 1: Never turn a pedal without a purpose or a plan

Rule 2: Everyone is your team mate, most of them don't realise it

Rule 3: Race to your strengths (and train your weaknesses)

Rule 4: There is no prize for being the best worker in the bunch, only
for winning the race

You're carrying 10kg of head around during a race, use it!

 

[[email protected]]

Best post race comment I've ever heard in a c grade race

"How was your race ?"

"Good, felt great, bit tired though, I chased a lot of breaks down and
had nothing for the sprint"

We call these types "chase apes"

Every race has them...

 

[TimC]

On 2005-07-29, Bleve (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> You're carrying 10kg of head around during a race, use it!

Or cut if off

--
TimC
Black holes are where God divided by zero. -- Steven Wright

 

[hippy]

Race tactics 101 :
You're carrying 10kg of head around during a race, use it!

10kg.. or MORE!

he he hippy