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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

727.0. "N. Andover race summary" by IAMOK::WESTER () Tue Jun 14 1988 17:04

    For those who may be interested, the following is a synopsis of
    Sunday's Citizen Kiwanis Road Race in North Andover.
    
    There were about 450 people for the mens race alone.  We were broken
    into 3 age groups: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39.  the groups went off
    individually with one minute separating the groups.  As you might
    guess, the following groups soon caught the preceding group.  
    
    It was a rolling 25+ mile course that I covered in 1:11.  There
    were 6 crashes that I saw and probably several others. I recorded
    a top speed of 47 mph on a long downhill while stuck in the middle
    of the pack.  The route was nice and the roads were in great shape.
    
    As usual the race was a bit disorganized, especially the finish.
    The race was similar to Lowell except the lead pack was bigger.
    There were about 50 of us who finished together.  The reason is
    obviously starting the groups so close together.  Our group quickly
    caught the 19 year olds, and the 30 year and ups quickly overtook
    us.  Thus, you had one big pack develop.
    
    Personnally it wasn't great for me as I spent most of the day in
    the bottom third of the pack.  Riding back there is much harder
    than up front.  every hill or corner where the leaders slow, the
    trailers almost have to stop and then sprint to catch up.  You're
    also at greater risk to crash because the better riders are up front,
    and when there is a crash anyone behind them is at risk to go down
    as everyone else slows.
    
    I don't know if there were any other DEC riders in the race, but
    with such a big field I'm sure there must have been.  I'd be curious
    to hear there observations.
    
    Dave
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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727.1Citizens racing doesn't HAVE TO be dangerousCIMNET::MJOHNSONCarbohydrates are recreational drugs.Tue Jun 14 1988 17:229
    An important fact I forgot to mention from my Italian trip report
    was that THERE WASN'T A SINGLE CRASH in the citizens races I 
    attended.  I was amazed at the organization of the event, the
    discipline of the riders, and the rational behavior of the 
    spectators and drivers on the course.  Citizens racing has a lot
    of maturing to do in America -- there's no excuse for the
    "rollerball" situation we have today.
    
    MATT
727.2It does get wild out thereIAMOK::WESTERWed Jun 15 1988 22:0128
"Rollerball" is an apt description for most citizens races today,
    unfortunately.  In Sunday's race there was absolutely no attention paid
    to the yellow line rule (you're not supposed to cross the yellow
    line in the middle of the road to pass).  Several times the pack
    was spread entirely across the road.  This, of course, is very dangerous
    if a car is coming the other way, and a blatant disregard of the
    rules!
    
    I think it comes down to an attitude of "screw the other guy, I'm
    gonna do what it takes to win!"  Everyone wants to come in first,
    but if you lose sight of common sense (it hurts to hit the pavement
    at 25 mph), all sorts of crazy things take place.  
    
    The crashes I saw usually were caused by reckless behavior. Making
    a jump to the outside when there are two riders already on your
    outside but there's a little gap you think you can squeeze through.
    Or sprinting with your head down while wandering all over the road.
    
    Part of the reason I finished at the back was I didn't want to try
    and get by any of those bozos!  When you're near the end of the
    pack you get to see all the crashes and wild moves, so it makes you 
    more cautious.
    
    For me, I'll try to stay up front with the better riders (no problem
    at Lowell), and hope for the best.  More and more, a USCF license looks
    like a good idea.