Bike Racing 102

Since most of us have taken Bike Racing 101, I thought I'd expand some horizons by taking it up a notch to Bike Racing 102. This is an intermediate course, so please make sure you've completed and passed the aforementioned course as a prerequisite.


Lesson #1: Blocking is negative racing. A more advanced and less barbaric strategy is covering everything that moves when you have someone in the break (CETM - because you know I love acronyms). Often confused as blocking, it is actually very effective without being negative.

Blocking is physically occupying the width of the road so no one can chase. CETM is simply following anyone who wants to chase. Do you see the difference ? In my humble opinion, if someone wants to get up to the break that bad, of course I'd want to hitch a ride to say hi to my teammate. It'd be downright rude not to.

So, for all of you that keep shouting about opposing teams blocking, check your terminology - perhaps you should be yelling "stop using strategy and pull us up to your teammate" - because that's what you really want anyway.

Lesson #2: Riding in the wind - in a peloton. When training, gusts of wind that throw you across the road suck but you can adjust at will without worrying about anyone else (except that car barreling toward you). When racing, you are handle-bar to handle-bar with, say, 50 of your closest friends in lycra, and it's a whole 'nother ball game. Small adjustments. Know the course so you know when you're turning into a cross-wind. And honestly, it's simple physics - put your weight on your front wheel (lets be honest, our back-wheels are not being pushed around). This isn't rocket science, kids.

Lesson #3: Trash-talking 101. The best trash talking is done with your legs. If you're whining about someone blocking (see Lesson #1), you'd probably be better served just going around them or putting in the extra effort so they don't get in front of you in the first place.

Lesson #4: When you write a post-race report, try and get at least the winner's name right. It was Michelle. And by the by, it was me that was trash talking. Right before I attacked going into the hill, where my teammates countered with the winning move (see Lesson#3). I love it when a plan comes together.

Lesson #5: These lessons have been hard-learned ... believe me, I've had my moments. This is all in good fun. I'm nowhere near race ready right now but I'm having fun and I'll get there. Everyone relax just a bit and remember we do this because we actually LIKE it. And if you don't ... maybe you should take up golf or chess ?

Happy Wednesday - I missed last week's TGIF so this is a mid-week HumpDay posting ... though I'm sure it won't have near the following as Kyle's old "Hump Day" posts ... I'm pretty sure he took that term literally. That one is a classic - I appreciate that he posted something for the girls for once. Thanks, Kyle.