Drafting
Capt_Apollo
Posts: 9,026 Member
Just wondering peoples thoughts about drafting. i was reading a comment in an article about how a veteran told a newbie on the bike to stop drafting him, and she laughed it off, and even podiumed in her age group.
i know it's illegal, and if you don't get caught there are no consequences. i've not done it for an extensive period of time, but have probably took too long to pass than i should have.
With more and more people doing triathlons, should it be allowed? or how can it be better enforced? do all the serious athletes have to take it upon themselves to enforce it?
i know it's illegal, and if you don't get caught there are no consequences. i've not done it for an extensive period of time, but have probably took too long to pass than i should have.
With more and more people doing triathlons, should it be allowed? or how can it be better enforced? do all the serious athletes have to take it upon themselves to enforce it?
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If you allow drafting, you be definition allow peletons, and if you do that, you're going to end up with "teams".
IMO it should remain on the not-allowed list.0 -
If you're in a draft legal race then draft if not it's cheating (and given the average biking skill level at many recreational triathlons probably unsafe).0
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If you allow drafting, you be definition allow peletons, and if you do that, you're going to end up with "teams".
IMO it should remain on the not-allowed list.
My greater concern would the be safety. The last thing we need is a bunch of novice racers trying to ride crit-style.
IMO, race organizers should put more emphasis on getting people to stay to the right when they ride. Pass on the left, ride on the right. The only time I've ever drafted was when people were riding 4 wide and there was no room to pass, or when people just refused to get over (I hate passing on the right).
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With the number of really poor bike handlers and newbies in triathlon there is no way in hell drafting should be allowed. Especially on Tri/TT bikes. At least from a safety standpoint.0
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On the other hand I think draft legal races will become more popular moving forward. I don't like them because it negates my biggest strength which is the bike.0
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I'm a poor swimmer (for now) so I don't need to worry about this
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On the other hand I think draft legal races will become more popular moving forward. I don't like them because it negates my biggest strength which is the bike.
Why do you think they'll become more popular?0 -
On the other hand I think draft legal races will become more popular moving forward. I don't like them because it negates my biggest strength which is the bike.
Why do you think they'll become more popular?
Honestly because they're raced on roadies with shorty bars. The illusion that you need a dedicated bike, aero helmet, etc isn't there. Plus it's the new shiny thing.
Personally I like the long course. 13.1 or 26.2 of moderate to fast paced running off the bike is much more appealing to me than redlining my effort for 5-10k0 -
If you allow drafting, you be definition allow peletons, and if you do that, you're going to end up with "teams".
IMO it should remain on the not-allowed list.
My greater concern would the be safety. The last thing we need is a bunch of novice racers trying to ride crit-style.
IMO, race organizers should put more emphasis on getting people to stay to the right when they ride. Pass on the left, ride on the right. The only time I've ever drafted was when people were riding 4 wide and there was no room to pass, or when people just refused to get over (I hate passing on the right).
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i agree. i've seen too many people cycling next to each other, or on the left side of the road. i dislike passing on the right myself. just so many people don't understand the courtesies.0 -
If you allow drafting, you be definition allow peletons, and if you do that, you're going to end up with "teams".
IMO it should remain on the not-allowed list.
My greater concern would the be safety. The last thing we need is a bunch of novice racers trying to ride crit-style.
IMO, race organizers should put more emphasis on getting people to stay to the right when they ride. Pass on the left, ride on the right. The only time I've ever drafted was when people were riding 4 wide and there was no room to pass, or when people just refused to get over (I hate passing on the right).
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i agree. i've seen too many people cycling next to each other, or on the left side of the road. i dislike passing on the right myself. just so many people don't understand the courtesies.
It's not a courtesy in races, it's a rule. It's unfortunate that the cost of having enough officials on course is so prohibitive. Drafting, passing on the right, not falling back when passed, etc all need to be more strictly enforced.0 -
If you allow drafting, you be definition allow peletons, and if you do that, you're going to end up with "teams".
IMO it should remain on the not-allowed list.
My greater concern would the be safety. The last thing we need is a bunch of novice racers trying to ride crit-style.
IMO, race organizers should put more emphasis on getting people to stay to the right when they ride. Pass on the left, ride on the right. The only time I've ever drafted was when people were riding 4 wide and there was no room to pass, or when people just refused to get over (I hate passing on the right).
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i agree. i've seen too many people cycling next to each other, or on the left side of the road. i dislike passing on the right myself. just so many people don't understand the courtesies.
It's not a courtesy in races, it's a rule. It's unfortunate that the cost of having enough officials on course is so prohibitive. Drafting, passing on the right, not falling back when passed, etc all need to be more strictly enforced.
Here's the thing that gets me...
I'm an average age group racer. I generally finish right about the middle of my age group and the middle overall. So the people I'm passing on the bike aren't high level racers and probably have no earthly chance at placing in their age group. The extra 2 seconds they'd lose if they moved over to allow someone to pass makes NO DIFFERENCE to them.
I will say that whenever I yell at someone to get over, they generally do... so I really think it's largely an awareness thing for them. Doesn't make it right... but ignorance is easier to forgive than stupidity or arrogance.0 -
Here's the thing that gets me...
I'm an average age group racer. I generally finish right about the middle of my age group and the middle overall. So the people I'm passing on the bike aren't high level racers and probably have no earthly chance at placing in their age group. The extra 2 seconds they'd lose if they moved over to allow someone to pass makes NO DIFFERENCE to them.
I will say that whenever I yell at someone to get over, they generally do... so I really think it's largely an awareness thing for them. Doesn't make it right... but ignorance is easier to forgive than stupidity or arrogance.
So, when I did my race, I noticed something, the people obviously new (me, and a bunch of folks I passed) stayed far right, unless they thought they had a good chance to pass. The folks I saw crapping all over the ride on the right rule were the folks on roadies with aero bars and tri team jersies. Many of them would ride two abreast so they could chat. It was terrible, and to hell with you if you wanted to pass. That said, there were a lot of people who couldn't keep their line, so when people were bunching up it got dicey.
Add in the rules ALLOWING drafting, you'll get a noob pack, a little wheel to wheel, and 50% of the age groupers are headed to the medical tent. I personally think it's dangerous, based on what I saw, but I've been in one race, so all I have is opinion based on that.0 -
i've seen all types violate all different rules.
i saw a guy on his super tri bike jump around a cone and go to the other side of the bike course to pass people. almost hit me and two others that were coming in the opposite direction.
the bigger races tend to have better organization and have people explain and brief the athletes before the race. case in point, the NYC Triathlon is huge, and you'd think it would be a cluster****, but it's not. it also does have about two volunteers per person racing though.
i did one small race in long island though, that actually let two people race without helmets on. -_- i don't know if they snuck past the guy at the transition area, or if they didn't even bring them.0 -
i did one small race in long island though, that actually let two people race without helmets on. -_- i don't know if they snuck past the guy at the transition area, or if they didn't even bring them.
LOL I've seen people DQed for unbuckling their helmets before racking their bike ............sounds like a very poorly run event.0 -
The one I ran was an instant DQ if you are outside of the transition with your bike helmet unbuckled.
Riding without? That's asking for it.0 -
i've seen all types violate all different rules.
i saw a guy on his super tri bike jump around a cone and go to the other side of the bike course to pass people. almost hit me and two others that were coming in the opposite direction.
the bigger races tend to have better organization and have people explain and brief the athletes before the race. case in point, the NYC Triathlon is huge, and you'd think it would be a cluster****, but it's not. it also does have about two volunteers per person racing though.
i did one small race in long island though, that actually let two people race without helmets on. -_- i don't know if they snuck past the guy at the transition area, or if they didn't even bring them.
Wow! I race very small events and I've never seen anything like that. Always super strict on those rules.
I did do one users drafting was rampant. It was frustrating. And I am by no means a great rider. I even had to ask people to move over (riding side by side, 3-4 across) so I could pass without crossfit yellow line.
I will not do that race again. (It was a crappy course anyway).
I understand the issues behind enforcement but this was way out of the ordinary. Same province, same governing body.0
This discussion has been closed.