Positioning in the bunch for races- surfing the wave

[Lister Farrar]

A few of us saw this and thought it was a good description of riding in a race pack. (Thanks jeff for the prompt to post.)

The discussion was about how to deal with the yellow line rule, but if you read further, he talks about general positioning.

The only thing I'd add is that the skill is also about a ton of cues it takes a while to learn, like what's happening further up the pack, the road surface and corners, the wind, and the tactical/strategic moment of the race.

For our group, we could do specific sessons if we could find a closed road circuit, but we could also just ride with good habits like staying on a wheel so it's automatic, looking well ahead, taking a smooth outside-apex-outside line through corners etc. Races are much harder if you have different habits on group rides.

And lest you think the sweet spot only works for a few, once the majority of the riders get the skills, the back is not so bad. So you can position yourself near the front until the less skilled riders are toasted and gone, and then the yo-yo at the back isn't so bad.

original: http://ccforums.ipbhost.com/index.php?s ... c=8325&hl=

(author MikeNovo )
Gomer,

It's a skill that needs to be aquired. If you see why you are losing spaces, you'll know how to get them back.

Most of the time, the swirling at the back half of the pack is too great for anyone to control without some muscle. That's were respect for the rider comes into play and the pecking order is known. Riders either let you by, or you are lost in the current and you fight to stay alive and on the right side of the yellow line. You are losing spaces primarily because of you position with overlaping riders.

When you are in a peleton and riders are side by side (handlebars) with you, it is very difficult to move up on you. But when everyone is staggered, it is very easy. It's difficult for a rider to picture it unless it is happening to you for some reason. Maybe it just sinks in better. A rider only has to get by you and get his bars ahead of you. You natural instinque is to prepare to break or coast. It depends on you comfort level. Some riders hold their own and stick out their hand and touch or push the passing rider to keep clear. Others just slow down and lose the spot. Either way, once the rider's hips pass you, you fate is pretty well sealed.

Another way to lose spots is on the return after doing a pull. As you drift back you may find it hard to find a spot (especially in a death line) that you can join back in. You eventually are too tired by the wind and speed. With no draft, you die quickly and are absorbed into the peleton. If it's really bad, you will find yourself at the back of the pack and barely hanging on. At this point, you are doomed. Most of the time, your pull at the front was too long.

Instead, you need to slowly position you hip ahead of the rider's handlebars and hang there. If you are respected, the rider will tell you to get in and open a spot for you. If not, the rider does not have faith in you and assumes you will gap the group. There is a fine line on how too do this. Too much and you are deemed a hack. Sometimes the deathline does it for you. As it snakes along, you let the rider ahead of you to drift in front of you as you hold your own. the rider behind can do nothing about.

The true Zen masters of draft are always at the front, but not. This rider always seems to be in what I call "the sweet spot" like a surfer on a wave. Never working hard and just out of the current of the peleton going forward and backward. This sweet spot is never in the same place. It adjusts with the unfoling of the race.

With practice and knowledge you may find yourself there more often and arriving to the sprint feeling fresher than ever. This is starting to sound more like and artcle now so I better get out of here.

Good Luck and practice this in you next race. It will only make you smarter.

Good Luck and keep trying.