TTT Etiquette

[Fozzy]

Hi all

Reflecting on todays ride, I would like to share my observations and hopefully communicate some learning opportunities.

1. When we are passing slower groups, please communicate to the slower group that you are passing, and the lead rider of the passing group need to stay out wide until the whole of the passing group has overtaken the slower group. This does happen, but not enough.

2. If you are in a slower group and you are being passed, please do not ramp up your speed to try and make it a race. We had a scenario today where my group was passing another, who sped up to try and match or beat us. We then caught a slower group together, which meant that we were 3 abreast and our group had to move into the right hand lane. Not good.

3. If you have been passed by a faster group and want to get past them again, wait until the passing group has cleared your path and wait around 30 seconds (Time Trail rules apparently) to make your pass.

4. and lastly..... Learn to count!! We had a bit of confusion with people going for the sprint on lap 4, then doing their cool down lap whilst all the other groups are still in TTT mode doing their final lap.

Cheers

Neil

[Andrew L]

I'll add, in our group today we had a couple riders in our group that came off the back of the group and "attacked" at the start of lap 4 for some reason. I was on the front doing > 40kmph and kept a steady pace thinking we were being passed by faster riders. Then noticed riders I recognized from my group jumping up and trying to bridge the gap to the riders that attacked, which completely blew our group apart as no one knew what was going on and caused chaos when when the remains were caught by groups behind. If you start with a group, finish the 5 laps with that group and reshuffle for the next set if they're not going at a speed you like.

[LouiseF]

Ditto both Fozzy and Andrew's comments. It was a confusing mess out there, particularly when the "end sprint" seemed to start on the 4th lap. Mass confusion.

My group and Fozzy's were similarly paced but it seemed like the passing b/tw our groups went really well for the first two sets. Fozzy's slightly faster group would catch us and we'd often sit one bike length behind for awhile until there were a few, in my opinion, safe passes and re-passes.

I apologize to Fozzy's group and others if my pulling of my group caused any stress. To be honest, I don't recall seeing your group Foz (I think you were ahead?) and I wasn't trying to overtake anyone other than L1's slower group. My recollection is of coming up on Louise W's group, overtaking them while also being overtaken by Jim and John's little group at the same time. As this unfolded I was actually ready to pull off and let the person behind me take the lead but felt that I was sandwiched b/tw L1 and John. I didn't want to gas myself before the hill and really power to pull us through so to be completely honest I was really unsure what to do at this point as no options felt really safe. Hearing people calling out Louise but not meaning me added to my confusion L1 - we might need code names!

Peter has let me know my best option was to slow down and stay behind L1's group until Jim and John had safely passed. I didn't really realize they were there until it was too late but that will be my choice next time. I like the triathlon rules. Its gives us some guidelines so there isn't the ramp it up when you're being passed thing which has always felt like a bad idea.

Anyway, apologies to the group for my mistakes. Thoroughly enjoyed the morning ride regardless!

[Lister Farrar]

If you can “sprint” with 2 km to go in a ttt, you’re not doing it right. If you feel good, do longer pulls and perhaps a gradual increase in pace.