Some thoughts on waiting for dropped riders, how to chase

[Lister Farrar]

On today's B ride, with the wind often splitting it up as well as the hills, we had a quite a few occasions where we waited. And it seemed to me that we wait a bit too long. The chasers have to hit the brakes, and then everyone has to get rolling again. It's another effort the dropped riders would prefer to avoid.

So I'd like to suggest the waiting riders look back, often, and start to get rolling as the dropped riders approach, not after they have braked to a standstill again. It's hard with the bright headlights, but should make the rides smoother. At the very least, wait on the far right and let the chasers through so they don't have to brake and lose their momentum again.

For dropped riders, if someone comes back to help you out, you should advise them if they are going too fast, as they try to get you back on. Use the usual 'steady' and 'good' calls to let them know (ie. 'steady' means 'ease off a bit', 'good' means 'I can handle a bit more'.) It's kinda frustrating to go back, set what you think is a reasonable pace to regain the group, and then discover the dropped rider is 50 m behind without saying anything. In these cases, the dropped rider is the quarterback. Call the play.

[EricS]

Yah sorry Lister,

At least one of those times, it was me failing to respond as the riders caught up to us. I was only half alive this morning so thanks to everyone for being patient with me. I started the day by cutting off Dave S. as we left the parking lot, then I felt a bit like I was operating in slow motion the rest of the ride.

Great ride though. Couldn't have dealt with the wind without all your help.

E

[Lister Farrar]

Hey welcome back Eric. Glad to see the plague didn't comletely finish you off.

Re the looking back thing, it's no-one in particular. It's rare to see anyone on the front looking back. I think we really just enjoy our part in the amoeba that is the pack, and wait for the back end to tell us. Just thinking it might be smoother if we did lok back.

Plus, when I'm getting dropped on the Wednesday nighters, I'd like my TS team mates to notice and not accelerate to finish me off. Or at least not make it obvious.

[steve]

I think I might have been a bit guilty on this one as well; today was exceptional in that there were mechanicals and wind that all contributed to a lack of rhythm. I think the other issue with the ride was that the wind made it difficult to hear the oncoming riders until they were right on us and "Steady up" calls were also difficult to hear so there were more splits, particularly with that animal Marcus hammering

Steve

[Marcus]

I don't know what happened out there, although I was in Alberta for three days earlier this week and ate quite a bit of beef.

#74

[Paul C.]

I was definatly one of the "dropped riders" Due to riding my heavier bike{like most other people are} and feeling sluggish I did' nt keep up and turned off at Oak Bay ...All was well in the end as I met up with others at Cook St Moka House..
Thanks guys for comments and suggestions and guidlines from Lister. Will miss Sunday . cheers pc