Thoughts on the final jam

[Lister Farrar]

Josh made a comment today that got me thinking about the way our ride is developing, and I had a half-formed idea to toss out for discussion.

He commented that once the initial acccelaration over/after King George happens, lately there is a hesitation in the pace (or words to that effect). I think it's probably the effect of people learning that they can't pull like a mad man and contest the final sprint against others who aren't pulling like mad men. This is a good thing, because it means many more of us are learning the subtleties of pacing in bike racing and group rides.

But if the intention is to have fun testing ourselves (in a blow-your-brains-out, involuntary-regurg., can't-raise-the-ceiling-unless-you-touch-it sorta way), we may find our match sprint chess game getting in the way of that.

So, I wondered if we might consider a variation on the earlier fox and hounds game we played. Let's say we designate three riders, who feel like jamming more than normal, and let them get 30 seconds ahead over King George. The rest then chase as a group. Both groups would have an incentive to go hard, but the result would be in doubt. Three is big enough to succeed, but small enough to organize in an anaerobic haze. The chase group would be large enough that the newly graduated B's (and others not so interested in the taste of blood) could sit on, while the remaining hammer heads could try to reel in the break. And if they succeed, they contest the sprint. If not, the break gets to play match sprint chess among themselves, and the chase group gets it's own sprint.

Of course the alternative is that we continue to evolve in a free market George Bush era pre-recession sorta way, and the attacks go randomly until someone gets away. The problem with that is that a very jumpy, aggressive 'selection' (as the pros call it in their understated way) also shells folks out the back. Which is not really our thing, despite the jamming we already do. And you can already get that at other rides in town.

Thoughts?

[JohnT]

I like it Lister. I wonder if there's another way set this up. In stead of a 30 sec headstart, we just have two routes through the Uplands that will create the right separation. Another consideration: You can only podium a sprint once a week. Then we'll have three lead out men/women every Friday who don't play the tactical games that you're talking about.

[gav_eaton]

Sounds like a fun idea for sure! I'm in - and volunteer to be a fox this Friday if required. Or alternatively pull my ass off chasing as a hound!

[Josh.E]

I'll happily play the fox any morning. I like the idea of trying to stay away in a 3 man break.

[Roland]

Whatever we decide, it should involve me launching pointless attacks at the most inopportune time.

[Josh.E]

Maybe Roland can be designated to try to bridge solo up to the lead group every morning......

[Rolf]

According to researchers at Oxford, we will enjoy higher pain thresholds if we stick together:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/ ... rch-proves

Though I guess if the fox is still a team -- just smaller -- everyone will still be able to stub out cigarettes on their eyelids over coffee.

[Lister Farrar]

Oh, I dunno about such suggestions of pain. We're strictly catch and release.

http://revver.com/video/1305633/road-cy ... d-release/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

(Apologies for re-cycling the joke)