OBRA photo
View Mar 2008 Archives [Previous] [Next]
Subject: Re: Sprint, and Portland Velo.
Date: 03/31/2008 09:56 PM
From: r r <bikex..@hotmail.com>

Why must anyone that mentions or suggest any sort of change automatically becomes ostrosive (yes this is misspelled, but I'm too tired to figure it out right now and spell check is being cool) and criticized in OBRA land. Why not embrace the fact that we all think differently, and when someone thinks outside the box, to just think about it and consider it rather than instantly par-take in scrutinizing and attacking the person who is just merely throwing out a thought to just ponder over. It is really sad to see. Our OBRA is grand, making it probably the best state to race in. But nothing is ever perfect, and if someone steps up with an idea, it would benefit us all if its just merely considered. Maybe if one idea would be talked about in a non-bias, debatable manner, it would encourage more people to voice their ideas to be considered. Yes, a democracy in sense. But with people constantly being attacked and ridiculed on this chat, it makes it hard for anyone to even gain to courage to ask a simple question in fear of the wrath that will be released upon them. This is not an attack, so please do not right any sort of negative or attacking response back. Like we learned in elementary school, if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. Sometimes silence can be the strongest response.

Thank you all for your time

From: bikexcr@hotmail.com
To: twotiretinker-obra2@yahoo.com; obra@list.obra.org
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:40:46 -0700
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Sprint, and Portland Velo.

Yes, yes they are. Is PIR not a race on the road? And if you watch any race on TV, its the pretty close to the same as PIR. And in some ways, having it narrow destroys such phenomenal spectacles of athleticism such as Robbie McEwin flatting in the final k's, not at the front, and using his team to come around the field and sprint to victory at the last second in stage one of TDF. Granted the TDF and OBRA is like comparing apples and oranges (so please dont go off on that tangent because i just confessed to the difference).
But in the end...just having longer, wide finish stretch would be nice. Just like having the entire road for the entire race would be sweet, but will never happen at this level of racing. I mean, if it were such as you say, pro races would stay one lane as well, since you should be in the front at to begin with, but it dont work that way.

Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:26:46 -0700
From: twotiretinker-obra2@yahoo.com
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Sprint, and Portland Velo.

The issue seems to be that many of us don't do enough road racing. I don't anymore, but use too in the midwest . If I wanted a chance at top ten in a field sprint i would start moving
up at least 10 miles from the finish, this is not an exaggeration if large fields of skilled pack riders. It was hard to move up, usually
could only do it at corners or if someone attacked and things opened
up and then you had to jam faster than everyone else, and then once you were up front, you had to be assertive, and attack occasionally just to
stay.

In a real road race, ie POC, if the pack is bunched and your 2 k from the line and not in the first 3 or 4 lines, you don't stand a chance, ok slight maybe only if someone jumps soon and things open (i would usually be the guy sitting in 3rd line praying someone would jump things would open and soon). If you come up on 500 m and still bunched, and not in the first two maybe three lines, you really don't stand a chance even if your a great sprinter.

Pros coming with lead out trains, thats not really controlling the pack, rather its power and speed and everyone trying to stay with or trying to get by with their own line.

PIR finishing tactics are not on the same planet as road racing finish tactics.

----- Original
Message ----
From: Quenton Conant
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 6:38:49 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Sprint, and Portland Velo.

Ok. All this finger pointing is kinda lame.

Personally, I've found PV riders are always willing to jump in the mix, help out, and work together. They're always willing to share the work, and race with class. I've never had a truely negative experience from them while racing.

It sucks being a solo rider and having a larger team or two try and controll the race. It's fruterating as hell. In the end, if you're smart, that experience as a solo rider will most likely make you a better racer.

now on to....

I don't think openeing the road before 200m would make anything safer to begin with. You'd just have more people with more space to get reckless in. Wide roads may make it easier to get around when you're cruising in the low to mid 20's, but when the pace picks up it strings out anyways, and one lane is plenty.

As far as moving up is concerned. yeah, it sucks when there's not movement up front and the pace drops,
or it gets hard to manouver around. But that's just the way it goes sometimes. After a season or two I think most people feel comfortable enough to ride between riders safely. Practice it on a group ride sometime. Some perceptions of what's dangerous and what's not change with experience, and comfort.
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Test your Star IQ Play now!

_________________________________________________________________
In a rush? Get real-time answers with Windows Live Messenger.
http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_realtime_042008

View Mailing Lists | Subscribe | Subscription Options | New Post | Reply Privately | View Archives
Contact Us
Copyright © 2008 Oregon Bicycle Racing Association