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Sean Kelley on the number of crashes
Last Post 08/30/2021 11:07 AM by 79 pmooney. 3 Replies.
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Dale
Posts:1767
08/30/2021 07:53 AM
He's spot on. It's worse in amateur racing and group rides. Strava and Swift have trained some strong cyclists but most lack pack skills and race tactics. A group ride usually degenerates into 25 guys doing solo ride in close proximity. To my good fortune there is a local ride that's occasionally led by a two time former US critical champion who is super chill and keeps everyone in check. The rides are brisk without being a full on race, everyone puts a foot down at stop signs unless we're out in the remote rural areas where the only thinks within a mile is a bunch of cows. Occasionally a newbie goes for a Strava segment but gets chastised for the breech of ride etiquette. https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/sean-kelly-says-more-crashes-in-pro-races-probably-linked-to-new-training-habits/?fbclid=IwAR3Jlo4VeGru3ajH8P3i9GM_pECZyHi4Bvj51i_z8S6Uv2_cPnhDpyF-iD0
Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
08/30/2021 09:40 AM
Definitely agree that it is a factor, but I also think it is less at the pro level than the anateur ranks. Those guys still put in a crap ton of miles.
That said, I think a prime example of this was Jay Vine's crash this weekend. He got a slot on Aplecin-Fenix through his participation in the Swift Academy challenge...his lack of experience taking items form the team car definitely took him down, IMO.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush
Posts:4499
08/30/2021 09:58 AM
Try riding your bike in a City in Netherlands. Organized chaos. It doesn’t hone pack riding skills but certainly you learn to always be sharp and respond fast.
79pmooney
Posts:3180
08/30/2021 11:07 AM
I've always been thankful that the club vets taught me how to ride in close proximity and what side-by-side positions are safe, what are dangerous and what ones give you the power to push the other fellow over (or get pushed and be powerless to stop it). Handlebars even (so you could run a broomstick through both stems) is the equal position where both of you can push. Just ahead of just behind - bad news! Elbow to hip, the owner of the elbow is in control.
I loved that around Boston we had all learned directly or otherwise from John Allis who'd raced in Europe and passed on to his Century Raleigh team what he's learned. I ran into Peter Mooney on a ride and he spent the next few miles teaching me those bumping skills. Local races, handlebars just lined up, no big deal. You didn't have to look at your neighbor to know you could push him over so you could get around that pothole.
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