CyclingTips - Latest Comments in Bending The Rules

Re: Bending The Rules

jim-bob — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:09:16 -0000

i can't stand ppl that bend the rules in crits. Fair enough if you are held up by a crash or involved in a crash. But pretending to crash or have a mechanical when your struggling, then re-joining at the front and dropping a whole bunch of wheels 'till ur out the back again is just pathetic. Wheel-droppers are bad enough let alone cheating wheel-droppers. anyway a very insightful and entertaining post!!

Re: Bending The Rules

cyclingtips — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:34:18 -0000

I agree that at our level it's bad form to cheat at our level, but at the professional level it's the difference between having a job and being left behind. The amount of pressure put on athletes to perform is enormous. There's up to 200 riders in these races and there can only be one winner. It's much more than a sport at the professional level.

When money is involved there are many facets of society bend the rules to get ahead (do you have any idea how often corporations cheat to win the deal, get the better price, beat the competition, etc?). Not many people can claim they're above it.

Imagine if you're from some 3rd world country and your only options are to win or to be left in poverty. I don't think it's a question of low self-worth as you say.

I don't condone cheating however I can see the other side of it. Dismissing it as pathetic and having a low self-worth is a bit simplistic when we're talking about professional sports.

Re: Bending The Rules

Kouros — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:40:00 -0000

I've never really understood why people feel the need to cheat in sporting events. You're either good enough, or you're not. How low must your self worth be to want to fool anyone - including yourself - that you are good at something you are not. It's pathetic.

Re: Bending The Rules

Tommy P — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:56:53 -0000

CT, for all these 'tactics' and much, much more, you could have just consulted our cuddly friend Mo.

Re: Bending The Rules

Justin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:11:16 -0000

Hahah! Some great insights into the PRO world there... Love it - thanks a bunch Ben, hope you're back on the pushy again soon!

Re: Bending The Rules

Jon — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:04:26 -0000

Great post Ben and commiserations for the crash.

Re: Bending The Rules

Pete — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:28:09 -0000

Ha! Terrific post! Thanks for the advice!

Re: Bending The Rules

pete — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:01:03 -0000

thanks for the "tip", im blaming my parents for now never being able to cheat in a bike race !! looking forward to todays crit, hope the rain holds out and darren or dean can bring home the spoils of war

Re: Bending The Rules

Beagle — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:23:45 -0000

Great post! I think I've learned more about cycling in 6 months reading this blog...than in all the years I've followed cycling. I used to think that the winner was the strongest, then I thought it was the smartest, then I thought it was the one with the best team...now I know it's the one who's willing to hide in a bush and be pissed on in order to win.

Re: Bending The Rules

Lee — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:15:10 -0000

Thanks for the awesome post Ben, condolences for the crash out although this is certainly a silver lining for us readers! Looking forward to Lygon Street tomorrow!