CyclingTips - Latest Comments in When The Paceline Stalls…

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Seb — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:00:20 -0000

Sounds to me someone didn't want anyone to close the gap.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

brave — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:37:29 -0000

in order to get the rotation happening again, 2nd wheel needs to have confidence that 3rd wheel will follow.. So it is important 3rd wheel communicates that he will also roll through. If done smoothly, 4th wheel and the rest of the group should join in. unless team tactics are in play..

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

AMR Cycling — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:43:04 -0000

At the end of the day, it is a race. We are all passionate about it and how we do things and sometimes we can only do so much, which might not be what others perceive as the "right" way.

As a my friend, JF, would say: "It is a beautiful thing!"

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

MH — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:17:36 -0000

Not uncommon for some of the heavier weight drivers to take a breather immediately before an incline - often these flatlanders will tow the line for heaps of flat k's only to be hurt by the hill climbers at every opportunity.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

stuart — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:32:26 -0000

Hey Wade.. It was me offering you some "advice" on Sat... In that instance I think a lot of riders were hedging bets hoping others would help them bridge across to that next group. The Fly V boys were conspicuous in their absence at the front.

But second wheel needs to drift back out and come over again, but a quick tap on your bum indicates to the guy behind you that you expect him to roll over promptly. Most guys will unless they are blocking...

On the other comments here.. The worst thing you can do is barrel through at a hard pace if you are trying to get the chase going again. It usually breaks down when someone at the front rides too fast and creates a big speed difference between the lines. Hitting the front hard only discourages the rider at the back to swing across and take the forward going wheel because of the big surge required to get on it...

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

paolo — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:48:08 -0000

i reckon the best way to avoid this hapening at all is for suffering
riders to call in others rather than leave a gap in the forward moving line...
providing the group is supposed to be co-operating

it's the fault of the rider who silently let the forward line go up the road...
so i don't think it's anyone in particulars job to get it going again.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Will T — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:55:48 -0000

This is pretty much the standard way of getting it working again.

Although the rider in second wheel has just rolled a turn, the easiest way to start the roll again is for them to come around the lead rider again, as generally the lead rider will want to get off the front anyway so will slightly drop off the pace anyway.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Justin C — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:42:37 -0000

Had this happen recently in a handicap. Starting from scratch meant nothing but chasing for our group. The start of the race was a 22km climb. Ouch. Our group was struggling by the 10km mark (or earlier) and so me and two other guys rolled through at the front consistently while everyone else pulled an occassional turn when they could. Our attitude was that if they were trying to conserve for another 10km of climbing we didn't want them anyway! They wouldn't have the goods to continue the chase beyond that climb. We dropped about half our group as a result (not ideal in a handicap). But the alternative was to essentially give up the chase so everyone could share the load and roll through. In that kind of race you do what you can to keep the momentum up.

But I agree with the statements above. When it's off scratch and the boys are playing, decisions can be tougher. Do you go harder and try to drop the passengers? Only if you know you can cause enough hurt. Or do you sit in and wait for the attacks that are bound to come eventually. The pace will lift. It always does. Then you don't want to get smashed by the bunch because you've been the diesel engine up front all day.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Jason — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:28:07 -0000

I actually think the best thing to do in this instance is for the second rider to pull out as if they are going around the lead rider and then for the lead rider to ease off. This makes it easier for the second rider to get to the front after they just pulled a turn and replicates what normally happens in a paceline. From there the second rider, who is now in front and should have the rest of the pack on his wheel simply finishes his soft turn by moving left and thus restarting the paceline rolling.
All this normally takes is a small bit of communication with the front rider to stay left and then ease off once you pull round them.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Brad — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:05:33 -0000

Spot on Tommy - make sure they are following. A gentle word to the guy on the front to ease up so you can come through reaaalllllyyyyyy gently is even better. Anything you can do to coax the wheel suckers through.....

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

cyclingtips — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:47:03 -0000

I think in this case everyone was working with the same interests in mind - to close the gap on the leading bunch. There were no tactics at play since there was still over 100km to the finish. However, everybody is thinking about self-preservation and the name of the game is to use less energy than the next guy.

You're right though - this does happen. I've done it many times myself!

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:44:52 -0000

Could the guys in the break have noticed your lack of strength and were doing it on purpose? Hanging you out to dry by making you take an extra turn?

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

AMR Cycling — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:38:11 -0000

It is an interesting subject, and sort of complex as well.

In those situations, I try to think of a team time trial or a handicap race. If I am the one feeling strong, I take a long, hard turn without moving to the slow (left on your drawing) line. I also keep telling myself that someone not pulling a turn might just not be able to... or don't want to - bloody sanbaggers ;-). Still, it is up to us to react accordingly by dragging the whole bunch and blowing up or start skipping turns as well.

I am no expert, the proof being I never win those races...

My experience "The Avanti Classic".

Thanks for the post!

Cheers!!

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Tommy P — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:01:59 -0000

Yes, yes.. seen this many times before. It helps to roll around the guy if you are in second wheel, gently. Make sure the single line behind you is following then turn clearly to the left lane exposing the next guy behind you. He will need to roll around to the front and hopefully the pace line will be re-established. I have been in situations where I do this and the guy I overtook has to come around again and we repeat as only two riders. You have no choice but to slow down until someone else shows initiative. Usually a group would just go past at a great rate of knots. In that case you just have to make sure you have enough to get back in and hang on.

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

cyclingtips — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:01:27 -0000

Actually, at this point of the race it was me who was riding out of my depth. There's a big difference between pulling turns with Lappers or Kristian versus many of the continental pros here in Aus. I was struggling to pull through it was so fast!

Re: When The Paceline Stalls…

Michael — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:56:59 -0000

Maybe your were just putting to much hurt on everyone in your group, slow down WW!!