Crit Strat & Tac?

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Keith Alexander) said:

In one of the strategy books I've been reading, the author
says something along the lines of:

"A crit tactic for moving up is taking the
outside line as you move into a corner. Use it
sparingly as it'll annoy the pack and be
prepared for someone to call you on it."

My question is why is that frowned upon?
If it works, what the hell?

Well, a typical corner will see one or two lines form as riders file
through. Most of the time nobody should try to move at all approaching a
corner, since the pack is naturally going to slow down and then dive in.

This trick takes advantage of the slowing of the pack, but it's
effectively blocking riders inside you from taking the fastest line
through. So it's really cheap, since you're taking advantage of the
course instead of just pedaling to the front on a straight.

Never go up the inside,
--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

In article <[email hidden]>, Ryan

Cousineau said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Keith Alexander) said:

In one of the strategy books I've been reading, the author
says something along the lines of:

"A crit tactic for moving up is taking the
outside line as you move into a corner. Use it
sparingly as it'll annoy the pack and be
prepared for someone to call you on it."

My question is why is that frowned upon?
If it works, what the hell?

Well, a typical corner will see one or two lines form as riders file
through. Most of the time nobody should try to move at all approaching a
corner, since the pack is naturally going to slow down and then dive in.

This trick takes advantage of the slowing of the pack, but it's
effectively blocking riders inside you from taking the fastest line
through. So it's really cheap, since you're taking advantage of the
course instead of just pedaling to the front on a straight.

Never go up the inside,

If we assume that the book's advice is for packs that will normally
take the corner as fast as possible then anybody who tries to go around
on the outside will probably find themselves pinched against the curb
on the exit, but this book isn't intended for these packs. It's for
novices who would try to learn about racing from a book.

In this case there is usually plenty of room around the outside of the
turn without having to infringe on anybody else who is taking a decent
line through the corner. The greater problem is that in novice packs
the riders will often make mistakes during the turn and virtually all
crashes or bobbles will end up right in the line taken by a rider going
around the outside and he will get to be in the crash too.

-WG

warren <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

but this book isn't intended for these packs. It's for
novices who would try to learn about racing from a book.

*** Perhaps. But the novice who is studying this book
and everything else he can get his hands on is also training,
racing, eating right and generally picking the brains of anyone
worhwhile.

Thanks for the rest of the reply.

KA
---
www.nootrope.net

If the outside line is open (even remotely) then take it. You will slow
less and it general its smoother. I don't think it annoys anyone either
or they don't say anything to me. The inside line, well, thats another
story. The difference is that on the inside line *you* can push someone
out and on the outside line *someone* can pinch you. There are
exceptions and caveats. For example: towards the end of a race guys
won't normally let you take it, more precisely pass on the outside. The
big caveat is that the outside is *more* dangerous -- if a rider hits
his pedal to your inside he'll usually come your way ;-).

Bottom line: many times if you have the bike handling skills and the
nerve the outside line will let you carry more speed -- less
accelerating out of the corner.

Keith Alexander said:

In one of the strategy books I've been reading, the author
says something along the lines of:

"A crit tactic for moving up is taking the
outside line as you move into a corner. Use it
sparingly as it'll annoy the pack and be
prepared for someone to call you on it."

My question is why is that frowned upon?
If it works, what the hell?

For a buncha dopers, ya'll get pretty queeny.

:-)

KA
---
www.nootrope.net