stay_upright
New member
I just wanted people's opinions in passing during racing - usually the aukward situation when in the woods with singletrack...
My general opinion is that if a rider is passing me where there is another route they should use that - even if its not the easiest route i.e. I dont think I should go the difficult way just to let them past on the easiest/fastest route. This is also a bit variable though since if they are really fast and I am really slow it's not going to make any difference to me to get out of the way... of course you can't expect slower riders to spend the whole race getting out of peoples way since they wouldn't be able to ride round then!
So when I pass people I wait until I can get past cleanly though if that means I beat them to a corner and they have to brake more or take a wider line I think that's fine. In singletrack in the woods though this can mean I am sat behind a slower rider for a long time but the alternative is to rev your engine (angrily) which is not nice for beginners or try to force your way past which would work but again is not nice for the slower rider. It's a question of manners really. The problem is I lost 1st place in the last 4 hour race by 1min 20sec which could have easily been made up by not getting stuck behind slower riders in the woods and yes I was looking for all and any overtaking spots (I could find 3). If some-one is the same speed as me (almost)I dont want them to pull over and let me past I like the challenge of getting past and they're not going to slow me down if they're in front.
Then there's the question of when do you move over for a rider behind you? I was chasing one guy down and he was a tiny bit slower than me and thought I will catch him and try to over take the same lap but he saw me behind (20 feet I had not caught him yet) and pulled right over to let me past - I dont think he should have let me past so easily or so early. I think if a fast rider catches you quickly and is right on your tail for a short period then let him past - he is clearly quicker... ? A good method?
Phew - then the next aukward question what do you do if there is a queue for a hill or something - wait or pile in? Perhaps the answer is pile in if you can get through on another line? or wait if not? It's a strange situation racing and then stopping and queing up...
My general opinion is that if a rider is passing me where there is another route they should use that - even if its not the easiest route i.e. I dont think I should go the difficult way just to let them past on the easiest/fastest route. This is also a bit variable though since if they are really fast and I am really slow it's not going to make any difference to me to get out of the way... of course you can't expect slower riders to spend the whole race getting out of peoples way since they wouldn't be able to ride round then!
So when I pass people I wait until I can get past cleanly though if that means I beat them to a corner and they have to brake more or take a wider line I think that's fine. In singletrack in the woods though this can mean I am sat behind a slower rider for a long time but the alternative is to rev your engine (angrily) which is not nice for beginners or try to force your way past which would work but again is not nice for the slower rider. It's a question of manners really. The problem is I lost 1st place in the last 4 hour race by 1min 20sec which could have easily been made up by not getting stuck behind slower riders in the woods and yes I was looking for all and any overtaking spots (I could find 3). If some-one is the same speed as me (almost)I dont want them to pull over and let me past I like the challenge of getting past and they're not going to slow me down if they're in front.
Then there's the question of when do you move over for a rider behind you? I was chasing one guy down and he was a tiny bit slower than me and thought I will catch him and try to over take the same lap but he saw me behind (20 feet I had not caught him yet) and pulled right over to let me past - I dont think he should have let me past so easily or so early. I think if a fast rider catches you quickly and is right on your tail for a short period then let him past - he is clearly quicker... ? A good method?
Phew - then the next aukward question what do you do if there is a queue for a hill or something - wait or pile in? Perhaps the answer is pile in if you can get through on another line? or wait if not? It's a strange situation racing and then stopping and queing up...
As long as you don't ride on too early a minute, these alternates become more obvious and its a lot eaiser.
Some guys sing. I just keep it friendly and find I have no problems. Occasionally you run into an Ahole but they usually crash trying to run your pace. You can tell if a guy is just a shell shocked C rider or not.
