Coaching Video: How to race properly in a group situation

Coaching Video: How to race properly in a group situation

There’s a bit more to racing – at least, to racing properly – when you’re in a bunch (Photo: Sean Rowe)

 

The video below contains a really interesting coaching session about how to race best in a bunch.

The emphasis is on safety for you and those around you, race etiquette and ways to race smart. You need to conserve energy so you’ll be strongest when the race is won and lost.

It urges riders to try to remain in the front section of the bunch and to watch and learn from more experienced riders around you.

While racing is a competitive environment, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask advice from other riders, especially after a race.

And don’t be afraid to take a little bit of instruction on the road from somebody who appears more experienced.

Such advice is invaluable when, for example, you are pulling away in a group or trying to regain a bunch with others.

A more experienced rider may be trying to show you how to share the workload on the front of the group while allowing for the direction of the breeze you are riding into.

Because you will be packed tightly in a group, usually traveling at high speeds, you should avoid making sudden movements or slamming on the brakes.

It’s simply too unpredictable and both can cause chaos and crashes.

Don’t be afraid to use a hand signal in the race to show the riders around you where you are going in the group.

And if you feel another rider is moving in a way that suggests they are not aware of your position on the road, simply reach out and gently touch them to show them where you are.

When you are trying to move up the bunch, don’t dart into spaces that simply are not big enough.

And don’t be afraid to speak to a rider or shout at those around you. It can help to control your environment for safety purposes.

But don’t scream or sound panicked. That only creates unnecessary tension in those around you. A stressed group is a dangerous group.

Keep an eye on the road ahead of you so you can react to what’s going on; be it a change in direction of the road, a pothole or some other obstacle.

Looking up will also ensure you don’t let a gap open to the rider ahead, especially when the group is at speed and lined out in single file.

Many a rider has lost half a length thinking they could easily close it only to find the extra wind they are hit with when off the back of those ahead is a lot stronger than they thought.

Make sure you shout warnings for pot holes, parked cars and so on.

Try not to clear your nose or spit in a way that will hit somebody else. And always try and pick a good time and place to eat and drink, especially if you are inexperienced.

Just because you see an experienced rider eat and drink during a really fast stretch or going down a hill, don’t copy them.

Wait for a slightly more relaxed or control moment to refuel. Safety is key in this regard especially in the wet or racing on really windy days.

Some riders forget to eat and drink. They find that maybe an hour into a race they haven’t touched their fuel, by which time their body is moving into the red, even if they don’t feel like that at the time.

If you’re one of these, a simple trick is to put a small reminder on your stem or handlebars.

A small piece of coloured insulation tape will stay fixed down and is hard to miss. It’s worth a try.

Don’t be too honest in races, but never be afraid to ride hard when required. You need to push yourself to improve. And getting gap in a race often involves a short period of intense effort before the escape settles down.

Obviously don’t allow others abuse your willingness to dig deep, but don’t be governed by fear either. It’s only when we push ourselves that we find our limits and improve them. And winning or getting placed in a race almost always requires hard riding.

 

Racing in a bunch