Preventing crit crashes with new racers

[The Domestique]

Here's a video from the first race of the season. Jump to 4:15 to watch the crash itself. I'm looking for the "hard and fast rules" we can teach the newcomers to prevent this from happening. It's pretty rare but is scares guys off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4JdWXyhlBI

Any thoughts you can give would be great.

 

[Michele]

Lack of being used to ride in groups (hope my broken english sentence makes sense).

 

[King Boonen]

Seemed like neither of them were comfortable with any amount of contact, because what looked like an innocuous shoulder rub turned into a crash. Maybe a little bit of enforced contact, like riding in two lines and gently knocking shoulders might help, but might also cause more crashes so do it on grass!

Ultimately, it looks like they don't ride in groups unless it's a race and that isn't good. They need to training in groups so they get used to this kind of thing and improve their handling.

 

[JayKosta]

I doubt that any 'hard and fast' rules can be implemented that will be effective in preventing accidents - while preserving the 'spirit of the event'.

The main things that (especially new) riders need to realize is that crits are inheritently damagerous, and it's very easy for a 'safe situation' to quickly disolve and become an unavoidable crash.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Archibald]

as a result of a couple of crashes in a local crit here, my club put out a 'Racing to win safely' article.
Might be of value for the OP.
Not sure I can repeat it here, but you can likely find it with a bit of googling...

 

[42x16ss]

I have seen a couple of very nasty crashes caused by people taking their hands off the bars when they've touched shoulders and not known what to do. Other things that newer crit racers need to be aware of are:

- Don't move up on the inside of a corner, unless there is a whole column of riders doing this.

- When you're first wheel and the person on the front comes off, PULL THROUGH! Even if it's just a token turn for a couple of seconds to let the rider come off the front. Sticking to the wheel like glue causes the whole bunch to stall and can lead to a rear end pile up. If a 10 second turn will lose you the race, drop a grade.

- Don't sprint from any more than 8-10 riders back, unless you're very wide and have a clear run.

- DON'T SIT UP COMING INTO A SPRINT! Just because you aren't in a position to win doesn't mean you just freewheel to a stop. If you're in the middle of the bunch, keep your speed up.

There's other things to consider, but these are the main safety concerns I have with new riders in crits.

 

[Archibald]

Re:

I have seen a couple of very nasty crashes caused by people taking their hands off the bars when they've touched shoulders and not known what to do. Other things that newer crit racers need to be aware of are:

- Don't move up on the inside of a corner, unless there is a whole column of riders doing this.

- When you're first wheel and the person on the front comes off, PULL THROUGH! Even if it's just a token turn for a couple of seconds to let the rider come off the front. Sticking to the wheel like glue causes the whole bunch to stall and can lead to a rear end pile up. If a 10 second turn will lose you the race, drop a grade.

- Don't sprint from any more than 8-10 riders back, unless you're very wide and have a clear run.

- DON'T SIT UP COMING INTO A SPRINT! Just because you aren't in a position to win doesn't mean you just freewheel to a stop. If you're in the middle of the bunch, keep your speed up.

There's other things to consider, but these are the main safety concerns I have with new riders in crits.

I was side by side with a guy at the front only to have someone just behind look over their shoulder and veer into my back wheel as they came off their line. Took out about 4-5 of us.
Result: 2 weeks hospital for me...

 

[yenrod]

The 2nd guy in blue made a dead-end move, if he would've moved a touch to his right then no crash, his get out of jails where; move right (slightly) and the guy to his right (in front of you shouldve moved) OR move back - all this was floored when the lead guy stalled...mostly expecting a move up on the outside right...after those who'd gapped. There're a few fast rides i can go on in the week 1 is a faster group semi-pro's etc.. and the riding is 20x better than those gasping to stay on a wheel. This is a hate of mine: dont stay mid or front of group if youre out of your depth - ride in the draft...and get some experience on the process. Rule/s of the bunch are: you have to be able to hold the pace pretty comfortably and know how to ride (sideways) when you're there oh and stay 'arrow straight' (steady) !

 

[ray j willings]

I just spotted this crash/massacre a Mind fudge of bad organisation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXO_AqzVDB4