Question Should triathletes be allowed on bikes?

[Hugh Januss]

If true that is an absolute disgrace. I don't blame her for being angry - its blatant cheating. In litigious America I am surprised the organizers weren't sued for negligence.

To be fair it was in Texas.

 

[Sciatic]

To be fair it was in Texas.

😆

 

[ManicJack]

I think that's why she was selected to the team.

She won the elite national championship. Granted Dygert wasn't there because her spot was already locked in, but USAC had no choice but to send her.

 

[Oldermanish]

She won the elite national championship. Granted Dygert wasn't there because her spot was already locked in, but USAC had no choice but to send her.

USAC decided for Senior Track Natz back in 1990 or so that all Cat 1-3 roadies were eligible to race on our velodrome. The women's points race started with 40 riders for a 100 lap race. The race had 4 stoppages in the first 20 laps and 6 ambulances to clear the mess. Not every injured took the busses to the hospital but many quit including National team members. Not sure that happened again but it's not without precedence when someone gets out of their comfort zone.

 

[Bolder]

Right here and NOW! US brought in a tri-crossover for the Olympic TT today. She crashed 4 times. Most people learn after 2 crashes and park the bike but have to give her credit for not quitting. No credit for learning curve, however.

PS: Taylor Knibb acknowledged she "was the worst bike handler out there" so she wins the heroic award for continuing in that situation and having a sense of humor about it, I think.

Yeah, she was a hot mess but laughed about it. On a dry course she's probably top 5-10, so hopefully she'll stick with the discipline.

 

[jono]

This women's triathlon race... not doing anything to live down triathletes' reputation for questionable bike handling skills!

 

[RedheadDane]

Now, here's the thing:
If triathletes aren't allowed on bikes they wouldn't be triathletes, at which point they would be allowed on bikes, but then they would be triathletes, so not allowed on bikes, which would mean they wouldn't be triathletes...

See? I got it all figured out!

 

[Unchained]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EXKtdAcENgs


Can't stop watching

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Really surprised reading the thread that this really should be an issue on a general level!?!

These days it will be exactly 30 years ago I participated in a triathlon; olympic distance, a somewhat motley mixed field of pro top-triathlethes and mere casuals (as me 😛).

There were several situations where larger fields on the bike leg could not be avoided (although the minimum distance was zealously observed otherwise) and, contrary to the exercise bike races, I experienced very good skills in bike handling , this even in stormy weather on small, winding roads.

I don't know if the world has changed here, but the vast majority - incl. the pros - had a solid background in being able to behave and react correctly in a larger cycling field.

Must say I'm a amazed to read this has become a general issue 🙁

 

[Sciatic]

Really surprised reading the thread that this really should be an issue on a general level!?!

These days it will be exactly 30 years ago I participated in a triathlon; olympic distance, a somewhat motley mixed field of pro top-triathlethes and mere casuals (as me 😛).

There were several situations where larger fields on the bike leg could not be avoided (although the minimum distance was zealously observed otherwise) and, contrary to the exercise bike races, I experienced very good skills in bike handling , this even in stormy weather on small, winding roads.

I don't know if the world has changed here, but the vast majority - incl. the pros - had a solid background in being able to behave and react correctly in a larger cycling field.

Must say I'm a amazed to read this has become a general issue 🙁

I’m an outsider as far as tri goes, but one perhaps relevant fact is that compared to 30 years ago there are a lot more 40-something riders on $10,000+ bikes who may or may not be CAT racers but could qualify for triathlons. She specifically complained about “age-group” riders. So maybe you get a group folks big-headed enough that they don’t bother with the rules as well as less bike-handling experience. Also: Texas.

 

[Cookster15]

Really surprised reading the thread that this really should be an issue on a general level!?!

These days it will be exactly 30 years ago I participated in a triathlon; olympic distance, a somewhat motley mixed field of pro top-triathlethes and mere casuals (as me 😛).

There were several situations where larger fields on the bike leg could not be avoided (although the minimum distance was zealously observed otherwise) and, contrary to the exercise bike races, I experienced very good skills in bike handling , this even in stormy weather on small, winding roads.

I don't know if the world has changed here, but the vast majority - incl. the pros - had a solid background in being able to behave and react correctly in a larger cycling field.

Must say I'm a amazed to read this has become a general issue 🙁

I think I am similar. I last competed in a triathlon in 1997 - 27 years. I did mostly long course (4 hrs +) and a couple of Ironman races. Larger fields were difficult to police for drafting back then, and I assume from what I read here are worse than ever.

In bigger fields more people are crammed closer together on the bike leg. It is almost impossible to avoid drafting if you are a weaker cyclist but if you are stronger very frustrating as you know all those weaker riders might smoke you on the run leg with fresher legs. To get around the packs you had to expend a lot of energy and also risk crashing as you pass.

I do recall a big race with a section of the course where we swerved through a carpark where there were grandstands. Those of us with bike racing experience could make up some time there compared to the less capable bike handlers. But the less capable bike handlers seemed like the majority.

The pros are fine. But I think its inevitable to have poor bike handlers in a sport popular with amateurs where you have to spend equal time training for swimming and running as well as riding a bike. And compared to in Europe, most triathletes in my country (Australia) have backgrounds in swimming or running - not bike racing which is the ultimate test of bike handling.

 

[42x16ss]

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[harrybo]

I stopped doing triathlons about 9 years ago , main reason was costs and the johnny come lately guys with big pockets and big boring ego,s.. and better things to do
One of my mates has got into the sport via running,,, and he bangs on about it ALL the time, he,d just done an iron man and he banging on about , then when I checked my own time , ok on a diff course he was only 5 mins faster and bearing in mind the money he invested in his bike and time he spent training and the time he spent talking about it.......
Think the sport just attracts self centred obsessives
Hope I wasnt like that back in the day.. my wife might disagree tho

 

[ManicJack]

I'm going to be in Tampa at the IM North American headquarters for work from Friday until next Thurs. They say group rides are planned every day. I'll let you know.

 

[Cookster15]

I stopped doing triathlons about 9 years ago , main reason was costs and the johnny come lately guys with big pockets and big boring ego,s.. and better things to do
One of my mates has got into the sport via running,,, and he bangs on about it ALL the time, he,d just done an iron man and he banging on about , then when I checked my own time , ok on a diff course he was only 5 mins faster and bearing in mind the money he invested in his bike and time he spent training and the time he spent talking about it.......
Think the sport just attracts self centred obsessives
Hope I wasnt like that back in the day.. my wife might disagree tho

The sport of triathlon has always been like that, but I wouldn't say it only attracts self centred obsessives, those types are just more likely to gravitate towards this sport than most. I did tris between late 1985 and 1997 (yes I'm not young any more 🙁 ). The day before big races there were always poseurs out running in fluro gear or going for a ride on their disc wheels. But on race day you don't worry about them as it all comes back to ability and how much work you have done.
As for your mate, he probably got a personal kick out of finishing races. That you beat him by 5 minutes is irrelevant for ironman - many variables. But I do agree about the costs. In my day a steel frame with decent wheels and some aero bars was all you needed to be competitive.

 

[Oldermanish]

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Reminds me of the first cyclist I dated. She was a new Cat 3 (how that happened I soon questioned...internally) and I was a Cat 4 with 2 road races under my belt. The second one a larger guy hooked his bars onto my brake levers on a descending curve at 30 mph. He panicked and turned away from me. It was a pile driver to the collar bone and the girl I met took pity on me and drove my truck home. None of this is relevant to the photo above except:
While convalescing I watched her prep for a race. She had it in her mind that carbs=good, potatoes are carbs.
She taped 6 little boiled potatoes to her handlebars to eat for fuel....on a 20 mile circuit race. I had to walk away to keep from laughing.

 

[Ripper]

Triathletes boffing water bottle feeds needs to be a meme. OMG people, practice the technique or don't grinch if you manage to just knock bottles onto the ground!