SCTAC... speed is up... skills are down....
The last several weeks SCTAC A's have had its share of crashes and close calls. This past Tuesday saw a cadre of USA Development team riders join the fray. Some of which could not even pedal the bike smoothly, weaving left and right. Add in some riders who display less than experienced pack racing skills and well you feel like you are in a Cat 5 race........you might want to be at the front or at the back, just in case.... (A's should be for USA Cycling licensed and EXPERIENCED riders)...
The Devo's moved near the front during the warmup and the pace started going up quickly... they were holding a good pace but displaying less than adequate skills. Add some wind and then a little rain... well you can guess what was going to happen....
On the 2nd lap, on the back side flat, a rider came back on another rider not holding his line and BAM.. riders going down... All the while I am thinking this is not safe, this is not safe....riding in the gutter on the right.. I don't care if the pavement is bad....good to have a bailout plan.... so I just ride out into the grass field avoiding the mayhem....
In the old days back in Atlanta, my late brother would hand out "pink slips" to riders who "did not belong" sending those riders to the back.. Needless to say, there were those who really disliked him, but the veterans of the peleton appreciated someone was doing some "policing".
I am not sure what we can do to ensure the quality and safety of the A's, but we might want to explore some ideas (Cat 4 racers and above?).... for me.. the A's used to be the safest of the Donaldson races...now, I am more and more riding on edge as I feel it is no longer "safe"....
Just my view.....
4 comments:
Two years ago the same thing happened to John when the development riders were there - john escaped with most of the rubber on his tire on the road and a cracked rim, but someone else broke their arm that night.....again - athletic ability far exceeded bike handling skills for most of the juniors in the A group. I couldn't agree more - matter of fact I strongly recommended John not ride yesterday because I knew the devo riders would be there.....sorry to say.
I haven't had the pleasure of the Tuesday night worlds but I can say that after the SC State RR that there is a lack of what I call "consequence management" that is running rampant. Riders either knowingly or obliviously risking everyone's safety. Interesting what some riders will risk for a $30 prize or misplaced glory.
Well you wonder if Tuesday night SCTAC will lose its significance , if nothing happens soon.
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