From ta@salmo.cqs.washington.edu Wed Apr 3 20:58:36 1996 Return-Path: Received: from mx4.u.washington.edu by lists.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW96.03/UW-NDC Revision: 2.33 ) id AA09242; Wed, 3 Apr 96 20:58:35 -0800 Received: from salmo.cqs.washington.edu by mx4.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW96.03/UW-NDC Revision: 2.33 ) id AA15860; Wed, 3 Apr 96 20:58:34 -0800 Received: by salmo.cqs.washington.edu (8.6.10/COFS Revision: 2.30 ) id UAA23291; Wed, 3 Apr 1996 20:58:33 -0800 Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 20:58:33 -0800 (PST) From: Ta Herrera To: Jan Heine Cc: uwracing@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: technical questions, leadouts In-Reply-To: Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi Jan - In case you haven't already gotten a deluge of responses to your worthy questions, here's my two cents. Leadouts are a tricky thing and are certainly hard to practice. The whole point of a leadout is to give your sprinter _access_ to a clear line to the finish, with little enough distance left in the race so that others (even other good sprinters) have a hard time coming around your sprinter before they reach the line. On Mon, 1 Apr 1996, Jan Heine wrote: > So in the 3s race, our leadouts didn't really work, despite everybody > involved giving it their best. So I have a few questions to the > experienced racers or those who watch all those Euro-videos: > > 1. When leading out, should the person being led stay on the leadouts > wheel all the time while they make their way through the pack? Or is it > possible to separate (e.g., when the leadout goes through a gap that > closes before the other can get through) and then "reunite"? It isn't necessary for the sprinter to tail the leadout rider around for a long time before the sprint; all that really matters is that they are together for the last 300-500 meters of the race, which is when the single-rider leadout develops. However, you stand a better chance of being right on your leadout if you hover in their vicinity, however; there is a lot of "randomness" in most race finishes, so it is hard to predict where you'll end up. > 2. Does the lead person try to get on wheels themselves or rather sprint > by themselves on the side, giving the rear person a clear path to the line > once they come by? Generally the leadout rider wants to have a clear line from about 400m, so that, as you say, the sprinter has a clear lane to come around at 150-200m. It is not really a "leadout" if the leadout rider is caught behind other people contesting the sprint. > 3. Does the front person sprint sitting and steady or all-out and > standing? I find it hard to hang onto the wheel of an all-out sprinter, > as they move too much. Leadouts should be fast, fast enough that no-one else in the field even THINKS about coming around the leadout rider early. This removes as much of the "noise" or randomness, from the finish. Leadouts basically allow the sprinter to use their speed, rather than having to deal with a confusing melee at 200m from the line. We use the phrase "keep it fast at the finish" which means we want to be in position, and be assured of staying there, until the sprint commences. It is best if the speed of the leadout is high, but smooth and steady, for the reason you give (it's hard to follow a bike being thrown from side to side, and it doesn't give as much draft). The person sprinting should be riding hard, but not fatiguing, while on the leadout's wheel. Remember, if you have a good draft, everyone behind you is working just as hard, harder if they're trying to pass you in the last few hundred meters. Everyone should have the opportunity to ride Randy's wheel in a leadout sometime :-). > 4. Where to start the sprint? Yesterday, we were in about 20th position > when starting, I think that is a little too far back. Yes, 20th is not ideal. When Ben led me out in the collegiate race, he was at the front starting at the water tower (i.e. about 800m from the finish). We were the first two out of the corner, so I was both (a) sheltered until 200m and (b) closer to the line than anyone else trying to draft me. To win the sprint at Volunteer Park, you have to be top 6 coming out of the corner or else a much superior sprinter to those ahead of you (if that doesn't sound too obvious...). > 5. Is it conceivable with 4 riders to lead into the sprint, and one after > another peeling off the front until the last wins? Or will others come > around? The 4-rider train is great, but somewhat hard to orchestrate unless all four riders are feeling fresh at the end of the race. This way you can keep the pack strung out much longer (i.e. > 1 lap at Volunteer Park) and deliver the sprinter to the line at high speed. Nobody will come around if you go 30mph (unless they're extremely strong and starting a leadout of your own, in which case you're in trouble...). > Your input is appreciated, so that next time we can win the 3s..... > Otherwise, thanks for organizing a great event last weekend. It was great > fun. I hope this is somewhat helpful, and that others will voice their opinions if they think I have mis-explained or omitted something. We are just getting this together as a team, in large part due to the strength of Ben and Randy. I think the 3's team is really starting to come together, especially if there is a widespread concern like Jan's about riding as a team. Some pre-race talk goes a long way towards success, even if only 25% of your plans come to fruition. > Jan > Good luck at Willamette, Herr Heine. I do not envy your comeptitors in the mountains. Ta .