Roger Miliken Crit Crash

[GregL]

Originally Posted by peanutgallery

Graeme Miller did way worse to me, after I outsprinted him for like 8th place in Sheboygan in the 90s.

Now there's a blast from the past! I recall Miller making a living by racing across the US back in the late 90s. He was the archetype of a "journeyman pro," making enough in winnings each week to get to the next race. Since it was his living, he took some liberties with the rules. If he could get away with flicking another rider, he did so without a second thought.

I was working the Syracuse crit in 1998. Miller was in the P-1-2 race. He and another rider were battling for a mid-race prime. As they neared the line, Miller neatly, deliberately hooked his opposition into the curb. Fortunately, the other rider was able to rider over the low curb and stay upright. New to crit racing, I was shocked. The chief official just smiled, gave Miller a thumbs down, and awarded the prime to the second placed rider.

Greg

[tctyres]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

This thread just reinforces my wisdom at remaining a solo rider.

I totally respect your builds and photos, but until you race, really understanding the peloton isn't possible.

Originally Posted by GregL

I was working the Syracuse crit in 1998. Miller was in the P-1-2 race. He and another rider were battling for a mid-race prime. As they neared the line, Miller neatly, deliberately hooked his opposition into the curb. Fortunately, the other rider was able to rider over the low curb and stay upright. New to crit racing, I was shocked. The chief official just smiled, gave Miller a thumbs down, and awarded the prime to the second placed rider.

That's a great vignette. Nearly 100% of commissaires raced. They know what to look for. If you're going to mess around, right in front of them at the line is not the place to do it.

Also, I've been in races where some jerk cut across wheels and nearly chopped people. There is a protest period right after the race. Generally, the officials listen. Depending on severity, they will do any number of penalties. The simplest ones are either a DQ or finding fault with a lap, so the riders go a lap down at the line.

[LegendRider]

Here's the language from the USA Cycling rule book.

[Hindmost]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

This thread just reinforces my wisdom at remaining a solo rider.

Road racing and criterium riding can be amoung stupidest #@$& a person can do. There's a flip side of remarkable skill, athleticism, and mutual respect.

[redir]

Originally Posted by e-RICHIE

Cool.

Curious.

Did the arm leave the bicycle to push someone, or to maintain balance?

Or for another purpose?

In my case? A guy was literally pushing me after he yelled, "That's my spot!" I simply put up my arm in defense. We were both going for a lead out wheel and he didn't quite make it, I did.

Or if you are asking about the video that guy who raised his arm to touch the orange rider didn't look to me like he was loosing balance.

I know you are well versed in this but it's way better to keep the hands in the drops and lean and bump in situations like that when you lose balance. That way people get moved around but bars don't hook, riders don't lose control, and so on. I know that happens all the time and it's expected road races or crits.

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by tctyres

I totally respect your builds and photos, but until you race, really understanding the peloton isn't possible.

I totally call B.S. on this......after all ..... I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night.

[tctyres]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

I totally call B.S. on this......after all ..... I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night.

Haha! Zing!

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

I totally call B.S. on this......after all ..... I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night.

[CSTRider]

Originally Posted by Dino Suegiù

Looking at the race results the organizers/commissars/powers that be/etc of this particular race (USA Cycling rules) decided to:
White jersey (hand push): DQ (this seems the proper decision)
Orange jersey (down): DNP

CRIT Men Master 60+ Cat 1/2/3/4

It also looks like Black/White jersey (with whose rear wheel Orange's front wheel apparently locked) lost his rd/cassette in the process.

So according to this link, there were a total of 12 guys in the race, all from Southern Cali, and all are old enough to be grandpas. Since it's such a small field, just guessing most of them likely knew each other. This is like hearing that a bunch of accomplished senior golfers entered a competitive tournament, and then proceeded to have a knife fight on the 18th hole.

[peanutgallery]

Crit Fight, presented by Ensure and Viagra

Given the collective age around here, I know this is a sensitive topic...but what was the point of the race and how does holding 60 plus crits contribute anything to the sport? Other than a dozen extra entry fees...and a huge waste of everyone's time. Now stamps and electrons are involved in adjudicating the results. What a nightmare

Originally Posted by CSTRider

So according to this link, there were a total of 12 guys in the race, all from Southern Cali, and all are old enough to be grandpas. Since it's such a small field, just guessing most of them likely knew each other. This is like hearing that a bunch of accomplished senior golfers entered a competitive tournament, and then proceeded to have a knife fight on the 18th hole.

[sitzmark]

Originally Posted by peanutgallery

Crit Fight, presented by Ensure and Viagra

Given the collective age around here, I know this is a sensitive topic...but what was the point of the race and how does holding 60 plus crits contribute anything to the sport? Other than a dozen extra entry fees...and a huge waste of everyone's time. Now stamps and electrons are involved in adjudicating the results. What a nightmare

What then is the purpose of any race?

[peanutgallery]

Olympics and pro development

Talent identification, US racing is going backwards

Originally Posted by sitzmark

What then is the purpose of any race?

[sitzmark]

Originally Posted by peanutgallery

Olympics and pro development

Talent identification, US racing is going backwards

K then. Can eliminate about 90% of all racers cause pretty clear at early age who is/is not going to make teams. Cut off at age 25 for racing if not already in the program?

[Hellgate]

Originally Posted by peanutgallery

Crit Fight, presented by Ensure and Viagra



Given the collective age around here, I know this is a sensitive topic...but what was the point of the race and how does holding 60 plus crits contribute anything to the sport? Other than a dozen extra entry fees...and a huge waste of everyone's time. Now stamps and electrons are involved in adjudicating the results. What a nightmare

Why not? Just because you don't want to do something doesn't mean that others don't. If everyone had your attitude nothing would be done.

I'm 55 and have had a license since about '83. I still race a handful of crits during the summer. It's fun, it's good training and I enjoy it. Beats sitting on the couch and being a fat body like the majority of Americans.

[tctyres]

^ This. Plus all the staff is on site already, and masters men tend to be well behaved and have a very predictable window for how long the race will take.