A comment from Max Rogozinski (Prince William Elite Racing) on the impact of the new 35-49 MABRA BAR category touched off a powerkeg on the MABRA list last week. Much of that debate will continue throughout the year, but an ancillary issue spun out of the conversation that also warrants some attention.
BJ Basham suggested that the number of racers per squad could be looked at as well, noting that when a team stacks a race with 12 or 15 riders, not only does it limit the opportunities for other teams - it also creates a greater potential for negative racing if one of the mega squads gets a rider or two in a break (which is almost inevitable).
We're quick to emulate the pros in our training, kit design and equipment choices. They often limit the number of racers per team in an event - should local racers do the same?
Fan us.
Follow Us.
Network.
Does this really matter anywhere other than a 1/2/3 race? Sure, Harley brings 12 dudes and they wreck the joint, but they're a bit of an aberration. In the lower categories, even when there are 14 guys on one team in a cat 4 race, I have yet to see 14 *strong* guys on one cat 4 team... there's always plenty of pack fodder (I say this as a member of one of those "big" teams).
Posted by: PokeTheBear | March 09, 2009 at 11:38 AM
In addition to what PokeTheBear said, usually there is not just one team with 14 guys. At the bigger races, there will be 3, 4, or 5 teams with a large roster so it evens out.
You shouldn't stop the guys on bigger clubs that want to race from racing just because they're on a long roster. It's not like the larger clubs get priority, we all have to sign up for the big races in the first 5 minutes anyways.
Just my $0.02.
Posted by: Bert Garcia | March 09, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I kind of get a kick out of team mates chasing down their own team mates. ...
Posted by: Steve | March 09, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Harley is entering 12 guys in Jeff Cup, and more in Walkersville. No legitimate pro team pulls shit like that. However, it makes them look dumb, and puts more pressure on them to sweep the top 5 spots. They are a bunch of dicks.
Posted by: Brian Beckman | March 09, 2009 at 07:16 PM
I don't think Harley is pro.
Posted by: chimp | March 09, 2009 at 07:25 PM
There should never be rules in amateur racing that limits the number of racers that can enter except the field limit. Limiting the number of racers a team can enter will only hurt the promoter when he doesn't get enough racers in the race. Use the larger teams to your advantage by putting your racers in breaks with their racers.
Posted by: Joshua | March 09, 2009 at 07:32 PM
it all boils down to horse power. having 15 guys on the same team in the lower cats doesnt matter one bit. let them sit on the front while their top guys try to break. ill gladly piss all over that.
BUT.. in the elite race when u have 3 of the fastest in the area off the front and 10 more of the fastest guys covering....well that obviously isnt right and tilts the playing field way in their favor.
what needs to happen is the fast guys need to spread around a bit on to other teams. how is it that harley has cornered the market on fast? is it the cool kit factor alone? i dont get it.
anyhow it was nice to see Ken Young spank two of harleys best last sunday...even if it was just a training race. it shows that without their giant team they're just men like the rest.
Posted by: meagainsir | March 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM
What is this negative racing! Is there such a thing. If it is within the rules suck it up! All is fair if no rules are broke.
Posted by: Steve Jones | March 10, 2009 at 10:42 AM
First - Brian Beckman, YOU are a dick
Second - Harley is not a pro team, just a bunch of guys who try/like to ride fast. We train together, go out together, feed off each others success, and learn from our failure. We like to ride just as much as anyone else and just because the team signs up for a few early season races (just as the team has the past few years) before the field closes, why are we all of a sudden the dicks? With the exception of the Masters age limits, this year is no different from last year or the year before that.
Third - Ken Young did not spank anyone last week, he won a sprint against three tired guys who had been training at that training race.
There has been a lot of criticism pointed our way in the last few weeks and I don't know why. all I can say is if those people would put as much time into riding their bikes as they do in whining about field limits or age categories, they wouldn't have to worry about either.
Posted by: Brian Butts | March 13, 2009 at 12:26 AM
game...
set..
match!
buttzilla wins again!
Posted by: Calvin Washington | March 13, 2009 at 04:22 PM
For road I ride in the lower categories, but I think there should be a team rider rule, it makes squads have different "teams" for different races. I had done the lesser CAT races and seen a bunch of guys on the same team loose in a race that had no right to with like 15 people! I think you have teams sign up (max 8) then with 2 weeks to go before the race, if there are still spots(which I doubt there would be) anyone can sign up. Maybe there would be more teams, I think that is a good thing.
Posted by: Darren | March 17, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Butts.. just training harder isn't the answer. Even if Virginia Wesleyan's hoops team trained all day and night they wouldn't win an NCAA championship.
I don't like seeing the Yankees win every year either...but that's just jealousy talking, nothing wrong with that. People didn't like seeing Armstrong win again and again and teams unofficially worked together to try to prevent it. If folks are that anti Harley and Butt's proposal isn't in your genetics.....
At least Harley presents a good excuse for my inadequacy. It's like in Tennis. I could be a PRO if it wasn't for that damn net always getting in my way.
Posted by: TerribleTerry | March 17, 2009 at 10:42 AM