2012-05-06 - Tokyo Fixed & Chipotle Present "The Hunt" - Fixed Gear Criterium Race

a few from camera phone:

No. 21 below was the winner...

Most impressive beard...

Had a pretty exhausting day marshalling at the start/finish line, can't imagine how the riders must be feeling now. Apart from Butters, I imagine he's feeling pretty pissed.

The worst behaviour of the day was from the beardy Italian above, on the finish line at the final. Shameful blocking off of the guy who finished second, allowing his mate to win. Shameful celebrating in the second-placed guy's face afterwards.

Great day out though.

tbf I have a video of that, not 100% sure the beardy guy saw them coming, and it looks like the dude that finished 2nd was trying for the inside line, not outside ?

also, props to the Greek lads from 48x17 who are probably landing in Athens as we speak. I knew they were coming, never met/spoke to them before today, but it turns out we have some common friends. Top lads.

post up vids apolloxl!

They're not that good or long. Will try and figure it out tomorrow.
My phone autouploads everything to Google, but havnt learnt how to share vids yet...

Did it come to a bunch sprint or did the winner solo to victory?

Bump: http://infamies.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/the-hunt-or-a-day-to-scream-hold-the-line/

I need a unicorn jersey.

We brought that guy (Unicorn jersey) back to east as he had a bad crash. We can ask him to send some jerseys from Italy :)

Great pictures

Not sure about the format though - brakeless track bikes on a road race circuit, with a fairly fast moving peloton, led to several nasty crashes.

If only this had been considered beforehand.

Oh...

Plus as has been said, you've got a lot of riders who've never raced. A sensible thing to do would have been to provide a coached session (or at least a proper rider briefing) where the protocol and etiquette can be learned beforehand. Personally I think the facility management were misguided in allowing this to happen without front brakes.

probably would have been worse with front brakes.

if they're there, you're more inclined to use them.

probably would have been worse with front brakes.

if they're there, you're more inclined to use them.

+1 On that comment.

Some of the riders complaint largely about the lack of experience of some others. You could just hear them screaming "hold the line". Others even did some skids...

Having a break could have been even worse.

Surely if everyone has a brake, everyone can slow down. much better than some people being able to slow down brakeless, and some not.

Saying that, i didn't watch the race.

^^Absolutely. All crashes happened because some riders were careless about people behind in the pack. Nothing to do with not having a break. The same happens in road races with both brakes. Also riders were letting know of their whereabouts by shouting "on your left/right", which helped.

Looking forward to a next race like this. Many thanks to all organizers, supporters and marshals.

I disagree, would you remove front brakes from roadbikes and say it's less dangerous?

The problem exists with the way brakeless riders have to skid to brake fairly hard, as you might well do in a crit with corners and hills and a bunch of riders. Skidding rarely involves holding a line very well, or being very smooth. Anyone who's ridden close behind a skidding rider will know this. Unfortunately holding a line and being smooth is essential to those riding in such races.

^^Absolutely. All crashes happened because some riders were careless about people behind in the pack.

"Careless" in what way? By skidding and not holding their line when trying to slow down? I'll bet it was.

but why would they need to brake hard, if no one else can brake quickly? If someone cuts you off and you jam on the anchors, the person behind you is likely to go in to you and cause a pile up. If you instead take evasive maneuvers you might avoid causing the pile up. It's not like you can't control your speed like on a road bike without brakes. And personally, I can skid in a straight line, not sure about everyone else.

Fixed gear gives you a chance to control a bike, as in slowing down a little to put yourself in the right spot. Freewheel will keep rolling on. There was no need for braking hard. You could pedal hard through all corners. I didn't see anyone skidding, apart of the guy who was flying into the fence. Also during the briefing we were told not to skid, which makes sense.

Also this.

I would like to agree with sumo, if you can't control your speed smoothly without brakes, you shouldn't be racing brakeless.

but why would they need to brake hard, if no one else can brake quickly?.

Depends on the corners, it makes sense for everyone to have the same braking method anyhow. And obviously not everyone can skid in a perfectly straight line (or in a perfect direction to hold thier line).

I just thought, by reading previous accounts, that people had been skidding in the bunch and causing issues.

I would like to agree with sumo, if you can't control your speed smoothly without brakes, you shouldn't be racing brakeless.

So what, about half the field?

but why would they need to brake hard, if no one else can brake quickly? If someone cuts you off and you jam on the anchors, the person behind you is likely to go in to you and cause a pile up. If you instead take evasive maneuvers you might avoid causing the pile up. It's not like you can't control your speed like on a road bike without brakes. And personally, I can skid in a straight line, not sure about everyone else.

The dynamics of racing in a large bunch on a crit circuit is very different to a group ride or a chain gang. Minor adjustments of line by riders at the front of the pack are magnified through the bunch, meaning you have to occasionally scrub speed very hard. Trying to do this is significantly more risky without brakes.

All I managed to get video-wise yesterday. The final sprint video corrupted..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz2fDN1DB2w

What's the point of this argument? No one is forcing you to enter this race.