Transition Area Etiqutte

So you're saying that it wasn't Cracker?

Just kidding...

You weren't a red bike, he was in the wrong. PRobably knew that and didn't think anyone would confront him about it.  That was blatant. Of course he knew it was someone else's spot. He just didn't care.

Even peace loving hippies should be able to stand their ground!

The world is full of incredibly stupid people that only can think of themselves.  Congrats on handling it so well.  I likely would have unracked his bike and thrown it in the water at the swim start, then been hauled away by the local police and gotten a DNF, due to being in jail.

So how did you do in the race.  Did you kick his a$$?? 

Adios
Dave

That's just crazy.  I'll agree with the 1 out of 100 comment above, though.  You'll find these people everywhere.

Didn't you do Parris Island?  I just did MAP in NC and that was also run by SetUp Events.  We had assigned spots on our racks, not just a general rack.  That's odd, since I thouht they'd stay consistent for their events.

Yep...for the third year in a row, and they've done it like that each of those three years. It is weird that they aren't consistent...

Jim - You handled this situation well, certainly much better than I would have. 

This is always a concern of mine, I'm also an early arriver. If I'm the second one to set up transition, I'm disappointed. I'm not too covenant of the first rows, as some people are, but I really like to have an aisle slot on the right.

I also like to warm-up on the bike, and have done like you, placed my stuff there and draped a towel over the bar. So far, no one has disrespected this, but I really want to get some iron-on letter and print "Reserved, Out Warming Up" on my towel to leave no doubt.

Nearly as bad is the late arrival who tries to squeeze an eighth bike onto a rack designed for seven. I have had to (politely, by my standards) ask them to go seek rackage elsewhere.

Typically, I've seen each rack have a range of numbers assigned to the entire rack.  Then it's first come/first served for that rack.  I've one had one race where there were individually assigned spaces.

My frustration is those people who arrive late and then start shifting other people's bikes because they want to rack close to the aisle, rather at the more open spots further in.  I've called a few of them on it.  They don't like it, adn they'll glare and grumble, but they know they're wrong.

Incredible - especially since you had your stuff laid out under the shirt (so there was no mistaking that someone was trying to reserve a choice spot for a later arriver).

Have you mentioned it to the Race Director?  Perhaps they can put something in the registration packet about not moving other people's stuff (including a shirt place holder). Given the distance and it's early placement in the season, PI I believe generally attracks some newbies ... so it could be that the Guy just didn't know.

Way to diffuse the situation ... is this new sternness a late embrace of "Peach through Strength"?

That wud never happen in NY, we're all very cordial!

Seriously, that's why I don't warm-up on the bike (o.k. that, and a fear of the pre-race flat). Actually I've seen too much of that nonsense and I prefer to avoid it all costs.  I like to enjoy the pre-race comaraderie  that  is more common in the trans area.

None of the races I have done had "assigned" placement within the rack.  Every race has had an assigned rack for the AG, but none have gone as far as to assign a specific spot on the rack.

As for going to the RD, yeah you could do that, but the RD has a LOT of other things to deal with right at that point.  Dealing with some idiot that doesn't respect other people is not something he is going to want to do right then.

I think you handled it well.  Had I been on the rack and moved, I am not sure how I would have handled.  But I don't think that being out on the end is going to make that much difference to me.  Last year I was pretty close to last of the water most races (in my AG) and pretty good on the bike... finishing about MOP.... and last in the run at most/all my races.  So I am not looking for a podium spot.  Let some other guy have the front, if I was 5-10 seconds out from a spot THEN maybe I might get a little miffed but 20 minutes or more... no worries here.

You know, that was one of the things that bothered me all day--maybe the guy was a newbie and didn't know any better. I rationalized that since the guy wasn't a big number (>350 or so were in the novice wave, he wasn't. And also, it just seemed common sense that you wouldn't move a place holder *and* put your stuff in front of someone else's.

But to make myself feel better, I googled him this morning and he's done lots of races.

Sounds like you guys are really close now.  Good to hear it......

but UGH count me in as another that hesitates to warm up on the bike for this very reason.  It never ceases to amaze me what some people do, especially experienced racers.

You handled it well, better than I would have.  Sounds like he knew he was in the wrong but couldn't take his lumps so he got defensive.  It's just a PITA to have to deal with things like that on race morning.