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How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule?
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 2013-03-14 12:43 PM |
Member 27  Phoenix, AZ |  Subject: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule?The Ironman AZ bike course is 3 laps on a 38 mile out-and-back. With 1600 athletes riding how is it possible to stay 7 meters behind the bike in front AND ride single file, except for passing, as the rules state? Anyone done this race who can lend some insight? |
| 2013-03-14 1:37 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Pro 6520   Bellingham, WA | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I have not done IMAZ but have done similar races and the short answer is that it is not possible for everyone to follow the rule all the time to the letter. I've heard several race officials comment on how they enforce (or not) the rule. They realize that it is not possible especially on areas of the course where riders tend to bunch up. I think as long as you make an effort to stay off someones wheel you should be OK. There seem to be plenty of blatant offenders to keep the officials busy if they want to make an attempt at enforcement. I did get a drafting penalty at a large race this last summer which I didn't know about until after the race and I am pretty cautious about such things so I guess you never know. Edited by popsracer 2013-03-14 1:37 PM |
| 2013-03-14 2:03 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Master 2855  Kailua, Hawaii | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I understand your concern. Did you read any of the many reports for IMAZ here ? http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/directory/link-detail.asp?linkid=2721 IMWA was like this, 3 loops, but they had a 36 foot draft distance, which was even harder to deal with. There were lots of marshals lurking constantly, but luckily I didn't get popped. You just try your best to follow the rules. Usually marshals will lay off when they see it's necessary. Edited by metafizx 2013-03-14 2:03 PM |
| 2013-03-14 2:34 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
| Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? Did IMAZ in '08. I was sub hour in the swim, so I saw the crowds mostly behind me and didn't really have to deal with that, by loop 2 things were pretty spread out. Some inadvertant drafting is frankly inevitable. And intentional is easy to do. I had a woman on my wheel for a while coming down the Beeline, I looked back and asked her not to draft, she said something inane, went around me and drafted off the guy ahead of me. I watched a guy ahead of me, the marshall followed for a good 2 minutes before pulling the card, so they give you a fair shot. All you can do is worry about yourself though. It does takepaying attention and, infortunatelyl accommodating other riders and sometimes changing your plan |
| 2013-03-14 2:41 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Elite 3658 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? wanderwoman11 - 2013-03-14 1:43 PM .... With 1600 athletes ...
2974 people started in 2012 according to the results page. |
| 2013-03-14 3:46 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Veteran 930 Morgan Hill, California | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I did Arizona last year, and it is hard to strictly follow the rules, but not impossible, for the first two laps of the bike. By the third lap, enough athletes are off the bike that its easier not to draft. I guess it depends on the marshall, but I think if you are trying not to draft, you are less likely to get a penalty. I did see some big groups, that is bothersome. I think the marshalls are focused on the front of the race (pro and AG), and the big groups. I could be wrong about that, but that is the sense I get from a small sample size. |
| 2013-03-14 5:10 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
| 137 | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? Multiple wide. Stay left of the single file. |
| 2013-03-14 5:21 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Member 326 | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? At 7 meters per rider, 3000 riders, the chain of riders would extend 210 km. I don't see how it is logistically possible. |
| 2013-03-14 5:34 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Regular 108 | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I did AZ in '12. It's possible, not that hard really. You do have to go three wide in some areas. It's not as bad as I expected it to be. There was plenty drafting, but you had space if you wanted it. Edited by ryanperry 2013-03-14 5:34 PM |
| 2013-03-14 5:38 PM in reply to: #4660260 |
| Member 55 | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? 7m * 3,000 = 7m * 3 * 1000 = 21 km for each of three 60 km loops. So although mathematically possible, it does get crowded out there. Simply riding on the left is not a solution; that would be blocking. |
| 2013-03-14 7:16 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
Champion 8766 Evergreen, Colorado | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I've done AZ and Florida...arguably the worst "drafting" races and I absolutely never had an issue staying inside the rules....people that draft are just being lazy...plain and simple. There is no excuse for drafting. |
| 2013-03-14 7:50 PM in reply to: #4660260 |
Expert 1360 | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? DeVinci13 - 2013-03-14 6:21 PM At 7 meters per rider, 3000 riders, the chain of riders would extend 210 km. I don't see how it is logistically possible. you missed a decimal point. 21 km long. |
| 2013-03-14 8:06 PM in reply to: #4660347 |
Expert 1028 Detroit, MI. Kinda. | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? jldicarlo - 2013-03-14 8:16 PM I've done AZ and Florida...arguably the worst "drafting" races and I absolutely never had an issue staying inside the rules....people that draft are just being lazy...plain and simple. There is no excuse for drafting.
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| 2013-03-14 8:09 PM in reply to: #4659743 |
| Master 10208 Northern IL | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? You'll most always be in *a* draft zone, but you're moving in and out of different draft zones. You can't be in any one specific zone for the specified time, but you can move from one to the next without issue. They will overlap each other. A lot. |
| 2013-03-15 10:20 AM in reply to: #4659743 |
Pro 3883 Woodstock,GA | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? You do the best you can to try to race clean, sometimes it is unavoidable especially at races like IMFL and IMAZ. The only penalty I have ever receieved in 15 years of triathlon racing was a drafting penalty at IMLOU in '07. We were stacked up 7-8 deep behind a car and we couldn't pass on the right due to the double yellow and oncoming traffic. It was a total BS call because we were all sitting up doing ~14 mph waiting to go around the car. |
| 2013-03-17 11:13 AM in reply to: #4659743 |
Expert 663 A little slice of paradise | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I have done FL and did AZ 2012 , and I found it was not as 'bunched' up as I thought it would be in AZ. FL I saw big groups drafting. AZ, I really did not see it like I did in FL. I do my best to Not get close to anyone. Drafting to me is not something I look to try and get away with. I do know I had quite a few people drafing off of me, but it would not be my penality. |
| 2013-05-25 6:22 PM in reply to: wanderwoman11 |
New user 1351 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? I agree that logistically it is so incredibly hard to follow the drafting rules at all times. In fact, I got a draft card during my first Ironman in Switzerland. In my case, I tried to pass a guy, and every time I tried he would speed up (you know how irritating that can be when you're driving on the highway???) and every time he did this I'd have to fall back because I couldn't keep up a fast enough pace to pass him. This went on for 3 or 4 times because he couldn't bear to let me pass him, so as I was falling back again, an official came up and flashed a draft card. I was very very cranky. Switzerland seemed like they were pretty strict about the drafting thing, because there was an incredibly large number of people that had signed in at the penalty tent, but then at Coeur d' Alene I didn't see anyone get carded for it, so they really are more or less strict at different races. Just do your best to keep off people's backs, and save your breath if you do get carded because the rules are that you can't talk your way out of it. |
| 2013-05-25 11:12 PM in reply to: DeVinci13 |
Extreme Veteran 1986 Cypress, TX | Subject: RE: How is it even possible to follow IM drafting rule? Originally posted by DeVinci13 At 7 meters per rider, 3000 riders, the chain of riders would extend 210 km. I don't see how it is logistically possible. You're making the ridiculous assumption that folks are riding single file. A lane of the road is what... 10-12 feet wide. There's plenty of passing going on. It wasn't that bad at all. I rode a 5:15 last year and don't recall any issues, even on lap three when everyone was on the course. |
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