From: jac@noaacrd.colorado.edu (Julia Collins)
Subject: Re: What's the reason for the SBR event ordering?
Organization: NOAA Climate Research Division
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 16:37:26 GMT

In article <1172@tekgen.bv.tek.com> brucec@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Bruce Cheney) writes:
>In article <1992Aug27.144706.24565@colorado.edu> jac@noaacrd.colorado.edu (Julia Collins) writes:
>>For me, this would encourage drafting. There's nothing that looks
>>better to me when I'm tired and on the bike than someone else's wheel.
>
>The concept that making it physically harder to draft encourages more
>drafting seems somewhat absurd. Taken to its extreme implies that, for
>you, there is no way to reduce your inclination to draft except to make
>it possible and legal. Catch-a-22!

I'm referring to the case where there *is* someone near enough to draft. :-)
If they're there, and I'm tired, the bike racing instincts are mighty
hard to overcome. 

>
>>Also, in the case
>>of a pack finish, additional photo finish equipment is going to be
>>necessary to accurately place the finishers.  
>
>But above you acknowledged that people would be more spread out. You
>also missed my point that in USCF, everyone starts together and drafting
>is legal, so they stay together. In a Tri just the opposite is true.
>Yes, there might be 'packs', but if USCF can execute the finish line
>properly, it should be even easier for Tri's. 

You're right, we're not talking about 50-deep field sprints here. 
But if it comes down to a sprint between even two people, the equipment
will be necessary.

>
>A bike finish would also be much more pleasing and interesting for
>spectators and for a TV audience. Distance running finish tend to
>be boring.

I must be watching the wrong races. :-) 

>I am a race organizer (and triathlete). I work extensively with the
>medical crews. I have witnessed people DIE during this type of event.
>It is something I never want to experience again. It happens more
>often than participants are aware of. 

One thing I didn't bring up in my earlier post: I fail to see how 
riding a bike when exhausted (or near it) is safer than running.
You have the additional cooling effect of the wind (a plus) on the
bike, but you also have the need to control your bike (difficult
enough after a swim, but even harder as you become more tired); you're
still going to dehydrate (several of my fellow competitors tell me
that they "can't" drink on the bike - they forget, or it's too much
hassle to budge from the aero position, or whatever. Maybe a good
reason to promote Camelbacks). I would much rather be on foot than
on a bike when I hit whatever wall (or car or fellow athlete :-)) I'm
going to hit.

>
>AT YOUR NEXT TRI, STOP IN AT THE MEDICAL TENT. FIRST, THANK THEM
>FOR BEING THERE, THEN ASK THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY SEE. THEN
>BRING UP SRB and the pro's and con's.  Tell the net what they
>said.
>

AT YOUR NEXT TRI, REMIND PEOPLE TO WORK WITHIN THEIR LIMITS! REMIND 
THEM TO STAY HYDRATED AND TO EAT ON THE BIKE! The medical problems 
you refer to are easily preventable in the context of the current
SBR order.

Julia
.................................................................
: e-mail:       jac@noaacrd.colorado.edu			:
:...............................................................:
: Given that true intellectual and emotional compatibility are  :
: at the very least difficult, if not impossible, to come by,   :
: we could always opt for the more temporal gratification of    :
: sheer physical attraction.  That wouldn't make you a shallow 	:
: person...would it? 	 		- Lyle Lovett		:
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