|
1-5 of 5 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Thundergust bust
|
Reply
|
|
by forge on June 18, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Looking at the scattershot bike times, I estimate about 120 out of 200 went off course. Only 20 were DQ'd due to very short times. But most did not ride the specified bike course. Let's see, no course marshals, no cones, no signs, no course map posted at transition (that i saw) and an apparent mistake by the RD in the pre-race brief. (Many i spoke to afterwards were sure he had said turn right at the 2nd light.)
Only arrows painted on the road. Arrows we could not see due to the long line of bikes in front of us. The very short swim had most of the triathletes out on the bike ahead of us duzers. Plus, there is another race run on these same roads, so which arrows? Finally, cars at our left elbow made trying to watch for painted arrows amongst the bikes more dangerous still.
And yet the USAT official would only say its the athletes responsibility to know the course. How do you know the course if there's no map, no signs and the RD makes a mistake when briefing the racers? I got to one intersection and there were riders coming from all 4 directions. That response is a cheap-ass copout by the USAT official. One of the things we pay for in doing USAT sanctioned races is that the course is safe. Poor course marking contributes to making a course unsafe. Therefore, we pay for decent course marking (or better yet, course marshals).
|
| |
|
RE: Thundergust bust
|
Reply
|
|
by mikef on June 18, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
does the usat pay for sponsoring athletes? I noticed on their financial statement, posted on their website, expenses of $1.4 million in 2007 for "team usa and national championships".
how does a person become qualified? thanks
|
| |
|
RE: Thundergust bust
|
Reply
|
|
by rascal1 on June 19, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Does anyone ever ask why the registration for the Worlds is so high. Just the US team alone for this year's event in NC will bring in close to $100,000 in entry fees. Then USAT is charging $30.00 for each individual to participate in a lottery to add another 60 entries. For that $300.00 you get a pasta dinner and maybe a mechanic for your bike. The uniform is an extra $150.00. Welcome to Team USA! By the way whoever designed the run courses for the Worlds must of been drunk as there are so many turns it will make you dizzy.
|
| |
|
RE: Thundergust bust
|
Reply
|
|
by mrSmith on June 19, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Getting back to Thundergust, apparently we were supposed to make the 1st right turn as usual then make the 2nd right on that road. One person I talked to magically knew that but still ended up getting lost. I was literally about 10 feet from Linda when she explained the bike course and I too heard don't make the first right turn like we do every year and go down to the 2nd light. She also said there was going to be a sign at the 2nd light and there wasn't. I am very surprised at how the day turned out because Linda and Mark and great people and put on great events. I neded up with 21 miles and change when all was said and done. I was on teh road where everyone turned too early and kept going straight. At about 9 miles out I realized I went too far and started making right turns until I finally saw an intersection with a State Trooper, made another right turn and followed the back end of the tri field to the park. Even after that I only saw one more Trooper and no volunteers. To be honest I don't think anybody rode thr right course, but that is my opinion. I think the people who won both races made it back in a time which seemed fit to riding the right course. I know everyone I talked to was at least in the 19-22 mile range for the course. I know they say it a million times that the riders are supposed to know the course, but part of knowing the course is knowing to keep your head up when coming to an intersection or turn you know somebody is supposed to safely flag you through. When that person is not there, then the logical thinking is not to turn. We all rely on that just as much as looking at a map or getting instructions pre race. In my opinion these results should not count, even mine. If it were a handful of people, it might be a different story, but I did not talk to one person afterwards that didn't get lost on the course.
|
| |
|
RE: Thundergust bust
|
Reply
|
|
by hazer on June 19, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
When I saw some of the bike splits, I just assumed there were flat tires or other mechanical issues.
Any idea why they decided to change the bike course? Changing a known route, not issuing maps, and having no course marshals is a recipe for disaster.
Sounds like I picked a good year to skip Thundergust.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
Message Boards, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Message Boards Manager.
|
