Handicaps: 'Please Explain'
Handicaps are different to the scratch races that you are used to because:
- everyone from A to E grade is in the same race
- you ride with a small group of riders who have roughly the same ability as you
- each group of riders is separated by a time gap on the start line (ie. the handicap)
- you have to ride consistently at a higher pace than normal
- work is shared equally amongst all riders in your group, including those lazy sprinters
A handicap usually has two distinct phases: accretion and the end-game.
Accretion is where faster groups catch the groups and dropped riders ahead of them. In a perfect handicap this wouldn't happen until the finish line, and all the groups would cross the line together in a dead-heat! But it's not a perfect world and most groups will have merged with some distance still to go.
At some point riders who think they have what it takes to stake a claim for a top 10 spot will start to employ tactics to drop other riders, or take shelter in the bunch to try to stay with the faster riders. That's the end-game. Initially the pace will increase as the scratchies make contact and take control, then it will start to fluctuate as surges ripple through the pack. If the bunch is large enough the tail will be "whipping" (fast-slow-fast-slow) so wildly that riders will start to drop off from exhaustion.
Within the accretion phase the groups need to ride at a pace that is sustainable and will also allow them to a) catch the groups in front of them before the finish and b) delay being caught by the groups chasing them. The group needs to work together as a single unit, so communication is vital. Riders need to roll through smoothly (ie. no surging) for their turn at the front so that no-one wastes precious energy. Experienced riders may do some coaching on the fly to help novice riders get used to working efficiently in a paceline, so don't take offence if you're a novice and someone offers you advice: it's for the good of the whole group.
Sometimes stronger riders within a group may sense that riders in their group are starting to wilt. Tired riders are usually a liability because the group can only ride at the pace of their slowest rider, so the stronger riders will decide whether to shelter those riders or shell them. Either way, everyone else has to work harder.
If groups start to disintegrate then the shelled riders need to recover while they roll along waiting for the next chasing group to sweep them up. In a club handicap it's usual for the chasing group to invite shelled riders to join them (ie. calling from about 30m out so the shelled rider can match their speed). If they do join it usually takes a few km before they have the legs to help out with the workload (if at all!).
Not much else to say, except have fun! See ya Sunday
