Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Joe,

I was a little surprised at this also. This doesn't seem to be much an 
issue in the SE or maybe most just don't pay much attention.
If you are in it to race - and just because you ride with a group the 
last loop doesn't mean you should "tie." Bottom line is who has the 
longest fastest kick is the winner. If a horse doesn't have speed to win 
it in the last mile, the rider should be pushing hard the last 5 miles 
to take the kick out of the legs of the others.

I've never quite understood the desire to tie. I see it more often today 
that in the past. I remember an unforgettable ride I had with Lawton 
Johnston some 10 to 15 years ago. I caught up with him on the last loop. 
My horse was fresh his wasn't. My horse pulled his horse and at a mile 
out he takes off. I buried him. It was fun. Did I begrudge Lawton using 
my horse to get close to give it a shot - hell no. A smart rider will 
use all his tricks. At the end we shook hands because we both had a 
great ride. I just happened to be faster that day.  I'm sure you can 
tell many of these stories. Isn't that what this sport is all about?

Truman

Joe Long wrote:

> On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 18:52:23 -0500, "April Allison" <aallison1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>  
>
> > ??
> > So everybody does it and when they are the drafter, they have a good reason and try to be polite. When they are the one being drafted, most of the time they don't like it but are willing to be understanding if the other rider is polite and/or makes it clear they are working a green horse or are working on a problem and are doing their best.
> >    
>
> I didn't read my mail for a couple of days, then saw all of these ... too 
> many
> to read them all.  But those I did read are somewhat dismaying.
>
> I don't like to ride alone, and I rarely start with a "group" of my own, so I
> always "hook up" with other riders for most of the ride.  I never dreamed anyone
> would be annoyed at this.  No one has ever complained or made me feel unwelcome.
> (Well, almost no one.)  I am willing to do my share of leading, although Sanshra
> is generally happier following.
>
> Also, I don't believe that just because you've ridden with people a good part of
> the way, it's impolite to race near the end.  It is a race after all, and I
> don't begrudge anyone who runs off and leaves me on the last leg, no matter how
> far we've ridden together earlier.
>
> I've waited for other riders after they had a fall or needed to make a tack
> adjustment; I don't think that obligates them to not race me at the end.  There
> was a ride in Missouri where a young rider fell a couple of miles from the
> finish, I caught his horse for him, then he beat me at the finish line -- that's
> OK.  When I broke my ankle the two riders I was with waited for me until I got
> back aboard, nevertheless I still tried to win the ride and finished second.
>
> I guess the way I look at it is that we're all out there together enjoying the
> ride, and helping each other, but for those of us who race none of that
> obligates us (by rule or etiquette) to hold back and not do our best at the
> finish.
>
>  


--

"Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what 
we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true."  - 
Bertrand Russell




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