Dale Basescu vs. Paul C. Burton ten/twenty years later... - Page 2 - Triathlon Week

03-29-2005, 06:46 PM

Harold Buck <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in news:no_one_knows-
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]:

> And yet my original statement is correct, since neither "Guiness" nor
> "Guinness" (nor "guiness" nor "guinness"--capitalization is a small but
> important point, I feel) recognize a record for longest grudge.
>
> --Harold Buck
>

Why do I suddenly crave a pint of stout?

03-29-2005, 06:47 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote in news:1112106873.738764.100890
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

> All I want is peace and harmony...lots of ice cream...and a cold beer
> every once in a while.
>

I agree, except in my version the beer and the ice cream switch places.

03-29-2005, 09:08 PM

Tom Henderson wrote:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote in news:1112106873.738764.100890
> @o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:
>
> > All I want is peace and harmony...lots of ice cream...and a cold
beer
> > every once in a while.
> >
>
> I agree, except in my version the beer and the ice cream switch
places.

I guess I could flip flop on that one too...

crazylegs · 03-30-2005, 10:15 PM

I am fairly new to the sport (though not new to racing bicycles), so perhaps I have a newer, albeit, naive view on the subject. Drafting just adds to the skill and strategy of the cycling event. Drafting is legal in the swim event, so why not the cycling event? Why would you take away something that could possibly add to the exitement of the sport. As I said I am new to triathlons, and I will compete whether drafting is legal or not.

To Dr. Dale - no one has ever written a word about me be it good or bad, so consider yourself lucky and be flattered by the whole affair. I doubt Paul has lost any sleep over it (not that you have either), so your idea of peace, beer, and ice cream is a great one.

rhino52 · 03-30-2005, 11:07 PM

Its nice when you have someone breaking wind in front of you????? P U

03-31-2005, 05:15 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].au>,
crazylegs <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].au> wrote:

> I am fairly new to the sport (though not new to racing bicycles), so
> perhaps I have a newer, albeit, naive view on the subject. Drafting
> just adds to the skill and strategy of the cycling event. Drafting is
> legal in the swim event, so why not the cycling event?

Because if I get a huge lead in the swim, and I'm exactly an equal biker
to everyone else, the pack of drafters will eliminate my lead in the
bike even though they are of exactly the same cycling ability. Come on,
the swim is already a minor part of triathlon, and drafting minimizes it
even further.

> Why would you
> take away something that could possibly add to the exitement of the
> sport.

See above. Plus, for age-groupers, most don't have the bike-handling
skills to handle riding in large groups. You'd likely get so many
accidents that insurance rates would skyrocket and you'd see sprint
events start going for $200 a race.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

03-31-2005, 06:28 AM

crazylegs wrote:
> I am fairly new to the sport (though not new to racing bicycles), so
> perhaps I have a newer, albeit, naive view on the subject. Drafting
> just adds to the skill and strategy of the cycling event. Drafting is
> legal in the swim event, so why not the cycling event? Why would you
> take away something that could possibly add to the exitement of the
> sport. As I said I am new to triathlons, and I will compete whether
> drafting is legal or not.
>

snip

Hi Crazylegs,

I enjoy that triathlon is an individual effort. Personally, I don't
care to be gobbled up by a pack of riders on the bike. I take
satisfaction from doing MY best and seeing where I place among my peers.

I've done bike races, too, and they are exciting. I say that if
triathletes want a draft legal race, they should go do a bike road race.

Drafting may be legal in the swim, but I don't know very many average
triathletes who use it to their advantage, so where I am in the pack of
swimmers, it's still an individual effort.

From a race director's viewpoint, I would not want to see draft legal
triathlons. With packs out on the bike course, the races that don't
race on closed courses would become a thing of the past, and where I
live, that's all of the races.

If USA Triathlon ever adapts the draft legal position for amateur races,
I think you'll see a lot of races give up the USAT sanction and go it
alone.

Anyway, that's my two-cents worth. I imagine that this subject has been
beaten to death, but it gets such an emotional reaction with me, I
just couldn't help but say something. I feel better now, so I guess I'd
better get back to work :)

Bob

03-31-2005, 12:18 PM

Harold,

I think it is more basic. All sport is a balance of skill, technique,
and conditioning.

By introducing drafting, we diminish the importance of conditioning - -
especially in agegroups. In and of itself, that is not "bad", but it
is substantially *different*.

Amateur tennis players are defeated by less "fit" opponents all the
time. I don't think the triathlon status quo is ready to accept that.
Triathlon is one part sport, to ten parts aerobic fitness test.

rsquared

P.S.- I will lose - - either way. : )

rhino52 · 03-31-2005, 03:32 PM

Wow we are beating this subject to death, as an amatuer i dont even understand the drafting concept yet except fot NASCAR, if it becomes such a dilemma i guess we should all take our swimsuits bikes and running shoes and go home, is it fair that we pay taxes for used vehicles once a tax has already been paid??? i say if the drafting is such an issue just run faster to the finish line!!! Good luck everyone with your training RHINO

04-01-2005, 03:53 AM

rhino52 <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].au> wrote in
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].au:

> i dont even
> understand the drafting concept yet except fot NASCAR

Wow, a redneck in Australia! ;-)

If you're new to the sport, you'll be amazed at the fervor around this
topic. It seems extreme at first, but it's really a debate about the
whole meaning and intent of the sport. IMHO, it's one of the main resons
the AGers feel so isolated from the pros and feel they're funding someone
else's sport with their membership fees to their national tri
organizations.

Don't let it sour you on the sport in general, it's a great endeavor and
it's full of great people. Enjoy!

04-01-2005, 03:54 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote in news:1111970373.021736.147580
@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> Wow! I came across a ten year old thread (1996) about the perennial
> drafting controversy in the sport of Triathlon.

Thanks for at least bringing this near-dead forum back to life for a
moment.

crazylegs · 04-01-2005, 08:29 AM

At this stage in my life, I am usually set in my ways...however Harold Buck, Bob Haase, and a few others have given a really good argument for why triathlon rules are the way they are. I guess that is what makes triathlons and triathletes unique. You have made me re-examine my views. I guess the years of being a roadie have made me one-sided on this subject. But as I said, drafting or not, I will compete regardless.

04-01-2005, 09:31 AM

Tom Henderson wrote:
>
> Thanks for at least bringing this near-dead forum back to life for a
> moment.

Yea, nothing like a bit of controversy to liven things up...

I haven't raced in a gazillion years. I'm probably healthier now than
when I use to train like a madman...not as fast, not as lean, and
definitely not as mean...but not too slow, not too fat, and definitely
not "all that". Anyway, it was fun to revisit the drafting issue for a
couple of days (a lot easier than revisiting an actual race again).

I doubt I will ever do another Triathlon (never say never), but it was
fun while it lasted.

04-01-2005, 10:56 AM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> a écrit dans le message de news:

> I haven't raced in a gazillion years. I'm probably healthier now than
> when I use to train like a madman

Interesting. Do you consider high level sport to be bad for health ? (not
even talking about doping, here)

People tend to assimilate sport with health, but my exprience is that too
much sport (like what the usual triathletes do - 5/6 hard training sessions
a week) will ruin your health.

-- Olivier

04-03-2005, 05:31 PM

Silver0l wrote:
> <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> a =E9crit dans le message de news:
>
>
> Interesting. Do you consider high level sport to be bad for health ?
(not
> even talking about doping, here)
>
> People tend to assimilate sport with health, but my exprience is that
too
> much sport (like what the usual triathletes do - 5/6 hard training
sessions
> a week) will ruin your health.
>

Hi Oliver,
Not necessarily. It really depends on how "smart" one trains. If an
athlete listens closely to the signals his body is giving him,
understands the subtle intricacies of nutrition, gets the proper amount
of sleep and rest, (two very different things), realizes the
significance of mental stress and relaxation, always errs on the side
of too little, rather than too much, develops a working knowledge of
sports specific biomechanics... and most importantly, regularly watches
reruns of Jerry Seinfeld at least several times per week, then chances
are, he/she will be extremely healthy...

The only part that I personally was unable to fulfill in the
aforementioned "health prerequisites" was the Seinfeld viewing (it
wasn't on the air back in 1985)... As a result, I ended up with
numerous training related injuries...

-Dale