Squirrel, can you explain the "team" thing to me in bike-riding? I mean, if your team is good enough to keep up with you, why aren't they in the competition themselves? And if they can't keep up, what good are they to you, the real rider of the team?

Clod,
That was something that always perplexed me, as a bike mechanic and tour biker. We are not racers.

Here is some of what I have pieced together:

The team is seen as a support crew for the main rider, the one who has the best chance of winning, is strongest, etc. Your team mates help to get you to the finish line with as much finish in you as possible.

There are sacrificial members whose job it is to bluff and put on a strong attack at certain times. If they are convincing, they will cause other teams to chase them in the hopes they will wear out. These riders never intend to finish the race and spend themselves.

Other team members will "pull" you by riding in front of you breaking the wind so you can rest or save your strength for the finish, they can also block others from passing or chase down attackers.

Why are there lead guitarists and a rhythm section? Why are there queens and drones? Why are there CEOs of Lehman Brothers and the rest of us?

Hmm. I guess as long as they get paid, it works out okay for them...

Lance Armstrong's "auto"biog explains it pretty well.

sn, you're saying that the rest of the team breaks wind and this inspires the main rider to surge ahead and win the race?

As well as the teamwork already explained, sometimes they act as a waterboy. In eg the Tour de France, a team rider cruises to the back of the peloton, hooks up with the team car, loads up with drink bottles (I've seen them shoving a dozen inside their shirt) and then powers back up to hook up with the rest of the team and pass on the drinks. Climb the ladder, serve your time, maybe one day YOU will be the number one.

Okay, but like... is it different team members riding each day? Or have they all fallen back and dropped out by the end of the race? I just don't get it. If you can ride the entire freaking Tour de France, including dropping back and powering up to the front carrying a load of water at will... you should get credit for it.

Obviously there is neither an "I" nor a "Clodfobble" in "team."

But there is a me in meat.

There is a "bi" in bicycle.

When the "Goldenrod Nutpants Team" wins, let me know. As long as "Lance Armstrong" is winning, it ain't right, unless he's paying them for their services.

I needed those people to follow me around at track meets!

They do get paid, don't they?

Lance's team gets paid. The Goldenrod Nutpants team does not get paid, but they are allowed to eat all the nuts they can find along the roadside, if they don't get hit by a car first.