“Are you havin’ a dig at me?” It’s a good old phrase that one. I hear it occasionally, usually in response to some jest, part of the banter that me and my friends enjoy on a regular basis. It can be used as an off-the-cuff remark, clearly meant in a jocular way, or can carry with it a more sinister edge, a way to make a point that just needs to be made, but wrapped in enough humour to soften that edge but still prick the skin ever-so-slightly and deliver the message. “You sure you’re not havin’ a dig at me?”
The Dig is a beautiful thing when it’s employed in Cycling. Every ride will contain a dig. No matter if you’re out on a supposed cruisy lap, or a long and hard slog, there will always be a dig waiting to be unleashed, or perhaps unfurled. The way it is delivered can be predetermined, even conspired with another, or it can be completely desultory and spontaneous, taking everyone by surprise, even the schlepper making the despatch. It can be timid, or tumultuous. It can be the most subtle of moves, gracefully administered from the saddle with nary a hint of movement or sound to indicate that it is even happening, or it can be more apparent, yet never a violent, aggressive action; that would be an attack.
The Dig is meant to test rather than defeat. It’s a way of saying “there’s more to come, suckers” or to find out what others may have in reserve. Or it’s just a way to niggle, to tease and tempt, to draw a comparison between you and your comrades, who could at any time transform into adversaries, either by your or their doing. It can be one of your most valuable weapons when deployed correctly, or, like holding the grenade and throwing away the pin, a dangerously inept move should you not treat it with care and respect.
All you need to do is pick the right time. Tactics, a trump card for the smartest if not strongest rider, come into their own here; looking for the right opportunity to throw in a Dig is as important a skill as the Dig itself. Most will expect that if the gradient goes up even a small amount, that someone will be willing to Dig. Most though will, all too predictably, want to attack. You can nullify the attack through vocalisation, using the mouth rather than the legs. “We should just take it easy today” is an age-old and proven nullifier. “I’m not getting involved in that” as the first accelerations come. When you’re sure that your comrades have taken the bait, don’t make it blindingly obvious that you are going to up the pace… just a slight increase in tempo will do the trick, and even if only one or two are sent scrabbling for the last wheel, then the Dig has been successful. That small amount of energy used to get back on is a withdrawl from the V-bank, yet leaving just enough to instill a belief that there’s sufficient to cover any more bills that may need to be paid later. It’s a false sense of security that will be the downfall of the economy when further Digs are deployed. And like shareholders in Lehmann Brothers, they won’t see it coming until it’s too late and the coffers are empty.
After a rolling series of Digs, then it’s allowable, and advisable, to pick the last bits of rotting flesh from the carcasses, and hammer the final nail into the collective coffin. If you’ve dug properly, you will have much more Essence of V left than your now tiring and mentally confused adversaries. You can attack. But if you’ve not been absolutely discerning with your digging, then all you will appear to be is an asshole who couldn’t cash the cheques you were so willing to write at will earlier, and you’ll be left desperately scrabbling on the ground for the fives and dimes scattered at your feet.
*One of the best examples of The Dig employed by Bjarne Riis at Hautacam in Le Tour 1996. The way he torments his rivals, goes back to check them out three or four times, then delivers the killer blow is classic Digging.
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View Comments
@frank
There is a fine line here between following Rules 2 and 3 on the one hand and Rule 43 on the other.
Loving the video. Just seeing a very young Mike Tomalaris with a super bouffant hairdo made my day... as did the now highly daggy SBS opening credits for the TdF. I remember coming home from school and ensuring homework was done and dusted by 5.58 so that the half hour of daily highlights Le Tour could be watched. Those were the days. Steel was real. If you wanted a number of fears on your bike, you got yourself a mountain bike. STI levers were only starting to creep into the marketplace and cost about the GDP of Tonga.
@frank
I'd always thought half wheeling was overlapping wheels by an inexperienced or poorly disciplined rider. Not that it makes much difference, the only time most of the guys on the Sunday club run aren't overlapping is when they're half wheeling. For some of them the the obvious way to get to the front of the group when we're riding two abreast is through the middle.
@Chris
Bloody hell, sounds like you need a patron to instill some discipline.
But overlapping is definitely not half-wheeling. Half-wheeling has the element of being a pissing contest.
This is from The Secret Race:
"...on the times when we trained side by side, Lance would edge his front wheel ahead of mine. I'm stubborn though, and I'd respond. It became a patter: Lance would edge out six inches, and I would respond by putting my wheel one centimeter behind his. Then he'd edge out another six inches, and I'd respond - one centimeter behind. ... It was like a conversation, with Lance asking the questions.
How's that feel ?
Still here.
This?
Still here.
Okay, this?
Still here, dude."
Overlapping is just inexperience or incompetence. "You are responsible for your own front wheel" is one of the most important things anyone should know about bunch riding.
It should be a Rule.
@ChrisO
I've learned a really important distinction. Thanks !
@slatanic
Ha ha ha ... what have I done :) To better explain myself: The idea of this type of dig is not to drop your riding partner but to put a bit of a "squeeze" on them in the name of cruel fun. The idea is to stay shoulder to shoulder the whole time; even if it means backing off slightly, but have them thinking ... "I'm under pressure here & he's happy out, relaxed & even smiling ... He rides like a lion" Of course half wheeling (Overlapping wheels) is for jack asses, I didn't think that needed pointing out :) & like all cruel fun this type of dig is only to be performed on close friends......
@ChrisO
It would have to be someone tres formidable, they'd have their hands full dealing with also sorts of infractions.
I don't ride with them enough to start telling them how to behave. I'm hoping the A group will be a bit more organised.
@ChrisO
I remember reading that not being sure whether he was being a pussy, afraid of upsetting Lance or whether just bringing himself back to within a centimeter but no further was supposed to be a subtle dig.
@ChrisO
Absolutely, although I'd add willfully and stupidly negligent.
The punishment should be a severe beating. Not with a multi tool or frame pump, just a beating.
@Chris
This is a bit off topic, but reminds me of something.
There's one guy in the group that I ride with who, whenever we're in a double pace line, will always ride between the two guys in front of him. I hate riding next to him. I feel like if I'm on his right I'm going to end up in the ditch, and if I'm on his left I'm going to get clipped by a car.
I usually handle this by upping my own pace when the line is forming so I can get away from him.
@KW
Just tell him to move over. He can still stay slightly off center from the wheel ahead without sitting in the middle.
Or depending on your own level of comfort just rub elbows with him - he'll probably move away from you.
I think a lot of people do things like this simply because nobody tells them otherwise.
Of course it helps if they are stupid and self-centred and don't look at what the rest of the group is doing.
@KW You must ride with my club! Either that or there is one in every group ride. They're fucking magnetic as well, they always seem to end up next to me. I tend to drift back a bit to give myself a bit of maneuvering space (not ideal for the rest of the line, I know) and then looking to gain or lose a few positions in the line at the next major junction.