[cxwrench]

After a few laps of that I got some legs back and with six laps to go I moved up the inside of the pack down the front straight into the #1 spot just as we got to the first corner. I held my line in the corner but I guess the guy in the #2 spot didn't expect me to be there because he dove into the corner and right into my back wheel.

"just as we got to the first corner"...
does this mean you dive-bombed the corner and the rider that actually had the line turned into you because you weren't supposed to be there? maybe he rode the 'right' line and hit a later apex and contacted your wheel because you (on the inside) turned in early, hit an early apex and ended up coming across the road in front of him, actually taking out his front wheel instead of him hitting you?
of course i wasn't there, but it sounds like a classic case of a 4/5 racer trying to shove it up the inside, the only thing missing was the beginning racer battle cry of "inside inside inside!" if i'm wrong, i'm sorry...but really think about what happened, maybe talk to some other guys that were there. if what i'm thinking happened actually happened, take it as a learning experience and don't do it again.

 

[cxwrench]

if he hit your back wheel, it's his fault.

i think we all understand that...what we're saying is that the OP "may" have taken his front wheel out, thus making it the OP's fault. if the OP was doing the passing, this seems kind of obvious, unless he came through and then hit the brakes...then it would still be his fault...

 

[cxwrench]

he already addressed that. doesn't sound like it to me. sounds like a typical 4/5 crash.

describe a "typical" crash...given what we know

 

[cxwrench]

the guy is obviously a beginner...he's posting about it because he wants input, and that's what the forum is for. his competitor ended up on the ground w/ broken bones. if he can learn from this and it means something like this won't happen to him and maybe some other folks here, it's damn well worth 'obsessing' a bit.

 

[cxwrench]

i'm not slamming bmx in any way, i think it's great he's trying to figure out what happened and how to handle the situation, which is a lot more than most people would do. most guys wouldn't even think it was worth thinking about and move on. i'm sure he'll learn from the situation and be a better rider for it. most of this discussion will benefit other racers who may or may not have had a similar incident.

as for apex...
it's the point in the corner where you are furthest to the 'inside' of the turn...the point furthest to the outside where you start your turn is the 'turn-in point' and the point furthest to the outside on the exit would be called 'track-out' in car racing...not sure anyone calls it anything other than the 'curb' in bike racing. an 'late' apex is more preferable to an 'early' apex as it will generally leave you w/ room on the exit of a corner. if you 'early' apex, you can run out of room on the exit...if you're the one leading into a corner, you can pick the line and determine where the apex will be.

 

[cxwrench]

perfect illustration! :thumbsup:

 

[cxwrench]

none of those lines is a friendly crit line if riders are in anything other than single file. The lime green is what most will try to perform but it will eventually chop the inside riders if you are 2 or more abreast. Friendly is sweeping the corner in your same position as your lane position. Often the front guy will "apex" the corner with the rest "holding their line"

i think we understand that, it's just the general concept of an apex that is being explained. i don't know about you, but i spend plenty of time in crits pretty much single file...obviously if it isn't single file, you follow the wheels...not much else you can do.