proper starting etiquette

[evanwebb]

So the other thread got me thinking I'm a sucker. On starts I don't surge or try to get a run, I try to maintain fairly steady speed that is sort of the average of who is around me wherever I am in the pack. Is everyone else trying to anticipate the start? Frankly what Tristan said about laying back and getting a huge run just sounds like cheating to me? I trying to get a run on everyone else before the green is shown acceptable?

Section 6.2 of the GCR talks about the field being at a "constant slow speed" prior to the start, getting a run prior to the green seems incompatible with this. Also, the GCR talks about improving your position as "moving out of line or passing", and I believe that shoudlrefer to moving out of your "row", not just your "column".

Too conservative? Maybe this is why I feel like I rarely get a good start?