Anyone got tips for a newbie?

[Spanko]

Hey Gang,

THis is my first timeplaying any PCM game, have played a few hours now and through 4 or 5 races in my career.

I started my own team and signed all promising young Aussie Riders as i only had $20k for wages, so 10 of them at 2k each. It all started well as one of flat stage specialists finished 3rd, it has gone considerably down hill since then. My next 3 or 4 races were a write off.

I changed my tactics in the last race i just completed and kept my riders close to the front of the peleton, but well inside it and 'holding position' for most of the race. There was a break-away of about 10 riders that was never caught by the peleton. I accelerated my riders that were still in good nick with about 15-20km to go, and had a bit of a sprint at the end (the first time i have had enough energy to do so).

I ended up finishing 31st and 33rd, 82nd and 86th... with my other riders at about 120ish out of 196. I was quite happy with this result.

Now, is it basically because my riders are crap that i cannot compete for wins or close to? Or are my tactics flawed?

Sorry for the novel, but im really liking the game, and would like any help from veterans i can get.

Cheers,

Spanko

[DemoN_PCM]

Your strategy depends on different things. The race, the strength of your opponents and the strength of your own riders. If you could give me some more information about those things I would be able to give you a better answer.

[Spanko]

Well i just have, what i see as, a fairly decent mix of riders. They aren't really very good, but not horrible. All 18yo-21yo Aussies, some have 70-72 for mountain/hills with a few other stats in the high 60's. My spinters have 72 and 75 for sprinting and high 60's in others.

I seem to be able to stay with the pack easily enough and some times send one of my riders on the break-aways. But, by the time the end comes, none of my riders can really stay in the front half of the peleton towards the end because they are too tired at the end... if i leave them where they are comfortable, they end up too far back to challenge.

I basically love this game, but the last 10kms are extremely frustrating. I guess it is partially due to my riders being young and not great, and partially because i feel im missing something on the tactics front.

In some races I am was against top name riders, so I am happy to finish mid pack and not really complete, but thats fine, no issue. But other races where people who win have NO stats in the 70's and are far inferior to my riders, yet seem to solo their way through and still have plenty in the tank to pull away from the peleton with 10kms to go, and sprint the last 2km.... frustrating.

Any help at this stage is good help.

[DemoN_PCM]

1. Do you change their effort level? It's standard on 70, which means they will stay at their position untill they have to use more than 70% of their capacities. If you don't make any changes to this energy level it's normal they drop.

2. Do you protect your lead rider? It'll help him to save energy, which he could use in the final.

3. How do you prepare a sprint? Do you follow other trains or are you making your own? If you don't have the riders to make a good train I suggest you just follow a topsprinter. A good sprinttain consists of 1 or 2 riders who have high stats on riding (flat), one lead-out who has semi-high stats on accelleration and sprint and one sprinter who has good sprintstats. It speaks for itself you have to use the "follow" instruction to make a good train.

4. How do you race in mountain stages? Do you attack, do you just try to keep up (stay at same position) or do you use the button to make your rider go for his own tempo? Once the heart rate goes above 182 you'll start to loose energy fast and you won't be able to ride at high speed.

[Spanko]

Ok, the sprint train thing sounds interesting, I haven't been using them or really heard of them! haha, ill give it a go.

Which one is the button to let the rider go at his own tempo?

I generally leave them on 70 if that keeps them easily in the peleton and they dont start falling back, Do i just set one of my riders to protect my better riders and then that better rider onto "take postition here" on the rider protecting him?

Cheers for the info so far, much appreciated.

[cilldroichid]

Have a read of this thread on PCM-Daily. I found it very helpful, its written for PCM2011 and some things have changed but most of the advice is still relevant. Sprint train advice is in the second post.

http://pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=19662&rowstart=0

[Dee-Jay]

I was clueless when I first started on PCM 2012, new to both the sport of cycling and the game series.
The instructions manual isn't that helpful, but the different community websites are great for explaining things.

I reckon practice winning single sprint stages with a team with an A-grade sprinter (Omega with Cavendish, Lotto with Greipel etc). A sprint train will only work if you've got riders who can handle sustained high pace on the flat (time triallers are good for this), otherwise they'll drop back and your sprinter will lose too much energy trying to get back to the front. Also have a good second sprinter to act as the lead-out man. Failing that, just put your sprinter following the farthest forward favourite and let him lead your man out, timing your move right.

The "dot" button (circle) sets a rider at his own pace by using the slider. Riders with lower ratings for the type of road/gradient will need to ride at a higher "dot" value to maintain the same pace as a rider with a higher rating, and so will have a higher heart rate, therefore will burn energy faster. Upon reaching a certain heart rate, the yellow bar will start to diminish, beyond that the red bar will go too. Use the dot button to set a rider to control the pace at the front of a group or to front the lead out train, with the follow command on each guy behind in turn.