I am a newbie enjoying PCM2013 but I do not understand the difference between 'relay' and 'infinite relay' in stage races and how the effort cursors relate to these commands.
Does the effect cursor control speed or the amount of time your rider is prepared to spend at the front or both? What is the difference between the two orders?
It is bugging me a bit and I have RCJ as my career team so I need all the help I can get!
Relay: The riders on Relay will take turns on the front of the group. Being at the front of the group means using more energy/effort to maintain speed, but when the move backwards they can recover some of this energy back.
Infinite Relay: The rider will stay on the front until another rider relays at a faster pace. This will use up lost of energy quicker becuase the rider cannot recover. If multiple riders are on Infiite Relay they will sit in order of speed, with the fastest at the front.
The effort is quite simply that, effort. 0 is no effort, 50 is half and 100 is full. 0-55/60 will be very little and allow the rider to gain back Red and Yellow bars. 60-75 will allow the rider to gain back Red and some Yellow bar. 75-85 will not allow any gain back of bars and will deplete the yellow. 85+ will deplete both yellow and red bar.
For most of the race a peloton will ride at roughly 55-70 effort, increasing as the stage draws towards the finish. A sprint train will move between 80 and 90 effort. Breakaways need to go slightly harder efforts for the same speeds