Coaster Brake challenge (july) Los Angeles



rev106

New Member
Nov 13, 2008
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The Coaster Brake Challenge is a single speed mountain bike race series that spans the entire month of July. 4 races in total, the winner is the highest scoring rider.

These races are not easy.

You may get hurt.

You will get tired.

You will have fun.

Read the rules, build a bike (I can help with that), show up ready to have fun. The last race was in BIKE magazine, perhaps we’ll se more of that as this thing grows.

Do you have what it takes? I’m sure you do!

Purpose:
To have fun, to race, to sweat, breathe hard, to ride hard, to challenge ones self.
We will be hosting 4 Sunday races in the month of July. Each race will have a meet point at 5pm and race at 5:30/6:00 pm. Most races will be short 1 to 2 hour affairs. Meet points and descriptions of each race will be posted so you know what to expect.



Rules for bikes:
Gearing:
Single speed only. No internal geared hubs (sturmey-archer, bendix two speed kick backs etc.) no derailleur of any kind (A chain tensioner is fine). No external gearing. No gears. No fixed gear. Each race will usually require a different gear ratio and you can have any gear ratio you wish. We have found that 30-36 in the front and 18-22 in the back is the range best suited for this event, see what works best for you.
Drive system:
The rear hub must be a coaster brake. Single speed coaster brake only. No two-speed kick backs, etc (I know what they look like) Some coaster brakes are better than others, do your homework and get a good one. See below for more info. Cranks of any kind may be used as well as pedals.
Braking system:
Coaster brake only on the rear wheel only. No hand brakes of any kind. No secondary braking system of any kind. No drum brakes, no cables, rods, levers, etc of any kind. You pedal forward to go forward and back to stop. Nothing else.
Frame:
Preference for old double bar cruisers but there are no frame restrictions. We have found that cruiser frames and lower end frames with a horizontal dropouts work the best. Frames with a rigid dropout are difficult to get proper chain tension.
Forks:
Any.
Wheels/tires:
You can have any kind of hoop/tire combo. I suggest a light wheelset that you've laced a coaster brake into.
Handlebars etc.
Everything else is left up to the individual rider.

Rules for riders:
No substitutions.
Bring stuff to fix your bike on the trail with you.
Helmet.
No crybabies.
Entry Fee and what you get:
The Entry Fee is $20.00 for all four races, that's 5 bucks a race. You'll have to pay the 20.00 if you make one or all 4 races.
You get a T-shirt.
You get a Patch.
Perhaps some schwag, we'll see.
Scoring:
Each rider will get a number and you will be scored as thus:
1 point for entering a race
1 additional point for a third place finish
2 additional points for a second place finish
3 additional points for a first place finish
Each first place rider will get a trophy made from old bike parts!
At the end of the series the point leader will be the overall champ. Best to show up to each race to increase your odds.
Sign up at:
Atomic Cycles
17322 Saticoy
Van Nuys, CA 91046
818 609-0113

 
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Race #2 Lower Case "D"
Spectators: 3
Meat Pylons: 5
Meet point : July 12th, 5pm @ the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
6401 Platt Avenue
West Hills CA, 91367

Course Description:
This is a out and back again style race on fire roads and double track. Most of the course is undulating mild hills in a gradual decent to the valley bottom. At the bottom, you'll make a right and then cross a stream. Once you cross the stream, head right through the sludge pit until you see a brown park sign, make a right up the hill. Follow the trial until it rejoins with the main trail and make a left back the way you came. There is a fair amount of moderate climbing on this one and the hill on the backside of the course is a doosey for sure. Gear your bike appropriately.

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Race two was an out and back again sort of affair starting at the top of a park and descending to the bottom of some rolling hills. The decent was tricky as there were drop-offs that creeped up on you suddenly and being that you only had a coaster brake to rely on to control your speed it could be perilous. Once you reached the bottom there was what we called “The Malaria Pit” ; a 30 foot long mire of black mud that smelled like a porta potty at a Judas Priest concert. The goo that was in this bog was about knee deep and sticky like jelly preserves but with none of it’s sweetness. Now, the discerning racer would notice a small sign before the Pit the said “Trail” with an arrow pointing to the left. A small section of single track would get you around the Pit and back on the trail without out that oh so unfresh feeling. Some of the racers made it through and some did not, and you could smell the difference. The leader at the end forgot to apply the brakes and crashed into the map kiosk, ringing his bell. Being that it was in the 90’s a few of the racers overheated and had to take a while to cool down, you could feel the LA sunshine burning through your helmet on the climb back for sure. One of the racers managed to get lost and after we went looking for him to no avail, he was holed up at some ranch where he had phoned home like E.T. But we cannot fly so we had to pick him up at some other corner of civilization, the time was 10:00 pm, we started the race at 5:30.

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Race #3 The Filthy 15.
Spectators: 8
Meat Pylons: 2
Meet point: July 19th 5 pm @ Starbucks
9935 Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Chatsworth, CA 913113602

Course Description:
This is a cross between a criterion and a bmx race with some climbing thrown in for good measure. The course is mostly comprised of hard pack sandstone and rutts in the semi figure 8 configuration. Riders will have to complete 15 laps, each lap is approximately .4 miles long meaning the total race is about 6 miles long. There are some mild descents, sandy & rutted turns and technical climbs as will as a 2-3 foot jump on the back side to keep things interesting. The middle section will be shared by riders coming and going so watch for collisions. Plan to stand on the pedals most of the race.
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Race #4 The Cold War
Spectators: 3
Meat Pylons: 5
Meet Point: July 26th @ 5pm
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
18505 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana CA, 91356
Course Description:
The Cold war you travel to the old Nike Missile base and then up to the hub and then back to the start. Fire roads the whole way, the decent to the base has a few uphill sections and then you'll have to climb for the majority of the way back up to the hub. Once you reach the hub, you'll have the slip slidin' descent to the start point. Total course length is approximately 10.5 miles. You should gear your bike for moderate but sustained climbing
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