Event rules

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

Hi All,

Here in Norway they have been making changes to some of the rules
regarding event participation, licensing of riders, etc. This is
causing a hubbub of sorts, but perhaps this is more in line with what
goes on in the rest of the world. So here is a description of the
scene and the changes. I'd appreciate comments on what people think of
this and how this compares to things elsewhere.

There are regular races which are called "Active" which require a UCI
license and are regular races with sprints, primes, etc. They are
divided into classes based on age (Jr, Sr, Veteran), but not on
ability. The level is thus quite high. (I can average over 40km/h for
a 20km ITT with a regular bike, but I have no chance to even hang on
for 1/2 of one of these races.) Fields are rarely more than 50.

Then there are "Tour Rides" which tend to be longer, and are more like
organized century rides, often with thousands of participants of all
levels. These events are timed, particiants get a number, and the
results are posted after the event. These are races in all but name.
Previously to participate one only needed an anual "Tour license"
which cost about $80 or one could buy a one-time license for about $10
at an event registration.

These events also have an "exercise" class that does not have timing,
nor results. This is similar to a "citizens class" where people just
starting out get a taste of what it's all about. This class required
just a one-time license. Participants have a number, but it is just
used by the arrangers to keep track of everybody.

Last year they got rid of the "tour license" so all events with timing
require an "Active" UCI license which in turn requires a club
membership. The license costs about $100 and club dues vary, but are
usually about $75. The cost of one-time licenses was raised to about
$40. This [censored] people off.

For next year, they have limited the length of allowable "exercise
class" events to 30km, effectively eliminating this as an option, and
this class will thus no longer exist. Limits are placed on the
allowable length of events for ages 16-19 (55km) that mean these ages
will also be excluded form these events. They also will fine ($500 per
instance!) event arrangers if people participate with non-official
club or team names. So for a century event (as wella Active races),
only official club colors can be worn, and made-up teams are not
allowed.

So anyone under 20 has to be the equivalent of at least a US Cat3 to
be able to do any effective racing at all, people just starting out
have to have their slow performances timed and their slow times placed
on the Internet if they want to be part of an organized century. And
informal groups of frieds can't participate in centuries under team
names like "Lose weight or bust!" or whatever unless they register
that as an actual club with dues, etc.

I don't know where their priorities are. Earlier this season a guy I
know was DQ'ed from a local event that he won for not wearing a club
jersey. The officials also sent out an email regarding the same race
asking whoever it was that crashed into a van to contact the van ower
to pay for the damage.

How does this work elsewhere?

Joseph

Locally, we have bizarre enough issues, but mostly they revolve around a
goofy bunfight I've detailed here before: non-recognition of the non-UCI
licenses of US riders.

As for the racing, participation in any local race requires a Cycling BC
UCI road license. I think the going rate is around C$120, with annual
increases seeming to be the norm. Day-of licensing is available for
around $30, but is a bit of a pain for riders and clubs alike.

No club membership is necessary to be a licensed racer, and a fair
number of locals race as Independents.

Although provincial and national championships are all age-grouped, most
racing is organized by category, with 1-5 recognized for men, and 1-4
for women. In practice, most races lump the men into three classes (1-2,
3, 4-5 is typical, though 1-2, 3-4, 5 is also seen) and the women into
two (usually 1-3 and 4). In each race, placing is not broken down within
start group (ie no prize or points for being best Cat 4 in a Cat 3-4
race). Young riders are often classified separately even when they are
not given their own class (ie best under-18 rider gets points in their
classification, though they might be starting as part of the Cat 4-5
race).

We don't have huge group rides of the type you describe. Randonneurs BC
do put on a bunch of long-distance events, by far the most popular being
the 100 km Pacific Populaire, which will see several hundred starters in
a good year. It's a rando ride: timed, but open roads, a mandatory
mid-race control checkpoint, and no prizes or acknowledgement of
placings. Indeed, the finish timing involves going up to the official's
table to get your card stamped.

http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/pacpop/times_alph/2007_alp.html

No club membership required, but small discount for BC Randonneur
members.

For racing, I think that categorized races are going to be way more fun
for most riders than age-classification. As an undertrained 34-year-old,
I get good competition from the well-trained 50-somethings and
scary-fast 15-year-olds I race against in Cat 4.

The new setup your organization is using sounds stupid. They have events
with thousands of participants, and they're making apparently arbitrary
changes that will increase the cost of participation substantially?
Whatever.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

Ryan Cousineau said:

For racing, I think that categorized races are going to be way more fun
for most riders than age-classification. As an undertrained 34-year-old,
I get good competition from the well-trained 50-somethings and
scary-fast 15-year-olds I race against in Cat 4.

On the local scene the fastest guy is 50, and a few of the 16 year-
olds are doing 12 minute 10km ITTs. What's a newbie supposed to do
with that?

Quoted message said:

The new setup your organization is using sounds stupid. They have events
with thousands of participants, and they're making apparently arbitrary
changes that will increase the cost of participation substantially?
Whatever.

These huge events are races, so I guess they figure they should be run
as races. But maybe part of the reason they are so popular and account
for the vast majority of competitive cycling is because of they way
the "real" racing is run. Not having categories is a serious problem
that scares off huge numbers of potential participants.

Joseph