Capital City Cycles Summer Race Series

[Rita]

Thought this may be of interest to some of you I thought the Fridays were particularly interesting for you guys since you seem to be warmed up already after a 'gentle' morning ride

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=3 ... 611&ref=nf

(Hope everyone can see this link and that you don't need to be logged into FB to view it)

Rita

[Roland]

For those that can't see Facebook:

[Lister Farrar]

'Hope this doesn't sound stuffy, but members might want to consider not riding the open road events in tripleshot gear. Doesn't look like there is insurance, rules, or permission from road authorities. A group (on fixies and no brakes?) ripping through town at a fairly busy time (compared to say 6:00 am) and taking out a pedestrian raises the possibility.... umm, of 'repercussions'. Track race sounds fun,as do the sprints, as long as no-one walks/commutes in front of one.

[Rolf]

I wondered about that, Lister. I checked out their website and the Facebook page for the race series and there were very few details offered, and little evidence of many necessary practical considerations.

I'll be the first to admit I'm completely uninformed and don't know shit about how to stage a bike race. But something's weird here. The whole vibe is well-meaning and enthusiastic, but young and reckless. The organizers come across like college kids who have watched too many YouTube clips of flashmobs and zombie walks... probably some 20 year-old staffer who's been tasked with setting up cycling events and getting into the Victoria cycling "scene" to raise CCC's profile and drive sales. (Something OBB and others do, but with far greater professionalism.)

All it takes is a collision between the head of some hipster on a fixie flying through a road-crossing and a passing vehicle on one of these races, and it's possibly bye-bye Capital City Cycles (or at least the financial viability of its principals). Some pretty crazy exposure there.

Phew, musta had a churlish salad with some curmudgeon stew for dinner tonight! I'm all for more cycling events in Victoria, but if they're not done right, it could set us all back.

If anybody reading this is associated with Cap City Cycles, I await your rebuttal and hopefully my re-education...

[Rita]

Hey Rolf and Lister,

I actually didn't know anything about the races and as Rolf said, there's very little info on the website. I just saw some pics of last night's first sprint race and it just looks stupid.

Racing in the middle of the road, no lights, no brakes for at least a few bikes and at least one without a helmet! It looks like they did it on a quiet road, but it's still stupid.

Apologies for posting it and if anybody wants to participate, I totally agree with Lister's point, don't wear baby blue and argyle!

Everyone, good luck for tomorrow's proper race! I won't be out tomorrow.

Rita

[steven grandy]

I've observed the sprints before and they are in locations that are protected from traffic.
On the other hand, the alley cat races are run in disregard to traffic rules. If you don't follow suit then you are at a disadvantage. But the spirit of the event is more of an orienteering/scavenger hunt. It matters that you are both quick and also navigationally unchallenged. In the past years they've been run in Vic by people unattached to bike shops. Profit was not the motive. Of course prizes were donated by shops.

Last time I checked the races were organized by early 30 somethings and not 20 somethings. Not that it matters.

Clare H-P, a rider with OBB used to win most of the alley cats.

I don't participate for obvious reasons but I do see the merits of these events. What I do see is some potential for cross fertilization between groups. I've heard expressed interest by the organizer to race the bastion square criterium as a cat 4.