David Mercer (a local fastman) has asked that we post some ideas he has for discussion regarding the structure / organization of Master's racing in BC. I imagine he would like people to have a read of them and then see what, if any, comments / thoughts you have.
David Writes:
1. a) Make helping (or providing someone to help) with running (doing permits/notifications, course set-up, refreshments, registration, marshalling, timekeeping) of at least one event per year a condition of racing membership. Or, b) If you don't help run at least one event you may race but are not eligible for the year-long points competitions. Or, c) Helping run one event gives you bonus points - age group and overall - in the year-long competition.
2. Riders who help run more than one event receive additional bonus points (to a maximum) - age group and overall.
1. and 2. are in the spirit of fellowship, friendly racing, and community service - to share the work. It shouldn't be the same people each year who are doing all the work. Event organisers shouldn't have the additional worry of trying to track down marshalls. If all riders are required to do some work for an event there can be more events. Having all riders pitch in and learn about running an event makes for a more durable association.
3. All events to count towards the overall points competition. This means working out age standards for hill-climbs and time-trials other than 10, 25, and 50 miles. Method: Take as standard for the course the time taken for the course by a 35 year old male who does a 10 mile tt (flat course) in about 24 minutes. Express this time as a % of 24 minutes. Take the age increments to be close (subject to the following 2 notes) to this percentage of the 10 mile tt increments. Note i) Age increment % is taken to increase slightly with increase in distance/duration. Thus, the age allowance for a 50 year old male compared with a 35 year old for a 25 mile tt is 7' 02" not the 6' 45" which is 2 and 1/2 times the 10 mile tt differential. Note ii) Age increments are taken to increase slightly with increase in age (group). Thus, males 46 - 58 receive 12 seconds per year allowance for a 10 mile tt, males 59 - 68 receive 13 seconds per year.
We could err on the side of giving less allowance for age since many feel the current age standards (devised in times when senior athleticism was less widespread) unduly favour older riders. The aim is to employ age standards which are straightforward, uniform, and reasonable and realistic given undeniable physiological facts of aging.
4. Have short time trials and hill climbs, eg. 2 and 1/2 k out and home on dead-end country road, results based on total time taken for 3 rides (don't want riders doing good ride then sitting out). Such events are relatively simple to organise and are less intimidating to riders of lesser ability, confidence, or fitness level.
5. Have grass track races, eg. 500 m oval on school or municipal playing field. Specialised track bikes can be excluded initially; cross or winter bikes advised. Can be run in rain.
6. Have Australian pursuit races at less than standard (64k) distance/duration, with starting gaps downward adjusted accordingly, eg. Australian pursuit from Shawnigan Lake Park to S. Shawnigan summit; Cherry Point race of 4 laps. As additions to, not replacing the original races. Attractive to those who don't have the time to put into training for the longer distances.
7. Have some Australian pursuits with starting groups based on ability not age. Group membership to be determined eg. by 10 mile tt time. Age allowance (based on age standard times for the course) to be factored in at end of race for the age-related competition. Complete, accurate timekeeping required as for tt. There could be a season-long separate ability handicap competition. Judges/organisers can allocate riders to appropriate ability group for each race.
Advantage: gives better race experience to those tired of being dropped early on by elite riders in their own age group, and to good riders who have no hope of catching elite riders in older age group.
8. Have criteriums count toward the overall age-based competition. This can be done simply by awarding overall bonus points (up to a maximum) for number of riders beaten in younger 5 year age groups. Thus, a 62 year old finishing 7th in a crit for age 50+ riders might get say 1 bonus point for overall for beating say 4 riders in the 50-54 and 55-59 age groups. Such overall bonus points would be limited by the consideration that normally a crit unlike an Australian pursuit or tt is divided into separate races for different age groups, eg 30 - 49, 50 - 69, etc.
9. Allow riders under 30 to join in regular Australian pursuit based on ability (10 mile tt time could be used or own estimate of average speed capability on rolling course). Thus, a 25 year old who would do a 10 mile tt in about 30 minutes could start with the 70s. Under-30 riders would not be eligible for age-related competition but could have their own (handicap) competition. If we attract 4 or less under-30 riders of different abilities to an event it would be unrealistic for them to start together in a separate B race. Starting grouping based on ability rather than age works quite well in track and road club league racing, eg. 15 year old and 70 year old in the same group.
BCMCA is one of the few organisations offering more mellow weekend club racing. We could capitalise more on the market for under-30 novice riders, and riders of lesser ability by offering the inducement of a starting group commensurate with ability rather than strictly age.
I'm guessing there are a lot of cyclists who are not in top shape (little time for training due to family/work commitments, medical problems) with perhaps relatively low competitive urge who would nevertheless enjoy the occasional club race if they knew they weren't going to be dropped from their (age) starting group in the first few kilometres.
Club racing such as provided by BCMCA can be a great way of experiencing athletic exhilaration and some competition even though you know you are not at your best. We just need reasonable, realistic, straightforward, uniform handicapping measures and allowances.
10. Award points down to 10th for the overall competiton, eg. 10 for 1st - 1 for 10th. Gives more incentive and reward for lesser riders.
Philosophy: Make cycle racing more attractive, popular, fun for those riders who don't have the time, ability, or desire to become elite racers even within their age group - Riders who enjoy the exhilaration of going fast, pushing themselves, but who have other interests, obligations, commitments. At 66 I'm becoming more aware that my results as a racing cyclist are based on genetic luck and amount of time I'm willing to put into cycle racing. My worth (or inner satisfaction/fulfillment) as a person or racing cyclist is not based solely or even primarily on my race results.
Goals: See BCMCA membership surpass 500.
Have BCMCA events every weekend.
Have cycle racing a recognised part of schools athletics programs throughout BC.
Attract more triathletes and duathletes to BCMCA races.
Secure safe, novice-friendly all-weather cycle tracks on municipal or school grounds throughout BC.
Cheers,
David Mercer
Ideas for Improving BC Master's Racing
Moderator: mfarnham
Hi Dave,
Great that you're looking into ways to improve Master's cycling on the island.
A few comments:
Points for helping is a good idea up to a maximum (say three events). Penalties for not helping isn't as good an idea (in my opinion).
Events every week. Not such a great idea as many people already race every week in the VCL. What about piggy-backing on that series? They already record the results. You could let people (reistered for BC Master's) score points for both series in the same race. For Master's cycling age would matter (it doesn't in VCL). Fast old guys (like you) would get bounced to the A group if you win too much, just as would happen now. The benefit would be older not so fast guys could get dropped by the fast B or A group, but still enjoy the race because they'd be gaining points for Master's cycling even if they're out of VCL points. There's probably a way to give Master's guys who get 11th in the A group more than Master's guy who get 11th in the B group.
Then, just add a few races through te season.
More later,
John Taylor
Great that you're looking into ways to improve Master's cycling on the island.
A few comments:
Points for helping is a good idea up to a maximum (say three events). Penalties for not helping isn't as good an idea (in my opinion).
Events every week. Not such a great idea as many people already race every week in the VCL. What about piggy-backing on that series? They already record the results. You could let people (reistered for BC Master's) score points for both series in the same race. For Master's cycling age would matter (it doesn't in VCL). Fast old guys (like you) would get bounced to the A group if you win too much, just as would happen now. The benefit would be older not so fast guys could get dropped by the fast B or A group, but still enjoy the race because they'd be gaining points for Master's cycling even if they're out of VCL points. There's probably a way to give Master's guys who get 11th in the A group more than Master's guy who get 11th in the B group.
Then, just add a few races through te season.
More later,
John Taylor