[NCNCA] Women's Races

Wed Apr 30 15:52:21 PDT 2008

I have been trying to keep up with this thread, as it has some similarities
to what we do down here in SoCal.  Everything is driven off of our BAR/BAT
series...the SoCal Cup. The two women's categories are Cat 1/2/3 and Cat
3/4. Not only do you have to have the right category of race, but you also
have to have minimum race times for each field.

All of our Cat 3/4 races go out with individual start sheets for the Cat 3s
and the Cat 4s and each has a unique number sequence. The Cat 4s get their
own recognition and their own upgrade points. The strong Cat 3s don't
complain because they are usually in the 1/2/3 race. The Cat 3s that do the
3/4 race are usually recent upgrades who are still looking for some more
confidence.

The Cat 3/4s race for the same purse. As important as it is to have a unique
set of numbers for each field, it is even more important to make sure the
last two digits are unique. We usually do 100-150 for the Cat 3s and 151-199
for the Cat 4s. When the officials are scoring a race each lap, they are
just writing the last two numbers. If you use 100-150 for the Cat 3s and
200-250 for the Cat 4s, the officials now have to write down all three
digits. Basically the same thing that Casey is suggesting.

Regards

Eric Smith
Southern California Nevada Cycling Association

-----Original Message-----
From: ncnca-bounces+redbike=earthlink.net at ncnca.org
[mailto:ncnca-bounces+redbike=earthlink.net at ncnca.org] On Behalf Of Jason K
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:38 PM
To: 'Casey Kerrigan'; 'Jim Volsansky'
Cc: 'NCNCA'
Subject: Re: [NCNCA] Women's Races

Exactly what we've done with our mixed age junior groups at the state
championship we run....  Makes it easy for everyone to tell....

Wish more promoters would do that too for any race that's picked
seperately...

-----Original Message-----
From: ncnca-bounces+jason.k=comcast.net at ncnca.org
[mailto:ncnca-bounces+jason.k=comcast.net at ncnca.org] On Behalf Of Casey
Kerrigan
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:17 PM
To: Jim Volsansky
Cc: NCNCA
Subject: Re: [NCNCA] Women's Races

I think a better approach is to do this. If the combined 3/4 race will be
using the 100 number series then give the Cat 4 riders numbers starting with
100 and go up and the Cat 3 riders with numbers 199 and come down. This way
you can tell riders and officials that anyone with a number of say 160 or
higher is a Cat 3 and anyone with a number of 140 or less is a Cat 4. Makes
things easier to sort out the results in the end.

Casey
On Apr 30, 2008, at 3:13 PM, Jim Volsansky wrote:

> All,
> A somewhat silver lining we are going to attempt colorcoding mixed 
> fields It'll be a colored stripe on the race number. This way if you 
> see a 3 go up the road and you're a 4 you don't have to chase it.
>
> Casey, are we OK in doing this?
>
>
> Jim
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Casey Kerrigan <casey at caseykerrigan.com>
> To: NCNCA <ncnca at ncnca.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:44:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [NCNCA] Women's Races
>
> Sorry folks but I think starting fields separately is generally not 
> the solution to this type of problem. You aren't suppose to have two 
> groups on a crit course at once if there is a good chance that one 
> field can catch the other. Starting the two fields separately means 
> that they aren't suppose to mix if the two groups catch. As an 
> official I've seen to many messes when two fields, started separately,

> catch then then spend most of the rest of the race mixing up together.

> Or one or more riders attack just as one group is being caught and 
> then  use the faster group to stay away from the group that was caught

> ( or at least that is the complaint from the riders in the group that 
> was caught and they never catch the break.
>
> There are also safety issues like one group sprinting into the back of

> another group on the finish or if you have a major crash in one group 
> ( with a rider seriously injured in the middle of the racing line) 
> with a second group quickly approaching. With only one group on the 
> course race staff has more time to get to the injured rider and more 
> time to set up marshals to wave riders around the injured rider.
>
> Casey
> On Apr 30, 2008, at 2:34 PM, Ron Castia wrote:
>
>> The solution is quite simple.
>> Show the promoters that the market is there and we will accommodate 
>> the demand.
>>
>> While picking the 3/4s separately may not be a perfect solution for 
>> the Women, it is a step in the right direction and a compromise. The 
>> alternative is running the fields together and not picking 
>> separately.
>>
>> Taking Rick's suggestion about staggered starts is an option worth 
>> weighing on race day. It will mostly be up to the refs and the field.
>>
>> Maybe most have not really looked at our race yet, but the Women 3s 
>> have two opportunities to race, with an engineered break in between.
>>
>> Advice given to me on unrelated topics, it might make sense for folks

>> take a step back and count the blessings rather than curse them.
>>
>> Show the promoters you appreciate the efforts by pre-registering, 
>> then send us suggestions on how you would like to see things 
>> improved.
>> Your suggestions carry more weight when they are backed by dollars 
>> bills.
>>
>> Complaining about something that is speculative for the promoter in 
>> the first place is a great insurance policy for there being no 
>> speculation the next year. The path becomes extremely clear.
>>
>> You Savvy?
>>
>> Ron
>> (I guess I just lost my diplomacy award)
>
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