The League International - Who? Why?
robbie the roadie
Posts: 423
Last year I got back into racing after a long lay off and competed in our local road race league (East Riding of Yorkshire) which I thoroughly enjoyed. Well mostly 
These events were run under BC guidelines and were handicapped based on ability. For this year though there is a new organiser who is running them under 'the league international' guidelines.
However no one in my club seems to have heard of the TLI and we are all struggling to see what the benefits of this change are. TLI seem to claim their main benefit is that races are handicapped. But this was already the case. And in my opinion BC was a better handicap system based on ability rather than age.
These events don't give you the opportunity to progress up the BC categories, and the handicapping was already in place, so could someone please tell me what the benefits of racing under the TLI are?
I have also heard that there may be insurance implications by racing in these events?
These events were run under BC guidelines and were handicapped based on ability. For this year though there is a new organiser who is running them under 'the league international' guidelines.
However no one in my club seems to have heard of the TLI and we are all struggling to see what the benefits of this change are. TLI seem to claim their main benefit is that races are handicapped. But this was already the case. And in my opinion BC was a better handicap system based on ability rather than age.
These events don't give you the opportunity to progress up the BC categories, and the handicapping was already in place, so could someone please tell me what the benefits of racing under the TLI are?
I have also heard that there may be insurance implications by racing in these events?
Cycling - The pastime of spending large sums of money you don't really have on something you don't really need.
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They are simply an alternative governing body - there is no law that says all races have to affiliate to BC and some organisers prefer to run TLI or LVRC races.
The reason may be specific to that organiser - some people fall out with BC, some find it more financially viable to run under an alternative body etc Personally I organise under BC but I'd race under any of them if I wanted to ride that race. Yes you wont get BC points and I can't comment on any insurance implications - I assume the organisers are happy with the insurance otherwise they wouldn't be running a race under TLI though.
I can see it's a pain if you were happy with BC and you are paying for a BC licence but if you ask the organisers they may be able to give you the reason why they have switched.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
The main difference will be that TLI won't demand such a big cut from the entry fees and I expect they don't exert such onerous terms in things like commisaires etc. FWIW, LVRC membership is about £17 and entries about £6 whereas to take out a BC licence costs £62 and races are typically £10. There's no TLI racing in this neck of the woods, so don't have any direct experience to call on.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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I THINK that the League dates back to a split in British cycling just post-war? Related to the "establishment's" cosy acceptance of Government attitude towards mass start racing. Entered "British" teams in e.g. Eastern European ("Iron Curtain") stage races.
Haven't checked any of this so mat well be quite wrong!d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
http://www.theleagueinternational.com/whoarewe.htm
The League International (TLI) was born in October 1982 from an idea conceived by Peter Duker and late Roy Cottingham during a conversation in a Ghent cafe. Their ambition was to bring racing to Great Britain for age related categories as practised by the European based International Cycling federation (ICF) who use this system to cater for all riders from Schoolage to very Senior Citizens.
But there is a reference on the website to the "ill-fated merger" between the British League of Racing Cyclists and the National Cycling Union to eventually form the BCF, so I think Meagain is not a million miles out.
I agree that age based handicaps are a bit of a lottery. There are plenty of 50+ riders that can give me a hard time :roll:0 -
I rode some TLI handicaped races last year&the organisers were ok with people setting off in whichever group they felt happy with.I'm sure Hull Thursday nights organisers will let you do the same,see you there.0
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"British League of Racing Cyclists"
Thanks Bronzie, that was what I was thinking of! And the politics of it all do go back a fair way I believe.d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
Where does the People's Front of Judea fit into all of this?0
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The TLI used to organise races for vets (40+), divided into 5-years bands, IIRC.
They subsequently expanded to take all.
Initially, you didn't even have to be a "member", just paid your race entry & rode.
The system sent the youngest riders' bunch off first, then the next oldest. etc, etc.
Bloody embarrassing being passed & dropped by a couple of pensioners, especially when one asks you not to get involved in "their" sprint for the line.
I couldn't even hang onto their wheels, let alone sprint past them! :oops:
Informed by my club mates, that the old gits were both past Tour of Britain winners in the 50's.Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.0 -
meagain wrote:"British League of Racing Cyclists"
Thanks Bronzie, that was what I was thinking of! And the politics of it all do go back a fair way I believe.
Far back into the mists of time.
When massed-start races were banned on public roads by the Road Time Trials Council.
The BLRC set up as rivals to run road races, all known members were banned by the RTTC.Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.0
