Increasing race entries - the future of racing?

innertube wrote:

I believe everyone deserves a fair chance to race, whether it be a new 3rd cat or a 3rd cat thats been one for years, but with increasing demand for racing and effectively a cap on supply, what happens going forward?

There's only currently a cap on supply due to lack of organisers and volunteers. Stop moaning and promote some...

There is an ultimate cap on road racing by virtue of the actual roads, but I don't know anywhere it's close to being met yet.

jibberjim wrote:

There's only currently a cap on supply due to lack of organisers and volunteers. Stop moaning and promote some...

I simply cannot agree more with the above statement.

We've had a big change in the NW region with all the races coming out of CDNW's promotion umbrella and back to promoting clubs. Furthermore most people have ditched first come 1st served in favour of opting for hand picking entrants.

I organised the Lach Dennis RR this year and received 140 odd entries for 50 starting berths.

The circuit had not been used for 8 years and was as such under "probation" from BC, so I went down the route of picking quality riders 2nd and 3rd cats, known quantities and riders with demonstrable results on the road. The aim being to see how the circuit "raced" and if it could be brought back into wider use. We also made a point of making sure we had at least 15 under 23 riders on the start sheet

We got the race we wanted ie a good safe race devoid of major incidents with an average speed of over 27 mph and a top three of an ex pro ringer backed up by 2 lads on the Dave Rayner Fund. BC are ok with us using it again so we achieved our aims.

However i turned away 90 riders.... Something i'd prefer not to do.

I know other local promoters have received similar interest for events and returned over 50 % of entries.

With the circuit I was on, and the fact it had not been used for years I had no choice. I looked into running two events consecutively or concurrently but neither were possible under the circumstances and the race permits.

My gut feel is that for too long First come first served has suppressed the true level of demand for races. But furthermore FCFS has actually suppressed the Quality of racing as it only serves those with a debit card, an internet connection and those with disposable income when races are 1st put onto the calendar.

I have to say that from first hand experience there are some riders who expect to race who are below racing fitness which results in typical negative racing. That then becomes the whole " How do you get a ride if you dont have the experience " question. The answer is clear - more races

Time trialling entries operate as a meritocracy and few complain about not getting a ride if an event closes on a fast time. Selective entry policies have always been part of sport,

I suspect therefore that the future of racing lies with professional organisers just as it does for sportives and triathlons.

Cant disagree more with that statement. If I as a 1st time organiser, with a brand new club on its 1st official day of business can put a race on with 4 NEG Riders, Accredited Marshals, 1st aid and a prize list ( god forbid ) to the standards that BC want promoters to aspire to, then I fail to see how much more a professional company might offer?

The heart of grass roots racing is in the club community, not resting with commercial enterprise. We dont need goody bags, banners etc. Just a good hard race that's accessible with a decent enough rider limit on the permit.

I suspect anybody could promote a road race now and get a full field now... Its not rocket science, its hard work though and most of all very rewarding.

I can only see professional promoters working on circuits - it's far easier to put a days racing on at Darley Moor and charge £18 a pop and make money than it is on the open roads. I know the charges circuits like Darley make have gone up but they are making a fair whack out of that compared to a couple of hundred tops on your average road race - in fact of the road races I put on in the past the only one to make that much (for the club not me) was the one I got a sponsor to cover the prizes. By the time you've paid NEG, drivers, paramedic etc it doesn't leave much.

As for the quality of racing - well as your average 3rd cat/vet if road racing moved up a level to become the preserve of 2nd cats and above I'd just give up helping out at races - I don't see why anyone would want to get involved in promoting a sport that didn't cater for them. I've always been of the view that organisers can choose the field how they like and while I've got nothing against people who do select on ability as a now 47 year old 3rd cat who mixes half a dozen BC races with half a dozen LVRC (if I can get into them) over a season I'm not likely to go higher - I'm not interested in organising or getting involved in organising races in a sport which doesn't cater for the likes of me ! I've put on five 2/3/4cat races over about the last 8-9 years and not yet had a serious injury where the rider couldn't get back on their bike in any so for me I'm happy with the standard of racing.

I think the situation isn't as bad as all that anyway - yes it's getting harder to get into races but this is early season - by July plenty of people will have got fed up with taking a kicking or training like a pro without the money and places in races will open up.

unlikely to ever kick off in the UK as too many people would moan, but if we could get road races on closed roads it would mean you could have twice as many people racing like in France and Belgium you often see in excess of 100 riders at races

Its been interested to read this thread. Some questions though.

You are only allowed to start a race with a max of 50 people?

It doesnt sound very far (I know life isnt fair) that you then select which 50 out of 140 entries actually get a place?

I race in Holland and Belgium and I dont know of this happening.

In Holland its first come first served on an online registration. Thats on closed road critiriums.

In Belgium I just got back from 4 days of racing where there was 250 people at the start line each day. The roads were not 100% closed, but was marshaled very well with plenty of police out riders. Then the sections of roads were blocked off when the peloton came through.

All for €10 a day.

whoof wrote:

The law puts a limit on most races of 80 racers. However depending upon the course BC or the organiser/commissaire may decide that a lower limit might be appropriate.
http://lvrc.org/documents/road_traffic_act_1960.pdf

A lot of the racing in the south east (and possibly elsewhere, I know less about them) is not actually under the act, but by agreement with the local police etc. The act requires very large circuits (because you can't pass the same point too regularly) and long circuits are just not practical with out right turns or traffic lights etc.

But either way, bunch size is limited as the agreement will generally be along the lines of the act, selection is very often done on FCFS, only National level races are required to be selected fields, anything below that is down to the organiser to do what they want. Some go for the ease of FCFS, others select a field so they don't have 10 from one team, or get to pick stronger riders for better races.

A lot of road races will have NEG motorbike marshals, some will have static marshals with the ability to stop traffic (as opposed to the ability to stand in the road and warn drivers that there's a hazard ahead) that's currently a regional thing.

Here in the SE, the roads are pretty busy, and you couldn't have many more riders on a circuit, as the more riders and groups you have the more hold-ups you have, the more cars get delayed and you can end up running into the back of other jams!

Of course you can go more rural - easier away from the SE of course, but then the problem is getting marshals etc. to come out.