Crit Racing in Waterford

rubs · 19-07-2011 10:09pm #1

Has anyone heard anything about this?, is it a CI organised event or just a club thing?...saw a rew things on a club forum but no website or details?...anyone shed any light?

Cheers

bikelover · 19-07-2011 10:12pm

taken from sportif waterford cc members forum;
Waterford Criterium
<< Reply #3 on Jul 17, 2011, 2:29pm via the ProBoards Mobile App >>

This is the first session, the course is 800 meters on a closed road. Each week the race will change to keep it interesting, sign on at 6:30pm, starting at 7:00pm, with 1 hour and 3 laps to start us off with specific intermediate laps first, second, and third rider at every 5th lap gets 3, 2, 1 points respectively with double points at final endsprint and the last 2 riders at the end of the 5th lap can finish the first hour but can't finish the last 3 laps.and consists of four categories cat 5,4,2,1.
crit - 5 weeks starting 21th july, maybe more
Sign on -6:30 pm , Airport Business Park, Waterford
Start time - 7:00pm
1st off - Non racing
2nd off - A4 racing
3rd off - A3 racing
4th off - A2/A1
Time gaps will be notified on the first night, and may be altered week by week.
Entry fee - €5.00 per nigh
Changing facilities and toilets,parking are on site.

Race Rules
NO HELMET / NO RIDE you can have a vis vest
Racing's pretty simple, but in crits there's some interesting rules - for example if you have a mechanical problem - a puncture etc, you can usually take a lap out to fix it and then rejoin the main bunch in your grade. You have to ride around to the race officials and inform them. You can't do this in the last few laps - but the officials should tell you that at the start. If you've been dropped by your bunch and lapped, you have to pull out with 3 laps to go and stay out of the way for the rest of the time. It is illegal to ride with another grade. If you're riding A4 and A3 comes past overtaking your bunch, you are not permitted to jump across into the A3 bunch. You have to ride outside their slipstream. Usually your bunch will be neutralised (no overtaking)when being overtaken, and if you think that's a good time for a surge or an attack, be prepared to be disqualified!
As you get closer to the finish, the pace usually increases, and riders will try late attacks and so on, don't panic at this point. If you have a plan, stick to it (at least for your first race!). And you do have a plan, right? If you're in a sprint for the finish, ride in a straight line, do not try and weave over the road to stop anyone overtaking you. It's illegal and very dangerous. Once you cross the finish line, ease off and roll around the course or follow the instructions of the officials. There's usually other groups racing at the same time and you don't want to get in their way, especially close to a finish! If you think you got a place or won, see the finish line officals and tell them . Also, although the Pros put both hands in the air when celebrating a win, don't do it. It's actually illegal in amateur racing to take both hands off the bars at any point during a race, and you run the risk of not only crashing, but being disqualified!
And that's it, your first criterium! Get out and do it!
Your first criterium
A Criterium is a short road race, typically on a road circuit of between 800 metres to 2 to 3 kilometers. Crits are short, fast races, often involving technical (lots of corners!) courses with close competition. They usually have no set distance, but instead the race is run over a set time and then a number of laps. For example, A1 and A2 grade race for 60 minutes and then three laps, while A3 and A4 grade race for less time, but still with 3 laps at the completion of the time. Having a timer as part of your cycle computer is therefore useful!This is one example and our session will be decided buy the numbers attended

What do I need to bring?

Your racing licence,
Water bottles, take one on your bike, and one for afterwards. As the races are short there's rarely a need for more than one bottle, and also there's no need to eat during a crit. It's good to have some sugar immediatly afterwards though.
A legal bicycle.require that you use a road-race legal bicycle. This means a conventional double-diamond frame and conventional wheels. Road bike handlebars are mandatory, and the ends of the bars must be plugged. Partially this rule is for safety reasons, and partially to ensure a level playing field. You can't ride disk wheels, you can't use aerobars. Lights, mirrors, frame pumps etc, take them off before you race. Apart from them being heavy(!) they're against the rules.
Safety equipment. This should be a no-brainer.. Gloves aren't mandatory, but I think anyone racing without gloves on is insane. Skin tears easily in crashes, hands don't heal well at all. You should wear cycling clothes, everyone else will be in lycra knicks and cycle racing jersey

rubs · 19-07-2011 10:41pm

cheers for that...i take it then that the sportiff club are organising it...looks interesting, especialy the closed roads aspect.

bikelover · 19-07-2011 10:47pm

not conected with sportif at all it was posted using a guest name rolf.....pm me if you want his number....

Quigs Snr · 20-07-2011 1:19pm

Rolf is running it and he is part of Carrick Tri Club (and occasionally trains with the local cycling clubs) He is running it in place of their usual Thursday night TT's in Waterford. Looks like a decent turnout is expected too. Bravo to him for trying to do something fresh and different.

rubs · 22-07-2011 11:27am

Anyone do this last night?...what was it like?, couldn`t make it myself

showry · 22-07-2011 11:43am

I did it. It was good fun. The estate was closed so it was dead safe. A nice circuit with a few bends, couple of draggy bits and a bit of wind. There was probably 20 there and I'd say it'll grow as the word spreads. It turned into the Robin Kelly and Keith Gater show as they took it in turns to attack. Great training though.