Race Ideas

I know that the schedule is already set, so this could be a future idea type of thing. 

I was on the Deadgoats forum website, and was reading about some of the MTB races, and ideas that they are having out there. It seems that there are starting to be a few weekends, (Alberta), in more or less the same area, with a Cup style race on Saturday, and an Enduro on Sunday, with points for each for a total prize. 

I know that we want better Quality races, but would this type of thing, less travel/more racing, be a very good idea for us in Manitoba? Would it be something your club members would like? 

From a travel point of view, as well as enjoying some beverages, and laughs with my fellow riders, in between events, seems to make sense to me, but alas, I could be shooting off in left field. I personally would go to an event like say Grand Beach, and then ride Reach the Beach the next day.... may get some enduro riders to do the cup race, just because they are in the area, and vice versa? Less weekends/more riding?

I have also noticed that some of their races have an alternate, more technical loop off the course, for expert/elites. Would this ever be something worth looking into?

I figure this blog should be for ideas... so here is the start of mine. Please comment, and I don't mind you telling me that I am dead wrong.

Ride Hard, Ride Long!

board meeting highlights

Highlights from the February Board meeting:

• Please let the Board know if anyone has contacts with any companies who might want to be sponsors of the MCA and or its programs.
• The recommendation by the MTB Committee to use Karelo for CUP and Provincial race registrations was forwarded to the Board.
• The recommendation by the MTB Committee to raise Cup and Provincial registration fees by $5 was forwarded to the Board
• The recommendation by the MTB Committee to rename the Citizen category to Novice was made to the Board - this was passed as a motion.
• The MCA is looking for a new logo - suggestions and ideas welcome.
• Clubs may use Karelo, through the MCA registration system, to collect club fees - this is being investigated further. If clubs are interested in this they should contact Ron Brown at the MCA office (infoATcyclingDOTmbDOTca)
• The MCA is interested in selling its trailer and purchasing a smaller trailer.

February Meeting Minutes

Manitoba Mountain Bike Committee Minutes
February 10, 2009
Board Room, Sport Manitoba
7:00 – 9:00

Present: Greg Sherwin (Brandon Bike Club), Dale Cramer (Junk Yard Dogs), Kevin Braun (Tinker), Shawn Zayec (Alter Ego), Tim Loewen (KOM), Gord Buhr (Body Driven), David Dorning (Woodcock), Rob Nagy (Woodcock), Ron Brown (MCA Exec. Director), Hal Loewen (MTB Coordinator)

Regrets: Tomek Jasiakiewicz (Olympia)

Discussion:

• The Mountain Bike Committee has supported the use of Karelo as way for cyclists to register for the Manitoba Cup series and Provincials.
• A new fee structure was discussed in conjunction with the decision to use Karelo: cyclists can register for the series, including the Provincials, a total of 6 races, for $125. Individual races will cost $25 for pre-registration and $35 for same day registration – pre-registration will save an individual $25.
• The $5 increase accommodates the Karelo surcharge and $2 levy which will go back to the Mountain Bike Committee to help cover its expenses
• The committee decided to keep the quad (it considered selling it to help reduce costs) as it was seen as an essential piece of equipment for trail development and a first aid vehicle
• The committee is developing a race organizer’s manual based on the Alberta organizer’s manual. The manual will be mountain bike specific and should be ready for first review by the next meeting.
• The committee accepted the $40 novice license and will create a novice category.
• All first time racers must race their first race in the novice category, after that they will be moved into an appropriate category or stay in the novice category until their skills, abilities and lap times allow them to move up.
• The MTB committee might run the provincial race; it was seen as a way to raise funds for the committee.
• The committee discussed the marathon category for mountain bike racing. It will come up with a set of rules and guidelines that will meet the obligations of the organization, the insurer, and the larger governing bodies.
• The Spruce Woods venue was discussed as a possible race location and it was decided it needs to be explored further as a possible race venue.
• The committee discussed elements and features it would like to see on the MCA website – work will continue on this item.
• 10 cyclists were identified as having improved their skills, abilities, and lap times and will be asked to move to a more competitive category. A letter was tabled at the meeting that will be used to ask riders to consider moving up to that higher category.
• An idea was presented to provide KOM coaches at MTB races to take kids out for rides during adult races thereby giving parents a chance to race while their kids are out riding with coaches. This idea will explored further and will be up to the race organizers to plan.
• A vote to select a chief commissaire was held, the successful candidate will be approached and will hopefully accept the position this week.
• The commissaire course will be held March 20-21.
• The committee is looking to use the MCA van and trailer to help transport racers to those races which are of a greater distance – this will be only possible if it is not being used by the provincial team
• Sponsorship was discussed. The committee wants to make sure that its efforts, and the efforts of the other disciplines and the MCA are coordinated so not as to irritate potential sponsors by being approached by multiple cycling representatives.

Recommendations to the Board:

1. That, MCA members be able to use the Karelo registration system to register for the MTB Cup Series and Provincials.
2. That, race fees for Cup races and Provincials be raised to $25 for online and pre-registration, and $35 for same day registration. Also, those MCA members can register for the Cup series and Provincials for $125.
3. That, Manitoba cycling clubs be able to use the Karelo registration system to allow MCA members to pay individual club fees.
4. That, for mountain biking, there is the creation of the Novice category (previously called the Citizen category). This category will be reserved for first time racers who have purchased the $40 introductory license.
5. All first-time racers must race in the Novice category for their first race; they will stay in that category for the first year unless they demonstrate skills and abilities that are better suited to a higher category – such riders will be allowed to move up when they have purchased the full race license.
6. That, the quad and trailer be kept and maintained for trail building and race safety purposes.
7. There be the creation of a mountain bike specific page on the MCA website.

Actions:

1. Hal to take recommendations to the Board
2. Gord B to begin work on MCA Mountain Bike Organizer’s Manual
3. Ron to tabulate votes for MTB chief commissaire and then Hal will contact candidates to ask them to accept the position of chief commissaire;
4. Ron to investigate who funds would be transferred from Karelo to clubs (race fees and memberships).
5. Hal to contact riders identified to have demonstrated the lap times, skills and abilities and ask them to move up to next competitive category.
6. Shawn Z to collect examples of and information on Marathon races that could be used for Manitoba races
7. All – to send ideas of elements they wish to see on a MCA mountain bike page.

February 10th meeting Agenda Items - Backgound Materials and Information

Website

• Possible further developments of the MCA website could see the creation of a mountain bike page or hub, what sort of features would you like to see on this page?
  

Race Standards

• One goal for the Mountain Bike committee and the MCA is to make the race experience for all racers the best possible experience possible; one way to achieve that goal is to promote certain standards for all cup races and provincials, including: venue development, standardized race fees, reporting of results, and consistency in expectations of prizing and food provided. What would you like to see in these or other standards?
  

Organizer's Manual

• To help race organizers put on high quality races I would like to see the a new and very thorough race organizers manual, the Alberta race organizer's manual is a very good example of this; do we adapt this manual to suit Manitoba races and events?

Moving riders to appropriate categories

• 8 riders have been identified as having the ability to move from Sport to Comp class, as a committee we will review the riders who will be requested to move up to the next category
  

Commissaries

• We need to select a new chief commissaire, a list of eligible candidates will be forwarded to you by email, from this list we will rank the potential candidates by secret ballot at the meeting (out of town committee memebers can respond by email in confidence)
• Commissaire training is scheduled for March 20th-22nd
• We need to develop a policy defining what consitutes a race and what consitutes an event, and if commissaires are required for both.
  

Spruce Woods

• Rob Nagy received an email about some interest in the Spruce Woods as a possible race venue. This would involve trail development and negotiantion with the Parks people (some inital contact has been made and there is interest in this happening).
• Do we invite IMBA trail crew in for a seminar? This has to be self sustaining so we could invite a number of clubs to participate and cover the costs.
  

Race schedule review

• A review of the final schedule (I believe a couple of changes need to be made already).
  

Marathon races

• We need to define what a mountain bike XCM (cross country marathon) is and how our races and venues adhere to the rules so these are sanctioned races on our calendar.
• Here are the some of the facts that we know: the UCI states that marathon races can not cover the same course more than once and that it adheres to both a minimum and maximum distance; the UCI also states that national federations may grant special exceptions for races or particular events run in its own country, which may allow us some leeway; the CCA does not cover marathon races in its document so there is no guideance there; our insurer will insure us for races as long as we have rules and officials in place and we are happy with those rules.
  

Race levies

• In an effort to reduce expenses it was suggested that we could apply a minimal race levy for each cup race and the provincial race. The money from this levy would go directly back to the MTB committee to cover costs incured by this committee. Opinions?

Novice license

• A $40 novice license will be insituted. The following rules have been suggested: citizen race categories will not qualify to collect provincial cup series, or upgrade points; you may not obtain a Manitoba Citizen race license if you have previously held a UCI race license at any level of competition; in order to race for a Provincial Championship, the rider must be fully licensed with a UCI race license (i.e. citizen license does not qualify); citizen racers may be requested to move up in category if requested by MB Chief Commissaire in discussion with either Mountain Bike Committee chairs (difference in cost of license upgrade is required to be paid). We will go over these rules of the license.

KOM rides during races

• Shawn Zayac has a suggestion for leading KOM on rides while parents are participating in races. We'll present this in fuller detail at the meeting and discuss further.

Race promotion poster

• The MTB poster will be presented to advertise the upcoming season.

Agenda items from last meeting

• Ron to explore the cost of using Karelo for online registration
• Hal to post equipment list
• Hal to present tentative race schedule to joint Mountain/Road meeting
• Hal to coordinate the updating of the Mountain Bike Organizer’s manual
• Ron to contact Dave Benson about the running of commissaire courses