Forrest 6 Hour - June 5 2011
- Thread starter normdouglas
- Start date
uhuforrest
Likes Dirt
G'Day Steve,
I will ask the question at a club meeting. Even if we don't have trophies for every category, (some categories only have minimum competitors), expanding past the current solo / pairs should be possible. We've already agreed to have trophies for the kids race - an oversight this year.
We tend to get E-Mails, which I am guessing is not much different from other events, where people ask, "can we please be entered in the 40+ female single speed 29er rigid category" as that is what I ride and it's not fair to compete against others on different bikes/younger than me/have 30speeds/suspension forks, etc.
Regards
Roland
leftieant
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Yep, the eternal battle.
AWMTB made the call this year when we were setting categories for our 6 hour that we would provide the core categories (Male, Female, Masters etc), but then also offered a couple of 'specialist' categories (Solo W 40+, Solo M 50+) which were contingent on running on the day only if we got 5+ entries to them. If they didn't attract the numbers, the entries were rolled back down into the next class (eg Solo W, Solo M 40+).
This put the onus back onto the riders - to get a category up and running it was up to them to find the support for it. It also aimed to provide fair competition over all categories, as the other thing we did was provide equal prize money across all categories.
This seemed to work pretty well for us, and I daresay it will be our approach again in coming years.
akashra
Eats Squid
The solution to this to me is simple:
When you take entries, they enter one of a single breakdown of categories:
- Solo
- Teams
That's it.
On the entry form, you ask for DOB, Gender, whether they're riding singlespeed for each member of the team. And you tell people that as organisers you'll form categories based on what has an appropriate number of entries. This whole thing of catering for people who won't race just because they're not competitive just because they choose to bring less gears, or because there has to be a category they know they're capable of finishing top 3 in is just lame.
If you get only 3 teams of 3 entered you just don't split out triples. Only got 2 riders over 40? Easy, you don't split it out into 40+. Got 50 singlespeeders? Great, give them a category they deserve. What's that, the breakdown of solo riders is 30 riders aged <30, 40 aged 30-39, 20 aged 40+? Sounds sufficient to offer Expert, Vets and Masters on top of Elite being the overall.
For an 'Elite' event where you want to offer cash prizes in particular categories this doesn't make as much sense, but when you're holding a 'participation'/fun event where you don't want that kind of atmosphere, this makes total sense to me.
When you take entries, they enter one of a single breakdown of categories:
- Solo
- Teams
That's it.
On the entry form, you ask for DOB, Gender, whether they're riding singlespeed for each member of the team. And you tell people that as organisers you'll form categories based on what has an appropriate number of entries. This whole thing of catering for people who won't race just because they're not competitive just because they choose to bring less gears, or because there has to be a category they know they're capable of finishing top 3 in is just lame.
If you get only 3 teams of 3 entered you just don't split out triples. Only got 2 riders over 40? Easy, you don't split it out into 40+. Got 50 singlespeeders? Great, give them a category they deserve. What's that, the breakdown of solo riders is 30 riders aged <30, 40 aged 30-39, 20 aged 40+? Sounds sufficient to offer Expert, Vets and Masters on top of Elite being the overall.
For an 'Elite' event where you want to offer cash prizes in particular categories this doesn't make as much sense, but when you're holding a 'participation'/fun event where you don't want that kind of atmosphere, this makes total sense to me.
riderideride
Likes Dirt
I actually prefer the goodies bag to a trophy 
no space for a trophy in our house, but all the muck-off, bike parts etc we have won have been put to great use!
no space for a trophy in our house, but all the muck-off, bike parts etc we have won have been put to great use! 
Stevob
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Not a bad idea Tim for big events like the Otway Odyssey (where you have a much larger field), but for 6hr events, as a Male 40+ Solo Rigid Single Speeder, I'd rather just race against the blokes of the same age group, gears & suspension or not.
Nath8
Likes Dirt
Show off!!!I actually prefer the goodies bag to a trophy
When I enter a race, I don't really care what catergory I'll be in. There is no way that I'll be anywhere near the top 3.
I go to an event to ride my bike, do my best, enjoy the trails and enjoy the day! That's it.
riderideride
Likes Dirt
jealous
...boyfriend that rides fast ...jealous
riderideride
Likes Dirt
EXACTLY Jess!! :-D
jathanas
Likes Bikes and Dirt
I'll only go out with a guy if he's Elite...
riderideride
Likes Dirt
LOL at you all! You cant have my fast boyfriend, he is mine, all mine!
I really really REALLY wish norm would train and get fast again..and not just on downhills! I am the jealous one RishiLOL at you all! You cant have my fast boyfriend, he is mine, all mine!
fergo
Likes Dirt
I just wish I was fast!
riderideride
Likes Dirt
train him up for mixed pairs Jess!
uhuforrest
Likes Dirt
Trail fairy pics
The DSE trail crew has been out ensuring trails are in excellent condition and ready for next May :clap2:
The DSE trail crew has been out ensuring trails are in excellent condition and ready for next May :clap2:
uhuforrest
Likes Dirt
Decision!
Big thumbs-up for extra trophies. :clap2:
We already have a custom design MTB trophy produced locally, so will use these as well as the "normal" trophies
Regards
Roland
O.K. So I asked the question at tonight's club meeting.
Big thumbs-up for extra trophies. :clap2:
We already have a custom design MTB trophy produced locally, so will use these as well as the "normal" trophies
Regards
Roland