A modest proposal to make local racing more interesting...
#1
cycle-dog spot
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A modest proposal to make local racing more interesting...
Claiming Races.
Backstory: Its the offseason and my mind is kind of wandering to what next year will look like. And kind of thinking of the "been there, raced that" kind of thing and wondering what could make the whole thing more interesting. Which brought me to Claiming Racing.
For those of you unfamiliar with the concept it is from auto racing where people compete in classes where the vehicles (or parts thereof) can be "claimed" (bought) by another racer for a set amount.
For example, instead of showing up at the local crit and racing on your $3000 super-fly pimp bike. You go ahead and enter the $400 claiming race. Everybody shows up ready to roll on whatever junk they are willing to risk someone taking away for $400. Heck, make it $500 or whatever.
All the cool '80's and '90's bikes would be racing again. Old 7-speed steel with friction downtube shifters would fly again.
The real interesting part would be comparing lap times, which I suspect would not be far off.
Another option is true vintage racing. No carbon, no index, no titanium. 6 speed max.
There has been a huge interest in motorcyle vintage racing on bikes build before h20 cooling and monoshocks. The racing in fierce and interesting.
Anyway, too nuts or what?
-Z
Backstory: Its the offseason and my mind is kind of wandering to what next year will look like. And kind of thinking of the "been there, raced that" kind of thing and wondering what could make the whole thing more interesting. Which brought me to Claiming Racing.
For those of you unfamiliar with the concept it is from auto racing where people compete in classes where the vehicles (or parts thereof) can be "claimed" (bought) by another racer for a set amount.
For example, instead of showing up at the local crit and racing on your $3000 super-fly pimp bike. You go ahead and enter the $400 claiming race. Everybody shows up ready to roll on whatever junk they are willing to risk someone taking away for $400. Heck, make it $500 or whatever.
All the cool '80's and '90's bikes would be racing again. Old 7-speed steel with friction downtube shifters would fly again.
The real interesting part would be comparing lap times, which I suspect would not be far off.
Another option is true vintage racing. No carbon, no index, no titanium. 6 speed max.
There has been a huge interest in motorcyle vintage racing on bikes build before h20 cooling and monoshocks. The racing in fierce and interesting.
Anyway, too nuts or what?
-Z
#2
shut up and ride
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#3
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#4
raodmaster shaman
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sounds kinda fun, but i dont know that it will every fly.
Racing for nothing but upgrade points and lame primes has no appeal to me, but bragging rights and someone else's rig. that would be fun!
Imagine the rivalries and grudge matches when you show up at the next race riding half of the guy from across town's bike that you won last time.
Racing for nothing but upgrade points and lame primes has no appeal to me, but bragging rights and someone else's rig. that would be fun!
Imagine the rivalries and grudge matches when you show up at the next race riding half of the guy from across town's bike that you won last time.
#7
Making a kilometer blurry
#8
Burning Matches.
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In auto racing, the car makes a difference.
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ElJamoquio didn't hate the world, per se; he was just constantly disappointed by humanity.
#11
draw line at carbon forks
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Please don't make me buy another bike, I still need cross and mountain!
#12
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I don't know about other areas but this years SCNCA calender is missing a lot of events. Some of them old established events. Seems that interest in racing is declining as events fail to attrract enough participants to be viable. I know it's hard for promoters to get all the categories in in one day now. So adding a new race doesn't seem likely around here.
#13
Blast from the Past
Popular at old time MI races, a special "Mechanics" race. The local shop wrenches would duke it out for a couple laps. Fun to watch.
Another local Crit had a Cop race, complete with fully geeked out Cop Mountain Bikes and Cops in uniform (one of my team mates was a State Trooper, cleaned up in this).
Another local Crit had a Cop race, complete with fully geeked out Cop Mountain Bikes and Cops in uniform (one of my team mates was a State Trooper, cleaned up in this).
#14
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Popular at old time MI races, a special "Mechanics" race. The local shop wrenches would duke it out for a couple laps. Fun to watch.
Another local Crit had a Cop race, complete with fully geeked out Cop Mountain Bikes and Cops in uniform (one of my team mates was a State Trooper, cleaned up in this).
Another local Crit had a Cop race, complete with fully geeked out Cop Mountain Bikes and Cops in uniform (one of my team mates was a State Trooper, cleaned up in this).
So, I'm always down for the local PD vs. FD races. I support them and especially if there is a charity involved.
#16
Blast from the Past
In high school, some of the indoor track meets would have a "Weightmen's Relay" in which the throwers would do a 4x1lap relay race. Surprisingly, despite the only prize on the line being a cake and plates of cookies (not team points) everyone went ape sh1t during this, every time. With the exception of the 4x4 and maybe the 4x8 (my two events...last and first races of the day), the loudest part of any evening. Relays always bring out the best in high school kids, and this was no exception. Pretty rare to see a 130lb kid high fiving or supporting a 250lb+, 6'4" monster but cool none the less.
So, I'm always down for the local PD vs. FD races. I support them and especially if there is a charity involved.
So, I'm always down for the local PD vs. FD races. I support them and especially if there is a charity involved.
#17
Euro-Trash
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Sweet idea, and it would be fun...
....BUT. The current fixed gear movement has brought the value of old, piece of sh*t frames through the roof. What was once only worth $150 is now considered pure gold in the hipster scene and will often fetch upwards of $800usd (if fitted with riser bars and deep V's). A sad, unfortunate turn of events.
....BUT. The current fixed gear movement has brought the value of old, piece of sh*t frames through the roof. What was once only worth $150 is now considered pure gold in the hipster scene and will often fetch upwards of $800usd (if fitted with riser bars and deep V's). A sad, unfortunate turn of events.
#18
Blast from the Past
Sweet idea, and it would be fun...
....BUT. The current fixed gear movement has brought the value of old, piece of sh*t frames through the roof. What was once only worth $150 is now considered pure gold in the hipster scene and will often fetch upwards of $800usd (if fitted with riser bars and deep V's). A sad, unfortunate turn of events.
....BUT. The current fixed gear movement has brought the value of old, piece of sh*t frames through the roof. What was once only worth $150 is now considered pure gold in the hipster scene and will often fetch upwards of $800usd (if fitted with riser bars and deep V's). A sad, unfortunate turn of events.
#19
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I like the PD and the FD idea. When the National Horse Show was held at Madison Square Garden, they used to have a similar kind of thing. They held an equitation class for the mounted police. Very cool idea.