The 2009 Chico Road R.A.C.E. Series Announcement................

Hi Everyone!! With June almost here, there are a ton of upcoming Road Race events in and around Chico........which means, the 2009 Chico Road R.A.C.E. Series is also about to begin! This Series will go on from May 30th to about mid-September 2009. In the next month, there are a total of 6 races slated to be on the Road R.A.C.E. schedule, with more to follow in July, August and early September. In all, there will be upwards of 20 events in this Series.:

Saturday, May 30th - The Table Mountain Road Race - 9:00AM - Trophy Event
Sunday, June 7th - Jonesville Road Race - 8:00AM - Trophy Event - (Final Race in Rumpstomper Omnium)
Saturday, June 13th - Messilla Valley Circuit Race - 8:00AM - Trophy Event -
Sunday, June 14th - Wheelock Circuit Race - 8:00AM - Trophy Event -
Saturday, June 27th - LEESVILLE GAP "PRACTICE" ROAD RACE - 9:00AM - Trophy Event -
Sunday, June 28th - Butte City Road Race - 8:00AM - Trophy Event -

July, August & September events to be posted soon...................

2009 CHICO ROAD R.A.C.E. SERIES INFORMATION:

After the great turn-out at last year's various Chico Road Races, we're going to be doing them again for 2009......but this time, they will ALSO be in a "Series" format. For those curious, the approximate definition of "Bicycle Road Races" can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_bicycle_racing

This Series will go from Saturday, May 30th through mid-September 2009......just before the Henleyville Road Race on September 19th, 2009! Most of these races will be starting at either 8:00AM or 9:00AM on the weekends - but some could be as early as 7:00AM.......and others starting as late as 10:00AM(highly unlikely).

Why have this event???

Looking at cycle racing from an international view, "road racing" is one of the most prestigious aspects of bicycle racing. The greatest racing champions in the hisotry of our great sport - Eddy Merckx, Lance Armstrong, Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi, Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, Gino Bartali - the list goes on and on and on. These riders were great "road racing" champions. The road race itself requires great stamina, strength, speed, skill and sense to win - or to place. To win a road race - or place highly in a road race consistently - is the epitome of a great cycle racing champion. This contest will track the most consistent riders in the area for road racing. The winner of this event will have a great opportunity for bragging rights - plus, they'll win the Series Championship Trophy!!

How does it work???

Okay, here are a few notes for 2009 Chico Road R.A.C.E. Series:

1. We will be using a variety of courses for this Series - including some flat courses, very hilly courses, somewhat hilly courses, circuit race courses(no Crits) and so forth. The idea is to get a variety of course profiles going for the Series to test the riders a bit. Next year - 2010 - this Series will also be starting much earlier in the year in order to get a feel for different weather conditions as well.

2. ALL riders must sign in this year at the start of EACH event - There will be a small table at the Start/Finish location - just sign in at the table and you are good to go! Sign-ins normally start 30 minutes before the event takes place and closes about 1-2 minutes before the event starts. Rain or wet weather will normally not cancel the events. However, last year we had some tremendous smoke from the Humboldt Fire in this area......which, in turn, may cancel some of the Road Races due to hazardous air quality.

3. There will normally be 2 Categories racing at the Road Races - the Category "A" Event and the Category "B" Event. However, EACH Series Category will be picked separately(Women's, Women's Masters, Men's Masters, Juniors, etc.). Category "A" races will normally start first, with the Category "B" races starting a couple of minutes later. If there are enough racers to have a separate category start after the "B" event, we will make that happen as well.

4. Helmets are MANDATORY! So, please....please.....wear your helmet! Please!!

5. All are welcome - you don't have to do the Series - just come on out and give this Road Race training/riding a shot! They're a GREAT workout!!!

6. Points are used to calculate the Overall Standings in the Series. The point breakdown is as follows: 25-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1, with an additional 4 points being given to each participant at each event. So, 25 points goes to the winner, 20 points goes to 2nd place, 18 points goes to 3rd place and so on.........in addition to 4 more points just for doing the event. The rider with the MOST points at the end of the Series wins the Overall Title - and the 2009 Chico Road R.A.C.E. Series Championship Trophy, plus whatever goodies we can give you. If one race proves particularly harsh.........ex. - the Jonesville Road Race on June 7th..............the point breakdown MAY be increased(35 to the winner, 30 to 2nd and so forth).

7. Although the races are advertised as having 2 Categories out on the course - Category A and Category B - the Series itself has even more Trophy Categories, including:

Category "A" Men
Women's Category
Women's Masters 40+ Category
Category "B" Men
Men's Masters 45+ Category
Men's Masters 55+ Category

These are the Categories which all qualify for a Series Championship Trophy. We will ADD Categories if enough riders show up out there - so tell your friends!! If nobody - or very few folks are in one category - we may eliminate it and add an additional category where the numbers allow it. As usual, sandbaggers are strongly discouraged ( A Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider entering a Category "B" event - this would have to be completely obvious to the Race Director).

In addition, trophies will normally be given out at EACH event for the winners in various categories............depending upon the budget of the Race Director.

8. Although donations to put on these events are always very appreciated and accepted, this Series is FREE - so come on out and take advantage of some, or all, of these Road R.A.C.E.s in 2009!

9. The Race Director reserves the right to DQ any rider for unsafe riding or unsportsmanlike conduct at ANY time. Also, PLEASE - try not to use colorful language out there - especially with the little kids around watching the race at the finish line and so forth. ANY rider breaking these rules can be subject to Disqualification from - not only the race - but from the entire Series. So, please - just do what ya always do and just be cool!!!!

10. Finally, remember - these Road Race events are essentially for practice and exercise - we have fun out there and get a great little workout in, and we get to work on some quality cycling skills. But, overall, they're no big whoop....no World Championship/Olympic medals or million dollar contracts on the line. So, with that in mind, just treat 'em as such - a good training event to try some new things, gain some good fitness.....and maybe even get into a "real" sanctioned Road Race at some point in time. Or not. Just have fun with it!! We'll have trophies and hopefully some prizes for the Series winners - and definitely loads of fun....and pain and suffering. ;) But remember - it's all in good fun!

Hope to see you out there!!

Rodney............
Team Chico & R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Annoying Cycling Events
Chico, CA
www.ChicoBike.com