Chico Airport Criterium Series starts March 16th!!!

Shorter version: The Chico Airport Criteriums start up on Tuesday, March 16th at 6:00pm(registration opens at 5:40pm) - hope to see you out there!!

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chico-Airport-Tuesday-Night-Crit-Course

Tue., Mar. 16th - Tuesday Night Chico Airport Criteriums - 6:00pm(for As & Bs) & 7:00pm(for Kids Only racing) (Part of the 2010 Spring Chico Airport Criterium Series)

Fri., Mar. 19th - Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm(for As & Bs) & 7:00pm(for Kids Only racing) (Part of the 2010 Spring Chico Airport Criterium Series)

Tue., Mar. 23rd - Tuesday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm(for As & Bs) & 7:00pm(for Kids Only racing) (Part of the 2010 Spring Chico Airport Criterium Series)

Fri., Mar. 26th - Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm(for As & Bs) & 7:00pm(for Kids Only racing) (Part of the 2010 Spring Chico Airport Criterium Series)

Tue., Mar. 30th - Tuesday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm(for As & Bs) & 7:00pm(for Kids Only racing) (Part of the 2010 Spring Chico Airport Criterium Series)

Fri., April 2nd - Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm(for As & Bs) & 7:00pm(for Kids Only racing) (Part of the 2010 Spring Chico Airport Criterium Series) - Stage #2 in the Devil's Kick Omnium

Long version:

2010 AIRPORT CRITERIUM SERIES INFORMATION:

After the great turnout at last year's Tuesday & Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium Series, we're going to be doing them again for 2010! For those curious, the definition of a "Criterium" is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criterium

This year, the Airport Criterium Series is being split into 2 Series:

"The 2010 Spring Airport Criterium Series" going from March 16th through June 29th

and

"The 2010 Summer Airport Criterium Series" going from July 2nd through October 8th

By doing it this way, you have two chances to take part in the Series Overall.....and change categories if you find yourself way out front in one Category, or off-the-back in another. After the Spring Series, the Race Director reserves the right to re-classify you for the Summer Series, if needed(for instance, if we have a "Hughes" scenario going on again this year, there will be an upgrade!! LOL).

This 1st Series starts up Tuesday, March 16th and ends on Tuesday, June 29th. The 2nd Series will start on Friday, July 2nd and will go through Friday, October 8th, 2010. Registration normally starts at 5:40pm - with the Category A & B event starting PROMPTLY at 6:00pm......and the Kids Only Event starting at 7:00pm. The Awards Ceremony for the Spring Criterium Series will be held in early July - at a location to be determined. The Awards Ceremony for the Summer Criterium Series will be held in mid-October - again, at a location to be determined(Madison Bear Garden or one of the local bicycle shops is a likely spot!).

How does it work???

Okay, here are a few notes for this year's Airport "Crit" Series:

There will be 2 distinct racing times this year at each event, as we had last year - 6pm & 7pm. 6:00pm will be used for Category "A"(faster riders) & Category "B"..........while 7:00pm will be used for Kids Only Races(normally under the age of 16 - last year, we had kids ranging in age from 5 to 15 - and at times during the summer months, the kids outnumbered the Cat. A & B groups!!). Mentors/adults may also ride in the Kids Only races - and are strongly encouraged to ride/teach them....and keep an eye on these young up & coming racers!! Racers MUST sign in at the registration table prior to the start of their event.

1. We will be using primarily 1 course for the Criteriums this year, our standard Tuesday/Friday Night Criterium course starting/finishing at Convair Avenue - http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chico-Airport-Tuesday-Night-Crit-Course. There MAY be some days where we'll use the longer 1-Mile Criterium Course on the north end of the Chico Airport......but those will be few and far between. One note - it is VERY unlikely that we will be holding Criteriums on the weekends this year. Last year, the turnout for weekend Criteriums was very low.....but Tuesday and Friday nights were off-the-hook!! I'm looking at holding more mountain bike events on the weekends this year too, with cyclocross events also starting up in early September.

2. ALL riders must sign in this year - There will be a small table on the sidewalk at the Start/Finish location on Convair Avenue - just sign in at the table and you are good-to-go! No entry fee and no license required. Sign-ins start at 5:40pm - the racing action starts at 6:00pm for As & Bs, and 7:00pm for the Kids Races. We usually end Category A & B events by 6:55pm.....and end the Kids Only Races by 7:30pm. RAIN AND WET PAVEMENT WILL ALWAYS CANCEL THE CRITERIUMS! In addition, in 2008, we had some tremendous smoke from the Humboldt Fire in this area......which, in turn, would also cancel the Criteriums due to hazardous air quality. And, finally, the Race Director plans to go on vacation this year with his wife, so no Criteriums will be held during vacation days(sorry....but some things are more important than the Crits. :-).

3. The Category "B" races normally go for 45 minutes PLUS 3 laps.........while the Category "A" races go for 50 minutes PLUS 3 laps. Kids Races usually go for 20 to 25 Minutes PLUS 3 laps, if daylight allows. There can be anywhere from 1 to 15+ Primes in the Airport Criteriums......just depends on the mood of the Dictator.....er......I mean, Director. ;) The new Bull Bell(thanks to Mark Wolford and family!!) will be utilized to announce Primes - along with me screaming at you, as usual. :)

---So, after 45 minutes in the Category "B" race, I will call out "3 laps to go!!!", then 2, then 1 to go. Category B Riders - Remember, once you finish your race, you MUST vacate the course immediately - the Category A Riders are still out there racing for another 5 minutes, and we must have the course cleared. Any rider NOT clearing the course in a timely manner will be DQ'd. Also, no warming up on the course while a race is in progress. We want y'all to have a safe and fun time out there, so please do your best to be careful, aware and looking out for your fellow riders!!

4. Helmets are absolutely MANDATORY! So, please....please.....wear your helmet! Please!! No helmet = no race.....sorry.

5. All are welcome - you don't have to do the Series - just come on out and give this Criterium training/riding a shot! It's amazing what kind of workout you can get in during a 45 to 60 minute practice event!! Or just come out to watch - we had lots of spectators out there last year!

6. Points are used to calculate the Overall Standings in the Series. The point breakdown for each Criterium has changed this year, and will be as follows: 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1, with an additional 2 points being given to each participant at each event. So, 20 points goes to the winner, 16 points goes to 2nd place, 14 points goes to 3rd place and so on.........in addition to 2 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 Chico Airport Series Championship Trophy, plus whatever goodies we can give you. Also, Prime points will be given out during each of the Crits - these are just lap prizes......but in this case, the prizes are points. We will also be having some product Primes out there this year! Primes are normally worth anywhere between 1 point and 10 points.......and everything in between. There may also be Multi-PLACE Primes: If I call a 3-Place Prime, the Prime Points go 3-deep........say, 6 points for 1st, 4 points for 2nd and 2 points for 3rd. If I call a 6-point 3-Place Prime, the previous example would be the formula used(6 for 1st, 4 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd). ALSO - Some races will be classified as DOUBLE-POINT races, and one or two may be TRIPLE-POINT races.......which means, the finishing points(and Prime Points) are doubled and tripled, respectively.

****One Note: We may use different formats for some of the Criteriums......Devil Takes The Hindmost(aka - Miss And Out) & Points Races are likely events to be used off and on during the season: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Points_race and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_and_Out . In addition, aspects of EACH of these track racing events MAY appear at any Criterium(at some point during the race, the Devil may make an appearance......same with Points Races......and you can bet that there will be at least one event that has Prime Points every single lap). Free lap rule is in effect - within reason.

7. Last year, we had just two categories during the 6pm races - Category A(faster riders) and Category B - and one main category for the 7pm races.....KIDS races. However, the Series itself has even more Trophy Categories, including:

In Category "A":

--Men's Category

--Men's Masters 45+

--Women's Category

In Category "B":

--Men's Category

--Women's Category

--Men's Masters 50+

In Kids Races:

--Dudes 11 & Under

--Ladies 11 & Under

--Dudes 12 to 16

--Ladies 12 to 16

These are the Categories which all qualify for a Series Championship Trophy. If nobody - or very few folks are in one category - we may eliminate it and add an additional category where the numbers allow it. If weeks go by and nobody enters a particular category, it's a certainty that it will be eliminated as a category. On the other hand, if suddenly we have a slew of 8-year olds racing the Kids Races, you can be fairly certain that that Category will be added(The 8-Year-Old Junior Category!). As usual, sandbaggers are strongly discouraged ( A Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider entering a Category "B" event). Results for each of the Criterium events will be sent out within 24 hours after completion, as well as the updated Standings in the Chico Airport Criterium Series - and e-mailed to the various cycling lists, as well as posted on Facebook, Twitter and Chico Bike dot com. Video and photos of the event are usually posted on Flickr within 24 hours after the completion of the event. In addition, there will be a 24-hour protest period to verify and update the results, if needed.

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 Criteriums in 2010!

9. The Race Director reserves the right to disqualify (DQ) any rider for unsafe riding or unsportsmanlike conduct at ANY time. Also, PLEASE - NO colorful language will be used out there - especially with the little kids around watching the races(we have kids out there from ages 2 to 12 watching the racing action)!! 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 Criterium 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, get some experience.....and maybe even get into a "real" sanctioned Criterium at some point in time(they are held ALL over northern California every season). 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............

R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Agonizing Cycling Events

Chico, CA

www.ChicoBike.com