Today's Messilla Valley Circuit Race Results - Jan. 23rd, 2011.............

Hi Everyone!! Well, we had some pretty good conditions at this morning's Messilla Valley Circuit Race - I would like to thank ALL of you for coming out to that one! Today's event was Event #1 in the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series. We still have tons of events remaining this year, so come on out and give some of these little events a shot - they're great training and lots of fun too!

For some blurry photos of today's Messilla Valley race, please visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicovelo

We will be back out to the Messilla Valley Circuit Race on Sunday, February 20th, with an addition to the race - 2 KOM & 2 QOM sprints during the race(King of the Mountains & Queen of the Mountains). Hope to see you out there!

Okay, below are the Results by Category from this morning's race - in addition to the Current Overall Standings in the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series. We still have between 25 - 30 Road R.A.C.E.s left in the Series in 2011(see information below), so PLENTY of time to get out there and give 'em a try! Please let me know if you see any additions, subtractions, corrections, deletions or any other changes that need to be made in the results below - I may have guessed on some of the Categories, so let me know if there's an error. Results will be final after a 24-hour protest period:

CATEGORY RESULTS FROM MESSILLA VALLEY CIRCUIT RACE - Jan. 23rd, 2011:

Category "A" Results:
1. Brad Foster 1:43:40
2. Mark Wolford 1:49:43
3. Rich Thurman
4. Aren Timmel

Category "B" Results:
1. Matthew Carlson 1:52:42
2. Barry DeWitt 1:55:52
3. Russ Fowler 1:57:34
4. Chris Marking
5. Rick Carhart
6. Rob Bishop

Category "C":
No competitors.

Women's Category:
1. Forough Molina 1:56:12
2. Caryn Jones 2:00:49
3. Nicole Bateman
4. Lorna Andreatta

Men's Masters 50+ Category:
1. Denny McKenney 1:55:44
2. Phil Weintraub 2:04:08
3. Ryan Hiner 2:05:19

Juniors Category:
1. Aliya Traficante
2. Garrett Marking

CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS IN THE 2011 BUTTE ROAD R.A.C.E. SERIES AFTER 1 EVENT:

Category "A" Overall Standings:
1. Brad Foster (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Mark Wolford (24 points + 3 = 27 points)
3. Rich Thurman (22 points + 3 = 25 points)
4. Aren Timmel (20 points + 3 = 23 points)

Category "B" Overall Standings:
1. Matthew Carlson (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Barry DeWitt (24 points + 3 = 27 points)
3. Russ Fowler (22 points + 3 = 25 points)
4. Chris Marking (20 points + 3 = 23 points)
5. Rick Carhart (18 points + 3 = 21 points)
6. Rob Bishop (16 points + 3 = 19 points)

Category "C" Overall Standings:
No competitors.

Women's Category Overall Standings:
1. Forough Molina (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Caryn Jones (24 points + 3 = 27 points)
3. Nicole Bateman (22 points + 3 = 25 points)
4. Lorna Andreatta (20 points + 3 = 23 points)

Men's Masters 50+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Denny McKenney (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Phil Weintraub (24 points + 3 = 27 points)
3. Ryan Hiner (22 points + 3 = 25 points)

Juniors Category Overall Standings:
1. Aliya Traficante (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Garrett Marking (24 points + 3 = 27 points)

2011 BUTTE ROAD R.A.C.E. SERIES INFORMATION:

Hi Everyone! After the great turn-out at last year's Butte County-area Road Races, we're going to be doing them again for the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series! This Series will go from January 2011 through September 2011. Most of the 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 on some weekends. A list of various races that could(and probably will) be a part of the 2011 Series:

Messilla Valley Circuit Race
Table Mountain Road Race
Butte City Road Race
Aguas Frias Road Race
Jonesville Road Race
Toomes Camp Road Race
The Oro-Quincy Road Race
Cohasset-to-Gravel Road Race
Coal Canyon Circuit Race
The Vilas Road Race
The Forest Ranch Road Race
Honey Run Road Race
The Nimshew Race
Wheelock Circuit Race
Grainland Road Race
Lunt Road Race
Troxel Circuit Race
Lomo Road Race
Ord Bend Road Race
The Belden Road Race
The Midway Road Race
Stirling City Road Race
The Bloom Circuit Race
Pinkston Canyon Circuit Race
The Chico Road Race
The Mini-Road Races, like Cohasset, Honey Run & Humboldt
and many others.

In addition, the Road R.A.C.E.s could be part of the various Omniums going on in 2011(Nutcracker, Rumpstomper, Devil's Kick, Rodneyums, Knockoffer, Bilirubin, among others.......think Friday Night Crit, Saturday Hill Climb or Flat TT and Sunday Road Race, etc.).

Why have this event?
Looking at cycling from an international view, "road racing" is one of the most prestigious aspects of bicycle racing. The greatest racing champions in the history of our great sport - Eddy Merckx, Lance Armstrong, Bernard Hinault, Jeanne Longo, Connie Carpenter, 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, and whatever goodies we can give away! Not to mention......it's just fun - and a GREAT workout!

How does it work?
Okay, here are a few notes for the 2011 Butte 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, some long courses, some short courses, circuit race courses(no Crits), some point-to-point courses, and so forth. The idea is to get a variety of course profiles going for the Series to test riders a bit. The Series starts in January 2011 and goes through September 2011. We will have the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series Awards Ceremony in October 2011 at a location to be determined.

2. ALL riders MUST sign in 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, a couple of years ago 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. Also, quite a few USA Cycling rules apply to these races.....but we're not going to go rule-crazy out there......just ride safe, look out for your fellow rider and have a good time.....that's why we do these!

3. There will normally be 3 Categories racing at the Road Races - the Category "A" Event(Advanced riders), the Category "B" Event(Intermediate riders), and the combined Category "C"(Novice riders) & Junior Event(normally, riders under the age of 16). However, EACH Series Category will be picked separately(Women's, Masters, etc.). Category "A" races will normally start first, with the Category "B" races starting a couple of minutes later, and then the Category "C" & Junior races a couple minutes after the Bs. If you are not sure what Category you should enter, just talk to me at the Start and we'll get it all figured out.

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

5. Volunteers - Water bottle hand-ups will be almost solely dependent upon volunteers at these events.......so bring a volunteer with ya!

6. 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! No license required, no entry fee - just sign in and RACE - and have fun!

7. Points are used to calculate the Overall Standings in the Series. The point breakdown is as follows:

30-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1, with an additional 3 points being given to each participant finishing each event.

So, 30 points goes to the winner, 24 points goes to 2nd place, 22 points goes to 3rd place and so on.........in addition to 3 more points just for doing the event. The rider with the MOST points at the end of the Series in their respective Category wins the Overall Title - and the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series Championship Trophy, plus whatever goodies we can give you. ALSO - There MAY be some additional points awarded in the Series for KOM/QOM - King & Queen of the Mountains......will be announced before each race. Also, many of the Road R.A.C.E.s in 2011 will be used in the various Omniums going on locally - An "Omnium" is just a stage race using points rather than time - and you do not have to complete one stage in order to do the next stage. You garner points for each stage depending upon how you did in the stage.......and, in the R.A.C.E. Omniums, the MOST points wins(many Omniums reverse this and have the least amount of points winning). Chico-area Omniums this year include: The Nutcracker, Devil's Kick, The Rumpstomper, multiple Rodneyums, Knockoffer and Field of Dreams.

If weather conditions are particularly harsh - or if a Road R.A.C.E. course is particularly harsh - we will add "misery" points to the totals. So, if it is pouring down rain at the Jonesville Road Race, we may add an additional 10 points for the "misery" involved in that race! In addition, most of the Mini-Road-Races held during the week(Humboldt Road Race, Cohasset Road Race, Troxel Race) will probably be counted towards the Overall Series, but with fewer points awarded(5 to the winner, 4 to 2nd, 3 to 3rd, 2 to 4th and everybody else gets 1 point).

Mini-Road Races: These are usually held during the weekdays.....either early in the morning or on some evenings.......and include a shorter distance "road race" event.....something like, the Chico Airport to the Cohasset Narrows, or Humboldt Road from bottom to top. For instance, we had the Wednesday Morning Humboldt Road Races at 6:00AM a couple of years ago and quite a few riders use to come out for those each week. In addition, we use to hold the Friday Night Cohasset Road Races at 6:00pm and lots of riders came out for those too! The idea is to get in a quick workout either before work in the AM - or a quick workout right after work in the PM, etc. Very minimal points awarded at the Mini-Road Races, but a great little workout - and a good way to gain a few additional points in the Overall Series. Remember - the key to winning the Series will be consistency - it's amazing what can happen by just showing up to race!

8. Although the races are advertised as having 3 Categories out on the course - Category A, Category B and Category C/Juniors - the Series itself has even more Championship Trophy Categories, including:

Category "A"
Category "B"
Category "C"
Women's Category
Men's Masters 50+ Category(in Cat. B)
Juniors Category (essentially, riders under 16 years of age)

***In addition - The rider who has the MOST points in the entire Series at the end will receive the "Grand Champion's" Plaque as well.

These are the Categories which all qualify for a Series Championship Trophy - as of NOW. We could 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).

NOTE - The R.A.C.E. Director reserves the right to re-classify you at any time(within reason and with plenty of notice). So, if you are just demolishing the field at the Category "B" races, it is a sure bet that I will upgrade you to Category "A".

In addition, winners medals or mini-trophies may be given out at some of the Road Race events for the winners in various categories............depending upon the very limited budget of the Race Director. I will try my best to have the Road Race Results out - as well as the Current Overall Series Standings - within 24 hours from the completion of the event. Results will be posted to the R.A.C.E. e-mail list, Facebook, Twitter and my blog. If you would like to be added to the R.A.C.E. e-mail list, just send me an e-mail with the word "ADD" in the subject line and send to ChicoCyclist@gmail.com.

9. Although donations to put on these events are always very 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 2011! Although donations are always extremely appreciated, they are NEVER necessary to enter these events - I just want y'all out there testing yourselves on your bicycles and having a good time! Also, ANY and ALL sponsorships for these events are highly welcome - so, if you'd like to sponsor the R.A.C.E. events, just let me know! Finally, this Series is not associated with any cycling clubs, so you don't have to be a member of any club to take part in any of these events(Sorry - get asked that question all the time).

10. The Race Director reserves the right to disqualify(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!

11. 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, meet some new people, try some new roads & courses.....and maybe even get into a sanctioned Road Race at some point in time. Or not. Just have fun with it! We'll have trophies and hopefully some prizes & event T-shirts for the Series winners and placers - and definitely loads of fun....and pain and suffering. ;) But remember - it's all in good fun and will prove to be memorable!

Hope to see you out there!

Rodney............
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA