Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Oro-Chico Omnium Bicycle Race is this weekend!! :)

THE ORO-CHICO OMNIUM BICYCLE RACE
April 1st - April 3rd, 2011
4 Stages over 3 Days
Chico & Oroville, California
www.ChicoBike.com

Hi Everyone!! The Oro-Chico Omnium Bicycle Race is being held this weekend - April 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2011! The format is 4 stages over 3 days - and, again, an Omnium is just a bicycle stage race using points rather than time....and you don't have to do one stage in order to do the next stage.....and can get into the Omnium by completing any of the stages. The 4 stages involved in the upcoming Oro-Chico Omnium Bicycle Race include the following:

Stage #1 - Friday, April 1st - The Chico Airport Friday Night Criterium (also a Double Point Event in the 2011 Chico Criterium Series) - 6:00pm & 7:00pm.

Stage #2 - Saturday, April 2nd - The Table Mountain Uphill Time Trial (The Wildflower Century side - Also, an Extra Point Event in the 2011 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series) - 9:00AM

Stage #3 - Saturday, April 2nd - The Oro-Chico 15-Mile Time Trial (A flat Time Trial.......also a 25-point event in the 2011 Chico Time Trial Series) - 2:00PM

Stage #4 - Sunday, April 3rd - The Table Mountain Road Race (40-point event in the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series) - 9:00AM

***See "Route Information" below for details on each of the stages.

CATEGORIES OFFERED:

Category "A"- Advanced Riders
Category "B" - Intermediate Riders
Category "C" - Novice Riders
Women's Category
Men's Masters 50+ Category (in Category "B")
Juniors (Riders under the age of 16)

How does it work??? And what in the world is an "Omnium" bicycle race???
Okay, in this scenario, an Omnium is just a Stage Race bicycle 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, again, in this particular case.........the MOST points wins(many Omniums reverse this and have the least amount of points winning). There will be multiple categories competing in the Oro-Chico Omnium(see Categories below). There is NO entry fee for competing in this event, but donations are always extremely appreciated and welcome!! Once entering the Omnium, there will be no downgrades during the event. Categories may be combined, changed or eliminated if not enough folks come out. Most USA Cycling rules will apply to ALL stages - including WEAR YOUR HELMET, don't ride too much like a lunatic, and so on and so forth. Please read the section carefully at the bottom of this e-mail for some of the rules pertaining to the Oro-Chico Omnium. And remember - the only reason we're doing this Omnium is for fun & fitness......and maybe a little competitiveness too - but nothing over-the-top please! Ride safe, have fun, try something new and challenge yourself. Anyone doing any of the stages is automatically entered in the Omnium..........but consistency in the events will be key to winning the Overall Title. We will have the 2011 Oro-Chico Omnium Trophies given to the Winners in each of the Categories - as well as whatever goodies we can give you! We will have an Awards Gathering early Sunday afternoon after the Table Mountain Road Race to distribute goodies!

POINT BREAKDOWN PER STAGE:

Stage #1 - Friday, April 1st - The Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00pm & 7:00pm:
(Yes, Prime points will count towards the Omnium! Many Primes will be offered.)
1st = 24 points
2nd = 20 points
3rd = 18 points
4th = 16 points
5th = 14 points
6th = 12 points
7th = 10 points
8th = 8 points
9th = 6 points
10th = 4 points
11th = 2 points
Everyone else = 1 point

Stage #2 - Saturday, April 2nd - The Table Mountain Uphill Time Trial (Wildflower Century side) - 9:00am:
1st = 30 points
2nd = 26 points
3rd = 24 points
4th = 22 points
5th = 20 points
6th = 18 points
7th = 16 points
8th = 14 points
9th = 12 points
10th = 10 points
11th = 8 points
12th = 6 points
13th = 4 points
14th = 2 points
Everyone else = 1 point

Stage #3 - Saturday, April 2nd - The Oro-Chico 15-Mile Time Trial - 2:00pm:
1st = 30 points
2nd = 26 points
3rd = 24 points
4th = 22 points
5th = 20 points
6th = 18 points
7th = 16 points
8th = 14 points
9th = 12 points
10th = 10 points
11th = 8 points
12th = 6 points
13th = 4 points
14th = 2 points
Everyone else = 1 point

Stage #4 - Sunday, April 3rd - The Table Mountain Road Race - 9:00am:
(King & Queen of the Mountains Points MAY be offered)
1st = 34 points
2nd = 30 points
3rd = 28 points
4th = 26 points
5th = 24 points
6th = 22 points
7th = 20 points
8th = 18 points
9th = 16 points
10th = 14 points
11th = 12 points
12th = 10 points
13th = 8 points
14th = 6 points
15th = 4 points
16th = 2 points
Everyone else = 1 point

RULES:
And Finally - ANY rider participating in ALL 4 Stages receives an additional 10 points.
Do you have to do all the stages in order to compete in the Omnium?? No - you can even do just one event and your points will still be calculated and counted in the overall. And REMEMBER - Safety come before bragging rights, so be careful!!!
As always, the Director reserves the right to disqualify anyone deemed cheating, unsafe or unsportsmanlike(no worries - just be cool like always and all will be good!!). Aero equipment can be used in the 3rd stage. Helmets are mandatory in ALL stages.

Tie-Breaker:
If, by chance, it comes down to a TIE after the last stage of the Omnium, the highest placed finisher(of the tied competitors) in the Table Mountain Uphill Time Trial will be declared the Overall Winner of the Oro-Chico Omnium.

2011 ORO-CHICO OMNIUM ROUTE INFORMATION:

Friday, April 1st - Chico Airport Criterium - 6:00PM(As & Bs) & 7:00PM(Cs and Junior Races):
This event will be held at the Chico Airport Criterium course starting at 6:00pm(for As & Bs) and 7:00pm(for Category C and Kids race)! Registration will open at 5:40pm on Convair avenue at the Airport - with the first event starting promptly at 6:00pm. We'll be using our standard Tuesday/Friday Night Chico Airport Criterium course starting/finishing at Convair Avenue:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chico-Airport-Tuesday-Night-Crit-Course
Category "A" riders will go for 50 Minutes PLUS 3 laps, while Category "B" riders will go for 45 Minutes PLUS 3 laps - Women's Category/Masters Category picked separately. The Category C and Juniors Race will go for 15 Minutes PLUS 3 laps, IF there is enough light outside to hold a race. Riders must sign in and wear a helmet in order to compete. Prime Points will count towards the 2011 Chico Airport Criterium Series AND the Oro-Chico Omnium!)
RAIN OR WET PAVEMENT WILL ALWAYS CANCEL THIS EVENT. Helmets are mandatory!!
(DOUBLE POINT EVENT in the 2011 Chico Airport Criterium Series!)

Saturday, April 2nd - The Table Mountain Uphill Time Trial - 9:00AM:
This one will be held rain or shine, and is a Category 3 climb in this Series. The course goes up Table Mountain from Oroville, climbing up the same way as Chico Velo's Wildflower Century. Registration will open at 8:30am, with the first rider taking off at 9:01am.....and we will go in 1-minute intervals. The registration/start area is located on Cherokee Road.......right near Thompson Flat Cemetery Road(Look for me and the R.A.C.E.mobile at the start area - there is a dirt parking lot area right across the street from the Start location if you choose to drive over there)......see map link below too. The Table Mountain climb is considered a Category 3 climb in the Series, and climbs approximately 1,600 feet over 5.3 miles.....and is quite the climb!! If there is a large amount of rain, extra points may be awarded. For a map of the Table Mountain Uphill Time Trial course, please visit the following link:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Table-Mountain-TT

***And, I still need 1 volunteer to help me start the riders off that morning as well - If you can help out, just send me an e-mail - you get a 3-point bonus in the Series AND the OMNIUM, you still get to race it(just be the last rider to start), and you will have my undying gratitude.
HELD RAIN OR SHINE! Helmets are mandatory!
(Event #14 in the 25-Race 2011 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series - EXTRA POINTS awarded in the Hill Climb Series for this one!)

Saturday, April 2nd - The Oro-Chico 15-Mile Time Trial - 2:00PM:
This Time Trial course was introduced by Dave Weathers when he held the Durham Duathlon a couple years ago - and we are back to hit it again! Registration opens at 1:30pm, with the first rider going off at 2:01pm. The Start/Registraion Area is located at the Durham Community Park in Durham, California. Yes, Aero equipment IS allowed in this one. We will go in 1-minute intervals for this 7.5-miles out, 7.5-miles back, all-flat Time Trial. A map of this course can be found here:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/The-Oro-Chico-15-Mile-Time-Trial
The Start/Finish location of this event is on Durham-Dayton Highway right at the Durham Community Park(parking and bathrooms available there).

HELD RAIN OR SHINE! Helmets are mandatory!
(This is a 25-Point Event in the 2011 Chico Time Trial Series!)

Sunday, April 3rd - Table Mountain Road Race - 9:00AM:
This particular course was first used by the Chico Velo Cycling Club as a United States Cycling Federation Road Race course back in 1984 during the Chico Omnium(which also included the 7-Mile Lane Time Trial and the Chico Downtown Criterium that year). Most groups did 2 laps of this course, but the Cat.1/2 guys did 3 or 4. However, I wouldn't do that to ya - we're only going to do 1 lap in this race - for a total of approximately 25 miles and approximately 2,100 feet of total climbing. The course preview is located on Bikely.com here - and you can see the Course Profile by clicking on "Show" in the top left-hand corner........then clicking on "Elevation Profile":
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Old-Table-Mountain-Road-Race-Course
The Start/Finish Line is located on Table Mountain Boulevard right by Table Mountain Ranch Road(see Bikely Map - this was the Start/Finish Line for the 1984 race as well - I'll be out there early, so look for the registration table). Each Category will do just 1 lap = 25 miles. Registration will open at 8:30AM with Category A going off at 9:00AM........and Category B going at 9:02AM. Women's, Masters, C & Juniors Categories will start with Category "B", but will be scored separately. Parking is available on the unfinished freeway overpass at the Start/Finish Line.

***Now, a word of warning about this Road Race - This course goes in a clockwise direction - meaning that you will be climbing up to Cherokee from Hwy. 70. Although the hill does not seem quite as difficult as from the other side(the Wildflower Century side), the descent off Table Mountain will be quite tricky. Make certain that your bicycle is in good working order and that you are comfortable on technical descents. The Road Race course goes through amazingly diverse sections and is quite scenic - but please look out for one another and for yourselves, especially on the descent and on the Highway. All USA Cycling rules apply, as usual - you know, don't do stupid stuff, wear a helmet, obey the centerline, etc. Route Arrows will mark the course as well. Bottle hand ups and Feed Zones will be solely dependent upon volunteers - Feed Zone is pretty much anywhere on the course. Sag vehicles will be solely dependent upon volunteers as well. I will be sweeping the course at the end as well - so if I don't see you back at the Finish, I'm coming to get you!
HELD RAIN OR SHINE! Helmets are mandatory!
(40-point event in the 2011 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series!)

Hope to see you out there!!!! :)

Rodney...........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, California
www.ChicoBike.com