The Cottonwood Omnium Bicycle Race - March 17th & 18th, 2012.................

THE COTTONWOOD OMNIUM BICYCLE RACE
March 17th & 18th, 2012
3 Stages over 2 Days
Cohasset & Oroville, California
www.RaceChico.com
www.ChicoBike.com

Hi Everyone!! The Cottonwood Omnium Bicycle Race is being held on March 17th & 18th, 2012 - this weekend! The format is 3 stages over 2 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 3 stages involved in this weekend's Cottonwood Omnium Bicycle Race include the following:

Stage #1 - Saturday, March 17th - The Cohasset Uphill Time Trial (Also, Event #9 & an Extra Point Event in the 2012 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series) - 9:00AM

Stage #2 - Saturday, March 17th - The Cottonwood 9.6-Mile Time Trial (A flat Time Trial.......also a 20-point event in the 2012 Chico Time Trial Series) - 2:00PM

Stage #3 - Sunday, March 18th - The Coal Canyon Circuit Race (40-point event in the 2012 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series & KOM/QOM Point Laps) - 9:00AM

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

CATEGORIES OFFERED:

Category "A"- Advanced & Advanced/Intermediate Riders
Category "B" - Intermediate Riders
Category "C" - Novice Riders & Racers
Women's Category
Men's Masters 50+ Category (in Category "B")
Juniors (Riders 16 & Under)


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 Cottonwood Omnium(see Categories above). 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 Cottonwood 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.

Champions will receive the Cottonwood Omnium Champions gold medal, with green ribbon(in honor of St. Patrick's Day). ;)

Results from Saturday's races will be available Saturday night on our website at www.RaceChico.com.


POINT BREAKDOWN PER STAGE:

Stage #1 - Saturday, March 17th - The Cohasset Uphill Time Trial - 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 #2 - Saturday, March 17th - The Cottonwood 9.6-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 #3 - Sunday, March 18th - The Coal Canyon Circuit Race - 9:00am:
(King & Queen of the Mountains Points WILL 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 3 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 2nd 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 Cottonwood 9.6-Mile Time Trial will be declared the Overall Winner of the Cottonwood Omnium.

2012 COTTONWOOD OMNIUM ROUTE INFORMATION:

Stage #1 - Saturday, March 17th - The Cohasset Uphill Time Trial - 9:00AM:

Registration will open at 8:30am, with the 1st rider taking off at 9:01am - and we will go in 1-minute intervals. The Start/Registration area is at Nicalog Road & Cohasset Road - there is a dirt parking area there, just look for me and the R.A.C.E.mobile at the Start line. The finish location is slightly different than in past years - it is just past the Cohasset Store, on Mountain Ranch Road & Cohasset Road. The Cohasset course is approximately 5 miles in length, climbs approximately 1,500 feet, and is considered a Category 1 Climb in the 2012 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series. For a map of the the current Cohasset Time Trial course, please visit:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/48162920/

***And, I still need 1 volunteer to help me start the riders off on that Saturday morning - If you can help out, just send me an e-mail - you get a 3-point bonus in the Series, 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 #9 in the 17-Race 2012 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series - A Category 1 Climb in the Series!)
(This Event will also be an "Extra Point" Event in the 2012 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series, offering an additional 3 points in the 2012 Butte Series!)

Stage #2 - March 17th - The Cottonwood Road 9.6-Mile Time Trial - 2:00pm - Also, a 20-point event in the 2012 Chico Time Trial Series:

This is a NEW Time Trial being offered this year. This Time Trial is being held on Cottonwood Road - near Oroville, California. Cottonwood Road is in between Table Mountain Boulevard and Highway 99. The course is 4.8 miles out, then 4.8 miles back - going from east to west....then west to east back in. The course is fairly flat, very quiet. Registration will open at 1:30pm near the corner of Cottonwood Road and Table Mountain Boulevard - just look for me and the R.A.C.E.mobile....as well as the orange cones. The 1st rider will take off at 2:01pm - and we will go in 1-minute intervals. The turnaround point is on Cottonwood Road - just before you get to Hwy. 99. For an approximate map of the Cottonwood Time Trial Course, please visit the following link:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/74465474

HELD RAIN OR SHINE!
Helmets are mandatory!
(20-point event in the 2012 Chico Time Trial Series)

Stage #3 - Sunday, March 18th - Coal Canyon Circuit Race - 9:00AM:

The Coal Canyon Circuit Race is back for 2012, and is the Final Stage in the 2012 Cottonwood Omnium Bicycle Race! This 5.9 mile long loop goes over rolling terrain and climbs approximately 290 feet per lap. Will suit a variety of riders. Registration will open at 8:30am NEAR the intersection of Coal Canyon Road-Wheelock Road & Hwy. 70. The Category "A" Race will go off at 9:00AM, the Category "B", "C" & "Juniors" Race will go at 9:02AM. Category "A" & "B" Riders will do 6 laps each - for a total of 35.4 Miles and 1,740 feet of total climbing. The Category "C" & Juniors Race will go 3 laps - for a total of 17.7 Miles and 870 feet of total climbing. Masters 50+ & Women's categories will race with the "B" group, but picked separately at the finish for placings. The Start/Finish Line is located on Coal Canyon Road - just up the road from the intersection of Wheelock Road & Hwy. 70. You will travel in a clockwise direction from Coal Canyon Road to Hwy. 70....and back to Coal Canyon Road....for one lap.
***For parking, PLEASE park up near the Start/Finish Line on Coal Canyon Road and not near Hwy. 70(per CHP).....OR, better yet, park at Spring Valley School on Pentz Road and ride on over to the start. For a map of the Coal Canyon Circuit Race course, please visit:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Coal-Canyon-Circuit-Race

I will have some water available at the Start/Finish location, but water bottle hand-ups will be solely dependent upon volunteers! Parking is somewhat available at the Start/Finish area of the course - but the best bet is to park at Spring Valley School and just ride down to the Start Area on Coal Canyon Road........approximately 2.7 miles away from the school(and downhill when heading to Coal Canyon). Most USA Cycling rules apply to these races - you know, WEAR YOUR HELMET, don't ride like a nutcase, and all that good stuff. Sandbaggers are strongly discouraged (a Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider racing a Category "B" or "C" race - must be completely obvious to the Race Director). The Race Director reserves the right to DQ any rider deemed unsafe or unsportsmanlike. A mention about Tri Bars - You can have Tri Bars on your bicycle - BUT, you must NOT use them if you are in a pack or paceline - especially on this course! Normally, in a USA Cycling sanctioned race, you would not be allowed to have them on your bicycle in a mass-start event like this one - but I know many of us like them on our bicycles and use them for training. This isn't the World Championships - we do these Circuit Races for fun, fitness and practice - but please do NOT use your Tri Bars in a pack/paceline situation.
HELD RAIN OR SHINE!
HELMETS ARE MANDATORY!
(40-POINT Event in the 2012 Butte Road R.A.C.E. Series - PLUS, we will have 2 KOM/QOM Point Laps - King of the Mountains/Queen of the Mountains!)

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


Rodney...........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, California
www.RaceChico.com
www.ChicoBike.com
~Grassroots Bicycle Racing Events~