ri_us

My team runs a race in New york City and we're thinking of expanding it. We want to make this event great and we're looking for ideas of all kinds. So:

What was the best race you've done? What made it so great?

What is the most annoying thing that happens at races?

cat4ever

Is your race a crit or road race?

botto 

1. crashing
2. losing

cat4ever

The quality of the field has made or broken races for me. "Great" crit races have a big time atmosphere. An announcer, cheering crowds, several prime sprints. Great road races boil down to course choice, corner marshals or rolling road closure and a good field.

Technical crits annoy me, but that's because I suck at them. Road race technical downhills in a field of 40 or more in the snow annoys me as well. Late starts because half the field was late to register sucks.

Pre-Printing out all the pertinent information for pre registered riders on the waiver sheet really helps. Race date, race name, blah blah so all you have to do is sign. That happened to me once. Got you through registration quick.

marcelinyc

stupid officials

YMCA

Longer events = better for 90% of racers, although a difficult proposition if you are trying to run 10 races in a day.

The more spectators, the better. Downtown crits are fantastic for the riders, as they ride through a wall of noise.

Road races over crits. Only a few people prefer crits. Our RR's down here attract 500pp per day. No crit even comes close, except for the two big money events we have.

mkadam68

An "event" type of atmosphere, families, friends, everyone is there, talking, laughing, having a good time. Almost like a party, but family-friendly. Best race I did we stayed afterwards, waiting for all awards to be handed out, had a picnic-type lunch, stuff like that. Down home. Lots of prime/sprint prizes, lots of medals, etc...

daneil

There's lots of NYC racers on the forum, if you tell us which race it is I'm sure that we could make suggestions.

But to answer your question I've found the best races to be a mix of course and the organizer. I'm a big fan of the races that the CRBC does upstate. They choose good courses and their organizational skills are top notch. I'm happiest when I can concentrate on the racing and not have to think about all the little stuff that you often have to worry about.

I for one have always wanted to see a NYC stage race. TT at Floyd Bennet, a circuit race in Prospect or Flushing, and a road race from Central to Bear.

Tough bit that last part though.

TheKillerPenguin

Most well run race I've done is probably Fitchburg. All the officials knew what they were doing, the course was well marked, police *******, officials swarming around us on motorcycles, neutral support, cameraman on a motorcycle following us around during the crit...felt pretty important for a cat4

Most annoying things are when the pacecar makes a wrong turn or when the course is badly marked. Make sure the pacecar drivers know where they're going, and make sure there are multiple visibile chalk marks on the road leading up to a turn.

The quality of the field is important too, obviously.

patentcad

Assemble a race with a field of fat Freds so I can get into the breakaway for once. Is that too much to ask?

bitterken

How about a lesson from cyclocross - beer tent!

bayareawheeler

LOTOJA

cuz i won! :flipoff:

oh ya i also loved the fact that it was a USCF sanctioned 206 mile race

botto 

Belgian Kermesse are the bomb because you pay something like +/- 10$ to race, but get +/- 6.50$ back when you return your number.

PedalMasher

A crit course with 3 sweeping, wide corners and one technical corner with a slight uphill finish to cut down on emergency room visits.

I'm made for that type of race as I'm a sprinter, bigger rider, but I don't think there's a more exciting course for riders or fans in bike racing.

danimal

i think the best race for fans and racers alike is a relatively non-technical crit. the fans/other racers get to hang out, barbecue, chat and watch the race and the racers get a not-too-dangerous crit-course.

the sun devil crit in phx is pretty great that way: 2-corner, D-shaped course with the start/finish, along the straight part of the course. the turns were wide and i think the only thing i'd add would be the uphill finish pedalmasher mentioned.

Pizza Man

Best races - Anything with a big hill, preferrably at the end.

Most annoying things- 1) Fields catching each other and having to neutralize.
2) Fields too large for the course
3) Long waits for results.

patentcad

I say: how about a 25 mile ciruit race on a 6 mile loop in the dark, the rain, with a nice 35mph sweeping downhill right hander with painted lines that become slick like black ice when it's wet along with potholes that cause massive crashes for no apparent reason - wait, that will be Central Park Sunday.

Sorry it's been done.

eskimo85

favorite: downers grove...because i won!

+1 to pizza man about waiting for results...cant stand when they're not posted in a timely matter.

Duke of Kent

Quad Cities Criterium
Snake Alley Criterium

Anyone who has ever done the Cage Match and the Snake know why those races kick ass.

WCroadie

[QUOTE=YMCA]Longer events = better for 90% of racers, although a difficult proposition if you are trying to run 10 races in a day.

The more spectators, the better. Downtown crits are fantastic for the riders, as they ride through a wall of noise.

Road races over crits. Only a few people prefer crits. Our RR's down here attract 500pp per day. No crit even comes close, except for the two big money events we have.[/QUOTE]
I'm not so sure this is a true statement

EventServices

Be ON TIME.
Don't cram a million different categories into one day.
Spend extra money on the Camera/results crew.
Feed your officials.
Hire a decent announcer. Don't force him to talk all the time.
Give away shwag.
Treat the racers well and the spectators even better.
Include an event for kids.
Don't add gimmicks in the first year.
Incorporate your sponsors into the event. Don't just take their money and give them nothing.
Food. Feed the people, and you will own the people.

Stallionforce

Running according to schedule is a big pet peeve for me. When the race runs on time, the riders can structure their warmups properly.

Ditto to pizzaman on field size. Nothing worse than breaking away, and then catching a mass of riders in a separate group, who, of course, refuse to let you through.

Good refreshments. What can I say? I live for food.

El Diablo Rojo

From a promoter standpoint the worst things that can happen are these:

Not being on schedule
Long waits in the pre-registered line
RR; not enforcing the yellow line rule if one exits
Not having really hot podium girls who dig 45 year old cat 4's

isuffer

A good race has...
no hair pin turns
No expensive entrence fees
Catagory broken down in age groups
Officials without attitude - Officials at Branchbrook, NJ race could mellow out a little
Officials who keep their comments brief before a race, especially when it's freezing outside
Having toilet paper in bathrooms - Branchbrook, NJ once again....
All finished riders posted on web
Enough porta potties to keep waiting time to a minimum
Having enough pins for the numbers - especially for newbies who do not carry their own
Orgnaizers being ready when racers arrive
NO DOWN HILL FINISH!!!!

urbanknight

Most comprehensible and informed answer. All I'd add is that it's annoying if riders warming up or other people are allowed on a "hot" course (especially if it's a closed course), and try to get at least a rolling closure on a road course.

btw enforcing the yellow line rule is tough. People get elbowed outside of the yellow line or have to avoid road hazards (bottles, animals, etc.) and then soeone always whines about it. If I was an official, I would only enforce it if someone passed people or made a break from the wrong side.

The only part of that I find amazing is that they made a 25 mile race with a 6 mile loop