furiousferret

Just read it, going to sift through the comments tomorrow.

I think crit culture is a big part of it, but not all of it. Prize money and regulations are squeezing out a lot of races.

hack

I'm not sure i buy into his argument and bitterness toward a drop in attendance. Are fondos, waffle rides, and flat crits bad? I'd say no. If people don't want to get up at no o'clock to drive 3 hours to race 3 hours in the sticks and drive 3 hours home, then good for them for not doing it.

Are these new opportunities distractions from "real racing"? Maybe, but if they were available 5+ years ago I assume people that didn't want to road race would be doing them instead of slogging out to a race. I've done road races where I've been completely dropped and left for dead, it wasn't glorious or spiritual. It was just "let's get this over with...".

I also think there is more to the picture than just racer interest. It's harder to get a permit, counties/cities change regulations, new development impacts race routes, and so on. People want to race, but a $5 cost increase is more than they can bear.

UmneyDurak

Ah the "fun" memories getting there before the sun was up, freezing my ass off, and starting the race as the sun was coming up.

Writer of the article just sounds like sour grapes. There is no spiritual enlightenment, or bs like that. It's just pain and suffering and hopefully not getting dropped, and in races like this it's a good chunk of the field. Might as well save up 40 bucks, 4-6 hours of driving, and go for a ride and make it as hard as you want.

furiousferret

I’m the president of UCSD cycling and have been involved in promoting Boulevard for the last 6 years. Decreased participation did play a role in the race folding, but that’s only 30% of the story. We were prepared to operate the race at a loss, and had a partnership with Adrenaline ready to go, but SD county chose to shut us down.

Not that I don’t agree with your sentiment…

rideaz

I'm bummed because I wanted to do Boulevard!
AZ has lost a lot of cool road races even in the short time I have been racing. When I talk to guys who were racing here in the 90's, they talk of even tougher/funner road races that are now gone. It's mostly industrial park crits here now. Bleh! The excuse here is permitting on bigger, which is legit but I also think attendance is much lower at road races than crits.
Anyways, looking forward to doing some of these socal races...hopefully San Dimas or Murrietta :-)

Doge

At one time I suggested an idea that I knew would likely go nowhere. But it makes so much sense - esp for this.

You have a straight classes 1-10 for all USAC local races.

Men, women, youth, older's all race together. Want to find the best M35 women? Just find the best 35+ woman placed one in the highest class. There would be not issue having a class 10,9,8 race together and a 8,7,6 race together. The whole thing would just even out the field sizes, eliminate purse size bias make sure everyone was closer to racing someone of their ability.

The class is tied to race type. Crit Class 5, RR class 8 (like they do for Track, Mtb and RR) when we know, mostly ability to hang is very much based on W/Kg - a Cat 1 Crit can be dropped like a rock on Boulevard..

furiousferret

One thing that recently triggered me about the SCNCA scene is the Master 'scrub' races now. It used to be 35+ 4/5 for years and had good attendance. Then a certain team came along and dominated that category until they were all forced to upgrade. After 2-3 races in masters they realized they can't hang with Monster Media or Surf City so they went to the promoters and had the 4/5 35+ races changed to 3/4 30+. They're still fast, and I'm sure they'll do well in this new category they custom tailored.

Maybe its a petty thing on my part, but as a 45 year old Cat 4 it makes my (or any 4 in my situation) opportunity to win as an individual much more difficult. On one hand, it works out for our team since we're full of fast 3's, but they level gap between an average 3 and 4 is a big jump, especially in the Master's ranks.

Those races were competitive enough where winning for me wasn't a pipe dream. There's still the regular 4's, which depending on the race can be a huge jump (road races) or just a blip (crits).

That's my rant for the week, I doubt it's going to get much traction on a board chock full on 1's.

@Doge I think that creates other issues, but it may be a start. There's a path for Men, but Juniors and Women only have 2 and sometimes 1 level, which can be discouraging.

wktmeow

This is great for me, my racing age this year is 30 Didn't really have much of a chance to race multiple fields in a day as a cat 4 except at Red Kite since they had e3/4 & e4 races. Do you know which races will feature a 30+ field?

furiousferret

I just checked CBR and they're 35+, so its probably going to be Ontario and Rosena Ranch. I'll be out there for Ontario and Rosena Ranch regardless.

TMonk

the UCSD "Triton" crit last year had a cat 3 and 3/4 30+ that would be nice for both you and I, but I think it may be cancelled along with Boulevard. Hopefully not.

Doge

If you like road races you are all welcome to go to the Front Range Cycling Classic @ USAFA April. https://www.facebook.com/Front-Range...-262901331767/
I know a SoCal Cadet who will be very involved in it. I bet I can get the entry fees comped for SoCal riders - :-)

topflightpro

I'm not in SoCal, but I read that post a week or so ago on FB. My thought was that it was written by a guy who has never actually put on a race.

furiousferret

2017 is updated on the Front; I'll put it here as well to make things easier.

Jan 15th Ice Breaker Crit Ontario
Jan 22nd CBR Compton
Jan 28th UCSB RR Santa Barbara
Jan 29th Carlos Soto Memorial Goleta
Feb 5th SuperBike Crit Dominguez Hills
Feb 11th UCLA RR Pearblossom
Feb 12th Roger Millikan Memorial Brea
Feb 17th Valley of the Sun (AZ, Not SCNCA) Phoenix Area
Feb 19th CBRCarson
Feb 25th Rosena Ranch-Majestic San Bernardino
Feb 26th Vlees Huis RR Bakersfield
Feb 26th Dare to Race Ontario
Mar 4th 9 Mile Canyon Ridgecrest
Mar 5th CBR Dominguez Hills
Mar 10th Murrieta OmniumMurrieta
Mar 12th Lake Elizabeth RR Palmdale
Mar 19th Velo Allegro Crit 1st Choice Long Beach
Mar 19th GS Andiamo Skills Clinic and Race Redlands
Mar 19th Chuck Pontius Crit Santa Clarita
Mar 24th San Dimas SR San Dimas
Apr 1st Big Bad HC
Apr 2nd CBR Carson
Apr 7th Victorville Omnium Victorville
Apr 15th San Luis RR Bonsall
Apr 16th Spring Classic GP-PS Velo Ontario
Jan 22nd CBR Compton
Apr 23rd LA Circuit RaceLos Angeles
Apr 29th Rosena RanchSan Bernardino
Apr 30th Dana Point GPDana Point
May 3rd Redlands SR Redlands
May 6th Barrio LoganSan Diego
May 7th Redlands Crit Redlands
May 13th Kern Junior SR Bakersfield
May 20th Rosena RanchSan Bernardino
May 20th ITT State Championship Lake Los Angeles
May 21st Mid-Season Crit PS Velo Ontario
May 27th TTT StatesLake Los Angeles
May 28th Barry Wolfe Westlake Village
May 29th CBR Dominguez Hills
Jun 3rd GMR TT Glendora
Jun 4th Adrenaline Circuit RaceEl Cajon
Jun 11th Ladera Crit Ladera Ranch
Jun 18th Majestic Crit Riverside
Jun 24th Jr Track Series Finals – CarsonCarson
Jun 25th June Classic GP-PS Velo Ontario
Jun 29th USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championship sLouisville, KY
Jul 2nd CBR Dominguez Hills
Jul 3rd GS Andiamo SR (tentative)
Jul 8th LA Velo RacesCarson
Jul 8th 805 Weekend
Jul 9th Super Masters Crit 1st choice(state champ app)San Diego
Jul 14th San Diego Stage Race San Diego
Jul 22nd Sherman Pass RR Ridgecrest
Jul 22nd Track States – Jr/EliteCarson
Jul 23rd Ontario GP-PS Velo Ontario
Jul 30th Manhattan BeachManhattan Beach
Aug 6th Majestic Crit Riverside
Aug 13th Summer End GP-PS Velo Ontario
Aug 19th Majestic Crit PM Riverside
Sep 3rd Majestic Crit Riverside
Sep 17th Oktober Fest Crit Pasadena
Sep 20th InterbikeLas Vegas
Oct 15th CBR Upgrade Builder Dominguez Hills
Nov 12th CBR Upgrade Builder Dominguez Hills
Dec 10th CBR Upgrade Builder Dominguez Hills


Hopefully I'll have time to format it (unless someone else wants to do it and I'll put it up )

topflightpro

Wow, it really looks like you guys are lacking for races out there.

Doge

If you are a SoCal racer, you likely already know about this one.
Tomorrow is the New Years Day Ride. What they don't make super clear in the links below is of the thousand or so that start, the front is fast. Some years 26mph fast, and some years 30+mph fast. It depends.
Junior staying up north with racer buddies to do tomorrow. Wife and I will ride north to meet it hitting Dana Point (where a few hundred settle down), take video and maybe ride with them a bit.

"This ride is attended by racing cyclists. Inexperienced and timid riders should not attend this ride.

In past years the group has swelled to over 1000 riders. "

Orange County New Years Day Ride
OR
https://www.t.bike/2009/01/orange-co...-day-ride.html

Doge

In case you missed it.

NewYearsCriticalMass.jpg

Doge

These have hills.
Jan 28th UCSB RR Santa Barbara
Feb 11th UCLA RR Pearblossom
Feb 17th Valley of the Sun (AZ, Not SCNCA) Phoenix Area
Feb 26th Vlees Huis RR Bakersfield
Mar 10th Murrieta OmniumMurrieta
Mar 24th San Dimas SR San Dimas
Apr 15th San Luis RR Bonsall
May 3rd Redlands SR Redlands
Jun 3rd GMR TT Glendora
Jun 29th USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championship sLouisville, KY
Jul 22nd Sherman Pass RR Ridgecrest

hack

Sounds like you all were very well behaved:


https://pvcycling.wordpress.com/2017...ittle-does-it/

Doge

It had just finished raining. Daniel took the ceramic bearing bike for a teammate visit and somehow water always messes those bearings up. Fortunately he and former teammates did the proper late teen thing and slept in and missed it.

In prior years they have had police *******. It normally starts with around 1,000 riders. By Dana Point (where the video is taken) there would still be several hundred. Maybe a few hundred did stop for the emergency vehicles as the pack looked much smaller that I recall.

My wife and I did ride up to see it this year. Video of our morning ride (not racing - sorry). We were at a stop light with some of the stragglers and they were all very panicked. I think they may have just been afraid of Doge Fredness.

While SoCal RRs are fewer and fewer, the Fondos and big rides are as populated as they ever were. Fast rides, without racing. Not a good thing IMO - nor the opinion of Seth the blogger you linked to.

mattm

Ok that ride should be banned.. not because they block EMTs, but because a guy on a TT bike *in aero bars* was on the front pulling.

Just, no.

wktmeow

What's the San Diego Stage Race? Also, which race is the district RR championship?

kunfuzion

It's better to have them in the front than mixed in with the peloton...

Doge

Few of the regular local rides would allow it. I was a bit surprised that group did. I didn't notice until @mattm pointed it out.

rideaz

I'm registered for Murrieta! Also planning to do the Dirty Devil road/gravel ride in Alpine :-)

Doge

I used to ride those Dirty Devil (paved parts - I don't like dirt) weekly in the 80s. Great riding. Are you doing the 127mile or the 80 mile?