"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - OK, I'll confess my ignorance...

What does a "Figure 8 style" downtown crit course look like? I've not heard the description before, and the race flyer doesn't have a map...

This is the Jason Gundel Wilmington Classic in Wilmington, DE if that helps...

Thanks. :o

I hope it doesn't mean what I think it means.

Slotcars, anyone? :D

I hope it doesn't mean what I think it means.

Yeah, no kidding. :eek:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/images/side_crash.jpg

http://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2004/1004/Oct22/PPLcrash4.jpg

There could be an overpass/tunnel. I've been on a course like that.

Delaware might be the only place in America flatter than SE Michigan. Tunnels are unlikely.

probably a shared intersection with no crossing

yeah, if you're going clockwise it's right, right, right, left, right, right, right, left & repeat

the middle intersection is probably a really big one and it will be blocked off diagonally, or it could be a roundabout.

Hopefully there is an overpass or maybe the two ends of the "8" just get really close but don't pinch off. If it were a true figure 8, you would be obligated by that oath you doctor dudes take to stick around to clean up after the carnage.

There is one on the NRC calendar...I think it is that night race too down in the SE...Richmond maybe? Anyway the once I have seen isn't a true figure eight but darn near it. If you have a wide enough road you could set up barriers diagnally across an intersection so that 2 of the legs run right at each other into this intersection and then the cross would both run away from each other...or make the turn a block earlier so the center of the 8 never really comes together.

Ok I found it Rochester...not Richmond...and one side of the course is longer but you ge tthe picture of what I am talking about here:
http://www.rochestercrit.com/images/map_big.gif

This is a possible answer...

http://www.tulsatough.com/images/Friday_Crit_web.jpg

It actually does not work out bad....

The other common "figure 8" type course is one that goes both ways on a long straight with a loop or square around a block at each end that sends you back onto the straight.

There is one on the NRC calendar...I think it is that night race too down in the SE...Richmond maybe? Anyway the once I have seen isn't a true figure eight but darn near it. If you have a wide enough road you could set up barriers diagnally across an intersection so that 2 of the legs run right at each other into this intersection and then the cross would both run away from each other...or make the turn a block earlier so the center of the 8 never really comes together.

Ok I found it Rochester...not Richmond...and one side of the course is longer but you ge tthe picture of what I am talking about here:
http://www.rochestercrit.com/images/map_big.gif

ha-ha. The Start/Finish line is exactly where I almost got run off the bridge by a bus in 1980. :o

Yeah, no kidding. :eek:

No! They designed the figure 8 course because the race director wants to send more
customers to your ER.

Every year at the velocity tour there is the promise of a real figure eight race on the grass in the infield of the track. So far it hasn't happened (due to time constraints mostly).

Some day...

probably a shared intersection with no crossing

Bingo. Seen it a lot.

http://www.danapointgrandprix.com/map.asp

Delaware might be the only place in America flatter than SE Michigan. Tunnels are unlikely.

Oddly enough, the part of DE that Wilmington is in has some hills. Downtown Wilmington is pretty hilly.

I think they use "Figure 8" as a descriptor in place of the previous term, "pinched turd".

http://www.quadcitiescriterium.com/directions/

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m106/Cypress818/invisble_bike_crash.jpg

Oddly enough, the part of DE that Wilmington is in has some hills. Downtown Wilmington is pretty hilly.

Depends on your references, I guess. Never spent too much time in Wilmington, but I will admit that it's in the hilliest part of Delaware.

What does a "Figure 8 style" downtown crit course look like? I've not heard the description before, and the race flyer doesn't have a map...

This is the Jason Gundel Wilmington Classic in Wilmington, DE if that helps...

Thanks. :oAs the map shows, they actually don't criss-cross in the middle. That's how the Fisherman's Wharf crit was done back when the Coors Classic was held in the '80s. Sitting in the middle of the figure-8, you get to see almost the entire race! :)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/DannoXYZ/Cycling/SFcoorsClassic1s.jpg

What does a "Figure 8 style" downtown crit course look like? I've not heard the description before, and the race flyer doesn't have a map...

This is the Jason Gundel Wilmington Classic in Wilmington, DE if that helps...



This is without question the scariest sounding racecourse description in cycling history.

I would advise against participating in this particular event.

That is all.

Well, that's not all after all.

Just imagine the Indy 500 on a Figure 8 track and you get the picture. That works better for slot car/hot wheels sets aimed @ 8 year old boys than in real life.

This is without question the scariest sounding racecourse description in cycling history.

I would advise against participating in this particular event.

That is all.

Counterpoint - it's more technical course than your standard Nascar style crit course (turn right, turn right, turn right and you guessed it, turn right) and allows better riders to break off the front easier. The Twilight Crit (course map earlier on this thread) is kick A, very fan friendly because of sightlines, and is the only crit on the UCI's 2007 America Tour.

If you're scared of or can't corner you shouldn't be in a crit!

Thanks for the "shared intersection" explanation... Should be an exciting race as it's the MABRA crit championship. The field will be pretty pumped going for the jersey... let's just hope nobody does anything stupid.

Counterpoint - it's more technical course than your standard Nascar style crit course (turn right, turn right, turn right and you guessed it, turn right) and allows better riders to break off the front easier. The Twilight Crit (course map earlier on this thread) is kick A, very fan friendly because of sightlines, and is the only crit on the UCI's 2007 America Tour.

If you're scared of or can't corner you shouldn't be in a crit!

I'm scared of an intersecting 'figure 8' configuration, which is what the name implies. I've done so many crits I'm a friggin Critter.

What the HELL is a 'shared intersection'???

What the HELL is a 'shared intersection'???

Check out Grasschopper's post--split the intersection diagonally with cones/barriers so you go through the intersection twice but the course doesn't intersect itself.

My guess is that calling the criterium circuit a 'Figure 8' might not be the most useful description. That of course would be applying common sense to cycling, which is my first mistake.

It will not happen again.

mmmmmmmmmm...



cycling sausage




steamy

When Pcad throws a criterium, I promise to describe the course as a 'demolition derby format' to attract more entrants. There will be a major prime for the first cyclist who destroys Doc Ray (or any other Canadian in his absence).