Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Monster Track 2008 Main Race CANCELLED!

Saturday March 1st, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The organizers of Monster Track 2008 have decided, after careful consideration, to cancel this year’s main race.

This decision did not come easy and was debated at length. Our reasons are many but the overall factor was that the race has become unmanageable due to the large participation and our concern for the participant’s safety.

As many of you know, Monster Track started as a race held for a small, close group of NYC bike messengers. It has now become an overwhelmingly all-inclusive event. This, on its face, may seem like a positive direction for a race but in the context of a solely track bike alleycat it brings many problems. First and foremost, the safety of the racers is compromised. We believe that this is not a tenable position for race organizers.

Although the main race is canceled, please join us for Gold Sprints on Friday evening, Fixed Gear Competition (track stands, skids, footdown, freestyle, sprints, etc.) on Saturday and the Velo City Tour, at Kissena Velodrome on Sunday.


Schedule of Events:

Friday March 7, 8PM
Goldsprints at Third Ward
195 Morgan Ave. Brooklyn

Saturday March 8, 1PM
Fixed Gear Comp and injured messenger fundraiser at Rocky’s
South 5th St. at Kent Ave. Brooklyn

Sunday March 9, 12PM
Velo City Track Competition at Kissena Velodrome
Booth Memorial Ave near Kissena Blvd. Queens

Not Kidding!!

wow...

Does this mean the "main race" will no longer be, or will there be a possibility of next year returning?

i must say, this race was probably the most talked about alley cat in the us. after the unfortunate incident in chicago, it's probably something that should at least be considered.

Sucks. But I can see why.
Though I think a small more safe qualifier (thus limiting the field to riders who prove themselves), then making them sign a waiver is what is gonna have to be done with larger races of this sort.

i bet if you're "in the know" there will still be a race....

prolly better this way.

The Monster Track people are doing the right thing IMO

But don't let it overshadow the aspects of the event that remain and such, go anyway because it'll be the best party in town+bikes!




Although the main race is canceled, please join us for Gold Sprints on Friday evening, Fixed Gear Competition (track stands, skids, footdown, freestyle, sprints, etc.) on Saturday and the Velo City Tour, at Kissena Velodrome on Sunday.


Schedule of Events:

Friday March 7, 8PM
Goldsprints at Third Ward
195 Morgan Ave. Brooklyn

Saturday March 8, 1PM
Fixed Gear Comp and injured messenger fundraiser at Rocky’s
South 5th St. at Kent Ave. Brooklyn

Sunday March 9, 12PM
Velo City Track Competition at Kissena Velodrome
Booth Memorial Ave near Kissena Blvd. Queens

Qualifying rounds is a great idea. It's sad that the race's popularity is what was it's downfall. I was really looking forward to Monster Track this year, especially with the weather looking to be way better than last year.

i bet if you're "in the know" there will still be a race....

prolly better this way.


prolly is not probably

and no there wont be one

Sucks. But I can see why.
Though I think a small more safe qualifier (thus limiting the field to riders who prove themselves), then making them sign a waiver is what is gonna have to be done with larger races of this sort.

It's not about a waiver. I don't think that race organizers were concerned with liability, they were concerned with incompetent riders get themselves in trouble with their lack of experience and ability.

As Squid said, the field is simply too large to manage. I've seen racer organizers freak out at mass-start races of 50 riders, so just imagine 200-300.

prolly is not probably

and no there wont be one

i know, i'm usually better about that sort of thing, but i got lazy.

Wasn't there a qualifier for NACCC this year?

They should just do that.

It's not about a waiver. I don't think that race organizers were concerned with liability, they were concerned with incompetent riders get themselves in trouble with their lack of experience and ability.

As Squid said, the field is simply too large to manage. I've seen racer organizers freak out at mass-start races of 50 riders, so just imagine 200-300.

what I find interesting though, is that alleycats have been going on for quite a while, and that one in chicago wasn't even that big if i remember right. For as high risk as it is, and as many occur, deaths and even injury seems to be actually quite low.

i'm not sure what this last stupor bowl topped out at, but it was pretty big as it always tends to be, and I'd assume the weather conditions of our races in minnesota in the winter are probably much more hazardous than most other races can come to be.

Interesting stuff to think about. It's hard for me to fathom that someone wouldn't understand that blindly running intersections and the other supposed risks that alleycats "encourage" could cause serious bodily harm.

I think it's an honorable thing to do. Big ups Squid.

NOW COME TO THE GOLDSPRINTS, SIDE EVENTS AND VELO CITY!

awww man I was looking forward to coming up for my 3rd one.

oh well, I can see with recent events why this happened....

I've never got to enter the skid comp in the past 2 years though so this year I might finally do it!

I thought that things like this might start to happen.

I support the actions of the Monster Track organizers. That race was getting big, which, for an illegal street race, isn't really a good thing.
If they feel that it needed to be curbed, good for them. It would be nice to see it back at some point though.

As for the comment about "being in the know", maybe this is how the more radical races should be organized. Thats how it all started. It keeps things smaller, and ensures that the riders know that most of the people there really can ride. The scene has changed radically in the last few years, but the way we organize really hasn't changed that much.

Though, I am worried that this will start a movement within the scene where open street alleycats will be seen as irresponsible and stigmatize those that organize them.

Honestly, good move IMO.
My respect for you guys in NY seems to constantly grow.

wow, definitely didn't see that coming.

bitter-sweet.

a lot of good for everybody as a whole, and i'd assume a tiny bummer from everyone who wanted to race.

it's just a bad string of events leading up to this, and hence, a bad time to host such an event.

if there's no race, who's up for a huge group ride?

That's a smart move. The organizers of these giant, highly publicized races are putting themselves at some legal and ethical risk. Not to mention the risk to the inexperienced kids who show up in greater numbers every year, plus peds, drivers and other potential collateral damage.

I think the future of Monster Track will have a preliminary race first, to decide who gets to race in the big times. I mean, it really doesn't make sense to not have one. The people who can't kick it like the real dedicated riders shouldn't be racing in this kind of race.

good decision.

I would just like to add, on the record, that if I ever die while riding in an alleycat, it was my own damn fault.

Smaller public alley cats seem to be the way to go.

That must have been a hard decision to make. Respect.

Sad but probably a good idea in light of recent events. The qualifying round would probably weed out a lot of people who shouldn't be there but if I remember correctly the guy who was killed in Chicago was pretty experienced. Accidents can happen to anybody in that sort of situation.

. Accidents can happen to anybody in that sort of situation.

Absolutely. I mean its a race and people die going fast in all sorts of races. Tour de France...

I also think that preliminary qualifications make for a better overall race. I'd rather see 50 amazing racers than 200 mediocre ones, mixed in with the good racers, and not get to see anything cool happen.

I also think that they were thinking of the safety of the public as well. when you have a large number of bikers congested in a certain area and no doubt a significant # don't have the experience of riding in such a congested spot someone is bound to run over someone. Happens all the time everywhere, but why increase the odds?
Carlos, Squid, et. have done a great deal building up the reputation in the bike messenger community and maybe they feel that there was to much risk of someone getting hurt or hurting someone and having the press shred them apart ruining everything they have worked hard for.
Good call

this was the reason i bought a bike with track ends in the first place, but i think that canceling it was still a pretty good idea, at least for now.

tough decision. good move IMO.

Much better than waiting for something bad to happen to cancel it. Smart move.

There is a great distrubance in the Force, as if millons of hipsters cried out in terror and then suddenly skid stopped.

There is a great distrubance in the Force, as if millons of hipsters cried out in terror and then suddenly skid stopped.

So they kept on crying but began crying more and more softly till they eventually stopped?

Why can't these things be arranged with the city, so that there is no traffic during the race?

Why can't these things be arranged with the city, so that there is no traffic during the race?

Have you seen video footage of Monster Track? http://www.playintrafficproductions.com/

Shutting down half of Manhattan is unlikely to happen.

plus isnt that part of the race?

Have you seen video footage of Monster Track? http://www.playintrafficproductions.com/

Shutting down half of Manhattan is unlikely to happen.

Yes, I have seen it.

Unlikely maybe, but not impossible. You don't know until you ask. I for one think it's eminently possible - have Bloomberg support it (why wouldn't he please his citizens, after all) and add some sponsorship, and voilá, things happen.

How about turning Monster Track into an invitation-only race?

Invite certain number of known good riders to participate and then in addition let a limited number of up-and-comers who can prove their skills somehow (people who have won other alleycats for example) apply to get to participate. This would obviously mean a lot of extra work for the organizers, though.

Why not just RACE real races.

In my experience of alleycats and sanctioned RACES on road, track and MTB, any messenger with half a ticker will do well in them for lots of reasons.

Many World Champions in disciplines like TRACK, ROAD, MTB have come from a messenger/courier background.

If more messengers got off their preverbials, and put themself out there, I'm sure that list would grow.

Sadly, most CBA.

The MONSTERTRACK weekend is still happening, so why not prove who's the fastest messenger in an environment without the obstacles.

Track racing is just as dangerous (http://youtube.com/watch?v=S0tMhlhnga0) and I've sustained more injuries training/racing (http://www.fyxomatosis.com/images/news/halo1.jpg) than of all my years on the street.

As a spectator event, track racing is awesome, Monstertrack is not.




So get out to Kissena with the same attitude to prove who's the King of New York 2008 - NO BRAKES ALLOWED.




Ride safe.

Wear a helmet.

Trackcvnt.


http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squidly_01/VC08web1.jpg (http://cyclehawk.com/?page=VeloCity2008)

As a spectator event, track racing is awesome, Monstertrack is not.

si

Yes, I have seen it.

Unlikely maybe, but not impossible. You don't know until you ask. I for one think it's eminently possible - have Bloomberg support it (why wouldn't he please his citizens, after all) and add some sponsorship, and voilá, things happen.

couple of things about this idea....

1) Bloomberg is a d-bag and hates bikes. check out his record and you shall see that he is the last one to support something like that.

2) NYBMA was unable to secure a couple of blocks in NYC for the CMWC in '05 so they had it across the river in New Jersey. So if it didnt happen for an insured, sanctioned, international championship, there is no way that would happen for MT.

couple of things about this idea....
...
2) NYBMA was unable to secure a couple of blocks in NYC for the CMWC in '05 so they had it across the river in New Jersey. So if it didnt happen for an insured, sanctioned, international championship, there is no way that would happen for MT.

Ah yes, the biggest (and best) race to hit the shores of Jersey (though only slightly better than shoving down Fat Cats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_Trucks)at the end of a 45 min alleycat in New Brunswick). Thank god it was insured, cause I sure as hell wasn't.

So they kept on crying but began crying more and more softly till they eventually stopped?

Yeah that shoukld have been "as if millions of hipsters cried out in terror, and then suddenly hit the back of a bus".

Shutting down streets makes the race not an alleycat. I don't think anyone would consider CMWC or NACCC to be an alleycat. Traffic is half the race.

Invitation only is one way to go. But one of the best things about the races is that if you knew where the start was, you could race. It wasn't elitest or exclusive.

It is scarry that it's getting to the point where people may start being turned away at races due to their experience. It may need to happen, but if that was going on back in 2003, I wouldn't have raced my first alleycat.

I like the idea of reducing promotion of the races. If fewer people find out where it starts, fewer people will race. That'll be hard though with our internets and message boards.

Make them less fun so people won't want to race.

Yeah that shoukld have been "as if millions of hipsters cried out in terror, and then suddenly hit the back of a bus".

:roflmao:

You win.

Shutting down streets makes the race not an alleycat. I don't think anyone would consider CMWC or NACCC to be an alleycat. Traffic is half the race.

Invitation only is one way to go. But one of the best things about the races is that if you knew where the start was, you could race. It wasn't elitest or exclusive.

It is scarry that it's getting to the point where people may start being turned away at races due to their experience. It may need to happen, but if that was going on back in 2003, I wouldn't have raced my first alleycat.

I like the idea of reducing promotion of the races. If fewer people find out where it starts, fewer people will race. That'll be hard though with our internets and message boards.

EXACTLY!!!
The whole point of an alleycat is to see whose the fastest on the street in the natural setting with the obstacles that are encountered on a regular day.
The internet has hurt the race scene though. 10-15 years ago it was word of mouth in a underground kinda of way. Now days everyone post the before race info, the post race photos and vids on the net and everyone and their mother wants to get in on the action.

reminds me of the rave scene...

everything was fine, then it got trendy, messageboard promoting was introduced, then came the overdoses, then it all went away.