Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Clydesdale and Athena Intergallactic Championships?

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bigfred
04-15-12, 09:05 PM
Why not? Surely there are more clydes and athenas interested in getting together for some road and or mtb racing than there are "Masters Track Racers". And, they (the track racing masters) have an official UCI Worlds.

Hmmmmmmm, straight weight categories? Or, some form of BMI index? Age brackets might not be determinable until you see who and how many are interested.

Don't laugh. It can't be any more bizzar than your average CX event or team endurance weekend.


TrojanHorse
04-15-12, 09:13 PM
Hold it in NZ - I'll fly out. If there's any group of people on earth who can complicate getting from point A to point B it's got to be the kiwis. I visited the south island for 12 days in the late 90s. Loved it. Talk about geographic diversity!

Axiom
04-15-12, 09:18 PM
That would be awesome. I personally wouldn't be able to make it unless it took place in Florida though. And BMI is a better indicator than weight.


bigfred
04-15-12, 09:26 PM
Unfortunately, there's little to no support here for inclussion or compiling of clydesdale results in the many well attended "events" that take place. They can't even come up with a consistent set of age ranges that would allow you to compare yourself to the same set of individuals from event to event. Each organizer just seems to do what they feel is best. Which is sort of disappointing, because there is a pretty good series of events over the summer. Including the Taupo challenge that gets (they claim) over 10,000 participants.

I just finish with my employer on Friday. I hope that whatever I find next will allow me enough personal time that I can commit some time to trying to organize some clyde/athena riding here. If that happens, I'd be happy to host in a couple years time. In the meantime, it seems like it would be easier to host the first one in the States, where there's already some events that include clyde ratings.

With regard to getting from A to B: Hey, at least we're not cycling in straight boring lines, ala southern Illinois. Imagine hosting an event in Carbondale. Ride North for 5 miles, at 5th intersection turn left, ride West for 5 miles, at 5th intersection turn left, ride South for 5 miles,.......you get the idea. Don't get lost in the corn:-)

bigfred
04-15-12, 09:33 PM
That would be awesome. I personally wouldn't be able to make it unless it took place in Florida though. And BMI is a better indicator than weight.

Normally I HATE BMI! But, in this instance it might be the better denominator. It would prevent me from being in the same class as someone my weight but nearly a foot shorter than me. They use BMI very successfully over in Australia for a 'fat mans' track cycling series. They establish a BMI minimum for inclussion and then use it to calculate a handicap rather than split an already too small field into even smaller groups.

How many would be "interested" in AND financially "able" to participate?

TrojanHorse
04-15-12, 09:35 PM
Did some single track mountain biking near Queenstown and only went head over tea kettle a few times, although I did manage to crack a few ribs. Later that day, I did my first and only bungee jump, down by Queenstown where they apparently invented that improbable "sport". 342 feet over a dinky little river. Fox Glacier, fjords, hobbits... the south island has everything I tell you.

Any excuse to go back is a good one in my book. :)

bigfred
04-15-12, 09:35 PM
Oh, and Sorry. Florida is not in consideration for hosting. I've lived there. The closest thing to a hill are the ICW bridges. As much as we (clydes) have a hate/hate relationship with hills. They (hills) do an excellent job of sorting out fitness levels and riding ability.