Gold Sprints / Open Sprints: Anyone have experience?
 

My co-op is working with a local bar to get an OpenSprints rig setup. Trying to figure out what works and what doesn't over a three month period, and I'm looking for ideas on how to work out a competition. We're considering doing something like a single- or double-elimination tournament, a general points classification based on participation, W-L ratio, and top speed, and of course setting aside time for individual "grudge matches".

We're thinking something like a $5 entry fee for the general classification, and $2 grudge matches. The income will be used for prizes and trophies.

Anyone have any ideas? Do you race locally? What have you found works and what doesn't?

I would consider making your first try at setting one up a "grudge match" only. That way nobody gets butthurt if a mistake is made and you can learn a lot just from actually putting it on and doing it.

Competition's going to start in January, and we'll have Thursday nights until mid-December to get all the kinks worked out regarding setup and whatnot. The modules just got here today, and the rollers should be here in a week or so. For the time being, we'll have bikes built with a standard gearing (probably 52x16 or equivalent) in several different sizes.

Never put one on, but have participated in a couple. We had three people in the first sprints, the fastest two moving on. After all of the first stage races were over it moved to head to head until there was a winner. Different classes help too. Each night the winner took home a prize, and there was a prize for the season points leader at the end. Prizes were usually small items, pedals, bars ect... but it was set up to where one could build a bike with the winnings if he or she won every night. It was a $5 entry, like you suggested. Idk if any of this helps or if Im just rambling lol.

Oh and obviously use quick release seat post clamps :)

52/16 sounds huge, we usually do a 46/16 or something lowish. By the time you start a 52/16, it'll be already be over but then, depends what distance you guys are planning to do.

For our goldsprints, the first heat is usually a head to head qualifying round, and top 20/whatever amount with the fastest time gets to advance, then first against worst...playoffs style.

I don't know that I would want to do first against worst, only because I do believe that people have the ability to improve over a six week season. Then again, with qualifiers the difference in top speed and distance might be so small that it doesn't matter.

@Doomride: I love the idea of weekly prizes, starting with pedals/bars and moving up to a frameset. Sounds like a great way to keep people coming back, IF you know you can provide those prizes throughout the season. In a town like this, that's not really something I can guarantee.

Thank you guys for the input. I'd love to hear more ideas.

http://kcsprints.blogspot.com/
ideas

Ideas on how to market an alleycat and show randos on the internet a picture of your boyfriend's penis? Not exactly what I was looking for, but thanks I guess.

Yep, you're right, these guys have no idea what they are doing. :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBQIfcMq3_w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1Gql9NGbU

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1eyedz/...7616336324005/