US Open MTB Relay: Info
Welcome to the coolest most awesome first event of the 2008 season in the best mountain bike race series in the country, the US Open Mountain Bike Relay in the DelMarVa Jobs.com Mid-Atlantic Super Series sponsored by Cannondale.
This thing isn't like any other team relay you've ever done - well unless you were here last year, or maybe took part in the mountain bike world championships. It's semi-styled after the World Championship Relay and the ubiquitous 12/24 hour team relay format. It also takes a cue from the Rockville Bridge Cyclocross Relay from the PA state championship in 2005 where we started this way too fun event. We took the tasty bits of these other races, added some new ingredients, tossed 'em in a blender, and came up with something awfully yummy.Start Time: 10am
Cost: $120/team (pre reg)/$160 day-of
It works like this:
All riders are given a handicap based on a logical though by no means
scientific analysis of who is faster than whom (who?). BTW, if someone
wants to take the time to do a thorough scientific statistical evaluation
of the data to come up with a better point scheme I'll fund said research
with a box of donuts. DD, your choice.
The fastest groups get lower handicapping points all the way down to 0
points for Elite men and the slower groups get higher numbers of points
with 10-12 year old beginner Jrs in our youngest bracket getting a +9.
As promoter I get +10 (see #10 below). You can see this handicapping schedule
here.
Teams will consist of four riders. Teams may consist of any combination
of riders from the various categories and age groups. All teams will compete
against each other.
Each lap of the course will take me approximately 15 min to circumnavigate.
Some of you are faster than me, some are slower. As much as I'm loathe
to admit it, each year more of you fall on the former side and less on
the latter… Each lap will be worth 4 points. Partial laps are worth
bupkus. So, as your team completes laps you earn points to add to your
start total.
New
Stuff for 2008
Chip Timing!
Much like last year's Stage Race and Festival Weekend, we'll use ChampionChip
timing for the scoring of this year's relay. This should allow us some
cool bonus stuff like lap times for every rider and that leads to Prize
for Fastest Lap!
We don't know
what it will be so it could be really great or it could be a hunk of crap,
but you'll get something for going fastest but that's not the only way
to get something this year because you can also win with
Award for Best Pit! Yep decorate it
up nice, get a great theme, just have the coolest gadget, or make the
most noise and you may just win some other crap I want to get rid of or
perhaps its something really nice like the Award for Best Team Uniform/Costumes!
Brides and grooms? Facebook friends? Another team from To Catch a Predator?
King Kong, Donkey Kong, DK Jr, and Curious George? Dress up nice and win
something else!
P.S. Bribery
is perfectly acceptable and is, in fact, encouraged!
