What makes a good CX race?

[SteveHaugh]

OK..........here I go...........

Let me start of with the following statement:

I am not a bike racer, I never have ridden in a competition.

So, having said that, I am sure that I see thing different from riders point of view.....but, maybe not so much.
Also, I am an USAC official, so my point of view maybe somewhat bias.....but, maybe not so much.

What make a good CX race?

Please feel free to point out any errors.............please.

These are not in any meaningful order.................

Course lay-out
I like barriers small enough that (some) riders can "bunny hop" them.
I would like to see longer straight sections.
I would like to see "S" curves (like some road courses in NASCAR) in addition to the 180's (it has been pointed out to me that if the "S" curves can be straighten out by riding in the center, BUT hey, I think some way can be designed to make racers "slalom".
I like variety, Hudson and Orono on the same weekend, yet TOTALLY different courses. NOW THAT WAS FUN!
I like run ups (think hill or steps) vs extra set of barriers.
I am NOT a fan of long downhill runs, to much potential for disaster.
I like a long start run.
I like a long finish run.
Water/sand have a place, but not much of it.
PERSONAL NOTE: I REALLY like when the weather plays a part.....snow, rain, it brings out the best in some....Mudders...got love em.
2nd NOTE: Tape (yellow) + smaller stakes = less wind problems.


Course length
I like the longer courses. 1.5 miles should be the minimum. Oh wait, I think it is technically the minimum.

Field size ETC
I think 25-80 riders is an nice field size. To big a field can cause problem with slower riders becoming a hazard and possibly effecting
the results. NOTE: small course length + large field size = BIG PROBLEM SCORING.
ALL the same number series each race ie 5 races - race #1 = 100's races #2 = 200's etc.

Pulled riders
I think you pay your entry fee, you rider your race, UNLESS you become a hazard OR effect the results. At that point...you're out.

Order of the races
I would like to see consistencies in number of races and their order.

Pre-registration
I like it......Call ups should be based on this.


Registration
Prep work needs to be done to insure quick and actuate registration.
Timely and accurate start sheets are a must have.
Tents and tables with forms laid out, pens, pins etc. in an order.
Actuate info as to where and how NUMBERS on placed on a Jersey.
Chip timing.....hummmmmmmmmm. If chip timing is used, riders need to wear the chip, this needs to be checked.
I LIKE when the races start on time.


MISC
I think the CR/CJ and the promoter should be in contact (email) to confirm these thing are ready.
I think ALL events should be run very much a like, only the course changes.
ALL promoters should have (or access to) the same type of equipment, bells, boards, computer etc.

I have more, but my typing finger is sore, so that is all for now.
Fire away!

[ctsmith]

Course lay-out
Barriers: I don't have a problem with a mixture of short barriers that are spaced out enough for hopping and tall barriers that force most riders off their bikes. However, I think the placement of these barriers should be done with a critical eye by someone who has experience actually participating in a cross race. Barriers in a cross race should heavily favor those that can clear the barriers quickly and this means that the barriers should be on a fast section of the course. Certainly not a downhill, but a part of the course where the rider can bring some speed into the barriers. We tried to do this at the state championships on the barrier section after the sand pit and the experienced riders who could take these barriers at speed had a real advantage.

180's here and there are OK, but too many technical 180 turns can turn a cross race into a clown race. A single 180 turn in a race can be good to help riders see where they are in relation to their competition. 180 turns stacked on top of each other is kind of dumb to ride. Others may differ, but I feel the same way about pinwheels.

Run ups: YES, so long as the approach to the run up is wide enough to allow for passing before the dismount. Sometimes this is hard to do, impossible in the case of the stairs at Wirth and at Crystal.

Agree with Steve, downhill runs should be broken up with turns to keep the speed under control and keep the course safe. Better to crash at low speed than high speed.

MORE PAVEMENT and road sections: All cross races should have at least one decent length of road section. As I stated previously, cross is a road event and road tactics come into play when a group of riders hits the pavement. Promoter should always think of how they can get paved sections integrated into their course if possible. In lieu of pavement then hardpack gravel could be a substitute (dirt road at Red Barn, but longer if possible. track at Fridley).

Sand Pits: One or two sand pits a season is fun, more than that would take away from the novelty of this kind of obstacle.

Course length
7 to 8 minute laps should eliminate the need to pull riders

Field size ETC
As many as register should race. I have seen cross races with 200 riders on the line. Sure, there are bottle necks on the first couple of laps but that's just part of the game.

Pulled riders
no, never, unless the rider becomes a hazard as Steve states

Order of the races
Jimmer mentioned that the goal for next year is a set schedule of categories and start times. sounds good to me.

Pre-registration
made our life a lot easier last weekend!

In regards to equipment that officials and promoters need for a good event (bell, boards, laps cards, officials tent, table, etc) this seems like a great investment for the MCF to make and supply to promoters at each event...

[boreilly]

Making sure that Juggernaut Productions is the promoting body.
180〫turns are great. Just one though and make the radius wide enough to let the better riders rail it.
Sand or water should be in every race. Period.
At least two barrier sections. One should be a technical, curvy or run up, and another should be a high speed dismount, and longer (4-6 barriers).
Every race should have a benefactor. Nothing keeps a race in a venue better than money to help the land manager.

[asherve]

Increasing pavement sections in cross races could hurt singlespeeders... I liked the Bassett Creek courses this year with short sections of pavement though and I think gravel is great. At the same time, I think trying to make a course 'singlespeed fair' would be ridiculous.

[bnicholson]

I agree wholeheartedly with the postings here: I would stress course length (minimum is 2.5km (1.55 miles) and max is 3.5km (2.17 miles) and lack of single track. More distance means larger fields are possible with less issues for everyone; single track is not for this sport at all.

Additionally, more officials like the folks you have in Minnesota. I worked just 2 races in MN this season (Hudson and Orono) and the promoters and officials I worked with were well worth the 700 miles worth of driving to work the races.

I love you guys...

[sacave]

First of all, I would like to thank all of the officials, race organizers, and volunteers for doing an outstanding job with all of the CX races this year. Awesome!

I agree to most of these suggestions except for the idea of having your starting position dictated by the date your entry was received. If Doug Swanson starts in the back, there's probably a 95% chance(unless he gets a mechanical) that he's going to end up near the front. I think everybody knows exactly what I mean. Seed the front starting positions by past and current performances, and perhaps allow the 1st 20 pre-registered entrants to fill in from behind. Everybody knows who's going to end up at the front of these races!
Thanks again to all of the people that made the raod and CX season a success this year.

[ctsmith]

If Doug Swanson starts in the back, there's probably a 95% chance(unless he gets a mechanical) that he's going to end up near the front. I think everybody knows exactly what I mean. Seed the front starting positions by past and current performances, and perhaps allow the 1st 20 pre-registered entrants to fill in from behind. Everybody knows who's going to end up at the front of these races!

I guess the counter argument could be, if the strong riders end up at the front anyway then what is wrong with seeding the start grid by order of registration?

That being said, the start grid did cause some controversy this year.

We wanted a large number of riders to pre-register for the race. This made our life much easier as promoters. In order to encourage pre-registration we offered a pretty decent discount to those who signed up early but we also offered start position based on registration order.

My understanding is that they do this at other cross races. I remember from my two years racing at Snake Alley that they did the same thing.

Maybe we need to tweak the calls ups, but we tried to make the State Championship race as fair to everyone as possible. We called up the previous year winner and everyone else by registration order. No one got a jump on the rest for pre-registration, so it was totally fair in our opinion.

We did more call ups on Sunday based on CRY.

I would be interested in hearing more discussion about our start grid process.

[dinderieden]

As far as good CX courses, I really have few complaints about the local races. I think variety is good. My only real pet peeve is singletrack with flat-inducing rocks and roots (see Back to School CX). OK, maybe I don't like obscenely long runups either, but that's only because it becomes more about your ability to run and less about technique. It is supposed to be a bike race. Whatever. I may not be very good at certain things (e.g. long runups, sand, flat grassy sections), but I appreciate the different challenges that each course brings.

For dream CX courses I think of the classic Belgian Superprestige and GVA Trofee races though, i.e. Koppenberg, Koksijde, Hofstade, etc. Lots of variety there. I think barriers are overrated too. How many barriers do you see in these classic courses? - Answer: almost none.

[jsnider]

Course design, variety is good. There were 16 different races this year, how boring would it have been if they were all the same. Let's not get too wound up in guidelines/rules/requirements, etc. If you don't like long run-ups and pin-wheels, don't go to Northfield. If you really like riding through cool wooded paths, make sure you hit Jackson Meadow. Vote with your $$$. The way CRY was set up (if you're in to that) you didn't need to hit every race.

Also, as far as start position, this may be asking too much, but after the first couple races, you should pretty much know basically where you're going to finish. If Doug, Dewey, Pat, etc. want to squeeze ahead of you on the start line, just let them. If you're 40, a new father, and haven't been riding your bike much, you have no business starting up front in the 1,2 race, even if you get a call-up. Ahemmm. A little common sense and self-awareness goes a long way here. In the few races I did this year I did not see the start as an issue, most organizers realize you need to allow some open real estate at the start to let the race get somewhat settled and at least in the 1,2 race, the racers knew what was going on. The large fields over the last weekend and the geeked up nature of the State Championships may have been the exception but I think the race organizers did a nice job of handling that scenario. Let's not make a problem up where one does not exist.
Snide

[bconnell]

I raced very little this year, but I agree with having a good variety of courses. I'm in the minority as one who LIKES the singletrack, but even though i recognize that it can be a bottleneck, i like a course with a dose of technical riding in there (ie; Wirth Park and the old Boom Island course). I like the sand, and i'd go for a nice water crossing once in a while too.

I'd say that the MN race promoters in general do a great job with course design. The only things that have really annoyed me the last couple of years were the endless labyrinths that seemed to be in fashion for a season.