Guidelines for the Blue Competition Cycles Women's Participation Program

Effective May 15, 2006 to August 28, 2008

The participation program is open to all women category 1/2/3 and 4 USA Cycling track racers (including one-day licenses). Each segment will earn points in each designated race (double points on Opening Night). In cases, where races are combined points will be awarded based on the woman's placement in that race as explained below.

Points will be awarded to category 1/2/3 and 4 woman racer's placement in a race at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome in the following manner:

• 9 points for 1st
• 7 points for 2nd
• 5 points for 3rd
• 3 points for 4th
• 2 points for 5th
• 1 point for 6th

In the case of a tie, the rider with the most 2nd place, then 3rd place finishes until the tie is broken. Once the tie is broken a winner will be declared. If still tied, the rider with the highest placing in the last race will be the winner.

1. All points are earned by racing at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome only. Points CANNOT be earned by racing at any other velodrome. Accumulated points cannot be transferred to another rider and points are not awarded to teams.
2. If a category 4 rider upgrades to a category 3, the rider is allowed to carry 50% of the accumulated points at the time of the upgrade. Other upgrades earn "0" points.
3. Only programs hosted by the NCC (Northbrook Cycle Committee) are eligible to earn points, all others will earn "0" points.
4. Riders will earn "0" points for participation in team competition
5. Riders will earn "0" points for participation in any men's event
6. ROTY points cannot be combined with participation points
7. To earn the points a category 1/2/3 and 4 woman must complete the race
8. If the race night is cancelled for any reason, "0" points will be awarded
9. The Blue Competition Cycles track frame gift certificate is redeemable for a track frame in the size of the winner by contacting the sponsor directly. ** no substitutions of frames will be allowed ** The winner must present a valid I.D. to claim the gift certificate for the frame (driver's license/passport/student I.D. (junior winner only). All other prizes will be awarded at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome Awards Banquet & Silent Auction Fundraiser to be held at EJ's Place
10. The last day to earn points for the participation program is Thursday, August 28, 2008.
11. Riders will not earn any points on Thursday, September 4, 2006.

Prizes (Total award value $1,350)
** Award prizes are not redeemable for cash **

Grand Prize (Cat 1/2/3): Track frameset (approx retail $750)
Grand Prize (Cat 4): Aerus Composites C4TT Alloy TT bar (retail $185)

2nd Cat 4: Aerus Composites C4Halo post (27.2) ($140)
3rd Cat 4: ABS013 Akonabiospeed Wheelbags
4th Cat 4: ABS013 Akonabiospeed Wheelbags
5th Cat 4: ABS013 Akonabiospeed Wheelbags
6th Cat 4: ABS013 Akonabiospeed Wheelbags
7th Cat 4: ABS013 Akonabiospeed Wheelbags
8th Cat 4: ABS013 Akonabiospeed Wheelbags
9th Cat 4: ABS002 Akonabiospeed Transition Bags
10th Cat 4: ABS002 Akonabiospeed Transition Bags

Note: (1) prizes may be substituted for similar products in value at the sponsor's discretion. (2) Prizes will not be mailed, except the track frame (upon redeeming the gift certificate) all others must be claimed at Ed Rudolph Velodrome Awards Banquet & Silent Auction Fundraiser to be held at EJ's Place.

2008 Rider of the Year (ROTY) Guidelines

The Rider of the Year (ROTY) competition is presented by Alberto’s Cycles. The award boasts a total cash award of $2,500. The ROTY competition will be held for the following rider’s classification: category 1&2, Cat 3, Cat 4, Women racers (Open) and Junior racers (Open).

The Team of the Year (TOTY) will not be contested for 2008 racing season.

Riders will accumulate points beginning Thursday, May 15 (riders earn DOUBLE points) thru Thursday, August 28. No points will be awarded on the Final Night of USAC Racing as winners will announced and awarded on that night. The Rider of the Year (ROTY) competition is presented by Alberto’s Cycles. The award boasts a total cash award of $2,500. The ROTY competition will be held for the following rider’s classification:

The top finishers in each event will earn points in the following manner:

Northbrook Cycle Committee’s Upgrade Policy
Effective April 17, 2008
Approved: NCC Meeting – April 17, 2008

Download 2008 guidelines & form here

The NCC's Thursday Night racing program is open to all riders in Category 4 and above, plus Juniors in any category. Races for Category 5s are organized by The Northbrook Bicycle Club at the Northbrook Velodrome on Friday evenings. Only races and training sessions at a USA Cycling sanctioned track will be accepted.

Rider categories will be determined as follows:

USA Cycling assigns all inexperienced elite, junior, and masters men track racers to Cat. 5 when they are first licensed. New women track racers are assigned to Cat. 4.

To upgrade from Cat. 5 to Cat. 4: Satisfactorily complete at least five (5) Category 5 track races plus any combination of five Velodrome Training Sessions or Category 5 track races, for a total of ten "outings" in 2008. "Satisfactory completion" of one "outing" means the candidate has demonstrated, several times, their ability to handle a track bike in group riding situations without endangering other riders or violating any USCF track racing rules in the sole judgment of the Chief Referee or organizer of the race or training event. Each candidate for upgrade to Cat. 4 is responsible for collecting on the NCC-approved 2008 Upgrade Form signatures of race officials and training session organizers documenting those events "satisfactorily completed." Category 5 track races in the area are described in the first paragraph, above. The NCC's Training Sessions are on Monday and Tuesday evenings at the Velodrome. Other massed start track events held under a USA Cycling permit at a regulation Velodrome may also be acceptable. Sessions at the Kenosha Velodrome will not be accepted.

All other upgrades are determined by the Upgrade Committee, which is comprised of the Director of Racing (Manfred Ray), the Chief Referee (Dave Fowkes), and the Vice President of Rider Development (Chris Mailing). The Committee may consider a candidate's results - at both Northbrook and other velodromes, ability to comply with track racing rules, bike handling skills, the relative number of riders in each category field, and input from others in the course of making their decision. A candidate may request that they be considered for an upgrade. The Committee may upgrade a rider on their own initiative, even if the rider does not wish to be upgraded, if the Committee believes the rider is over-qualified in their current category.

Downgrading: The Upgrade Committee may downgrade a rider, either at the request of the rider or on their own initiative.

Race Night Track Rules

Current USA Cycling rules shall prevail on Thursday Night Track Racing at this velodrome

Track Etiquette and Safety Guidelines

Riding safe should be your first priority. Always ride as if the other riders of the track have the right-of-way - be polite, friendly and obey all the velodrome’s rules.

Here are some usually un-written guidelines of racing and training on the track:

1. Keep all bicycles out of the ropes. Do not hook the handlebars on the ropes. This creates a dangerous situation.
2. Never cross the track while a race is in progress. Wait until the race has ended before crossing the track. Always look before crossing the track, as slower riders may still be finishing a race.
3. Do not use profanity, racist, anti-Semitic, or similar language while at the
   velodrome. USA Cycling officials enforce a no-tolerance policy regarding this issue
4. The faster rider is responsible for passing safely
5. Slow riders are responsible for riding straight allowing faster riders to pass predictably. NEVER get out of the way of a faster rider. Maintain a straight line.
6. Except for entering the track from the apron, the area from the pole to the lower stayer’s line is reserved for fast riding.
7. Between the stayers line is reserved for slow (or recovery) speeds. Never ride more than two abreast while going slow
8. From the top stayers line to the top of the track is reserved as an emergency lane and for riders accelerating or doing flying starts
9. Turn your head in the direction you want to move and glance back as you gradually move up or down the track paying attention to where you’re going and over-taking traffic at the same time.
10. As you approach a slower rider with their head turned in the direction you want to pass, sound off with the command “STICK” in order to make the slower rider keep from moving into your passing line.
11. If you hear “STICK” ride straight (parallel to the pole line.) If you are maneuvering and hear “STICK” correct your line so you’re riding straight (parallel to the pole line.)
12. If you are going to practice standing starts in the pole, ask permission from everyone on the track.

YOU ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OTHER RIDERS ON THE TRACK, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT OTHER RIDERS ARE DOING AND GIVE THEM THE RIGHT OF WAY.

(Source: 90% of the material used without permission from Roger Young Track Training Manual)