Surrey League Safer Racing sessions aim to reduce 4th Cat crashes

The race training I did a couple of weeks ago was most authentic: we had a massive crash with one guy badly hurt during the 'mock' race. Training doesn't get more real than that...

You can't really fault the organisers for trying to increase the safety of the races. Logistically, it has been a bit of a pain attending the training but if you want to race vaguely seriously, you know you're getting into something that requires a bit of sacrifice/dedication. To be honest, it only takes up as much time as a couple of weekend club rides.

If you just want to wet your feet, there are plenty of other races that are not part of the Surrey League that you can try.

On second thoughts, the best idea would be to ensure that clubs sign up to a 'training' riders up before entering. The clubs are accredited to give training and ensure their riders go through accreditation before being entered.

Looks like I'll b sticking with Crit racing this season.

A nice but probably unworkable alternative would be to have a on or two Cat 2 or above racers in with the cat 4's. They stay neutral throughout the race but act as a patron, barking out orders and dressing people down when they see poor or unsafe riding on display.

Accreditation is one thing, racing safely in a bunch is something else.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

To get more people racing you need to bring down barriers like this; but without them the sport can be dangerous. The danger in itself could of course contribute to a drop off in numbers so ultimately it might become self regulating - but that wouldn't be any compensation to someone who's just broken their collarbone thanks to sketchy riding in a race full of novices.

I came back to road racing last summer after more than 20 years away from it. In comparison to when I raced as a junior and young senior it was... the same. Same amount of dodgy riding, same amount of crashes (ie: some). I started 20 races, had no crashes, and loved every minute of it. I don't remember anyone complaining about riding standards in the late 80s but then again we weren't able to talk to each other through all these different channels like we can now. Maybe the problem has been blown out of proportion?

I think this is a good idea. But it should come from BC. If you've been accredited under one league you don't want to have to do it elsewhere.

It's worth pointing out that their cat 4 race at Longcross had a whole 7 starters. Last year the same race had 42 entrants (and no crashes...despite horrendous winds and hail at the end). SO, it will reduce crashes in that there will be no-one racing...

These training sessions basically exclude anyone to the west of London, and actively discourage take-up of the sport. I would have been at last weekends race, only I was unable to get to any of the training sessions, and as this was the only race in the league I was able to attend it was completely pointless me attending 2 weekends of training.

http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/results/results2015/feb2015/feb28-4.htm

Are there that many crashes then in these road races? Surely something like this would be more applicable to crit racing?

Good, about time too. I've come across a number of riders who wish to take part in road races. The phrase 'all the gear and no (or little) idea' springs to mind. It's a far cry from a club ride, but they still insist they are capable of handling a 4th cat race. I'd like to see it one step further with all riders having to complete an accreditation session before being placed in a race for real. Call it '5th cat' or 'apprentice' or something along those lines. This would help to reduce the number of incidents, make the racing more enjoyable and give those who need more time to learn the ropes.

a comment on twitter from someone I know, he did the 3rd cat and the E123 castle combe races at the weekend, the former was far less pleasant than the latter, even though the later was faster.

I guess the answer is experience, but the only was to get it is to race. Step in the right direction, would anyone expect to be let loose on a velodrome without accreditation?

Agree that there should be some sort of basic test. Even if BC could implement something in order to gain a 4th Cat licence in the first place. I guess that kind of flies in the face of getting more people racing in the first place though.

Very good, and about time.

But . . . is just attendance adequate? That doesn't confer competence on its own.
No that I'd want to participate in whatever practical exam could be devised!