New Partner!! Aravalli trailhunters (Delhi)

ATH : Race Format

Aravalli trailhunters: XC Amateur Races

Objectives

• Creating an underground VIBE/Scene for MTB XC racing in our area 
• Fostering a sense of MTB sportsmanship combined with Competitiveness 
• Encourage Rider knowledge sharing and Camaraderie 
• Increase personal fitness levels 
• Promote Trail etiquette 
• Get some major KICKS!

 

Race Format

• Low key, word of mouth( or internet) participation
• Various Grades of races as per our perception of difficulty (Easy, Rocky, Hilly, Pump track, Endurance, Sprints etc. etc.)
• Self-supported rides. Water, Safety, Nutrition the sole responsibility of rider
• Organizers (us) WILL participate.
• Requirements : MTB, Helmet,Shades, Water, smartphone, strava
• Optional requirements: tubeless kit (riders with tubeless will have an unfair advantage over those who don’t). We will help you source and we will help you install, but you have to take the initiative.
• Other Optional requirements : Knee and Elbow pads : if you fall, you WILL get scraped /bruised( or worse). These guys REALLY work in protecting you.
• We should start with 1 race a month and see how it goes. We can build it as/if the scene grows.
• Minimum 7 riders, Maximum: we need to figure how we will process a crowd. 7-10 riders can start simultaneously. More than that we will need to send ppl in groups of 4-5, separated by a couple of minutes.
• We will announce the race well in advance. Willing riders should book their slots well in advance. No point having a race with 4 people!
• Since we will start in the peak of summer, we should start with an “easy” level race of 20-25 odd Kms. If we aim to assemble at 05:30am, flag off at 06:00am, race for 1.5 hours and head back at 08:00ish..In the summers it will be a solid achievement. We can increase the km format as the weather improves, and we can keep changing the difficulty format from month to month.
• The race route will be treated as a strava segment, pre made before the race. Timings will be taken off the strava segment to decide the winners.  This helps in getting rid of Marshalls. If the time is very close; say 1 second of each other we can consider it a draw for that position. It will be easy to monitor the participants when everyone starts at the same time; it will get more complicated when we will have to start in groups. Anyway, we will cross that bridge when we reach it. All these processes and systems will evolve as the scene evolves (or if it takes off!!)
• All confirming participants will need to shell out some dosh, Rs 200 for now. The net collections will be divided between the top two riders, in a fixed proportion ( 60% - 40% approximately for now ). Riders who confirm participation and bail out last minute will still need to pay up for the race. Since we will keep the “entry” fee low enough, it shouldn’t pinch anyone! The top two riders can decide whatever the **** they want to do with the cash, including treating the rest to beer! J , hmmm maybe entry fee should be calibrated so that everyone gets a beer at the end, and the top two guys get an extra beer….whatever! UPDATE : The top two riders will be getting their "prize" proceeds in the form of redeemable credit at the BIKE SHOP. This way we keep the focus strictly on biking itself, what say? [ Note : When we cross 15 riders for any given race, we can introduce 3 Positions instead of 2 in the ratio of 50%:25%:25% approximately]
• We can check with the strava feed to see if anyone cheated or changed course. This will lead to a disqualification.
• Liability : NONE! Everyone’s on their own, legally speaking!
• UPDATE : Time Penalty : For Riders who omit a section of the trail, which is intended to be a forced offshoot off the main trail, there will be a time penalty of 2 times the slowest time clocked of that section in that race.
• UPDATE : KOM Gauntlet: If a rider outKOMs the entire race segment within 6 days of any given race, the next race will be a repeat of that same race; to honour the KOM.
• UPDATE : POINTS: All finishers will get 1 point for finishing. If race is less than 10 Riders: 3 Points for Winner, 2 Points for Runners up. If Race is 10 and More Riders :4 Points for Winner, 3 Points for Runners Up, 2 Points for Second Runners up. TIME PENALTY racers will not be eligible for points. Series/Season Winner will be the Racer with maximum number of points, to be calculated after the last race of season/series.
• UPDATE : KOM Gauntlet Bonus Point: Whoever beats the time setup by the KOM Gauntlet, in the gauntlet race will get 1 bonus point. However, no points will be awarded off the race.

Trail Etiquette

• These races will be for the riders, by the riders. The objective is to foster competition, not necessarily focus of the WIN, but the experience of competing. These races will not get any points or recognition whatsoever, so the FUN element should never go away.
• FAIR: all riders are expected to not cheat. Since these will be self-supported events without race Marshalls Etc., it is imperative that all riders participating think how they would feel if they found the other rider cheated to “win”.
• HELP: If a rider is in trouble, shout out or ask him/her if they need assistance. The rider in trouble should clearly indicate if they need help or not. Again, the expectation from the troubled rider is to not stop anyone unless absolutely critical. Expectation from the helping rider is to stop if the situation so demands. The obvious exception to this should be the top three riders, who in any case will not see the troubled rider unless we have laps.
• KNOW YOUR LIMITS: Since these are self-supported races, help will be minimal. All riders need to know their limits and work within them. The whole point of the races in to encourage all riders to finish and finish as strong as possible; as safely as they can. However, MTB riding has inherent risks and all riders need to operate within their skill and safety levels.
• MOVE OUT: In case the rider has a flat or any breakdown, they should immediately move out from the main race track and fix their bikes on the side of the trail. No point stopping everyone behind them.
• Signalling: Always signal to the rider behind you. That does not mean that you look back and check; but that whenever you are making any unexpected moves; you should use hand gestures and SHOUTS to indicate. If there is a rider behind you, the hand gestures/SHOUTS will help him/her to take corrective action. Again, safety is paramount and no point having crashes and downtime for ANY rider.
• Downhill: Ride in control, brake before you need to slow down, grabbing brakes at top speed will either have you flying over the handlebars, or you can get rear ended. Downhill’s are fun for sure, but they need to be handled extra carefully with consistent braking. Also, gaining overall time is more effective in the uphill and straight/undulating sections, than just the downhill.
•   Trash: Keep the trails clean; carry back your trash/plastic. Banana peels and apple cores (and the like) are obviously not “trash” in this context. Riders found to be throwing their spent gel/Gatorade satchels or any other non biodegradable trash will be disqualified for that race. We are in the wild, we need to respect it and keep it like it was before we went in. Also, there is no shame in picking up someone else’s litter, which is staring you in the face while you break for air/food/water/whatever!  Its OUR trail , too.
• GIVE WAY: Don’t hog the trail, if you’re slow and you’re being tailgated, give pass…the rider behind you IS faster. However, riders who KNOW they can’t sustain their pace after overtaking and will fall back into their original position should not attack in tighter sections.
• HAVE FUN: at the end of the day, everyone needs to go back home with enough energy to enjoy their Sunday/Saturday with or without their families. Enjoy the races in the spirit of what they are meant to do… get us all together and whip us into shape!!
• EQUIPMENT : We expect every rider to be proud of their bike/ gear, but it will be frowned upon to be perceived to be rude about another riders bike pedigree. Lets keep it civil and polite!!

SANITIZE : From time to time we may need to prune the garden to ensure clear trails (atleast to some level). Any help in sanitizing the trail, with garden pliers or a hatchet will be welcome. Teams of 4-5 can go on a easy trail ride and clean out major chunks of the trail from overhanging thorny bushes.