Rules

Rider of the Year (ROTY) Guidelines

The Rider of the Year (ROTY) competition is presented by Northbrook Cycle Committee. 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 this racing season.

Riders will accumulate points beginning Thursday, May 16 (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. Glory is imminent, prizes are to be determined.

The ROTY competition will be held for the following rider’s classification:

(1) Category 1&2

(2) Cat 3

(3) Cat 4

(4) Women Cat 4

(5) Women Cat 1/2/3

(6) Junior racers (Open).

The Team of the Year (TOTY) points are earned in the same manner as the ROTY. 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 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 Cat. 4 upgrade 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 thevelodrome. 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)