As a new race promoter there's a few things that I'm really keen to establish with the Circuit de Mayhem race. Key amongst them is a policy that youth racers (Junior, Cadet, Minimie) will not pay to race in my event.
As a Masters aged athlete, I'm a strong believer that we're the ones that need to give back in order to grow the sport and provide the means to follow the Long Term Athlete Development Model from the novice to elite ranks.
In order to help facilitate the "kids race free" policy, when online registration for the race opens up I'll be adding an option for people to fund a youth race entry. I hope that some of you will consider this option, keeping in mind that the race will be running not-for-profit. I'll post more details as they become 100% firm, but depending on how the sponsorship search goes your donation would either directly finance a race entry into this race, or be pooled and donated back to the ABA earmarked for Junior racing.
As a Masters aged athlete, I'm a strong believer that we're the ones that need to give back in order to grow the sport and provide the means to follow the Long Term Athlete Development Model from the novice to elite ranks.
In order to help facilitate the "kids race free" policy, when online registration for the race opens up I'll be adding an option for people to fund a youth race entry. I hope that some of you will consider this option, keeping in mind that the race will be running not-for-profit. I'll post more details as they become 100% firm, but depending on how the sponsorship search goes your donation would either directly finance a race entry into this race, or be pooled and donated back to the ABA earmarked for Junior racing.
Labels: Race entries, Youth racing
Things are ticking along nicely with the early stages of race organization. I think we're on track to getting something special on the roads on August 7th!
I was up in Edmonton this week for work and managed to drop in to the ABA to meet Scott Kelly (the road, track, & cyclocross coordinator) to chat about what I've got in mind for the race and to make sure that A) it's in line with what they're trying to build for Calgary Bikeweek, and B) I'm not on crack.
As it turns out, it would appear that I'm not on crack. Thank goodness. It would cause some issues with my employer if I was.
As it also turns out, I'm even more stoked about putting on this after meeting with Scott (and Monica and Kipp). I think that the Bikeweek has some real support up at the ABA, and it seems like they are very willing to help as much as they can with organization and support. The Tour de Bowness is looking huge for this year, and our event (along with the regular Midweek Mayhem Tuesday night crit) is going to (IMHO) do a great job of keeping athletes in town for the week between the TdB and the Wild Roses crit and the ITT provincial champs.
I'm also hoping that in the next few weeks we can make some progress in getting the Circuit de Mayhem involved with the Youth Championships! Stay tuned for updates on this front.
In other organizational news, I've got some solid results coming in on the sponsorship front. Nothing to announce officially yet, but hopefully I can start sending out some press releases soon!
Finally, I've got the permit process started with the City of Calgary. They've been excellent to deal with, and have been more than willing to provide some sound advice. Thanks very much, City of Calgary, and especially John at the Roads Engineering department!
Keep checking back...
I was up in Edmonton this week for work and managed to drop in to the ABA to meet Scott Kelly (the road, track, & cyclocross coordinator) to chat about what I've got in mind for the race and to make sure that A) it's in line with what they're trying to build for Calgary Bikeweek, and B) I'm not on crack.
As it turns out, it would appear that I'm not on crack. Thank goodness. It would cause some issues with my employer if I was.
As it also turns out, I'm even more stoked about putting on this after meeting with Scott (and Monica and Kipp). I think that the Bikeweek has some real support up at the ABA, and it seems like they are very willing to help as much as they can with organization and support. The Tour de Bowness is looking huge for this year, and our event (along with the regular Midweek Mayhem Tuesday night crit) is going to (IMHO) do a great job of keeping athletes in town for the week between the TdB and the Wild Roses crit and the ITT provincial champs.
I'm also hoping that in the next few weeks we can make some progress in getting the Circuit de Mayhem involved with the Youth Championships! Stay tuned for updates on this front.
In other organizational news, I've got some solid results coming in on the sponsorship front. Nothing to announce officially yet, but hopefully I can start sending out some press releases soon!
Finally, I've got the permit process started with the City of Calgary. They've been excellent to deal with, and have been more than willing to provide some sound advice. Thanks very much, City of Calgary, and especially John at the Roads Engineering department!
Keep checking back...
Labels: Organization
So where does the Circuit Mayhem stand as of today?
Everything is still tentative, but certainly things are becoming more solidified. I've currently got 2 potential race locations. I'm in touch with the City of Calgary Roads Department about permits for Option #1 (preferred option), and I'm feeling reasonably confident that we should get approval. The course for this option is pretty cool. Slightly over 5k per lap of rolling pavement with a nice little climb to the start/finish, and a super technical >90 degree right-hand corner leading into the climb off a high speed downhill straightaway. This technical feature will place a premium on being at the front of the race and bike-handling skills.
Option #2 is outside of the City in the Bragg Creek area. I've started getting into contact with the Province in regards to the roads I want to use for this course. The MD (Municipal District) were my initial point of contact, and they were super to deal with. I've also been in touch with the RCMP's Southern Alberta District HQ, and they have also been very positive to work with. I'm hoping to have a better feel for the chances of using this course within the next week or two.
As an aside, the Alberta Bicycle Association (ABA) has published an excellent resource guide for race organizers this year. It's got great information and some solid planning ideas. It's been invaluable to me so for, and I can't recommend it enough. Check it out if you have any aspirations of hosting a race!
Everything is still tentative, but certainly things are becoming more solidified. I've currently got 2 potential race locations. I'm in touch with the City of Calgary Roads Department about permits for Option #1 (preferred option), and I'm feeling reasonably confident that we should get approval. The course for this option is pretty cool. Slightly over 5k per lap of rolling pavement with a nice little climb to the start/finish, and a super technical >90 degree right-hand corner leading into the climb off a high speed downhill straightaway. This technical feature will place a premium on being at the front of the race and bike-handling skills.
Option #2 is outside of the City in the Bragg Creek area. I've started getting into contact with the Province in regards to the roads I want to use for this course. The MD (Municipal District) were my initial point of contact, and they were super to deal with. I've also been in touch with the RCMP's Southern Alberta District HQ, and they have also been very positive to work with. I'm hoping to have a better feel for the chances of using this course within the next week or two.
As an aside, the Alberta Bicycle Association (ABA) has published an excellent resource guide for race organizers this year. It's got great information and some solid planning ideas. It's been invaluable to me so for, and I can't recommend it enough. Check it out if you have any aspirations of hosting a race!
Labels: Organization, Resources
Greetings, and welcome to the first edition of the Circuit de Mayhem!
CdM is a new race this year, hosted by the Midweek Mayhem Racing Association. Midweek Mayhem is a long running Calgary weekly race series which includes Crit throughout the late Spring and all Summer, plus a Cyclocross series in the Fall. MMRA is an organization that is set up outside of the "normal" cycling club structure so as to be a neutral host of weekly racing that all of Calgary's clubs and Independents can take part of.
The CdM has come into being this season as a result of the superweek of racing taking place this year in conjunction with Calgary Bike Week. Scheduled to take place on Thursday August 7th, CdM helps fill a 10 day span which includes the Tour de Bowness stage race, the regular Mayhem Tuesday night races, the Wild Rose criterium, and the Provincial ITT/TTT champs in Canmore.
We're still in the planning process, and as a first-time race organizer it's all a bit daunting. One of the reasons I chose to create this blog is to document the process of race organization for others to draw on in the future. Please keep checking back to follow up on the trials and tribulations of race organization! Mayhem is sure to ensue...
CdM is a new race this year, hosted by the Midweek Mayhem Racing Association. Midweek Mayhem is a long running Calgary weekly race series which includes Crit throughout the late Spring and all Summer, plus a Cyclocross series in the Fall. MMRA is an organization that is set up outside of the "normal" cycling club structure so as to be a neutral host of weekly racing that all of Calgary's clubs and Independents can take part of.
The CdM has come into being this season as a result of the superweek of racing taking place this year in conjunction with Calgary Bike Week. Scheduled to take place on Thursday August 7th, CdM helps fill a 10 day span which includes the Tour de Bowness stage race, the regular Mayhem Tuesday night races, the Wild Rose criterium, and the Provincial ITT/TTT champs in Canmore.
We're still in the planning process, and as a first-time race organizer it's all a bit daunting. One of the reasons I chose to create this blog is to document the process of race organization for others to draw on in the future. Please keep checking back to follow up on the trials and tribulations of race organization! Mayhem is sure to ensue...
Labels: General Info
