Author: Webmaster

Volunteers Required

We still need to fill a couple of spots for tomorrow otherwise proceeding may be difficult.

• Sign On (only up until about 8pm)
• Gear Checking (only up until about 8pm)
• iPad operator (until the last race is over).
• Backups (yes, sometimes people get stuck on trains etc. so if one or two people can be there “just in case” that’s always good)

Volunteers can be given some advice on these roles on the day, none of them is “too” complicated, or they could potentially even swap with someone else if you feel it is too much for them.

Remember it can be done by anyone, bring a friend, Mum, Dad etc.

Please add your name to the spreadsheet here, or email volunteering@scrl.co.uk

Spaces available

There are two spaces left in the mixed category 4 race. On the day entry is £18, card payments only.

There are twelve spaces left in the Womens Category 2/3/4 race. On the day entry is £15, card payments only.

There are now six spaces left in the 2/3. Five of these are first-refusal to the (now closed) online waiting list riders. On the day entry is £18, card payment only.

If you wish to turn up and enter/register on the wait list on-the-day then please do so. We cannot guarantee you will get a ride however.

Sign-on opens one hour before each race time and closes ten minutes before. Any “no shows” are then given to the wait list, in first-come-first-served order.

As a reminder the race times are:

• Mixed Category 4 (40 minutes) : 18:10
• Womens Category 2/3/4 (40 minutes) : 19:00
• Mixed 2/3 (50 minutes) : 19:50

For tonight at lest. There are still a couple of jobs need covering for Friday, but more about that later.

We will be thinking about how the volunteer situation always pans out and some measures to ensure less stress and aggravation for those of us organizing which we will communicate shortly.

Still too many gaps on tomorrows volunteer spreadsheet.

3 x Marshals required + 1 extra for the last 8:30 stint
1 x Judge
1 x Gear Checker (as it’s a champs week)
1 x iPad Operator

None of these need any special training.

Judging is a bit of an acquired skill, but if you don’t try you don’t learn it.

No marshals, no race.
No gear check, no youth champs.
No second judge/iPad, no complaints.

Click here to edit the spreadsheet, or email your name, contact number and slot you are willing to fill to promoter@scrl.co.uk

We are one week away from race #3 and it looks like summer is finally here, so our chances of actually getting a race are good! So once again, we need people to fill the volunteer slots.

Why?

We hate to nag but remember the reasons why we need volunteers:

• These are positions which MUST be filled for us to be allowed to race under the conditions set by British Cycling.
• If these positions are not filled, there will be no race, simple as that.
• ALL positions must be filled for EVERY race for ANY race to run. 

How?

No special training is needed.  Riders could volunteer before or after a race.  They could bring someone with them to help.

• Go to our spreadsheet at this link and fill out the boxes with names. 
• Please then also email promoter@scrl.co.uk with contact details for that person, ideally a mobile phone number. 
• On the day, just make yourself known to someone already wearing a yellow vest.

We cannot operate without the full complement of marshals. These should be the positions you volunteer for first. Once those are full take one of the other jobs if you can.

That volunteer link once again:

Summer Circuit Series Volunteers 2021 – Google Sheets

Thank You

The sun has gone away and the track is not drying. Sorry folks. People here are doing some sedate laps instead. Entries moved to next week. Cheers.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast hasn’t improved.  The extreme wind gusts (50mph+) combined with a (likely) very wet track is too risky, especially with a full field in two of the races.  This leaves us with no other option but to cancel.

All entrants have been moved to race #3 on June 4th.

4th cats in this weeks 2/3/4 have been moved to the 4th cat race.

Anyone who wants a refund instead can now process this themselves automatically in RiderHQ.

Alternatively you can ask to move your entry to week #4.  Email promoter@scrl.co.uk to do so.

We would also like to thank all the volunteers who stepped up to make it go ahead if possible.  We (including riders I’m sure) are very grateful.

If everybody would please consider committing early to volunteer spots for the next race (at the same link, different tab on the spreadsheet) that would be fantastic.

I’m sure we’ll have a proper summer by then ……

I forgot to mention earlier that we are still short of the essential volunteer positions (marshals) to allow us to race.

If these positions are not filled, there will be no race, simple as that.

They need to be filled for EVERY race.  I’m not prepared to, for example let the 2/3/4 race happen because the positions are filled, but not the womens, or the cat 4.

No special training is needed.  Riders could volunteer before or after a race.  They could bring someone with them to help.

You can go to our spreadsheet at the link below and fill out the boxes with names.  Please then also email promoter@scrl.co.uk with contact details for that person, ideally a mobile phone number.  On the day, just make yourself known to someone already wearing a yellow vest.

The gear checker position I can do (only for juniors) and the ipad operator is ony needed at the finish, so I can cover that too.  But we cannot operate without the full complement of marshals.

So please sign up at the link below.

Summer Circuit Series Volunteers 2021 – Google Sheets

Thank You

Our racing for Friday currently has a weather warning in place.

Right now, the wind speed (which is what the warning is for) seems to be dropping in expectation at about the start time of our first race.

In respect of this, we will be looking at the forecast on Friday morning and announcing a decision either way by mid-day. Check your emails and also our website and social media channels.

Should we have to cancel, we will by default move your entry to the next in the series. If you want a refund instead you will be able to action this yourself through rider HQ via your moved entry.

So with that in mind and presuming all goes ahead…

Note that the womens 3/4 race is first this week at 18:10, followed by the 4th category race at 19:00 and the 2/3/4 at 19:50. If you need a reference, the BC website has all the details here as well:

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/238993/Sussex-Cycle-Racing-League-Summer-Circuits-2

Races are back to the normal format this week and licence points are up for grabs once again. All that said, we are still under restrictions so you should also make sure that you familiarise yourself with our covid guidance page.

Prior to Friday

IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT ME YOUR LICENCE DETAILS (PHOTO OR SCREENSHOT) YOU MUST DO SO IMMEDIATELY! IF I HAVE NOT VERIFIED THEM YOU MAY BE REFUSED A START! Send to promoter@scrl.co.uk

Ensure you have followed us on Twitter or follow the Facebook page or are signed up to emails from the website in case of cancellation. Emails will be sent to you directly but monitoring all channels is usually best.

Before

As usual, we have the track from 6pm, which is when we clear out the public and lock the gates (though I expect there will be few people if the weather is bad).

Prior to that, you can still come in and get set up but do bear in mind that the entire track area is open to the public (both cyclists and non-cyclists) and you should exercise extreme caution if using the circuit to warm up.

• Please keep away from the main gate and sign on hut (opposite the main gate) to leave this area clear to collect numbers and for the public to access the stands.
• Please don’t arrive too early for your race. If you want to get here early and watch, please do so safely from the walled seating area by the third corner. Do not crowd the area near the main gate.

As space is limited we won’t strictly segregate the groups but please try to adhere to the following:

• Riders with turbo trainers for warm-up, please try to use the stands/steps.
  • Riders in the stands/steps must keep socially distanced. Be at least one step up to allow room for others to move through the stands.
  • Women and 2/3/4 racers with turbo trainers, try to use the stands/steps at the NEAR END to the sign on hut.
  • 4th cats with turbo trainers please use the stands/steps at the FAR end of the stands from the sign on hut.
  • The judging/commissaire area may also be set up on the stands so please leave room around them to do their job.
• Racers with rollers (or turbo trainers which will not safely fit on the stands), please don’t use the stands/steps. It’s a bit of a safety risk for you and others if you happen to wobble off and a fair drop on to the concrete steps below! We would hate for you to DNS because you broke your arm falling off your rollers and down the steps!
  • Women and 2/3/4 riders, please line up NEXT to the track fence.
  • 4th cats please line up on the OTHER side of the path (i.e. far side from the track fence).
  • Keep socially distanced and at least two fence posts away from the main gate.
• You may also use the areas further away along the side of the track or by the spectating area if you wish/have someone to look after your kit while you race. Just don’t block any walkways or gates.
• As everyone has their licence pre-approved there is no “sign on” other than collecting your number.

After

We will try to have riders exit the track from the TOP of the velodrome to avoid crowding at the main gate while we get the next race in.

Please don’t forget to return your number. We should have a plastic bin there for you to drop this in so it may be sanitised, but you will be advised accordingly on the day.

Please pack up and leave as soon as you can (maybe grab a coffee from coops coffee on the way out for the journey home!). This is especially important for the riders in the first race of the evening to make room for the riders in the last race to warm up.

Also just one more equipment reminder. The weather may be bad but you still must not carry anything on your bike which is not required for racing. i.e. don’t turn up on your winter bike with mudguards.

Fingers crossed!

Raining at the track

In accordance with the new guidelines issued by British Cycling due to the easing of restrictions, licence points are once again being awarded for appropriate races.

This means that all upcoming circuit races, including this weeks #2 in the series will be full length races as advertised and will be for the usual haul of Regional C+ licence points (no prize money though! Sorry!).

At time of writing the spaces remaining are:

• Women Only 3/4 = 17 spaces remaining
• Mixed 4 = 9 spaces remaining
• Mixed 2/3/4 = SOLD OUT and WAITING LIST FULL

In other news…

Women Only 2/3/4

Due to substantial demand the women only race will be expanded to cover category 2 as well as 3 and 4 for meetings numbers 3 and 5 (that’s June 4th and July 2nd respectively). Meetings 4 and 6 will remain just category 3 and 4.

Mixed 2/3 … no longer 4

We envisaged the mixed 2/3/4 to be an “overflow” for the mixed 4s filling up but is has turned out that the 2/3/4 filled up first and already has a full waiting list. With category 2 and 3 riders waiting for a place and spaces on the 4s race we have decided that from #3 onwards (not this weeks) this race will be categories 2 and 3 only.

The Weather

In case anyone was wondering, unlike track racing, circuit races are mostly unaffected by bad weather, we tend to only cancel if there is at least a yellow weather warning. So if it’s wet this Friday, which is a possibility, the races should still be going ahead.