29 replies to this topic

[EvilleCrit]

Edwardsville Rotary Criterium No. 2 is under our belt. We are very thankful to all of the racers and fans who came out and braved another HOT weekend of racing.

Since this is only our second race, we are still looking for feedback in both criticisms and praise.

We want you all back next year, and want to make sure we are doing things right.

Also, visit ourfacebook fan page and see highlights from the day, other racers posts, and links from some great photogs.

Fire away...

[cleeland]

Course was awesome--well-marked hazards, interesting corners.  Volunteers were great--talkative, interested, personable.

$30 for a 20 minute race was ridiculous; I realize that's not the promoters' faults, but it's ridiculous nonetheless.  The JR/W4 race was longer than the M40+/M50+ race.  Although the conversion to laps was announced on the line, conversion of 40 minutes + 5 laps should yield a race with a duration of at least 40 minutes.

Great small-town downtown "vibe".  Hope to be back next year to do a full race.

[Birkenfeld1]

EvilleCrit, on 07 August 2011 - 09:43 PM, said:

Edwardsville Rotary Criterium No. 2 is under our belt. We are very thankful to all of the racers and fans who came out and braved another HOT weekend of racing.

Since this is only our second race, we are still looking for feedback in both criticisms and praise.

We want you all back next year, and want to make sure we are doing things right.

Also, visit ourfacebook fan page and see highlights from the day, other racers posts, and links from some great photogs.

Fire away...

Masters race 40/50+ started 30 min late, was announced as scheduled 40min +5 laps than out of the blue shortened to 19 min 3 sec.
After 13 min of racing 4 laps was shown. Most if not all racers were confused, I thought it was a mistake only when bell lap was rung everybody was aware but still not fair; Spectators were confused as well.....
I was there all day from 9am till the end, everybody else was treated fair and races ran smooth..big payout for the Ladies open, cat 3 and cat 1/2. Cat 4 payout fair, Masters payout should see some improvement and exact racingdurationtime as scheduled.
Puma

[tileman]

Making the cat 5 40+ a Cat 4/5 30+ or 40+  would be great.

When it is really hot, making sure the race starts on time is critical.  I'm sure it was a whoops but....

[eblok9]

If you want the race to be a town event, maybe have the party after the race. About two minutes after the 1-2 race ended it was being torn down. I realize you have to do this because of permits and stuff, but it would be cool if the last race of the day were treated like the grand finale.  Continue the party!

Just a suggestion.

[tankrider]

Thank you to everyone for such a great race.  The course was well marked, the volunteers were outstanding and the town and sponsors were perfect.  I only have 3 areas where I think improvements could be made.  FYI - I raced the Cat4 race.

1 - We didn't have a prime in our race.  Not exactly devastating, but would have been nice.  
2 - I had a run-in with the motor pacing moped on the turn one of the last lap.  I was top 3 coming around that corner on the bell lap, only to find a moped nearly stopped on the inside track.  I think both better instructions/training to the moped drivers on how to lead a race with lots of corners, or replace them with motorcycles who have more power.  
3 - Port-o-potties (located at last turn) needed hand washing station or sanitizing gel.

All in all, I will race this again and again and again - Great Job Guys!!!

Cheers,
Patrick

[Rodder]

Great Event...

Needed to subdivide the Juniors race and seperate from Womens Cat 4.

Put priority on the banners at SF Line, then the put the barracades up... ;D... the 40minute wait for a 15minute race was little extensive and hosed the 40+ Mens race.

Put a request into E'ville to remove the Telephone pole on the inside corner of turn 4.

Inform corner marshalls with a flyer about USAC racing, and where not to stand.  Some were in harms way in the backside.  We had a few sidwalk hoppers and people need to stand clear at the apex.  

Great support.

Great organization, and kudos to Rotarians

Loved the finish, setup and street space.

Offer T's to riders to purchase.

I raced the Men's Cat 4

TOADS Rock!

[Jeff A]

+1 to what tileman said about making the men's 5 40+ a 4/5.  I for one would have done a second race and I'm sure there are others who would have too.

The local enthusiasm for the event was awesome and everyone I encountered was friendly and helpful, from police officers to volunteers.

[Bevo Bill]

Fantastic Race all around.  

tankrider, on 08 August 2011 - 08:45 AM, said:

2 - I had a run-in with the motor pacing moped on the turn one of the last lap.  I was top 3 coming around that corner on the bell lap, only to find a moped nearly stopped on the inside track.  I think both better instructions/training to the moped drivers on how to lead a race with lots of corners, or replace them with motorcycles who have more power.  

+1 We had no idea what was going on with the moped guy on the last lap.  I was like "are we all DQ'ed now?" "Did he break down?"

[Guder]

Combining the Men's 5 40+ is a great idea for 30y/o Cat 4s.

For my first crit, I thought the Cat 5 40+ was a nice challenge, although as the "mid-life beginner" category there was an awful lot of Zipps and S-Works.

Can I get a Cat 6 for normal humans with kids, long work hours, and heavy travel schedules? Otherwise, I'd recommend keeping some type of category to get new racers hooked before they have to commit two years to a training program just to finish within one lap of the pack.

Thanks for a great day, from the guy at the end of Cat 5 40+ with the hairy legs, MTB helmet, and backwards number. I'll be back in 2012, and hopefully finish with the peloton.

Edited by Guder, 08 August 2011 - 09:42 AM.

[Steel1]

Very much enjoyed the venue and the vibe.  Turns 2 and 3 were a  little sketchy.   Maybe start narrowing the front stretch with barriers a little further in advance of Turn 2.  That might help line things out a little more and prevent riders from trying to sneak through on the inside only a few meters prior to the turn.

I will certainly race next year. Hopefully it won't be a million degrees again.  I am sure that is one of the reason crowds were maybe a little smaller.

[cleeland]

Rodder, on 08 August 2011 - 08:56 AM, said:

Inform corner marshalls with a flyer about USAC racing, and where not to stand.  Some were in harms way in the backside.  We had a few sidwalk hoppers and people need to stand clear at the apex.  

I also noticed that the marshals were not positioned so well.  A good example was the marshal at turn #1, who was positioned such that she couldn't see the start/finish.  Thus, people who wanted to cross from the walgreens parking lot to the other parking lot couldn't judge the safety of such a maneuver.  I think that ideally you need two marshals working together, and they need whistles in addition to flags.  The first needs to be positioned to see the last turn and blows the whistle and raises the flag when the first rider comes through the last turn.  The other marshal responds to that and is positioned at the walgreens driveway.

I think the chicane was okay.  It's a tough call to know whether to hang inside or outside on it, but it's a good reason to be in front...or off the back.

[rallentamento]

Thanks for marking the course so clearly. That may have saved some expensive wheels and some skin. I agree with combining the 4/5 +40. Also, does anyone think Elk Grove kept any riders away? I know its hard to find a clear weekend!! I'll be back next year for a third go around.

[stlbiker]

great course and volunteers.
please hire someone different to install the banners next year. Installing them at 9:50 messed up the start schedule and shortened the first few races when everything else was ready to go.
please clarify the cost for a second race..it can't be advertised one way on line and different at venue.
Might be good to set up on course misting station like I've seen the fire department do at some other races.

Otherwise loved it and can't wait to race it again.

[Beeg]

Great job.  Good volunteers, nice course, good payout.

One friendly critique of the officials: I noticed in some of the early races that lapped riders were causing havoc with the lead riders in the tight section of the course.  There just simply isn't enough room for lapped riders in turns 2 and 3.  This conflict was less evident through the start/finish where the officials were located so I understand why they may have not pulled riders sooner.  This seemed to maybe improve as the day went on so it may have already been addressed at some point during the day.  

I feel the discretion to let riders stay on the course is usually very well exercised by our local officials but this course may be the exception to the norm and riders should probably be pulled right away IMO.  

Safety First.

Thanks for a great day of racing.
-B.J. Keane

Edited by Beeg, 08 August 2011 - 12:41 PM.