Hillsboro flier is up; no waiting lists
Feb 13
2008
Filed in: Race news


Comments (12)

I’m sure there are dozens if not hundreds of people disappointed at being locked out of Hillsboro-Roubaix, and many women are upset at the shorter women’s fields, but I’m extremely sympathic to the organizers for doing so much with limited resources. They’re doing the best they can to make sure what has become one of our most popular races runs smoothly and safely, and somehow they do it with admirable good humor and patience.

Rich Pierce this morning posted the following over at STLBiking, and a low-res flier is now up at Hillsbororoubaix.com.



All, I appreciate your patience and trust. Work has been very stressful this year and I have not been as organized as I like.



Why fewer fields or less miles or both?
We are trying very hard to appreciate the dangers present in road racing after a young lady was killed in a race in Illinois last year. She placed 6th at Hillsboro last year. So in the interests of safety, order, and scoring, we are reducing the numbers of fields and some distances so we can manage the race as well as it can be done.


Oops on the flyer not being published yet
I did intend to have the flyer out before pre-registration opened. But there were 2 old guys involved, me and Dave Ploch who runs http://www.2wheeltech.com. We both sometimes find ourselves down in the basement of our homes, wondering, “Now what did I come down here for?” So we had a miscommunication and pre-registration opened before I intended and before the flyer got out. Old guys.


No waiting lists, sorry
We don’t keep and manage a waiting list. The logistics are very difficult. It takes a lot of time to manage all the communication, who is in, who is out, and we don’t have the personnel to do it. We all work regular jobs and in a guy’s mid-50’s, losing that job is not good.

On race day, we don’t know that “no shows” are “no shows” until registration closes. Once it’s closed, we can’t open it up- there are 100 emergency details that have to run like clockwork as we wind down to start time.


I don’t get to race the race either
If you are disappointed that you won’t be able to race, I know how you feel. It’s “my” race (actually my team’s race and a few other guys helped me plan the course) and I’ve never been able to race it, because I manage it. My team says they will arrange it so I can race, but I’d be so stressed and exhausted by the time it begins, I’d have nothing, nada, and get shelled. At least I’d have an excuse, though! I’d love to feel how it is on some of those downhill chicanes, in the pack.

Thanks for your support for the Hillsboro race and I hope we or another team is able to put the race on again next year.

Comments

1.

Feb 13
2008

3:49 pm

I appreciate the organizers efforts very much. Hillsboro is a great race and super fun, I’ve always enjoyed it.

But I’d like to point out that Beth was killed in a short, one lap road race, as Hillsboro has now become. In such a short race there’s less opportunity to wear out and drop the less fit, so you’re with the sketchy riders to the end where things get intense and mistakes are easily made. Psychologically and physically, it’s less daunting to cling to the pack for 22 miles than it is for 44.

I’m not suggesting that a longer race would have changed things for Beth . . . but a shorter race definitely changes things for the participants. It’s not necessarily safer.

2.

Feb 14
2008

10:11 am

I find it a bit inconsistent as well that the buzz word is safety yet they allowed Cat 5’s to register for the 3’s race. Granted the VitaminWater guys and the other teams ready to induce immediate vomiting from those poor souls will do their level best to spit those guys off the back at the first climb out of Hillsboro. Yet, those riders took spots that should have been given to those that have already earned the upgrade.

3.

Feb 14
2008

10:32 am

Luke

Meh. It’s a 3/4 race, not a 3’s race, and the only difference between a 4 and a 5 is 10 races and a few clicks of the mouse. My presumption (and call me naive, but I always presume the best of people and their intentions) is that these 5’s are people who have met the requirements to become a 4 but haven’t gotten around to upgrading. I further presume that if they haven’t “earned” their upgrade by March 29 and can’t present a proper license, they won’t be allowed to start.

My third presumption is that people upset about 5’s registering for the 3/4’s race are merely people crabby that they or their friends didn’t register in time.

4.

Feb 14
2008

11:02 am

actually, i know some of the 5’s that registered for that race, and their upgrades came yesterday.  so now at least some of those guys are 4’s.

me, i’m still stuck as a 5.

5.

Feb 14
2008

2:14 pm

I agree with Tamara about the shortening of a race not necessarily making it safer, and I thought about that very same thing, that the peoria race where Beth lost her life was 1 lap too. 

It is very disappointing when we (the women) get our races get shortened or worse, combined.  It’s definitely tough on a promoter though.  How do you justify the time and $$ when you don’t get women to show up? 

So I understand, you have to do what you have to do, and I’m glad we have such a cool race within driving distance and thanks for putting it on, and thanks for at least keeping the two women’s categories separate.

6.

Feb 14
2008

3:55 pm

And how do you get women to show up to 20 minute crits and one lap road races?

A couple of my teammates are changing their plans—they don’t want to drive four hours one way and stay overnight in a hotel for 22 miles. They were very excited about Hillsboro . . . and now are VERY disappointed.

7.

Feb 14
2008

4:04 pm

Luke

I’ve never thrown a road race so in some respects I’m talking out of my chamois here, but I don’t think the issue is that 22 miles is safer than 44. It probably didn’t even occur to him that 22 miles might make riders jumpier or more anxious. (It wouldn’t have occured to me, and I’ve done my share of less-than 25-mile RR’s.)

I think the issue is logistics, and sustaining proper marshaling and escorts. Apparently the decision was made that they can responsibly monitor X laps of racing. So, women lost two laps, affecting about 50 women total, and the men’s 5’s lost a lap, affecting 50 men. Even with that, there’s going to be an hour there where there are about 450 riders scattered over 22 miles—that’s a huge number of people to try to protect at one time. I don’t envy the job. Can you imagine having 450 lives in your hands?

Could the races be staggered so as to allow more people on the course over the day and for longer durations? Maybe. I don’t know. I wasn’t at any of the planning meetings, of which I’m sure there were dozens, but I presume there’s a good reason that’s not possible.

And just think: The promoter could have just as easily collapsed the women’s field and opened up one more men’s field. 225 men registered in the first 24 hours—I bet another 225 would have in the next 24 hours if there were any way to accommodate the demand. There may be 50 women who will have racing less epic than it could have been, but there are hundreds of men who will be spending that Saturday watching baseball.

I’m extremely sympathetic for the women who had their races shortened. All cyclists need to pressure promoters so that they know 20-minute crits, 17-mile state championships and inequitable purses aren’t appropriate. I just don’t think the decision here was made out of condescension or because women are an easy mark.

I’m glad people are being gentle on the promoter. I’ve never met him, but as far as I know he’s not an event professional. He doesn’t do this for a living. He’s just a guy from a club, not that different from the rest of us, trying to do the most good for the most people.

8.

Feb 14
2008

4:25 pm

Crabby? Not my race. I just noticed 5’s registered for the 3/4 and thought it odd that they wouldn’t have something in place to prevent incorrect classifications to enter the race. Btw, there can exist an enormous difference between a 5 and a 4. That’s why they have a 5 classification.

9.

Feb 14
2008

4:56 pm

Luke, the promoter—who I AM sympathetic to and grateful for in many ways—specifically name checks Beth’s accident in the announcement that the women’s races are being cut. And THAT’s one of the things that is so infuriating to me.

Shortening our race may make organizing and marshalling the event easier [or even possible] but it’s not a tribute to Beth, who loved a good, hard race, and it adds as many safety issues as it solves.

It’s just so demoralizing to see event after event cut down the women’s races. Yeah, in THIS race the men’s 5s suffer too. But in every other instance I can think of, its only the women’s races that get cut.

There has to be a better reaction to low turnout than making it LESS attractive and worthwhile.

10.

Feb 14
2008

5:57 pm

Julian

I can sympathize with the comments many of the ladies have made.  It really is unfortunate that more often than not they suffer when budgets, time, or logistics force promoters to make compromises. 

We must however understand that hosting a race is a phenomenally taxing and expensive undertaking and while quality racing, spectating and and overall positive experience is the ultimate goal the promoters must face the realities associated with these events.  Having seen a bit of what it does in fact cost to host a simple criterium it is very evident that many decisions are made due to financial restrictions.  Rich payouts go pretty quickly, amenities are stripped, and though it may be sad to say more often than not the low-entry women’s and junior’s fields are large expenditures that can break a budget. 

If we remember Luke’s interview with the Mayor of Elk Grove he specifically sites the low turnout in the women’s field as a reason for scrapping their race. 

I certainly don’t mean to turn around and blame the victims but it very well may be something to consider. 

Now as for solutions… Perhaps there should be a tipping point for these often low-attended fields.  When the pre-reg hits X number the race is on otherwise the promoter will scrap it and add another men’s 5/4 field which will certainly fill up, provide plenty of revenue that the promoter can bank and use to host next year’s women’s race.

Or maybe some of the women’s teams ought to organize a series of women’s heavy races.  This is not to say they should slight the other fields or segregate the women from the other racers, but rather than having 2,456 opportunities for a 30+ cat 3 male to race there should be an emphasis on women’s racing.

Maybe someone ought to contact the local promoters and develop a women’s cup composed of X number of races throughout the season with some heavy sponsorship and cash infusion to draw the women to the races…

Perhaps there needs to be a bottom-up reaction rather than waiting for a top-down initiative…

11.

Feb 15
2008

8:29 am

Excellent suggestions. Thanks! A Women’s Cup is especially appealing.

Now I’m going to get over my disappointment and go back to eagerly anticipating racing at Hillsboro.

12.

Feb 15
2008

1:44 pm

Luke

On the bright side, 18 women have already registered for the 4’s race. Last year only six pre-registered. Granted, there’s not as much impetus to pre-reg for the women, but it’s still an encouraging trend.

 

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