Madison Practice Criteriums Underway

posted July 15, 2003

• Practice Crits for the 2003 racing season are over.

posted July 15, 2003

• Practice Crit will resume post-Superweek on July 29, Research Park, Madison.
  

posted May 12, 2003

On May 6 the first of a summer long series of practice criteriums began in Madison at the Research Park course. The criteriums will run every Tuesday evening and include an "A" race and a "B" race. "We want riders of different abilities and levels of fitness to be able to challenge themselves," said John Wilson, one of the Great Dane Velo Club organizers.
The practice criteriums are a collaborative effort between several Madison Cycling Clubs. Great Dane Velo Club and Brazen Drop Outs, the two largest clubs in Madison take turns hosting the weekly event. In hosting, the clubs trade off registration and corner guard duties. Capitol Velo Club, Mad City Cycling and Peloton Sports-- three smaller clubs in Madison-- also pitch in to help corner guard. "We are trying out a new plan called "You Race, You Guard" which was successful in its debut," said Craig Heywood, official for the practice crits. Heywood added: "this course has seen traffic increases that raised concerns about safety. Representatives of the clubs met to decide what steps to take to ensure that each race is a safe one."
The "You Race, You Guard" program was suggested by Erica Johnson who had seen a similar program work in her homestate of Washington. So far it seems to be working. Riders in Madison are motivated to keep the practice crits going so they are willing to spend a half hour on a corner with a flag to make it happen.
The B race begins at 6pm and is 25 minutes plus 2 laps. The A race begins at 6:30 and is 45 minutes plus 2 laps. Info: contact patrickl@tds.net.