Huddersfield Star Wheelers

I know it has been mentioned about doing a club hill climb on a shorter version of the hill climb course but after reading cycle sport this month and seeing their ideas on new racing formats i thought maybe we should do something different.

All the people we turn up are put in a draw and 2 names pulled out to race against each other with the winner going through to the next round until we find an eventually winner. If we use a shortened version of the hill climb i would say each race would last between 3 and 4mins and its just luck who you pull out of the hat.

It would mean there would be no need to time the event and would be fun to race up the climb instead of it just being a timed event.

What are everyone else thoughts?

That sounds a good idea but I'd make it a lot shorter say 1-2mins. I reckon you'd get more entries that way as doing several rounds of 3-4 minute hill climbing would be a tad hard.

Another idea

You could add a handicap element. Reason being if I got Mark Buckingham or Andy P or Tall Paul Smith I know for pretty much definite that I would lose however if I had a head start it would make for a much better race.

Or the lighter riders could wear Mark B's weights jacket or have a ruck sack with bricks in it.

Or riders, say over 40 but under 45, could get a 3 minute head start

As some one who was firmly at the back of the field last year (27th of 30), I don't see the appeal of this format. Without a handicap, it just wouldn't be worth me turning up if I drew any one in the top 20 or 25 last year. At best I'd be going flat out while some feather weight climber drafts (warms up) behind me to sprint past on the final rise to the farm/finish line, although I suppose i could weave erratically and send them into the hedge

If it is not to be a straight race, on what basis would you handicap the event? Weight, age, BC Cat, previous performances?

Tom if we got 30 people to turn up i would be amazed. This is a different hill climb than the one i am running in october.

I think a handicapp system would be good but could be hard to sort out quick on the night and who decides.
Just so you know its ment to be hard but its more about having fun as a club than a series competition. We can let any bicycle take part single speed ,mountain bike and if he wanted to take his life in his own hands a certain Kellogs tour special

Ok, I had read it as a replacement for Octobers sufferfest!

I'm embarrassed cos i am unlikely take part but since Andy has suggested it why don't people give it a go and see what happens?

If it works it can be finessed later.

Sorry to put a dampener on the idea but changing to a knockout competition would mean the event was a series of races, and so not a time trial.

Any thoughts on how this could be managed safely on minor roads, and would there be any implications for the Club's liability insurance?