Minimalist God

There is a minimalist concept of God which is more plausible and noble than the standard Judaic/Christian/Islamic concept of God. However, the existence of God remains improbable (given available evidence of all kinds) even under this minimalist concept. Furthermore, even this minimalist concept of God is not necessary for upholding worthy moral values or making life meaningful.

One can postulate the existence of a widespread, long-standing, almost indestructible, powerful force which responds to yearnings for higher values, and sustains these values and helps to promote and realize them. This force exists apart from the existence of various individual biological beings who have higher consciousness (have language, abstract thought, the capacity for appreciating higher values – moral thinking and feeling, art, intellectual attainment, open critical thinking, a sense of the putative transcendent), though it might cease to exist if all biological beings with higher consciousness are eliminated from the cosmos. Furthermore, this cosmic minimalist God force corresponding to higher values might have emerged (fully) only as higher consciousness developed/evolved in the cosmos. (Higher values are contrasted with more materialistic, animalistic pleasures of eating, alcohol, drugs, non-loving sex, procreating, status, fame, power, ego gratification.)

The higher values which the cosmic minimalist God force nurtures might include :
Kindness;
Regard for the well-being and suffering of other beings of higher consciousness as being of equal worth to one’s own (or to those of one’s own family, tribe, coreligionists, ethnic group, class, nation, gender, species);
Tolerance of disagreement and conflict in basic beliefs, values, priorities as being part of higher consciousness;
Equal opportunity to try to train for (compete for) more prestigious, personally rewarding, influential positions, e.g. lawyer, doctor, politician, senior civil servant, scientist, university professor, artist, spiritual leader, regardless of gender, ethnicity, parentage, sexual preference, religious or ideological belief – i.e. level the playing field, end discrimination;
Open critical thinking ( opposed to truth based on authority, sacred text, or personal conviction – see future blog);
Appreciation of beauty, art, literature, music, science, math;
Concern for all sentient beings;
Equitable distribution of wealth;
Right of all to higher education, artistic, intellectual, and spiritual development; Assumption of some personal responsibility for one’s own situation;
Assumption of some personal responsibility for social, global, and environmental problems;
Being able to admit/acknowledge one’s own benefits, privileges, and luck;
Willingness to give up some of one’s own benefits so that others can have the basics;
Right of all to some say in government;
Freedom to form different political parties;
Openness to non-materialistic/non-utilitarian modes of thinking (even putative non-logical or non-conceptual thinking or awareness) – awareness of thoughts, feelings, ‘perceptions’, ‘intuitions’, ‘insights’, mystical experiences which seem to ‘transcend’ the mundane and quantitative - go beyond ordinary, logical, factual, literal language, and not be capable of, or require, justification in logical terms – possibility of non-logical modes of justification, apprehension, and states of affairs;
Emotional awareness of self and others;
Curiousity, wonder, willingness to challenge oneself;
Ability to laugh at oneself, admit one’s own weaknesses, foibles, and biases.

The higher values which the cosmic minimalist God force nurtures might exclude :
Organized religion – especially the belief that conforming to a particular (or any) ritual or doctrine is a guarantee of salvation and a sign of spiritual superiority;
Buying into some ideology as beyond criticism;
Political correctness (knee-jerk liberalism) – idealization or romanticisation of the poor, the disadvantaged, drug addicts, criminals, etc., as having no personal responsibility for their own situation , just an inner goodness which has been thwarted by abuse, neglect, oppression, lack of educational opportunity, low income;
Cult of victimhood;
False sense of entitlement;
Unrealistic expectations;
Welfare dependency;
Ascribing all or most of the blame for social, environmental problems, injustice, war, famine, poverty, to big business (multinational executives not the millions of ordinary shareholders!), corrupt politicians, white imperialism or colonialism;
Running down, blaming Western societies, especially the USA, while idealising and exonerating non-Western societies;
Denying that some differences in ability may be due to genes;
Transmission of wealth or power through family dynasties, e.g. monarchy, aristocracy, castes, heiresses;
Romanticized, sanitized, Pollyanna view of human nature – ordinary human beings just given love, education, money, will be free from bad (baser, darker) qualities or flaws such as (apart from one’s already mentioned – unrealistic expectations, false sense of entitlement, etc.) greed, selfishness, self-centredness, wanting more money, power, or status than the next guy, being unable to admit that one already has significantly more than an average share, being unable to admit that one has significantly more than what is needed for basic security and inner satisfaction, personal bias, favouritism, nepotism, emotional investment, vested interest, prejudice, irrationality, unreasonableness, rationalizing, informal fallacies, defence mechanisms, smugness, hypocrisy, self-deception, projection, pretentious obfuscating language, exaggeration, distortion, ignoring counterevidence, resisting clarification and subjecting/opening one’s own cherished beliefs to criticism and examination, demonizing, idealizing hero worshipping, scapegoating, sentimental cant, snobbery, sour grapes, resentment, reactivity, fantasy or delusion;
Self-delusion (self-opinionated, tendency to egotistical megalomania) – not coming to terms with the fact that you are just one educated, intelligent, sensitive, articulate, well-read, talented person amongst millions many of whom have different opinions from yours about literature, politics, human nature, science, the nature of mind, what is best for society, what is fair, etc.
Belief that good qualities and attainments can be acquired without a lot of hard work and some pain – that good learning can just be fun and entertaining.


In other words, being kind and compassionate, and believing in equal opportunity and justice do not mean denying differences in attainment and excusing all those who do not have the best start in life. Still less do they mean excusing even the now privileged members of an ethnic group which is or was on the whole disadvantaged.

The minimalist concept of God has some affinity to notions of God found in some sophisticated versions of the Upanisads, Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen. It also has some affinity to the God of Plato, Aristotle, Stoics, Epicureans, Spinoza, Shelley, Blake, Hegel, Nietzsche, Bergson (élan vital), D.H. Lawrence, and Einstein. According to the minimalist concept of God the standard God of most major religions is a psychopathic, male chauvinist, bullying, control freak, dogmatic bigot. ‘He’ exemplifies the worst hang-ups of human beings – those surrounding fear, insecurity, resentment, and jealousy concerning the sexual enjoyment and pleasure of others especially women (and fears concerning threats to one’s own power, wealth, and status). The standard God of major religions is far more concerned about sexual ‘purity’ and ‘correct’ ritual and dogma than ‘He’ is about ending war, poverty, injustice, and sexual discrimination.

A major function of standard religions is to provide comfort by feeding into and reinforcing deep-rooted fears and prejudices. Standard religion suppresses or represses a reasonable exploration of ignoble aspects of human nature by substituting a crude doctrine of sin (and taboos) against simplistic rules of sexual mores, ritual, and dogma. Instead, a clear, calm, honest examination of ignoble aspects of humanity (embedded in the basic psychology of all races, cultures, and societies, not just Western society – present in myself and those I like and agree with, not just in those I dislike and disagree with) would enable people to come to terms with (acknowledge, embrace, make friends with, let go of) the true nature of their fearful, selfish, greedy, self-centred, smug, ego-defending traits then transcend them in noble achievements and activity here on Earth.

The minimalist God is rather impersonal, serene, inscrutable, imperturbable, detached. There is a clear, lofty, sad, magnificent, mysterious beauty and wonder to It. A philosopher’s, poet’s, scientist’s, mathematician’s, composer’s, artist’s, skeptical humanist’s God. A God which ‘loves’ women, eros, romantic love, nurturing, vivacity, curiousity, hopefulness, atheists, racing cyclists, and intelligent humour. The minimalist God would count it an honour if you disbelieved in It – so long as you gave clear, calm reasons. It would like it if you made fun of It too – being a bit of a cosmic jester Itself. (Naturally, like everyone else, I fashion God in my own image, desires, or values!)

Belief in the minimalist God does not provide justification for any of the following common theological tenets: personal afterlife; resurrection; reincarnation; heaven; hell; the truth of any holy scriptures as being the revealed word of God (holy scriptures and religious edicts as unquestionable are heretical, blasphemous, and anathema to the minimalist God); efficacy of prayer; religious institutions as being guardians of morality; priests, imams, Popes, etc., as being spokespersons of God; God as omniscient; God as creator of the universe; God as omnipotent.
The minimalist God force is inimical to religious, political, and ideological dogma, the desire for simplistic, black and white answers. It is also inimical to homophobia, the subjugation of women (and, I would argue, to prohibiting birth control, abortion, assisted euthanasia, and use of alcohol and recreational drugs by adults).

The minimalist God force might not Itself be conscious per se. It just responds to and facilitates goodness in higher consciousness. Also, the minimalist God force might not be the basic, fundamental reality in the cosmos. God Itself might be an emergent non-basic force somehow developing out of basic (quantum) ‘mechanistic’ forces: electromagnetism, gravity, strong and weak nuclear forces, basic chemical processes, evolution by natural selection.

The minimalist God force is similar to other concepts of God in that it fosters hope for the eventual triumph of goodness (goodness naturally conceived in a certain way since different people have different ideas of what constitutes goodness – or what God’s law [or the ‘Natural Law’] is, if you put it that way). However, the eventual triumph of goodness is not pre-ordained or guaranteed under the minimalist God conception. Also, the unity (or Trinity) of God is not entailed by the minimalist conception. There might be more than one God force at one or various times – though individuation here would be a problem.

Belief in a Minimalist God Force (full capitals to denote God concept qualitatively distinct from standard one, but just as worthy of respect) goes beyond the common naturalistic psychological fact that we derive comfort, consolation, inspiration from the thought of great artists, writers, composers, thinkers, moral teachers, etc. Their spirit lives on in their work and example. Belief in (the/a) Minimalist God Force (MGF for short) does not require that the individual consciousness of a great composer, say, actually survives death. But it does posit that the God force (into which part of the consciousness of a great composer may be absorbed) is somehow out there influencing events in the realm of higher consciousness apart from mental acts and states of biological creatures with higher consciousness. If there is a time when no biological (or electronic) creature with higher consciousness is thinking of a minimalist God force it does not follow that the God force thereby ceases to exist. The Minimalist God Force is supposed to be not just a subjective psychological phenomenon (or a whole collection of them) but something objectively in the cosmos, outside of human or similar mind/brain states, like cells, chemical elements, and electro-magnetism.

There is, though, insufficient evidence to warrant belief in even a minimalist God force actually out there apart from/over and above (though not independent of) yearnings, hopes, desires, feelings of human beings or similar biological or artificial consciousnesses. Such a God force would have to be a mysterious, occult force such as is supposed to be at work in astrology, telepathy, or psycho-kinesis (or possibly Jungian archetypes, the Enneagram, etc.). But there is little objective evidence to indicate that such putative psychoid, para-normal processes over and above known physico-chemical ones do occur. Such unusual phenomena as are observed seem susceptible of a naturalistic, ‘mechanistic’, non-psychic explanation.

Mystical yearnings and experiences, a sense of the ‘transcendent’, are indeed a basic part of human experience – important, enriching ones. However, this does not mean that there is something out there apart from the human mind corresponding to the mystical experience. It need not be that in mystical experience, say, the mind is actually ‘perceiving’ or intuiting some non-natural (or supra, or trans-natural) state of affairs – part of reality apart from the human brain. A mystical experience may be more like a dream or hallucination than an extra-sensory ‘perception’. It may be essentially subjective and human mind-dependent like sexual joy and romantic love even though deeply moving and transformative. Similarly, visions of the Virgin Mary etc. may be hallucinations brought on by religious fervour and indoctrination, not actual visitations by a divine spiritual being. Stigmata (and witch doctor spells) may be due to naturalistic human psychology (suggestibility) and brain chemistry, not to divine (or spirit) intervention or manifestation.

Even if you believe in an MGF – the objective existence of a merely minimalist God force (or something like it) – there is still room for (irresolvable?) disagreement about what qualities God is drawn to or opposed to, what is good, best social policy etc. For instance, my minimalist God force would foster upper limits on wealth, income, inheritance, procreation, and parents’ rights. Yours might not. Disagreement about what is good or what God wants, whether or not He, She, or It exists, what the heck the semantic content of “God” is, is perfectly healthy and legitimate. Why try to suppress such disagreement by religious (or ideological) dictatorship and brainwashing? If God really is ineffable then for God’s sake stop telling us what God does or doesn’t want! Be honest and say it is what you want or don’t want and often for very murky and ignoble motives.

Even if there is no God, not even an MGF, this does not divest the universe of beauty, kindness, sensitivity, love, joy, justice, forgiveness, art, clear thinking, serenity, wonder, and so on. All it means is that these noble qualities reside in the higher consciousness of creatures like human beings. The values we rightly treasure and which make life meaningful will disappear unless embodied in the actions and thoughts of human or similar beings. All the more reason for not destroying ourselves through religious (or ideological) intolerance, fanaticism, fundamentalism, dogma, and superstition (or through the desire for power and control, or through near universalized and rationalised greed). It is perhaps consoling to believe that even if the human species were eliminated kindness, love, etc. would not perish because they would still reside in a God force. But even with no God force there is still the possibility that the universe will again throw up some creatures with higher consciousness who have noble values. It is nice to think there is a God force at work in the cosmos helping us along to peace, justice, kindness, wisdom, and love. But surely we would not give up a valued, important journey because the loving mother or partner we set off with as guide has died.

You personally may never reach the Promised Land (maybe we never do, and the journey is the point, not arriving at some fictitious, fairy tale, fantasy, paradise, utopia, heaven). You may have no descendants who honour your memory. Perhaps you leave nothing which will survive for some members of future generations to value. (We can’t all be great writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, scientists, sports or entertainment stars, etc.). Yet you have still been an unknown warrior in a noble struggle, a participant in an heroic endeavour, a great adventure, even if you did not achieve anywhere near as much as you had hoped. You have done your bit to help bring about a better world, add to the store of goodness, make people nobler. Hopefully, you have some joy and fun too.

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Ground Zero Islamic Centre?

On a pragmatic note: who gave planning approval for the project? Surely New York City administrators could see this project was ill-advised politically even if morally justifiable.

Liberals and the politically correct stridently drive a wedge between Islam and terrorists who usurp and pervert Islam. But is a sharp distinction between mainstream Islam and fundamentalist, militant Islam fully justified? Some imams in the West have condemned terrorism and suicide bombings as unIslamic. However, worldwide there are clearly millions who see themselves as devout Muslims yet are sympathetic to, and supportive of militant Islam - violence in the name and cause of Islam. If the terrorists did not have widespread support from coreligionists how could they be so formidable? Has there yet emerged/evolved a mainstream Islamic denomination which officially and categorically renounces and denounces violence in the cause of Islam. What are ‘Al Qaeda’ and ‘Taliban’ but names for those Muslims who endorse or commit violence in order to, as they see it, promote the cause of Islam and hence the will of God? Have these Muslims been branded as heretics and excommunicated from mainstream Islam? Christian and Buddhist pacifism are well-known but is there yet an Islamic movement of ahimsa or non-violence?

We have to cut through the rhetoric and emotional bias and investment (on both sides) and acknowledge differences between cultures, societies, values, ideologies, and religions. Difference and disagreement, even at a deep level, need not be bad or frightening. We have to look at actual practice as well as what people preach.

Religion is still a sacred cow (!) even in the secular, democratic West. Someone who criticizes religion (or advocates serious upper limits on wealth, income, or inheritance, or parental power) is unlikely to be elected to political or public office. Religion is widely seen as the foundation for morality, and the gateway to an underlying spiritual reality. Religions are wealthy, powerful institutions offering group solidarity and a feeling of superiority to those who are not members of one’s own religion.

It is easy to assert that Islam (Catholicism, Baptism, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Jungianism, aboriginal culture, etc.) preaches love, tolerance, peace, respect, spirituality, a sense of connexion with one’s fellow humans and nature, and so on. Such motherhood, apple pie slogans sound lovely though gaseous – they give a warm, comforting glow. But what does the factual content of such claims amount to? How do they translate into specific positions on fundamental social issues such as the following?
Abortion, contraception, right of women to education, to hold political, religious, judicial, or administrative office, to wear rational dress, move freely and independently in public;
Separation of Church and State, laws based on open debate not on religious authority, the right to run for office as an alternative party – freedom of political affiliation;
Freedom of expression – including freedom to criticize religion or ideology or the ruling party, freedom to give offence to some (even members of a so-called disadvantaged group);
Punishment of criminals, the death penalty, conscientious objectors, gun control;
Assisted euthanasia, legalization with regulation of recreational drugs, censorship; Prostitution, animal rights, apostasy or conversion to a non-established religion.

It is fatuous, deceitful, and hypocritical to ignore that, at present, mainstream Islam (and conservative Catholicism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Baptism) is opposed to many values which are basic to the vision of liberal, democratic society – values which may be elicited by considering liberal positions on the aforementioned social issues, and are articulated by people like John Stuart Mill, Bertrand Russell, etc. Equally, it is ludicrous to maintain that Islam and Christianity (or Judaism) assert essentially the same Word of God (doctrines) except that for the former this Truth was channeled through Muhammad and for the latter through Jesus, and that both are essentially benign and simply preach love, brotherhood of man, social justice, peace, forgiveness, avoidance of greed, materialism, and selfishness, etc. If this were the case, why so much friction and bloodshed between the religions and various denominations over the centuries and which continue still? It’s no use trying to pass off the violence and hate as simply due to politics since without religious backing the political disagreements would not get such a ferocious grip. (Can one separate political from religious differences and disagreements anyway?)

It is not clear for instance that Islam agrees with some basic Christian moral doctrines. This is not to say that the Christian doctrines are superior (Nietzsche would say that they are inferior.) For example, is there anything in the Qur’an equivalent to the New Testament teachings of turning the other cheek, loving your enemy, doing good to him who hurts you, forgiving 70 times 7, not stoning the woman taken in adultery. Not for nothing do some Muslim scholars call Christianity the Buddhism of the West. Whereas there is a well-established Pacifist Christian movement and pacifism seems to be at the core of Buddhism ‘Pacifist Muslim’ may be as yet something of an oxymoron. Again, note I am not saying that pacifism is correct or superior.

Silver Star and Full Mt. Washington Hill Climbs.

When these are run as individual time trials the age standards will be the 25 mile time trial standards.

If they are run as Australian pursuit divide the 10% longer than regular Australian pursuit age standards (chart D) by 2.

If they are run as massed start divide the 10% longer than regular massed start chart by 2.

Grand Forks and Comox Forbidden Plateau Hill Climbs.

When these are run as individual time trials the age standard will be 50% of the 10 mile time trial standards. This is assuming the 2010 courses are used.

If they are run as Australian pursuit divide the regular 64 k Australian pursuit age standards (chart B) by 8 or 10.

If they are run as massed start divide the regular 64 k massed start chart by 8 or 10.

Penticton/Carmi Hill Climb. Chart G.

Australian Pursuit. 10 year start gaps. 60s 3 minutes after 70s; 50s 2 minutes after 60s; 40s 1 minute 30 seconds after 50s; 30s 1 minute after 40s.

Distance c. 9 k.

Divide the regular 64 k Australian pursuit age standards (chart B) by 3.

(For individual tt start 10 mile time trial age standards plus 50% would be used.)

30. 35-10
31. 35-11
32. 35-12
33. 35-14
34. 35-17
35. 35-20
36. 35-24
37. 35-28
38. 35-32
39. 35-36
Yearly increment 35-9 is 4 seconds. Gap 39-40 is 19 seconds.

40. 35-55
41. 36-00
42. 36-05
43. 36-10
44. 36-15
45. 36-20
46. 36-25
47. 36-30
48. 36-35
49. 36-40
Yearly increment 40-49 is 5 seconds. Gap 49-50 is 30 seconds.

50. 37-10
51. 37-16
52. 37-22
53. 37-28
54. 37-34
55. 37-40
56. 37-46
57. 37-52
58. 37-58
59. 38-04
Yearly increment 50-59 is 6 seconds. Gap 59-60 is 39 seconds.

60. 38-43
61. 38-51
62. 38-58
63. 39-05
64. 39-13
65. 39-20
66. 39-27
67. 39-35
68. 39-42
69. 39-49
Yearly increment 60-69 is 7/8 seconds. Gap 69-70 is 58 seconds.

70. 40-47
71. 40-57
72. 41-08
73. 41-19
74. 41-29
75. 41-40
76. 41-51
77. 42-01
78. 42-12
79. 42-23
Yearly increment 70-79 is 11/10 seconds. Gap 79-80 is 1 minute 7 seconds.

80. 43-30
81. 43-44
82. 43-58
83. 44-12
84. 44-26
85. 44-40
86. 44-54
87. 45-08
88. 45-22
89. 45-36
Yearly increment 80-89 is 14 seconds. Gap 89-90 is 1 minute 17 seconds.

90. 46-53
91. 47-11
92. 47-28
93. 47-45
94. 48-03
95. 48-20
96. 48-37
97. 48-55
98. 49-12
99. 49-29
Yearly increment 90-99 is 17/18 seconds. Gap 99-100 is 1 minute 28 seconds.

S.Shawnigan Lake Hill Climb. Chart F.

Australian Pursuit. 10 year start gaps: 60s 2minutes after 70s; 50s 1 ½ minutes after 60s; 40s 1 minute after 50s; 30s ½ minute after 40s. DT/DM (2010) time c. 23-24 minutes. Hypothetical average 35 year-old time c. 26 minutes 30 seconds. Distance c. 9 k.

Divide the regular 64 k Australian pursuit group ride age standards (Chart B) by 4.

(For individual tt start 10 mile time trial age standards would be used.)

30. 26-22
31. 26-23
32. 26-24
33. 26-25
34. 26-27
35. 26-30
36. 26-33
37. 26-36
38. 26-39
39. 26-42
Yearly increment 35-39 is 3 seconds. Gap 39-40 is 14 seconds.

40. 26-56
41. 27-00
42. 27-04
43. 27-07
44. 27-11
45. 27-15
46. 27-19
47. 27-22
48. 27-26
49. 27-30
Yearly increment 40-49 is 4/3 seconds. Gap 49-50 is 22 seconds.

50. 27-52
51. 27-57
52. 28-01
53. 28-06
54. 28-10
55. 28-15
56. 28-19
57. 28-24
58. 28-28
59. 28-33
Yearly increment 50-59 is 5/4 seconds. Gap 59-60 is 29 seconds.

60. 29-02
61. 29-08
62. 29-13
63. 29-19
64. 29-24
65. 29-30
66. 29-35
67. 29-41
68. 29-46
69. 29-52
Yearly increment 60-69 is 6/5 seconds. Gap 69-70 is 43 seconds.

70. 30-35
71. 30-43
72. 30-51
73. 30-59
74. 31-07
75. 31-15
76. 31-23
77. 31-31
78. 31-39
79. 31-47
Yearly increment 70-79 is 8 seconds. Gap 79-80 is 50 seconds.

80. 32-37
81. 32-48
82. 32-58
83. 33-09
84. 33-19
85. 33-30
86. 33-40
87. 33-51
88. 34-01
89. 34-12
Yearly increment 80-89 is 11/10 seconds. Gap 89-90 is 58 seconds.

90. 35-10
91. 35-23
92. 35-38
93. 35-49
94. 36-02
95. 36-15
96. 36-28
97. 36-41
98. 36-54
99. 37-07
Yearly increment 90-99 is 13 seconds. Gap 99-100 is 1 minute 5 seconds.

Australian Pursuit 15% Longer than Regular. Chart E.

For courses 15% longer (distance or time) than regular 64 k (40 miles). D.T./D.M. (2010) time c. 2-05-00. E.g. Penticton rr. Australian pursuit with regular 10 year start gaps.

30. 2-1-19
31. 2-1-22
32. 2-1-27
33. 2-1-34
34. 2-1-43
35. 2-1-54
36. 2-2-07
37. 2-2-20
38. 2-2-33
39. 2-2-46
Yearly increment 35-39 is 13 seconds. Gap 39-40 is 1 minute 5 seconds.

40. 2-3-51
41. 2-4-08
42. 2-4-25
43. 2-4-42
44. 2-4-59
45. 2-5-16
46. 2-5-33
47. 2-5-50
48. 2-6-07
49. 2-6-24
Yearly increment 40-49 is 17 seconds. Gap 49-50 is 1 minute 42 seconds.

50. 2-8-06
51. 2-8-27
52. 2-8-48
53. 2-9-09
54. 2-9-30
55. 2-9-51
56. 2-10-12
57. 2-10-33
58. 2-10-54
59. 2-11-15
Yearly increment 50-59 is 21 seconds. Gap 59-60 is 2 minutes 16 seconds.

60. 2-13-31
61. 2-13-56
62. 2-14-21
63. 2-14-46
64. 2-15-11
65. 2-15-36
66. 2-16-01
67. 2-16-26
68. 2-16-51
69. 2-17-16
Yearly increment 60-69 is 25 seconds. Gap 69-70 is 3 minutes 11 seconds.

70. 2-20-27
71. 2-21-04
72. 2-21-41
73. 2-22-18
74. 2-22-55
75. 2-23-32
76. 2-24-09
77. 2-24-46
78. 2-25-23
79. 2-26-00
Yearly increment 70-79 is 37 seconds. Gap 79-80 is 4 minutes 6 seconds.

80. 2-30-06
81. 2-30-54
82. 2-31-42
83. 2-32-30
84. 2-33-18
85. 2-34-06
86. 2-34-54
87. 2-35-42
88. 2-36-30
89. 2-37-18
Yearly increment 80-89 is 48 seconds. Gap 89-90 is 4 minutes 27 seconds.

90. 2-41-45
91. 2-42-45
92. 2-43-45
93. 2-44-45
94. 2-45-45
95. 2-46-45
96. 2-47-45
97. 2-48-45
98. 2-49-45
99. 2-50-45.
Yearly increment 90-99 is 60 seconds. Gap 99-100 is 4 minutes 48 seconds.

Australian Pursuit 5% Longer than Regular. Chart C

For courses 5% longer than regular 64 k (40 miles). D.T. (age 60) – D.M. (age 67) time of c. 1-55-00. E.g. Cobble Hill rr 2010. Australian pursuit with regular 10 year start gaps.

30. 1-50-44
31. 1-50-47
32. 1-50-52
33. 1-50-58
34. 1-51-07
35. 1-51-18
36. 1-51-31
37. 1-51-44
38. 1-51-57
39. 1-52-10
Yearly increment 35-39 is 13 seconds. Gap 39-40 is 57 seconds.

40. 1-53-07
41. 1-53-23
42. 1-53-39
43. 1-53-55
44. 1-54-11
45. 1-54-27
46. 1-54-43
47. 1-54-59
48. 1-55-15
49. 1-55-31
Yearly increment 40-49 is 16 seconds. Gap 49-50 is 1 minute 33 seconds.

50. 1-57-04
51. 1-57-23
52. 1-57-42
53. 1-58-01
54. 1-58-20
55. 1-58-39
56. 1-58-58
57. 1-59-17
58. 1-59-36
59. 1-59-55
Yearly increment 50-59 is 19 seconds. Gap 59-60 is 2 minutes 4 seconds.

60. 2-1-59
61. 2-2-22
62. 2-2-45
63. 2-3-08
64. 2-3-31
65. 2-3-54
66. 2-4-17
67. 2-4-40
68. 2-5-03
69. 2-5-26
Yearly increment 60-69 is 23 seconds. Gap 69-70 is 2 minutes 59 seconds.

70. 2-8-25
71. 2-8-59
72. 2-9-33
73. 2-10-07
74. 2-10-41
75. 2-11-15
76. 2-11-49
77. 2-12-23
78. 2-12-57
79. 2-13-31
Yearly increment 70-79 is 34 seconds. Gap 79-80 is 3 minutes 31 seconds.

80. 2-17-02
81. 2-17-46
82. 2-18-30
83. 2-19-14
84. 2-19-58
85. 2-20-42
86. 2-21-26
87. 2-22-10
88. 2-22-54
89. 2-23-38
Yearly increment 80-89 is 44 seconds. Gap 89-90 is 4 minutes 17 seconds.

90. 2-27-55
91. 2-28-45
92. 2-29-35
93. 2-30-25
94. 2-31-20
95. 2-32-15
96. 2-33-10
97. 2-34-05
98. 2-35-00
99. 2-35-55
Yearly increment 90-99 is 55 seconds. Gap 99-100 is 5 minutes 17 seconds.

Australian Pursuit 5% Shorter than Regular. Chart A

For courses 5% shorter than regular 64 k (40 miles). D.T. (age 60) - D.M. (age 67) time of c. 1-45-00. E.g. Metchosin 2008/9/10. Australian pursuit with regular 10 year start gaps.


30. 1-40-17
31. 1-40-18
32. 1-40-21
33. 1-40-26
34. 1-40-33
35. 1-40-42
36. 1-40-53
37. 1-41-04
38. 1-41-15
39. 1-41-26
Yearly increment 35-39 is 11seconds. Gap 39-40 is 57 seconds.

40. 1-42-23
41. 1-42-37
42. 1-42-51
43. 1-43-05
44. 1-43-19
45. 1-43-33
46. 1-43-47
47. 1-44-01
48. 1-44-15
49. 1-44-29
Yearly increment 40-49 is 14 seconds. Gap 49-50 is 1 minute 27 seconds.

50. 1-45-56
51. 1-46-13
52. 1-46-30
53. 1-46-47
54. 1-47-04
55. 1-47-21
56. 1-47-38
57. 1-47-55
58. 1-48-12
59. 1-48-29
Yearly increment 50-59 is 17 seconds. Gap 59-60 is 1 minute 52 seconds.

60. 1-50-21
61. 1-50-42
62. 1-51-03
63. 1-51-24
64. 1-51-45
65. 1-52-06
66. 1-52-27
67. 1-52-48
68. 1-53-09
69. 1-53-30
Yearly increment 60-69 is 21 seconds. Gap 69-70 is 2 minutes 45 seconds.

70. 1-56-15
71. 1-56-45
72. 1-57-15
73. 1-57-45
74. 1-58-15
75. 1-58-45
76. 1-59-15
77. 1-59-45
78. 2-00-15
79. 2-00-45
Yearly increment 70-79 is 30 seconds. Gap 79-80 is 3 minutes 17 seconds.

80. 2-4-03
81. 2-4-42
82. 2-5-21
83. 2-6-00
84. 2-6-39
85. 2-7-18
86. 2-7-57
87. 2-8-36
88. 2-9-15
89. 2-9-54
Yearly increment 80-89 is 39 seconds. Gap 89-90 is 3 minutes 46 seconds.

90. 2-13-40
91. 2-14-29
92. 2-15-18
93. 2-16-07
94. 2-16-56
95. 2-17-45
96. 2-18-34
97. 2-19-23
98. 2-20-12
99. 2-21-01
Yearly increment 90-99 is 49 seconds. Gap 99-100 is 4 minutes 15 seconds.

Grand Forks Cycle Race Weekend

To Grand Forks Gazette. Grand Event in Granby Valley.

Many thanks to the Grand Forks Cycling Club for the annual Granby valley July weekend cycle race festival for older riders – this year held 23rd to 25th July. Thanks also to the businesses who provided prizes and food donations. Riders ranged from mid-30s to age 76 including 5 women age 39 to 68. They came from as far afield as Victoria, Comox, Vancouver, Calgary, and Whitehorse. Many bring their partners to make a holiday of it in this scenic, peaceful region.

Olav Stana age 55, Vernon, a Norwegian Canadian and physiotherapist, was a breathtaking winner of the Friday evening hill climb up Hardy Mountain Rd. Olav also won the Saturday morning 40 k (25 mile) individual time trial on the North Fork Rd. in a world class time of 53 minutes 51 seconds. The winner on age standard was Mike McCann age 63 of Whitehorse with an actual time of 57 minutes 48 seconds. The Sunday morning road race however, up North Fork and down Granby and back, went to Derek Tripp age 60, a fish and wildlife biologist from Victoria. Riders in the road race start in 10 year age groups with the oldest going off first. A 60s quartet broke away from the others about half way and were never caught by the younger riders.

A glamourous touch to the road race was having a vintage police Harley Davidson as sweep up vehicle. Event hq and start/finish for all 3 races is Hutton School. For a colourful, exciting, healthy, athletic spectacle be sure to catch the Grand Forks Cycle Weekend next July. Hopes are that this Granby Valley race weekend will develop into a Pacific North West Masters/Seniors Championship.

The Grand Forks Cycle Weekend is cosponsored by the B.C. Masters Cycling Association whose president is Bill Yearwood age 58 Vancouver a high profile aviation safety investigator. Both the Grand Forks C.C. and the B.C.M.C.A. welcome riders of all ages and abilities. You don’t have to be a dedicated top racer to join in the fun.

Yours sincerely,
David Mercer age 67 Victoria. A.k.a. Dr. Velociraptor. Phone: (778) 430-0646

Age Standards: Various Charts Generated

In order to give plausible age standard times for the various Australian pursuit road races in the BCMCA schedule it is necessary to use a set of different charts. The principles behind each chart remain the same. As base time estimate the time the hypothetical ‘average’ 35 year old male would take who can do a 10 mile individual time trial in 24 minutes (VTTA standard) Then derive the standards for 45, 55, 65, etc, by adding on the traditional BCMCA starting gaps, viz. 3, 4, 5, minutes respectively. Following my suggestion add 7, 9, and 11 minutes respectively to derive the standards for 75, 85, and 95.

For the current (2005 – 2010) BCMCA road races in range of distance/duration a set of 5 age standard charts for group racing is necessary and sufficient. The basic chart is that for approximately 64 k (40 miles) - Maple Bay, Cedar/Yellow Point N. – i.e. a duration for Derek Tripp (age 60) or David Mercer (age 67) of about 1-50-00. Some courses will be about 5% shorter (distance/duration), e.g. Metchosin – Derek Tripp (age 60) time circa 1-45-0. Some 5% longer, e.g. 2010 Cobble Hill – D.T. (D.M.) time c. 1-55-0. Some 10% longer – D.T. (D.M.) time c. 2-0-0. Some 15% longer, e.g. Penticton – D.T. time c. 2-5-0. Call the basic Maple Bay chart B. The 5% shorter chart is A, the 5% longer, 10% longer, and 15% longer charts are C, D, and E respectively.

Charts A, C, D, and E are derived straightforwardly from the basic B chart. Take the appropriate percentage of the B 35 year old, 45, 55, etc. times. Take the appropriate percentage of the B yearly increments for each 10 year age group. (34 – 30 years have progressively less increments than 35 –39 in keeping with VTTA standards.)

Outside the range of 5% shorter than 64 k Maple Bay/ D.T.Time 1-50-0 – 15% longer it is no longer reasonable to employ the customary BCMCA 10 year start gaps of 7 minutes (70s after 80s), 6 minutes (60s after 70s), 5 minutes (50s after 60s), 4 minutes (40s after 50s), and 3 minutes (30s after 40s). Outside the range 5% shorter – 15% longer than base it is necessary to use different 10 year start gaps.

Dr. Velociraptor Lapses.

I apologise for again not getting the medals to the event – this time the Comox Dove Creek omnium. (Medals for missed events will be publicly awarded at subsequent events.) Unfortunately I have not yet managed to drag myself into the 1990s. So I hadn’t checked my email for over a week when I decided Friday night to confirm the weekend race schedule. To my chagrin the Saturday morning hill climb individual time trial had been moved back 2 hours requiring a 5 am rising for the long drive. Also, owing to computer illiteracy I was unable to access the race bible (to ascertain race hq) through Google, and there was no phone number or directory listing for the race organizer. Then I was reliably informed that none of the events could count towards the overall since the road race was not an Australian pursuit but divided like the crit into separate A and B races, and there was no previous form for the hill climb.

In pique and frustration at 10 pm Friday night I decided, “To hell with it. I’m not going. Save myself $200. Catch up on my music and writing. Etc.” Even from a selfish viewpoint this was a bad decision, since reactive, which I regretted the next morning. More broadly and shamefully I was not considering that I was letting down others who were counting on me for the medals.

Moral: check your email at least every 3 days; don’t leave confirmation of the race schedule until the night before; don’t just think of yourself. I probably need to think more of the virtue of serving rather than the ego of winning. There is more to life than cycle racing. But there is more to cycle racing than winning.

Woefully behind with race descriptions and Velociraptor competition results and standings – another of my flaws is overestimating what I can do. Hopefully, the race free weekend August 8th will enable me to catch up. For now know that Steve Bachop 45, Emile De Rosnay 37, and Louis Watson 33 are doing well in the A men scratch. David Mercer 67, and Bill Yearwood 58 are leaders in the A men comprehensive age standards. Rino De Biasio 76, and Stephen Muir 48 are near the front in all 3 B men competitions: Australian pursuit, scratch, and comprehensive age standard.

Points are from 10 for 1st down to 1 for 10th in all 5 season-long Velociraptor competitions. Every BCMCA event counts in all the Velociraptor Competitions whether hill climb, criterium, or A/B road race – not just Australian pursuit road races and time trials – even if the event does not count toward the BCMCA overall. Try out the BCMCA events which are distant from your home region. Yes it’s expensive and time consuming but view it as a break, a mini-holiday. Take a partner, friend, or family. Make contact with other racing cyclists. Enjoy the ambience. Encourage cycling friends, runners, triathletes, etc. who are not dedicated racing cyclists to race for fun and fitness. Emphasise that BCMCA caters for all ages and abilities. Point out that BCMCA races are safer than sanctioned cycle races and club league races. Draw attention to the Adonis and Aphrodite qualities of BCMCA members.

Mental Health and Physical Exercise

One of the aids to mental health is regular physical exercise (see blog ‘Mental Health and Critical Thinking’ 7/1/10). I have monitored the effects of various forms of physical exercise on my own mental state over about 20 years. Also, I have compared these effects with the effectiveness or benefits of other common aids to mental health or forms of treatment. Here are some of my (albeit subjective) findings.

1.Strenuous physical exercise gives a more significant psychological boost or uplift than non-strenuous exercise. By ‘strenuous’ I mean pushing the lungs and heart to near maximum, the point where conversation is not possible. Thus, strenuous exercise is different from jogging, swimming, cycling, playing tennis, soccer, etc., well within oneself.

2. Strenuous bursts of exercise lasting 30 seconds or less are not so psychologically boosting or uplifting as ones lasting 2-6 minutes or more.

3. 1½ hours of (mainly) 4 or 5 minute intervals may give as much psychological boost as 45 minutes all-out effort. The 1½ hours of intervals may include some short 30 seconds intervals.

4. The psychological boost of strenuous physical exercise does not increase significantly above 2½ hours exercise session.

5. The psychological boost of strenuous exercise includes the following: calm; greater optimism; self-confidence; resilience – feeling more able to cope with inevitable, unexpected setbacks and present known challenges; getting things in perspective – some mistakes, problems, deficiencies, injustices, setbacks seem less catastrophic; greater acceptance of life’s imperfections and misfortunes; joy in simple things – clouds, trees, having hot and cold running water, clean safe accommodation, friends, health.
The psychological boost attained by strenuous physical exercise is qualitatively similar to the uplift given by tranquilisers and anti-depressants (when these are working well, i.e. no flat affect, no disruptions of concentration, unpleasant side effects).

6. The psychological boost given by strenuous exercise lasts the rest of the day but is not significantly felt the next day. In order to maintain psychological boost through strenuous physical exercise 3 workouts per week are necessary. These strenuous workouts should be a minimum of 30 minutes all-out or 1 hour interval sessions.

7. It is difficult to separate the psychological boost given by a particular form of strenuous exercise from other psychological benefits associated with that activity, e.g. certain kinds of cycle interval training and success in cycle road racing.

8. Some fortunate individuals can maintain reasonable psychological well-being without strenuous exercise. For those who are prone to mental health problems a physical exercise program may be necessary, working up to strenuous physical exercise. It may be that strenuous physical exercise is more necessary for males than for females for physiological reasons.

9. Psychological well-being - buoyancy, resilience, feelings of adequacy, competence, joy in life, enjoyment of life – cannot be maintained solely or mainly by strenuous physical exercise. Inner self-satisfaction is probably a more important component of psychological well-being/mental health. You have to regularly engage in, commit yourself to, an activity which on analysis, criticism, and reflection it is reasonable to hold as worthwhile, as being of intrinsic value. Such intrinsically worthwhile activities might include community service, learning another language, scientific investigation, practicing art, writing, learning the piano. To many, some activities, though reasonably pleasant and satisfying (and more worthy than, say, watching tv, playing bingo, or going to shopping malls or garage sales) might not seem ultimately very worthwhile/of intrinsic value, e.g. collecting country and western (or jazz, classical, or rock) records, gardening, fishing, going on a cruise, hiking, mountain climbing, foreign travel, playing soccer or golf, establishing provincial age running records.

In questions of value it is difficult to separate out bias, mere personal taste, and snobbery. For instance, is being an expert ballet dancer of more intrinsic value than being a good model aeroplane builder?

Mental Health and Critical Thinking

Like many I have had mental health problems throughout much of my life. My mental health challenges or weaknesses include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem (self-berating, self-annoyance, feeling inadequate and incompetent), obsessive-compulsive traits, emotional neediness, and insomnia. Such psychic disturbances are experienced by all at some time or other – they are part of the natural response to inevitable setbacks in life. Whether or not anxiety, depression, etc. constitute mental illness depends on their severity, frequency, and persistence. Although everyone will experience some anxiety, depression, and so on, some will be more predisposed by a combination of genes and childhood training to have psychic problems in an acute or chronic form.

There are a number of aids people employ in order to maintain mental health or alleviate or cope with mental illness, or weakness (flaws, dysfunction). These aids include: physical exercise; creative activity – art, music, writing; meditation, Tai Chi, yoga; attention to diet; medication; religion; talk therapy – which may involve developing emotional awareness of self and others, and exposing oneself to discomfort and response modification. In addition, there are social factors, not so much within the agent’s control, which greatly help mental well-being, self-confidence, resilience, and mood, e.g. money, leisure, security, friends, having a good job, finding a romantic partner, social appreciation and status.

As part of my mental health regimen I have tried all of these aids except religion. (I have studied, explored, and tried to understand religions but never been a believer or practitioner.) Buying into an authority figure (or institution) who purports to have the definite answers – beyond questioning, intersubjective evidence and testing, clarifying terms – brings comfort and meaning to most human beings. Personally, though, I think it healthier individually and socially, and more noble, to learn to accept some uncertainty, not knowing, differences in belief, priorities, preferences, and perspective. Submitting to a religion, authority figure, institution or guru provides a security blanket but why not learn to deal with life without one, without simplistic, dogmatic rules? Instead of giving way to the tribe/herd/guru-follower mentality why not develop careful, open, critical thinking even though this involves work and discomfort?

Letting go of the self, merging oneself with beauty, goodness, kindness, justice, universal love, connexion with all things is a beneficial practice. Such an attitude, however, is different from dogmatically embracing beliefs and rules asserted by some human being as self-proclaimed agent of God or Divine revelation, or as a guru whose alleged insights are beyond logical or conceptual thought, or the need for evidence and questioning.

Even if it were empirically established that those who believed in, say, the Greek Orthodox faith, (or Jungianism, say), were significantly happier than those who did not would this be sufficient for becoming a member of the Greek Orthodox Church (or a Jungian)? If it could be empirically established that you personally would be happier if you became a member of the Greek Orthodox Church (or a Jungian) would this be sufficient ground for learning to suppress open, critical thinking and inculcating wholehearted (unshakeable, unfalsifiable) belief? If you would be happier given a lobotomy would you have one?

All-Inclusive Age Standards

Often, in a given 5 year age category there are only 1 – 3 riders. It boosts incentive and interest if there are plausible, comprehensive, carefully worked out individual age standards for any race – Australian pursuit, massed start, hill climb (whether individual start, Australian pursuit, or massed start), or criterium (whether 25, 20, or 15 year spread). For any race a rider will have a reasonably objective, meaningful standard for comparing his performance with that of any other rider in the race including those significantly younger than he but in his own 10 year starting group.

It is easy to get overfocussed on times, results, competition. ‘Just enjoy the ride and athletic exhilaration’ is a useful reminder. Does it really matter if you are fastest in your own 5 or 10 year age group? For some a chief goal of cycle racing is to have a good work out and maintain mental and physical buoyancy and vitality rather than get ego gratification through beating the other guy. However, even with the former attitude it is useful to know where you stand in relation to other riders, your particular age, own past performance, and own particular athletic goals.

Age standards (allowances) for a massed start will be less (faster) than those for an Australian pursuit format for the same course or distance. More drafting benefit in the former. Similarly, age standards (allowances) for an Australian pursuit will be less (faster) than for an individual time trial format.

A,B, and C Riders.

Part of Velociraptor cycling philosophy is to promote lifelong cycle racing for all ability levels. In order to provide interest and incentive for less gifted or less dedicated riders the new Velociraptor season-long competitions – scratch, and all-inclusive age standard (separate from our regular BCMCA overall) – will have separate divisions for male A and B riders.

Clearly there is no sharp divide between lower-level A rider and upper-level B rider. I propose the following criteria for an A rider – male.
In the fastest 25-30% of riders (who race more than 10 times per year) in his 5 or 10 year age group in time trials, hill climbs, and sprints.
Surpasses the following age standards for 16 k (10 mile) or 40 k (25 mile) individual time trials on an average course.
30. 23-00 57-30
35. 23-10 58-10
40. 23-30 59-00
45. 23-50 1-0-0
50. 24-15 1-1-0
55. 24-40 1-2-0
60. 25-10 1-3-0
65. 25-45 1-4-30
70. 26-25 1-6-30
75. 27-10 1-8-30
80. 28-10 1-11-0
85. 29-30 1-14-0
90. 30-50 1-17-30.
Exact standards for each year can be extracted by interpolation.

We should welcome and encourage riders who because of genetic endowment, physical disability, medical condition, or time constraints cannot match the performance of regular B riders. If we regularly attract 10+ male riders who do not meet B standards I will introduce separate competitions – scratch, and all-inclusive age standard - for a C division.

I propose the following criteria for a B rider – male.
In the fastest 60 –80% of riders (who race more than 10 times per year) in his 5 or 10 year age group in time trials, hill climbs, and sprints.
Surpasses the following age standards for 16 k (10 mile) or 40 k (25 mile) time trials on an average course.
30. 26-00 1-6-0
35. 26-20 1-7-0
40. 26-40 1-8-0
45. 27-00 1-9-0
50. 27-30 1-10-0
55. 28-00 1-11-30
60. 28-30 1-13-00
65. 29-10 1-14-40
70. 30-00 1-16-30
75. 31-00 1-18-30
80. 32-20 1-21-0
85. 33-50 1-25-0
90. 35-30 1-29-30.
Again, exact standards for each year can be extracted by interpolation.

Separate divisions within female riders will be introduced as we get more women riders.

Please let me know before March your best performance of the previous season and if you think you should be in the A or B division.

Welcoming Recreational Racers

Encouraging people to ride BCMCA events who have neither desire, time, nor ability to become winning riders within their age group, broadens support for cycle racing. Broader participation in cycle racing is connected with increased awareness of, and popularity of, cycling as a viable, commuting, shopping, touring option. This in turn has individual, social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Cycle racing should encourage participation by riders who are not top athletes but who still want an exhilarating, satisfying, athletic experience. Cycle racing should include not just dedicated, genetically endowed, specialists pushing themselves to the limit but those who want more mellow, fun, recreational racing. Cycle racing could attract a broader range of participants as do 10 k runs, marathons, triathlons, soccer, baseball, etc.

Cycle racing at a top amateur level for any age group is a very demanding sport. However, I maintain cycle racing should focus on the average guy not on developing an elite who can compete at national, international, or Olympic level. Cycle racing should be an available option to any boy or girl, man or woman, or senior who is looking for a group sporting activity for fitness and all-round wellbeing. Cycle racing can be promoted more as a fun activity for people of all ages and ability levels. It does not have to be presented as an extreme sport for fanatics and super athletes.

Racing cyclists should do more to encourage and welcome 35-45 year old males who get a sense of personal achievement and satisfaction from beating 1-15-00 for a 40 k (25 mile) individual time trial (32 kph/20mph). Similarly for 55-65 year old males happy to beat 1-20-00 (30 kph) for a 25, and 75 year olds glad to be alive, active, and still beating 1-26-00 (28 kph/17.5 mph) for a 25. One can admire the performance of older elite BC racing cyclists like Don Gillmore, Olaf Stana, Emile de Rosnay, Derek Tripp, etc. yet still have appreciation and respect for the average guy not at peak fitness, not racing flat out, and still managing to fit bike racing into a busy schedule.

We need to avoid the attitude: ‘I can’t win, therefore I won’t get any respect or recognition, therefore I won’t bother competing, I’ll just look inferior.’ We can remind ourselves there are many other worthy activities and achievements in life besides prowess in bike racing.

The emphasis should be on creditable performance not on winning. Someone who finishes 35th may be contributing as much to the sport and society as one who finishes 5th. In cycle racing we tend to admire riders who can ‘suffer’, push themselves to the limit, but there is a place for appreciating those who can turn out strenuous rides, have a good work out, but keep themselves within limits. On the running track for instance I can learn to enjoy doing a 400m in 1-30 rather than busting my guts to beat 1-15. Competition need not mean being in the first 3 but can mean reaching a certain standard given limited training time, and without riding oneself into the ground.

We should be welcoming in cycle races riders of moderate ability who do not have top equipment. We should be attracting cycle commuters, randonnneurs, cycle tourists, etc. who want to race only once a month. People could be encouraged to race even if they have only a commuter, touring, or winter bike. A hill climb, 10 or 25 mile time trial, or 64 k road race should be just as available to the average sports/fitness minded person as a 10 k run, half marathon, or local soccer league.

Apologies for Delay in Results,etc.

Apologies for Delay in Results, etc.
There are 2 Velociraptor auxiliary competitions, new for 2010, for BCMCA races: Velociraptors Scratch; Velociraptors Group Ride Age Handicap. These are divided into an Elite (A), and Regular (B) division, and into Men and Women. They are in addition to the main BCMCA overall competition, and 5 and 10 year age group competitions.
Hill climbs and crits – all races – will count in these auxiliary Velociraptor season-long competitions.
Classification as Elite or Regular is not a reflection of your capability but rather on the amount of time you are willing or able to put into training. E.g. Roland Buehler (Guitars Plus) is clearly a natural elite rider but currently has limited time for training and racing due to business and family commitments.
Please let me know if you think I have got you (or someone else) in the wrong category.
For each race I also nominate a Best Overall Performance – not necessarily the actual fastest or first to finish. I consult with very experienced, active members such as Bill Yearwood and Duane Martindale.
I am getting a list of Year of Birth for all BCMCA riders. Hence full results and race descriptions for 2010 so far will be posted here by June 17th.
Good racing and Best wishes to all of you!

Massed Start Group Age Standards

Velociraptor Individual Group Ride Age Standards for Massed Start (or ability pursuit, i.e. non-age based Australian Pursuit). Regular Length (i.e. 64 k)
We might like to try the massed start format occasionally (instead of 5 small ten year age groups). Also, we may wish to try an Australian pursuit based on ability not age (e.g. 3 or 4 groups starting at 2 or 3 minute intervals, slowest group off first). In these cases the following comprehensive age chart could be used.
Large gaps between 10 year age groups are eliminated since this format does not embody age group start gaps. Yearly increments are slightly diminished to offset the benefit of increased drafting.

30. 1-45-35
31. 1-45-36
32. 1-45-39
33. 1-45-44
34. 1-45-51
35. 1-46-00
36. 1-46-11
37. 1-46-22
38. 1-46-33
39. 1-46-44
Increments 35-39 are 11 seconds. Increments 39-49: 13 seconds.
40. 1-46-57
41. 1-47-10
42. 1-47-23
43. 1-47-36
44. 1-47-49
45. 1-48-02
46. 1-48-15
47. 1-48-28
48. 1-48-41
49. 1-48-54
Increments 49-59: 17 seconds.
50. 1-49-11
51. 1-49-28
52. 1-49-45
53. 1-50-02
54. 1-50-19
55. 1-50-36
56. 1-50-53
57. 1-51-10
58. 1-51-27
59. 1-51-44
Increments 59-69: 21 seconds.
60. 1-52-05
61. 1-52-26
62. 1-52-47
63. 1-53-08
64. 1-53-29
65. 1-53-50
66. 1-54-11
67. 1-54-32
68. 1-54-53
69. 1-55-14
Increments 69-79: 31 seconds.
70. 1-55-45
71. 1-56-16
72. 1-56-47
73. 1-57-18
74. 1-57-49
75. 1-58-20
76. 1-58-51
77. 1-59-22
78. 1-59-53
79. 2-00-24
Increments 79-89: 41 seconds. Thus, standard for 80 is 2-01-05, etc.

This massed start age standard chart could easily be adapted for events of shorter (hill climbs) or longer duration (72+ k road races).
Note that under BCMCA rules (given standard 10 year starting gaps) in group riding a woman is classed with a male 15 years her senior. But in time trials she is classed with a male 8 years her senior.
If this massed start age standard chart seems unduly hard on 70s + we could build in bonus start gaps between the decades, e.g. 39-40 20seconds; 49-50 30seconds; 59-60 40 seconds; 69-70 1 minute; 79-80 1 and ½ minutes.

Group Hill Climb Age Standards

Velociraptor Individual Group Ride Age Standards for Australian Pursuit Hill Climbs. Appropriately shortened starting gaps.
Shawnigan Lake: 60s 2 minutes after 70s; 50s 1 and1/2 minutes;
40s 1 minute after 50s; 30s 30 seconds after 40s. Penticton (suggested): 60s 2-40 after 70s; 50s 2 minutes after 60s; 40s 1-20 after 50s; 30s 40 seconds after 40s.
Shawnigan Lake h.c.: Time taken by hypothetical average 35 year old approx. 26-27 minutes. Hence take individual group ride age standards to be ¼ of those for regular (64 k ) Australian pursuit road race course.
Similarly for Penticton climb take standards to be 1/3 of those for regular road race.
Other hill climbs will be rated accordingly. I will consult with Duane Martindale, Bill Yearwood, etc.
The philosophy is that all rides should count to the overall since a long hill climb is just as hard as a road race, and sometimes there is only one or no other rider in your 5 year age category.

Group Ride Age Standards for Longer Races

Velociraptor Individual Group Ride Age Standards for Australian Pursuit. Longer Courses (72-80 k instead of regular 64 k).
Add approx. 10% to yearly increments and 10 year age gaps for regular courses chart.
Note: racing age is not your age on the day of the race. It is the age you attain during the current calendar year.

30. 1-56-01
31. 1-56-04
32. 1-56-09
33. 1-56-16
34. 1-56-25
35. 1-56-36
36. 1-56-49
37. 1-57-02
38. 1-57-15
39. 1-57-28
Gap between 39 and 40 is 1-03. 35-39 increments 13 seconds.
40. 1-58-31
41. 1-58-47
42. 1-59-03
43. 1-59-19
44. 1-59-35
45. 1-59-51
46. 2-00-07
47. 2-00-23
48. 2-00-39
49. 2-00-55
Gap between 49 and 50 is 1-39. 40-49 increments are 16 seconds.
50. 2-02-34
51. 2-02-54
52. 2-03-14
53. 2-03-34
54. 2-03-54
55. 2-04-14
56. 2-04-34
57. 2-04-54
58. 2-05-14
59. 2-05-34
Gap between 59 and 60 is 2-10. 50-59 increments are 20 seconds.
60. 2-07-44
61. 2-08-08
62. 2-08-32
63. 2-08-56
64. 2-09-20
65. 2-09-44
66. 2-10-08
67. 2-10-32
68. 2-10-56
69. 2-11-20
Gap between 69 and 70 is 3-11. 60-69 increments are 24 seconds.
70. 2-14-31
71. 2-15-06
72. 2-15-41
73. 2-16-16
74. 2-16-51
75. 2-17-26
76. 2-18-01
77. 2-18-36
78. 2-19-11
79. 2-19-46
Gap between 79 and 80 is 3-46. 70-79 increments are 35 seconds. 80-89 increments are 46 seconds. Thus, standard for 80 is 2-23-32, etc.

Velociraptor Group Riding Comprehensive Age Standards

In effect BCMCA 10 year starting gaps of 6 minutes for 60s after 70s down to 3 minutes for 30s after 40s incorporate group riding age standards but only for exact multiples of 10 year differences in age. I offer the following comprehensive individual age standards for group starts to supplement the BCMCA Australian pursuit (or even mass starts). The Australian pursuit age format remains the main competition. However, yearly age standard times (as well as actual times) are also given to each finisher to add incentive and interest.

In the present unsupplemented age handicapping in group races the rider who is at the top age (oldest) of his starting group is at a disadvantage compared with the rider who is at the bottom age (youngest) of the same or another group (particularly for 10 year or more starting groups).
Examples:
A 59 year old finishes 4 seconds behind a 51 year old.
A 49 year old finishes 4 seconds behind a 50 year old (in actual time the 49 year old is 3-56 faster the 50s having a 4 minute start over the 40s).
A 59 year old finishes 4 seconds behind a 41 year old.
In examples like these it is reasonable to hold that the rider who finishes 4 seconds behind has beaten the other on age standard.

To supplement the basic system:
Take the hypothetical average 35 year old male rider who does a 25 mile tt in 1-04-00. Assume he will do a 64 k Australian pursuit starting with other 30 year olds (some faster some slower than he ) on a somewhat hilly course in 1-46-00. Our start gaps imply a similar 45 year old male will take 1-49-00, a 55 year old 1-53-00, a 65 year old 1-58-00, and a 75 year old 2-04-00.
Now use the base times for 35, 45, 55, and 65 year old male riders to generate standards for all ages male and female. The following conditions should be met. Yearly increments should increase with age yet remain the same within the same age start group. The gaps between the top of one age group and the bottom of the next oldest age group should increase with age. Yearly increments should be about 35% (for 40s) of those for individual time trial of same length, 40% (for 60s), up to 60% for 70s and 80s – benefit of drafting offset by somewhat hillier course, drafting benefit decreases for slower, older riders. When the age difference between rider in one 10 year start group and rider in adjacent start group is greater than 10 (can be up to 19) then difference on standard should be greater than start gap between the two groups. When the age difference between rider in one 10 year start group and rider in adjacent start group is less than 10 (can be down to 1) then difference on standard should be less than the start gap between the two groups.
The following chart is about the only one which plausibly meets the conditions.

For moderately hilly circuits of about 64 k (40 miles). Males.

30. 1-45-30
31. 1-45-32
32. 1-45-36
33. 1-45-42
34. 1-45-50
35. 1-46-00
36. 1-46-12
37. 1-46-24
38. 1-46-36
39. 1-46-48
35-39 increments 12 seconds. Gap between 39 and 40 is 57 seconds.
40. 1-47-45
41. 1-48-00
42. 1-48-15
43. 1-48-30
44. 1-48-45
45. 1-49-00
46. 1-49-15
47. 1-49-30
48. 1-49-45
49. 1-50-00.
40-49 increments 15 seconds. Gap between 49 and 50 is 1-30.
50. 1-51-30
51. 1-51-48
52. 1-52-06
53. 1-52-24
54. 1-52-42
55. 1-53-00
56. 1-53-18
57. 1-53-36
58. 1-53-54
59. 1-54-12.
Gap between 59 and 60 is 1-58. 50-59 increments are 18 seconds.
60. 1-56-10
61. 1-56-32
62. 1-56-54
63. 1-57-16
64. 1-57-38
65. 1-58-00
66. 1-58-22
67. 1-58-44
68. 1-59-06
69. 1-59-28.
Gap between 69 and 70 is 2-52. 60-69 increments are 22 seconds.
70. 2-2-20
71. 2-2-52
72. 2-3-24
73. 2-3-56
74. 2-4-28
75. 2-5-00
76. 2-5-32
77. 2-6-04
78. 2-6-36
79. 2-7-08.
Gap between 79 and 80 is 3-22. 70-79 increments are 32 seconds.
80. 2-10-30
81. 2-11-12
82. 2-11-54
83. 2-12-36
84. 2-13-18
85. 2-14-00
86. 2-14-42
87. 2-15-24
88. 2-16-06
89. 2-16-48.
Gap between 89 and 90 is 3-52. 80-89 increments are 42 seconds.
90. 2-20-40
91. 2-21-32
92. 2-22-24
93. 2-23-16
94. 2-24-08
95. 2-25-00
96. 2-25-52
97. 2-26-44
98. 2-27-36
99. 2-28-28.
Gap between 99 and 100 about 4-30. 90-99 increments are 52 seconds.

Notice I have increased the age allowance for 70s and older. This is because even good 70s riders like Eric Rayson, Dave Emery, and John Smith have been unable to get into the top 10 Australian pursuit. If 70s improve we could revert to the original gaps, i.e. a 75 standard of 2-04-00, and an 85 standard of 2-11-00.

This Velociraptor group riding age standard chart could be adjusted for courses which are significantly different in length and time from the 64 k (40 mile) standard. For example add 10% to all age standards for the Langley Phoenix Velo Thunderbird race. The chart is easily modified to accommodate massed start (non-Australian pursuit) – start with the same base of 1-46-00 for the hypothetical average 35 year old male, and make the gap between 39 and 40 the same as the 40s yearly increments, the gap between 49 and 50 the same as the 50s yearly increments, etc. This would enable us to have massed start hill climbs with age standard results. For instance a massed start Shawnigan hill climb would be 25% of the massed start 64 k age standards, Penticton hill climb would be 33%. Incidentally, hill climbs with riders setting off individually can easily be fitted into present age standards – simply incorporate the time trial standards from a time trial of similar duration.

The Velociraptor group riding age standard for a woman is that of a male 15 years her senior.

The Velociraptor group riding age standard chart can easily be modified for courses where the age group start gaps are different from our standard ones – e.g. an Australian pursuit Shawnigan hill climb.

At 67 I feel the decline setting in and so I am more motivated to come up with comprehensive age standards to give me something to race for even though I don’t have a hope of keeping up with guys 30 years younger.

Circuit of Lake Quamichan (Maple Bay) Sunday May 2nd 2010

There is an English pub name which captures the flavour of Australian pursuit cycle road races – ‘The Hare and Hounds’. The thrill of the chase. Often there is more uncertainty, excitement, and drama in Australian pursuit than in regular road racing. Many races within the race. How many of the faster chasing groups will catch me? Will I be caught by just a few from the faster groups or by most of a group? Will voracious chasers get me in their sights with only 5 k to go? How long can I hold out or hold on?

In the Circuit of Lake Quamichan new sexagenarian Derek Tripp again set a lung bursting pace from the start, riding away from Ray Morrison and David Mercer, leaving them gasping, legs buckling, on the first lap main climb after about 10k. However, for the next 2 laps Morrison and Mercer had the incentive of seeing Derek in the distance until he vanished over the horizon like dreams of youthful vigour.

The fast men of the 30s, 40s, and 50s groups were holding together and pushing well but none could absorb the leaders of the group in front. Yet the lead five of the 50s were within 19 seconds of scooping up all but Derek Tripp at the finish. Also, powerful 40s duo Bob Cameron and Steve Bachop were only 30 seconds behind the 50s leaders. Another 5k and the race would have had quite a different ending.

The most exciting sub race was in the 50s. Martin Willock got a gap a few times in the closing kilometers before awing his fellows with an audacious jump on the last corner with 500 m still to go. As at Langley 50s riders had praise for Ray Wagner’s work in leading the chase – another fittingly Wagnerian performance.

Good to see track stalwarts Malcolm Faulkner and James Holtz adding colour to the road race taking on uncongenial terrain. Watch out when Jim breaks down and buys a carbon bike to replace his steel one to celebrate moving up to the 60s. Thanks to Dave Steen on the first corner for shouting out clear time checks.

Again gracious Duane Martindale, photo maestro, added pep to the 50s group before dropping out nonchalantly to assist better half Helen with the finish. The finish was also expertly handled by Lynda Bowden and Glenda Harling along with Nanaimo uber organizer and commissaire Peter McCaffery.

The gleaming, sculpted legal legs of Bob Cameron were on display to complement the prime exhibit of scenic Lake Quamichan in post-race Moose Rd. Lodge. 30s Shane Savage, Lois Watson, and Dan Larche looked like a trio of Titans yet could pull back only 1’ 22” on the scorching 40s twosome. Lone 70s lean but jovial John Smith fittingly teamed up with sole woman, charming Alix Reid who made a welcome return to racing only last year. Former hockey player John Guthrie 52 in only his second season of cycle racing has now moved up to elite class after excellent back to back 6th places.

Best performance went to Derek Tripp who riding in effect entirely alone gave up only 3’ 20’’ to a numerous and formidable 50s chasing group.

Photo pick: (Duane’s site) Page 4 50s sprint. Page 6 30s sprint.

Velociraptors Scratch Points.

1. Louis Watson 1 40’ 32’’ (actual time) 10 points
2. Shane Savage 1 40’ 32” 9 points
3.Dan Larche same time 8 points 4. Bob Cameron 1 41’ 54” 7
5. Steve Bachop same time 6
6. Jason Eagles 1 44’ 50” 5
7. Martin Willock 1 45’ 24” 4
8. Steve Crowley same time 3
9. John Guthrie same time 2
10. Mike Sevcov same time 1 point.

Velociraptors Age Standard Points
See Group Ride Age Standards blog for details.
Actual Time Age Standard Points
1. David Mercer 67 1-50-09 + 8-35 10
2. Mike Sevcov 57 1-45-24 + 8-12 9
3. Bill Yearwood 58 1-45-54 + 8-00 8
4. Martin Willock 56 1-45-24 + 7-54 7
5. Derek Tripp 60 1-48-44 + 7-26 6
6. Bob Cameron 45 1-41-54 + 7-06 5
7. Steve Bachop 45 1-41-54 + 7-06 4
8. John Guthrie 52 1-45-54 + 6-42 3
8. Michael Stoehr 55 1-46-18 + 6-42 3
10. Ray Morrison 61 1-50-05 + 6-27 1
11. Ray Wagner 51 1-45-24 + 6-24
12. Steve Crowley 50 1-45-24 + 6-06
13. Dan Larche 38 1-40-32 + 6-04
14. Steve Munro 50 1-45-41 + 5-49
15. Shane Savage 35 1-40-32 + 5-28
16. Louis Watson 33 1-40-32 + 5-10

Note: first 16 Australian Pursuit spread 3-48.
First 16 Velociraptors Age Standard spread 3-25

Velociraptors Regular/Non-Elite Points.

1. Lionel Gaudet 10 points
2. Ron Shick 9
3. James Holtz 8
4. Barton Bourassa 7
5. John Smith 6
6. Harry Balke 5 points
7. Ian Birch 4
8. Malcom Faulkner 3
9. Ian Harper 2
10. Wayne Shtybel 1

Womens Velociraptors Points

Alix Reid gets maximum 10 points in all three Velociraptors Points Competitions.

Please let me know of errors in times, age, etc. and if you think you are allocated to wrong Elite/Regular category. As a rough guide I am taking a 50 year old who does a 10 mile tt at over 40 kph to be Elite.