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.