BCMCA Thanks and Suggestions

Congratulations to Peter McCaffery on his enterprise and initiative in utilizing the currently unused Duke Point ferry road for time trials. Thanks to Olav Stana for all his work on the new BCMCA website – www.bcmasterscycling.net. Thanks to steadfast marshals and officials like Larry Pommen, Bruce Falk, Dave Emery, David Garrick, Dave Steen, Kim and Joe Gard, Helen Martindale, Glenda Harling, Pamela Macdougall, Lynda Bowden, and many more.

It makes sense for BCMCA to have Nanaimo as a main location for races – accessibility from Vancouver without car. I would like to see several exact 16, 20, 25, 30, or 32 k out and home tts in the Nanaimo area in the Masters’ schedule. Easy marshalling. Is there a hill climb course within riding distance of Jonanco, Nanaimo River Rd. so we could have a tt and hill climb on the same day? Near to the Nanaimo crit course too?

BCMCA would have more options if we adopted road race age standards, and criterium age bonus point scoring standards such as the ones I have developed (see previous posts).
Ability based handicap can easily conform to BCMCA age handicapping. Have ability groups based on 25 mile tt times. 1. Under 58 minutes. 2. 58 – 1’02”. 3. 1’02” – 1’06”. 4. 1’06” – 1’10” 5. 1’10” – 1’14”. 6. Over 1’14”. (Honour system plus judges’ discretion.) Start at 5 minute intervals for an average 64 k road race – time 2 hours for an average 60year old. Then employ age standards for group riding such as the ones I have developed to actual finishing times for overall age group results. Thus we would get 2 sets of results for the same race – ability handicap and age standard. Have periodic reviews of age or ability standards and handicapping. But keep it simple. Remember no system of handicapping is perfect.

Notwithstanding the preceding the present age based start gaps work well. (I favour starting the 30s only 2 minutes after the 40s instead of the present 3 minutes for a trial period.)

BCMCA should keep the format of staggered starts in road races – more acceptable to municipalities and the ministry of transportation.

I will use the Members’ Forum on the new Masters’ website, plus my drvelociraptor.blogspot.com and http://www.velociraptors.ca/website to stimulate discussion within the Masters’ membership. Exploration of different viewpoints is part of personal and social growth.

I differ from some admirable, distinguished BCMCA stalwarts in holding that we should become a registered non-profit society with a clear, written constitution and byelaws. There should be a proper AGM (2 hours minimum) distinct from awards ceremonies so there can be serious and open discussion of members’ proposals. Having this in the Lower Mainland makes sense – centrality, accessibility to all. No one should be a director for life no matter how valuable his or her previous service. We should aim at 3 regions within BC each with a membership of 200+ and a full racing schedule. An overall championship (triple points?) could alternate between the 3 regions. Best 12 to count, only 9 being from one region – encourage broader athletic and social contacts.

The main focus of BCMCA should be: recreational cycle racing for all ages and abilities. I would like a name change to BC Seniors and Recreational Cycling Association – politically more appealing, avoiding elitist connotations of ‘Masters’.
Cycling BC can have the Olympic and professional hopefuls, and young diehards. We can have the general athlete and fitness types, older or more mellow guys. Apart from promoting cycle racing (all forms including velodrome, grass track, mountain, and cyclo cross) BCMCA or BCSRCA should advocate overall use of the bicycle instead of the private automobile. We should link up with the various cycling coalitions, triathlon groups, and school and college athletic associations. We should encourage the growth of similar organizations in other provinces, states, and countries. We should cater more to women racing cyclists.

According to my experience in philosophy it is unlikely that a majority will agree with most of my proposals or suggestions. That’s okay. The important thing is to get people thinking and active in cycling. I disagree with many Canadian laws but I’m still a fairly content, law abiding Canadian. I accept my role as loner, oddball – bit of a pest. Hopefully I provide some amusement and don’t just annoy.