ABD's Wednesday Night Training Crits Start Tonight!

The ABD Cycle Club kicks off a series of Training Criteriums at the "Pelladrome" in West Chicago, Illinois tonight. The course is a .8 mile loop on smooth pavement just off of Fabyan Parkway and was used for a stage of the 2009 Fall Fling. Full details at www.ABDcycling.com

These are strictly training races in that we want everyone to focus on getting a great workout and being safe- results are secondary. We will allow lapped riders to jump back in the race and we're only picking the top 5 finishers by sight. [This would be the low-tech counterpart to our live TT results at the JFMTT.] We are also going to be mixing up the events with some track-style races to keep it interesting out there.

We'll start off our first night with a 15 minute beginner/warm-up race at 6:15. This race is for TRUE newbies and we ask that any advanced riders (Category 1-4) that would like to use it as a warm-up to do it solely as pack filler. Go the same speed as the pack and sit-in so that the new riders get used to racing in a field. Advanced riders are not permitted to attack or go with breakaway riders- however they can pace dropped riders back up to the field.

After the warm-up race the official "A" (category 1-3) and "B" (category 4-5) races get started at 6:30 for a 25 minute straight-up race. We still start the A riders first and 20 seconds later start the B riders (the number series will be different so you know who you're racing against).

We will keep track of lapped riders and dropped riders. As mentioned, if you get dropped you can roll around to the pit and jump back in after we've written down your number.

ALL SOLO RIDERS WHO HAVE BEEN DROPPED MUST YIELD TO LARGER GROUPS AND REPORT BACK TO THE PIT.

The 25 minute race will conclude with a 3-lap countdown around 7 p.m. After that race is over we will have a brief 10-minute rest.

The final event of the evening starts around 7:15 and will be an all category points race with sprints every 5 laps for points (4-deep: 5,3,2,1). We'll race until it's too dark and the rider with the most points when it's called wins (like an unknown distance points race). We expect the first night to last 20 to 30 minutes and get longer as the series goes on. Points race rules apply in that if there is a breakaway then those riders are the leaders and get max points, but as soon as they catch the largest group on the road then whatever chase group was behind them becomes the leaders.

Again, ALL SOLO RIDERS WHO HAVE BEEN DROPPED MUST YIELD TO LARGER GROUPS AND REPORT BACK TO THE PIT. There are going to be sprints every 5 laps and if you are out there by yourself after being dropped we may hold you in the pit until after the sprint. This is entirely for everyone's safety.

Any questions? Ask 'em tonight and we'll make up an answer for you.

APRIL 28 SCHEDULE:
6:15 Beginner’s Race (Category 1 through 4 riders warm-up)
6:30 25 minute Scratch race (straight-up race. "A" and "B" groups)
7:15 Points race, all categories.