| Is
this racing series a points series? If so, what
is a points series?
This racing series is a points series that connects a variety of NCNCA races. Racers earn points
for their placings in each designated event, and points are tallied at the
end of the season to determine an overall Series winner. The Series calendar
is available on our web site and Series events are marked on
the NCNCA Road Calendar.
How does the Individual Competition work?
Bay Area Women's Cycling will award points to all women who finish each race in the series.
The higher you place in each race, the more points you earn. The points are accumulated within each category (Category 4, Category 3, and Masters 35+) and tallied at the end of the series. The person with the most points in each category
wins the series for that category. You do not have to do all the races on the Series
schedule; just do as many as you can.
How does the Team Competition work?
Bay Area Women's Cycling will track the performance and award points to the teams in the
series. Teams must have at least two members start in the same race. Teams should work
together to get one of its members in the top 5 places within each category (women's
categories 3, 4, and 35+); points are distributed to the top 5 places. In the event that
a top finisher is not eligible for the team competition because she did not start the race
with teammates, the ineligible result will be skipped. Teams can earn points for multiple
finishers within the top-5. The points are accumulated within each category and tallied at the end of the series. The team with the most points in each category
wins the series for that category. Teams do not have to participate in all of the races on
the Series schedule; they should do as many as they can.
Does
it cost anything to join the Series?
There is no extra charge, beyond normal race entry fees (usually $20-25), to participate in the
Series. Completing any of the races in the series schedule automatically enrolls you.
Who
is eligible to participate?
The Series is open to all Category 3 and 4 women no matter what your age. Competitiors must
have a racing age of at least 35 to enter the Masters Series. You do not have to live in Northern
California or Nevada to participate in the Series. Simply register for (and finish) any of the
races on the Series schedule, and you will be included.
If I'm
new to racing, is there anything special I have
to do at a race?
No, showing up and racing is usually enough!
What happens
if I upgrade during the season?
Upgrading to a higher category is a great accomplishment and is one of the goals of having the
Series. We hope that more women will graduate into the higher ranks and more women will try it
as beginners. This grows the sport! If you've earned an upgrade, you will keep any accumulated
points in the category in which you earned them. The points do not transfer over to your new
category totals. This means you are eligible for Cat 4 prizes based on the number of points you
earn as a Cat 4, and you are eligible for Cat 3 prizes too based on the number of points you
earn as a Cat 3. Participants can upgrade at any time by contacting the NCNCA. Upgrading
information is also available at the NCNCA web site: http://www.ncnca.org.
Or email the NCNCA upgrade coordinator, Casey Kerrigan: casey@caseykerrigan.com.
Do I have
to upgrade?
No, it's up to you. But if you race often enough and find yourself placing consistently in the
top few, you may earn enough points that the upgrade is mandatory. If you are mandatorily
upgraded, you will no longer be eligible to compete for additional Series points in the lower
category. However, the points accumulated through that time will be retained for overall standings.
How do I know how many points my team or I
have?
The accumulated points totals will be tallied
weekly throughout the season and will be available
on our results page. Additionally, standings will be posted to various racing email listservs.
What
happens if I'm disqualified from a race?
If you are disqualified either during or after a race, you will be removed from the Series results and
not awarded any points for that event. You should check to see if there is a protest period or protest
procedure if you disagree with the officials. All results are provided by the officials and the race
promoters, and those results are final. We are not the arbiters of the final results!
What
happens if I finished but my name is not on
the results list?
Use the protest period to make sure you're included! The promoters and officials will provide results
as deep as they can, but it's not always possible for eyes or cameras to see everyone. Make sure
you are listed on the posted results and bring any discrepancies to the attention of the race
officials before the end of the protest period. Again, the series organizers are not the arbiters
of final results.
What are
the Prizes?
We supplement promoter-supplied prize lists for Series races. Top-placed individuals and teams will also be recognized and awarded prizes at the end of the season. Thanks to our
sponsors we have excellent cash and merchandise prizes!
What
is Bay Area Women's Cycling?
Bay Area Women's Cycling is an organization with the mission of improving the health and well-being
of women and girls in the Bay Area through physical fitness. Specifically, we encourage women and
girls to ride bicycles, improve their cycling, as well as participate in bicycle races. The
organization coordinates the Northern California Women's Racing Series and the Bay Area Women's
Cycling Clinic. .
What
is "Cycling Made Real"?
Cycling Made Real is the name given to the national effort to help regions throughout the U.S.
implement similar Series and Clinics for amateur women racers. Under the umbrella of one effort,
Cycling Made Real approaches potential product sponsors on behalf of all regions to achieve economies of scale.
Learn more about Cycling Made Real
and sign up to be on their mailing list for New
England Information.
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