|
|
| International: |
Olympics, World Championships, Pan Am/Common Wealth Games, Tour de France, sanctioned by the UCI (union cyclist international- the international governing body in cycling) you have to be on a national team, or large trade team to compete.
|
| National: |
National Championships, Canada Cups, Canada Games, sanctioned by the CCA (Canadian Cycling Association) you either need to be on a registered trade team, or on a provincial team to compete. Selection to international events occurs at this level.
|
| Provincial: |
Events in Alberta, sanctioned by the ABA (Alberta Bicycle Association) you need a license to compete. Selection to National events occurs here.
|
| Local Events: |
In Calgary we have the COP race leagues, CBTL Thursday track races, Tuesday night crits – races just for fun and glory (you don't need a license to compete).
|
| Mountain Biking: |
All the races take place on dirt, and gravel, bikes are built for the abuse, and tires designed to grip in the dirt, while still rolling fairly easy. Bikes vary from 20 lbs to 40lbs, with some type of suspension used. The riders start in the beginner category and work up to sport, expert and elite.
|
| Down hill: |
all about the big hit bikes and drops. Courses are designed to maximize the technical skills needed to clear obstacles, and go fast. Bikes with lots of suspension used, and weight is not a factor, and lots of power required by the rider.
|
| 4 Cross: |
Four bikes line up at the top of the hill, and the first bike across the line wins. The course includes jumps and berms.
|
| Cross-Country: |
This race also involves riding the bike up the hills, and is lasts from 1-3 hours. The course tends to be much less technical than the DH, and the bikes don't require the big suspension, weight of the bike and endurance of the rider more crucial. There are also some popular ultra-endurance races becoming quite popular.
|
| Road Biking: |
All the road bikes use skinny tires, pumped up to at least 100psi, to minimize rolling resistance, and good handling on pavement. They also feature the drop type handle bar. The bikes can weigh as little as 14lbs. The riders start in category 5 and work up to 4-3-2-1. Category 1 riders are national team riders.
|
| Road Races: |
These races take place on the highways, often using a circuit, and vary from 40 to 200km, depending on the ability level of the riders. The race uses hills, and wind to challenge the riders. Tactics play a big part as it is 30% more efficient to draft behind other riders. Many of these races come down to an exciting sprint finish.
|
| Criteriums: |
These events take place on a closed circuit from 1-2km in length. The races are maximum 1 hour, and there-fore fast and intense. Good handling skills required to go around corners at speed, and in close proximity with other rides.
|
| Time-trials: |
The race of truth. Each rider is timed individually, and the fastest rider wins. The distances vary from 5–40 km typically.
|
| Stage Races: |
The Tour de France is the world's largest stage race. In Alberta most stage races take place over 2-3 days, and can have a combination of the above races. The rider with the lowest cumulative time wins.
|
| Track Racing: |
Road bikes with no breaks, and no free-wheel, racing on a banked track called the velo-drome. The back cog is fixed to the wheel and when the wheel turns, so does the pedal. The velo-drome is 250m to 400m long.
|
| Sprints: |
The last 200m is timed, and the fastest rider wins. Usually 2 riders will go head to head.
|
| Pursuit: |
The distance is 2000m to 4000m. Individual riders start on opposite sides of the track, and are timed, but sometimes a rider will catch the opponent and end the race.
|
| Kilo/500m: |
Men ride 1 kilometre, and women ½ kilometre. This race is short, and the effort very intense.
|
| Points race: |
This race is competed over a set number of laps and points are awarded every 5 laps, the winner is the rider collecting the most points. The race uses a lot of tactics, with many sprints and hard efforts.
|
| Scratch race: |
This race covers 5-15km, and the first rider across the line wins. The pace will vary from quite slow to very fast.
|
| Keirin: |
A group of 5-8 riders is paced by a motorcycle for 2 laps and then it is a sprint to the finish line. Very fast and exciting.
|
| Cyclo-cross: |
The bike used is basically a road bike with knobby tires. The course consists of a mix of off-road and even paved roads, with at least 2 places where you have to dismount the bike and run up a hill or over wooden barriers. The maximum time for this race is around an hour. These races take place in fall and early winter after the regular road and mountain bike season.
|
