Crit Perspectives
My First Crit Race
Emma Young
After feeling FOMO of the Hervelo cyclcross race crew I decided that when the opportunity to give Crit racing a go, something easier for my dodgey ankle, I would give it a go. Hervelo were organising one of the Friday races and I was going to be at the track volunteering anyway so I signed up for the beginners Women’s race.
To get myself ready I joined three other Hervelo’s at womens hour the Monday before the event. I thoroughly enjoyed myself it was just like outdoor turbo apart from I had to control the bike as well as propel it forward. The cornering was challenging but after some practise and advice from Jodie I felt ready.
I spent the week thinking about race tactics and cornering and asking Hervelos so many questions. When Friday came and we gathered at the track to set up for the races I was surrounded by friendly faces and more nervous Hervelos that I was to race against.
When the whistle blew I went off the front putting myself in the best position for the dreaded hairpin then lead on the front for a short time. After a lap Cheryl overtook me and I tried my hardest to stay on her wheel. Sadly this only lasted for half a lap or but then I worked with Kirsty, soon found my rhythm and pulled away. It was then a solo effort to not be lapped by Cheryl.
I lapped and caught up with Annarita who tried to chat but I didn’t have any energy for that so after a lap together I pulled away. I was going all out to stay in second and push my limits. Sadly with a few laps to go Cheryl overtook me and I couldn’t hold the wheel but I continued to fight til the end finishing second out of four. I was really pleased with my performance and ability to push when needed.
Having enjoyed the first experience I was asked if I wanted to give the main E/1/2/3/4 Women’s race a go in order to increase numbers and therefore the points available. Finish line euphoria led me to say yes.
I lined up with thirty other women for the race and found myself holding my own, cornering with confidence this time round. I kept with the second bunch but after a few laps I was getting dropped then fighting to get back on. I told myself if I got lapped I would pull out. When I saw I’d been riding for 20mins and the front bunch was about to overtake me I slowed down to let them past then pulled off the circuit. I couldn’t push any harder, I had done not one but two races in an evening and my legs didn’t want to go anymore.
The circuit is so smooth and fast that I fell in love with road cycling once more, especially as you don’t have to think about cars or potholes and can go as fast as you dare. I will be trying crit racing again and encourage anyone to give womens hour a go to get a feel for the track
Snips - timing chips - numbers - ID
Karen MairThe odd thing about volunteering at the sign on desk is we don’t actually get to see any racing. We do, however, experience first hand, the anticipation of the cast of characters who have entered the race. The nervousness of the first timers, the eagerness of the fresh faced under 18s, the eye squinting of the wily vets - trying to find their name without their reading glasses (as indeed we were doing!) - whilst modestly downplaying their chances of victory, the frenzy of the latecomers and the fumbling (by the riders and us) of timing chips, numbers, safety pins and zip ties. Oh and the free hubs….. the glorious sound of freshly cleaned and lubed, fancy free-hubs, ready for action as they roll off to the start line.
There is a lull. Several minutes of calm, punctuated by the odd early bird signing on for the final race. We start conversations (that we really must finish one day), cherrypick the best volunteer snacks and try to organise ourselves a little better for the onslaught we expect from the returning riders.
As the sweat drenched riders return (all at once!), we are treated to a kaleidoscope like window into the race through their shared post race stories. Some regale us of that single corner where they nearly wiped out, those damn cobbles, or their frustration at getting dropped from the surprisingly fast group. Many are buoyant, feasting off the neurochemicals released during their exertions and are already focussing on their strategy for the next race. Others are just spent and clearly very relieved it’s all over and they stayed upright! We piece together these overlapping snippets to build a picture of what it must have been like out there.
Meanwhile, we get handed back the now unpleasantly damp post race numbers and asked approximately 72 times if we have snips.
“We do.
But someone is using them.”
And repeat. This dance happens 4 times. Each time we are a little better prepared.
By the end of the evening we are a well oiled machine. Like a perfectly indexed drivetrain, we barely need to speak to each other as we find a pleasing rhythm for our simple tasks: snips - timing chips - numbers - id, snips - timing chips - numbers - id, snips - timing chips - numbers - id.
Want to see change? Do it yourself!
Lauren JohnstonI have an opinion on just about every aspect of grassroots women’s bike racing, and I’m a thorn in the side of many Scottish event organisers.
“Why is there no standalone women’s race?” “Why are the women only racing for 20 minutes when the blokes are racing for 50?!” “Why are the women racing on a less technical circuit than the men?”
You get the picture! I’m constantly contacting race organisers with suggestions on how to improve the racing experience for women and increase participation. However, at the end of the day, the vast majority of organisers are volunteers and they are just trying to put on the best event they can with the resources available. Women’s races often run at a loss and I’ve done a few races in the last couple of years where there’s been more volunteers facilitating the race than there are women racing. It’s a bit of a hard sell when you’re asking 20 folk to give up their Sunday afternoon so 14 women can race their bikes.
At the end of the 2024 Thank Crit It’s Friday (TCIF) series, I went along to a meeting hosted by West Lothian Cycle Circuit Association (WLCCA) to hear what was planned for the for the following year and to offer some feedback on how things could be improved for 2025.
I had a lot to say (shock) and by the end of the evening I had volunteered Hervelo to join as an association member club, committing to organising a round of the 2025 TCIF series. But, critically, ensuring we had a seat at the table for discussions regarding the women's races.
All too quickly, it’s July and it’s Hervelo's turn to host the Friday night racers. My biggest concern in the lead up was getting enough volunteers to cover all the marshal points. I needn't have worried though! The Hervelo crew were fantastic and we actually had more folks on hand to help out than we needed, giving Emma the opportunity to race twice 😉
Most of the admin in the lead up to the event was done by Steve, the President of the WLCCA, leaving me to worry about the on the day logistics and the all important prizes. Most organisers don’t even need to worry about event promotion as that’s covered by the WLCCA too! However, I think the organising clubs should be taking on a bigger role to promote their event, especially to their members. We had three first timers that I don’t think would have raced had it not been a Hervelo organised event! No marketing will ever compare to peer pressure from your club mates!
My main motivation for getting the club involved with the association was to bring more women’s voices to table when it comes to event organisation but, surprisingly, I really enjoyed myself. With a decent bit of planning in the run up, it was pretty easy on the night! And I can 100% see why folk end up organising races again and again. The buzz I got from watching the women’s race was amazing, almost as good as racing myself!
