[Closed] Likelihood of racing for normal people 2021

Ardrock I can't see, too many folk in one place. The Scottish Islands peaks race seem to think they'll go ahead, but this is a format that sees everyone well spread out over a number of days, I can see that happening, though maybe not when it's scheduled in late April.

Well i have just put my registration in for the Trans-Atlantis in the Azores in september, so i am praying by then there is a level of normality (and that i get a place).

And i have entered a southern enduro round.

All fingers and toes are fully crossed. But who knows.

i do know that i wont be taking places to ride for granted anymore. You dont know how good you have got it until its gone.

I too am sitting on a 2019 Ard Rock entry, and the Ex from 2020...

Will see..

DrP

Maybe the cyclocross season they are already calling of Motorbike event six day Scottish trial welch two day enduro who knows!!!

Eh?

I'm hoping there can at leat be some smaller races, but have entries for ard rock, and naughty northumbrian carried over. I'd be surprised if either of them go ahead. I just hope the race organisers can survive another year.

Who knows though!?

Cyclocross season 21/22 is being scheduled as we speak, first Scottish race (to my knowledge) is late October.

I've entered a hill climb/Sportive (yeah yeah, not a race etc.) for mid-May but only because I wanted to support a local event, I have the feeling it will be getting shifted to September (they've already scheduled a contingency date).

I've entered the second round of the Welsh Enduro Series at Llandegla in June - will see what happens with crossing borders etc. as it gets nearer.

XC series organiser here. Not feeling optimistic!

Earliest date we have pencilled in is late June, can't see anything being possible before then.

Lowest tier restrictions (Scotland tier 0) mean max field size of 30, max event attendee headcount of 200 in a 24-hour period. That's not much to work with.

Current thinking - best case scenario would be a mini series of short-course XC races, but a TT format might be more workable.

If we can get something together it's likely to be a real back-to-basics affair, as things like electronic timing etc probably won't be viable.

If headcount has to be restricted, we're likely to prioritise teenage riders ahead of everyone else, as they've probably had more taken away from their lives in the last 12 months than other age groups.

Do you like time trials? I can see them getting the go ahead as they did last year. They are relatively easy to control.

Anything mass start is likely to be difficult. That said dates are pencilled in for some road and CX events.

Locally to me I know CXNE put on some races last year under BC rules. I didn't go as I had given up on racing by then. As part of NECCL we never got approval to run anything from the TLI.

We toyed with the idea of off road TT style events but I couldn't see it working. You'd need something far longer than a normal CX circuit where you get a <10minute lap.

I could see downhill/enduro style stuff working. And maybe some XC/marathon if the course was big enough. Road events are more predictable though so you can seed everyone more easily and there is less chance of it all coming together.

As the stuff I'm involved in is not commercial we just put everything on hold. The only thing that would stop us starting up again is a loss of momentum. It's people's enthusiasm at the end of the season that we use to trick them into organising an event the following year. That and I'm not sure who has the poles...

Personally I don't think we'll see many mass start events this year, especially on a National (both level and appeal) level. XC in the form of TT or massively reduced fields and very spaced out gridding may happen, similarly with CX.

I can see long distance ITT's increasing in popularity such as the kind of things the Racing Collective organise.

Our tt season got cancelled last year and not overly optimistic for next year either.

Th issue isn't so much the likelihood of transmission, by its very nature tt'ing is a solo activity. But the club didn't want to be seen to be organising events at side of the road in the midst of a raging pandemic, which I understand.

All good for me though, I get to keep my Vet champion trophy for an extra year!

I'm feeling optimistic with my fingers crossed for some XC racing after easter. It's anybody guess though

Southern xc have put out dates, starting in April. I have entered one, doubt it will happen though.

Mass start events are ambitious until Autumn I reckon.
I've got running events in the diary, the ones in spring, even though they're small and long distance feel unlikely.
The ones in Autumn feel more likely, though I struggle to see how big city marathons like Manchester or London will happen.
The point around not wanting to be seen organising events in the middle of a pandemic is a good one though, my running club organises a few small, stretched out events that feel quite safe but we haven't gone ahead as we worry about the complaints we'll get and the messages it sends, even if it's been sanctioned by the authorities.

British Nationals XC series have released dates too. Whilst i'm feeling optimistic that there will be some racing i've also planned a number of personal solo challenges to keep me focused

I can’t help but wonder if due to its size the Ard Rock may struggle to go ahead.

I was pondering bike events in general while on a ride earlier and started thinking about Ard Rock in particular. I have no idea what their finances are really like but they must be getting close to the edge. The 2019 event was cancelled due to flooding, last year didn't happen and now this year is looking debatable, certainly in full attendance format. That means that there could potentially be no events and no income for the best part of four years.

As a mass participation event, Swiss Epic looks like it will run again this year in August. Already some Brits on the start list amongst a very international field. I think there were 500 + people in 2020.

The event might run but the travelling might be the issue.

What about kids racing this year ? Anyone heard anything about Scottish events taking place ?

I've seen some small local events starting to be organised where big fields are available and distanced starts can be applied. MSG and Gorrick.

Its going to be a scrabble for places though.

doubtful, another sitting on an Ardrock from 2019 and a bike bought specifically to do it on as well!
2022 at the earliest i'd say. we are a long way from being back to normal and i can't say i'd relish the thought of either event in the current climate.

Well if you believe the government we’ll all be vaccinated by autumn 😂
So CX season should be fine, at least later in the season. I’m not sure I’d want to race ‘alternative’ formats, so fingers crossed the vaccination does go well.

Very, very unlikely unless you intend to go and race in a state which has an COVID elimination strategy rather than the haphazard politically dominated suppression strategy we have in the UK. Even with the stellar efforts of the NHS we have only vaccinated 14% once so far in a couple of months so there is a long way to go to get to a population level immunity which will allow us to get back to normal and these events to be run. More troublingly, variants will be brewing all over the world for years to come and the bigger problem is unless the penny drops and the Govt actually starts to control our borders and quarantine system properly rather than the mess we have now we will be variant chasing with vaccines well in to next year and beyond. Sadly, the penny drops too late or not at all with this bunch of halfwits. Good news for the Isle of Man though, which is now back to normal after implementing, you guessed it, an elimination strategy.