From Curtis Schlossberger:

VCL B Races

We are all in the race together, everyone benefits from a safe race, we all have lives outside of cycling and being injured doesn’t help us live those lives.

This is a practice race, for fun. Yes, someone says go, yes there are points for an overall standing, but really, really, it’s a practice race for fun and experience.


The VCL races are run for us by Volunteers; local Municipalitys allow us to use their roads and the local residents are kind enough to allow us to continue these events year after year, so please, ride and race like you totally appreciate everything that goes into these events! Use your behaviour before, during and after VCL events to state just how much you appreciate the fact that we have these events at all!


If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.


Even if you have years of experience and are nice enough to want to share it, the race is not the proper venue, please refrain from sharing your thoughts and opinions until after the event, preferably over an approved beverage and with a smile on your face. If you want to post your thoughts on what happened in the race on any given blog/forum or website, please  remember that airing your opinion in a public forum fairly invites any and all opinions whether or not you like or agree with the opinion voiced.


Hold your line. If you are changing your line, signal the line change. If other people are all over the road, chances are you are as well. Please make sure your line is solid before calling out other people.


Before you call anyone out for bad riding, please make sure your riding/racing technique is a shining bastion of excellence that leaves no room for critique.


Aside from calling out an approaching group (the a’s are overtaking us) warning of impending peril or emergency vehicles on course, please refrain from commentary, no one wants to hear it and if you want to see the pace change, please feel free to work your way to the front and do so in silence.


Hold your line to the best of your ability. If you are in a line, please signal with your hand or elbow, your line change and remember riding in a pack is like tossing a stone into a pond, the ripples spread out around you, be aware, then be more aware.


It is a race, the roads are narrow, the space is limited and sprints are hotly contested. Be prepared for this and be aware that not everyone is going to get out of your way to give you a nice clear shot at the line. This is part of road racing and clearly not everyone can be in the top 5 or 10. If it isn’t working out and you don’t feel comfortable, sit up and try again next time.


Sitting in is a legitimate race tactic, though one that won’t earn you any respect even if you win. If you must sit in, please don’t get angry if it doesn’t work out for you. If it does, kudos.


Making these events a fun, safe experience encourages more people to ride and to race and I think this is something we all want, so let’s make it happen! Better races = Happier racers!!!!