AAVC 2022 Zwift Racing

AAVC & WTRL Zwift Racing - Season 3 (final season of 2022 until next year). Contact Jeremy Zeigler on the club’s Slack if you have any questions.

• https://www.wtrl.racing/zwift-racing-league/

• Recruiting Now >> Roster set by March ~25th (TBD)

• AAVC has multiple teams … (2) B Teams [NEON & HOT PINK] … (2) C Teams [MIDNIGHT BLUE & ICE BLUE] … (1) A Team *dependent on #riders

• Season 3 Racing begins - April 5th - (6) races total - Tuesdays at 7:30pm (4/5 - 4/12 - 4/19 - 4/26 - 5/3 - 5/10)

• Team Communicates via Slack #zwiftracing and Discord (in-race-com) https://discord.gg/w6d3cmb8

2022 AAVC Century Club

If you Love riding your bike and getting those long miles in... Then the AAVC Century Club is made just for you!

There are lots of ways to participate, the goal is to recognize everyones that attempts and/or accomplishes an Imperial Century of 100+ miles. Rides can be out in the wild or virtually on Zwift (if you are using another platform and would like to participate let us know). The idea is to encourage and recognize members that accomplish at least one century in 2022.

AWARD / RECOGNITION CATEGORIES

• Ride 100+ miles in a single ride (*or combine multiple rides within a single day... stuff happens we know)

• FIRST CENTURY ... let us know!

• FASTEST AND LONGEST CENTURY (BY TIME)

• LONGEST CENTURY+ RIDE ... how far can you go!

• MOST CENTURIES IN A MONTH ... good luck!

• THE 12 MONTH CENTURY CHALLENGE ... log at least one century each month of the year.
  *Award Tiers - PLATINUM (12) --> GOLD (8) --> SILVER (5) --> BRONZE (1)

• BEST CENTURY STORY ... multiple winners

• CHOICE AWARDS & RECOGNITION (Best Photo, Number of Animals saved, Most flat tires, etc...)

Recognition & Awards will be presented at the “AAVC End of Year Banquet”.

AAVC CX Season Goes Dutch

Last weekend, 25 AAVC members helped make the Alma GP of Cyclocross a big success. We equaled our presence in 2019 and represented about 16% of all riders in Alma. We showed the other clubs how cyclocross is done!

Now I'm a competitive person. I can't win any races (and I'm very proud of my last-place finishes). But I can do my part to make sure the AAVC continues to be the "big club" in Michigan cyclocross. Here's how.

If AAVC members pre-register 87 entries for the next THREE* cyclocross races on bikereg.com, then I will race the Beginner Men's race at the Detroit Invitational of Cyclocross in my Dutch Wooden Shoes.

* Le Frost CX, DICX, Vet's Park CX

This is by far the dumbest cycling idea I've ever had. Perfect for you: racing a cyclocross event in anything other than wooden shoes is one of the smartest ideas you could ever have.

So get online and start registering.

For the Michael Seaman Le Frost Cross on September 18, register HERE (closes Thursday).

For the Detroit Invitational Cyclocross on October 17, register HERE.

For our own Vets Park CX on October 24, register HERE.

FAQ:

1. Are you crazy?
   Yes.

2. When are these pre-registrations due?
   I'll count the number of race entries on October 17. Multiple entries by the same person will count multiple times.

3. Why 87 race entries?
   Ah, thanks for asking. In '87, Greg LeMond became the first US rider to win the Road Race World Championship. In second place was Adri van der Poel. Then famous as a cyclocross racer and now known as "father of." Thus, 87 was a classic year for racing, just like 2021 will be when we look back in the future.

4. You'll never get 87!
   One, that's not a question. And two, the current count is 34. With several weeks still left to pre-register, I have a feeling I'll be right. Or wrong, depending on your perspective.

5. How do I get credit for pre-registering?
   You have to put "AAVC" or "Ann Arbor Velo Club" or something similar in your BikeReg form so I can recognize it.
   

6. How did you come up with this idea?
   Mostly, see question 1; but Mr. David Palan planted the idea.

7. Will you make the club proud with a decent finish?
   No.

Let's show the race organizers that we mean business this year: allez AAVC!

Monday Social/No-Drop Rides

Who: you, me, friends, bikes

When/Where: Forsythe Middle School, north driveway (Newport & Sunset) Mondays. Group up at 6:00, roll at 6:05 PM.

What: The Monday ride is a beginner-friendly road ride (but any type of bike is welcome!) out to Dexter and back on Huron River Drive (approximately 18 miles round-trip). We ride at a social/conversational pace, and we all stick together (no-drop, no rider left behind). We may split into smaller groups if needed for safety to allow cars to pass more easily if we have a sizable group.

Cyclists of all levels, backgrounds, and interests are welcome to join. This ride is lycra-optional! Just be sure to wear comfortable clothes for a longer ride and bring plenty of water and a snack.

Why: Our goal is to invite and support all people who want to get more comfortable riding bikes, especially over longer distances. If you're new to group riding, this a great place to get some experience riding close to others, and meet other club members. If you're an advanced rider this is the perfect ride to recover with after a weekend of racing or hard riding. Ice cream at Washtenaw Dairy after the ride is a common occurrence!

Call for Volunteers! We need your help to make this ride a success. The better the turnout for this ride, the more co-leaders we need. We would especially like to promote BIPOC/LGBTQ folks/women as leaders of the ride. If you're interested in helping out, reply to tyacie@gmail.com. No experience necessary, just a willingness to help.

AAVC Volunteers

Teamwork makes the dream work! The Ann Arbor Velo Club is a non-profit that relies on its members to make things work. We'd love to hear from you if you are able to lend a hand and volunteer your time.

A list of a few specific things that we are currently in need of...

• Volunteer Coordinator

  • Help find volunteers for AAVC events and keep things organized

• Weekly Group Ride Leaders

  • Be in charge of a weekly group ride for club members

• Vet's Park CX Race Director

  • Sunday, October 24th

• CXPreX Director

  • Series of weekly cyclocross practices in the late summer/early fall

• Juniors Photographer

  • Take photos at AAVC Juniors events and get them to the AAVC communications team

• Spring Training Series Beginner Racing Program Mentors

  • Tentative Date - Sunday, June 20th

  • We are looking for people with road racing experience to demonstrate skills, provide guidance and feedback, and simply ride and interact with the new riders. There is a lead instructor and program already in place, so preparation is limited to reviewing info about the session and drills so you know what to expect.

• The Watermoo - Saturday, August 14th

  • Day of help at the event. Set-up, course support, SAG, results, etc.

AAVC Kroger Rewards

Do you shop at Kroger? Please consider registering AAVC (Organization Number: IF992) as your non-profit in the Kroger Community Rewards Program HERE. Every time you use your Kroger Plus Card, the club gets earmarked for a portion of Kroger's quarterly charity contributions! Kroger has donated 100’s of dollars to the AAVC over the years and we’d like to keep that going!

AAVC 2021 Time Trial Series

AAVC Time Trial Series - 2021

Details, dates and event information

WHAT - The ‘TT Series 2021’ is a bi-weekly, casual, free event for AAVC members to compete individually against the clock on a looped course. Ride it once, ride a few or ride them all...these events are intended to be challenging, social and fun. Events are open to all AAVC members regardless of ability or experience and everyone is welcome.

WHEN - First event is Saturday 1st May. It will run until late September every two weeks on a Saturday morning at 8am.

WHERE - The loop course is north of Chelsea. Click here for: Event Parking is at the brand new trail parking lot at the junction of North Territorial and the ‘52’ Chelsea - Stockbridge Road. There is ample free parking and basic restroom facilities.

COURSE INFORMATION

The course is a clockwise loop starting and finishing just past the entrance to the parking lot on North Territorial. The Strava segment is called ‘AAVC TT #1’ and can be found here. This is a brand new segment made for this event. The course is 11.46 miles in length and is challenging

in nature. It can be divided into 3 segments.

1. The start to Stofer Road heading east on North Territorial. This is lumpy with a couple of challenging climbs. A good warm up will be essential as this course starts with a bang. The trail will provide a good chance to warm up rather than using North Territorial prior to the event.

2. The turn at Stofer Road gas station to the roundabout on the 52. This is the downhill section and whilst it undulates, speeds should be high.

3. The roundabout on the 52 back to the finish. This has some longish drags and descents.

DATES - All are Saturdays for consistency. Start time is 8am.

• May 1st, 15th, 29th

• June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

• July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st

• August 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th

• September 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

COVID

Please follow all current State Orders and Directives www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/

Masks should be worn when within 6’ of others. Please use common sense and respect your fellow riders so everyone can race and stay safe.

If you have been sick or around others that have been sick in the 7 days leading up to the event, please stay home. If you get sick within 3 days after an event, please notify Rob at robertnoble75@hotmail.com or via Slack

RIDER SAFETY

The course is on ‘open roads’ meaning there is traffic on the course. There are no marshals present and it is each rider’s responsibility to know the course, be self supported and follow the rules of the road. 8am on a Saturday morning has been specifically chosen as traffic volume should be low. There are 3 right hand turns on the course at Stofer Road, the roundabout on the 52 and the turn onto North Territorial just before the finish.

Turn 1 is a sweeping right hander and can be taken at speed.

Turn 2 at the roundabout can be taken at speed depending on the traffic coming from the left when the rider is approaching. Follow the ‘give way’ rule here. Traffic coming from the left has the right of way and riders must yield.

Turn 3 from the 52 onto North Territorial is a sharp, slow turn and caution is advised. From there it’s a sprint downhill to the finish.

Helmets are mandatory. Front and rear lights are strongly encouraged. Headphones are not allowed. Don’t cross the centre line. Ride as far to the right as is safe to do so. Pass other riders on the left with a friendly “passing/on your left” shout. There are a few potholes on the 52 to be aware of especially on the northern section. Please keep your head up at all times.

WHAT TO DO UPON ARRIVAL

Parking is free. Restrooms are next to the parking lot. The B2B trail heading south is perfect for warming up prior to rider start time. There will be a copy of the start order pinned for viewing.

First rider is away at 8am. Riders then leave at 1 minute intervals. Please arrive on time. If a rider is running late, they are welcome to start as the last person off.

RESULTS AND PRIZES

Results will be published asap after the event and shared on the Slack channel #time-trials

Prizes will be awarded in various categories at the end of the series. These include: Top 3 female, Top 3 male, Best Junior female, Best Junior male, most improved rider, best first timer in a TT event. There are no week to week prizes, just the glow you feel when you beat that PR! To qualify for prizes, please fill out the sign up sheet in full so data can be captured. Further prizes will be added if we can secure sponsor swag and those categories will be announced.

TIMING

There is no official timekeeper for these events. Timing will be based on the Strava segment.

Riders will start at 1 minute intervals in order of the sign up list. The 1 minute is approximate and should be at the best guess of the next rider (Remember, this is a ‘casual’ event ;) )

All riders MUST be part of the AAVC STRAVA CLUB. All uploaded rides must be made public (which is the default setting). The title of the ride should be AAVC TT followed by the date. These requirements help to collect the information in a timely manner and will ensure that nobody is missing from the results. All riders must ride through the segment to record a time.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT

Several days prior to each event, a GOOGLE SHEET will be sent out to everyone via email. Please populate the event sheet in order by taking the next available time slot. Once you choose your start time, this is confirmed. A printed copy will be available on event day. Please don’t amend anything on this sheet or change rider order. Closing time for sign up will be 8pm on Friday night. However, if you still wish to ride, just come along on the Saturday morning and add your name at the end of the start list.

FAQs

1. Do I need to be a member of AAVC? YES. Buy membership here. Membership is not sold at the event.

2. Can I ride any bike? YES. As long as it’s roadworthy and safe.

3. Does that include tandems? YES. And mountain bikes and unicycles.

4. What if I have a problem on the course? All riders should be self supported using a bike in good working order. If you ‘can’t get home’ then call Rob on 415 400 6776 to arrange pick up.

5. Can I draft during the event? NO. Drafting is considered within 5 bike lengths for 15 seconds or more. This is a free, club event so nobody is going to enforce this rule. Just don’t do it, it’s not cool.

6. What if it’s raining? We ride, rain or shine. Only severe weather conditions will cancel the event. This will be posted on Slack on the morning of the event.

7. Communication for this event will be on the #time-trials channel on Slack.

8. What time should I arrive for the event? First rider away is 8am. Please allow time to warm up and get ready. Suggestion for arrival is 730am.

9. I’ve never ridden a time trial before! No worries. Neither have a lot of people. It’s not as daunting as you may think. It’s just rider versus the clock and the competition is yourself. AAVC are a friendly bunch and there will be folks to help those new or unsure. Just turn up, get involved and give it your best shot. Everyone is welcome!

10. Will there be other time trials throughout the year? Yes, we have plans for other events but this one is the regular fixture. Who should I connect with if I have questions? You can reach out to Rob Noble on Slack via the #time-trial channel.