News & Features

Sunday 21st March, 4pm start time.

Course:- P164 (virtual)

Online App: RGT (Road Grand Tours)

Organiser: Bryce Dyer brdyer@bournemouth.ac.uk

Cost: £0, free, nothing, nada, zip.

 

Course Description:

A well-known used course within the South DC region, these inaugural championships will be held over the P164 course. This course has been a stalwart of several local clubs for many years but was never used for an open event. It’s a gently rolling course. The bumps rarely exceed 4%.

Procedure to take part

Firstly, you’ll need a device that records your cycling power output. A ‘smart trainer’ or power meter will do this and will be needed to take part.

 

You’ll then need to download the RGT app to access and take part in this event. This is available online via your smart phone. You’ll need two devices for this software to operate. One is a smart phone (that drives the app) and the other is a computer or laptop (which is your screen).

Download both from here: https://www.rgtcycling.com/get-started/

To find the race event, go to the event link provided. You can enter whenever you like in the days and weeks ahead of it and it should be stored there ready for you to click to enter the race on the day of the event.

Format of race.

This is where things are going to be interesting and a little different to a conventional time trial. As it would be in reality, this will be a solo time trial with no drafting possible. However, it will also be a mass start meaning you’ll be able to see everyone else start and race with you at exactly the same time but the system will not allow you to have any draft from them. If you look at the bottom of your screen you’ll also see the course profile as well white dots representing each rider and where they are on the course at any time.

The results of the overall event will be instantaneous the second you cross the finish line. Placings for age groups and genders will be determined after the event and then publicised on social media. These will be using the age bandings of Open, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+ and separated by Gender.

Note: Although the event will have an open invitation, only riders of first claim and second claim clubs from within the South DC region will be included in the final results and be awarded the titles.

IMPORTANT: It’s best (and less stressful) to be in the event at least 10 minutes before it starts otherwise you may not be able to log in to it. Once it is 4pm, the race will start and the event link will no longer work and will prevent riders from joining. Entry is possible 30 minutes beforehand.

If you’re wondering what an event like this will look like, here’s a video of an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi6cGaQ0tSY

 

What you need to do:

Download (and try) RGT prior to race day.

IMPORTANT: To identify riders for the championship, you’ll need to edit your name in your RGT account with the abbreviation of your club and your age. For example, in the case of a rider from Bournemouth Arrows, their onscreen name would be: B Dyer BA 45. For a rider from Primera-Team Jobs, their onscreen name would be: J Smith PT 35.

Other club abbreviation examples would be Poole Wheelers (PW), Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers (BJW), CC Weymouth (CCW), New Forest CC (NF), a3crg (a3), etc.

Anti-e-Doping

It is well known in e-cycling that some riders cheat or exaggerate their data so as to gain an unfair advantage. This typically involves lying about their weight or height. Please ensure the data you enter in RGT is correct. To help combat ‘e-doping’, we recommend all riders perform what is known as a ‘digital weigh in’ on the day of the race.

 

How to do this: On the same day as the race, get on your bathroom scales at home in your cycling clothing and record a video of what the scales read. In the case of any protests or suspicious power output values seen during the race, this video could then be requested by the organiser to then defend the rider. Please help provide the fairest race possible by being honest with both your weight and height.

 

Tips:

• Please try RGT before race day. It is free to use and there are a range of races (road race, track and time trials) that run regularly and will help you get a feel for virtual e-racing.
• Ensure wherever in your house, garage or wherever your lockdown is taking place that you have a strong and stable internet connection. Try this before race day.
• Due to being indoors, virtual racing sees riders get quite hot so ensure you’ve got a drink nearby and you might find a fan and a towel useful too.
• The race will start automatically at 4pm.
• On the day of the event, you are able to join the event 30 mins ahead of the start time to warm up and use RGT’s onscreen messenger to chat with other riders. The organiser will also be there to answer any questions you may have from 3:30pm.
• Don’t forget to edit your name to include your age and club abbreviation. That way the organiser will know who won the titles.