Eric Hopper
Under the current rules and interpretations, can a promoter offer a separate
youth stoker category, or is that prohibited too?
I was one of the dads with a 6 year old at the 48 mile Rehearsal Road Race.
There was another 6 year, a 9 year old, and another kid who was apparently
over 10. For perspective, we were all off the back on the first part of the
first lap. My son and I completed the 48 miles with no problem (we've done
a century too), but obviously we were not competitive. Still, he absolutely
loves riding and racing. If he cannot race anymore, it would be very
disappointing to him. Maybe I'm missing some events, but I am aware of very
few opportunities for him to compete in "youth" races. On a tandem as
stoker seems perfect as it eliminates his inexperience being a factor for
safety while still giving him a taste of racing. If anyone thinks this is
too hard for someone of his age, I invite you to hang out with my son after
a 50, 75, 100 mile ride. Generally the first thing he does is hop on his
single and race the other kids around the neighborhood.
For those who think non-competitive group events might be safer, I disagree!
I am far more concerned for our safety in those groups where cyclists are
not accustomed to riding in close proximity to each other.
As far as defining an age limit, I don't know where one would set that and
why it would be necessary. One has to be a certain size to fit, even with a
child's stoker kit. Once they reach that size, go for it. Frankly, I don't
see how a 10 year is any different than a 6 year old when it comes to
liability, safety, etc.
_____
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of jamie
Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 1:22 PM
To: OBRA
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Juniors on Tandems
I have already spoke my mind in part but ... I think the most important part
of this issue is that we realize this is not a true competition for mass
start events, even though governed by a racing organization. So fears of
pushing our kids to the limits and massive crashes would hopefully be very
limited. I feel making it child/parent is too restrictive, but then again
if that is the only way to make it happen it seems ok. However uncles/aunts
and older siblings might want in on the fun as well. Family seems like a
good boundry, but how to you restrict that?
Having something like a requirement of no prizes or only equal prizes to all
participants is another good rule that well help remove the idea of an
agressive driver taking too many chances. Maybe restrict to stoker
ribbons/medals only? To me the whole idea is to involve the kids in a fun
day out and getting them involved in the sport. This is an event that is
like the regular youth races we see at the crits, but with an extra step of
length added. Maybe in that aspect we promote it as a youth only stoker to
keep it simple? but then what about the 12 year old stoker who is new, do
we require that they ride with the older groups, I think that is a grey line
I would like to leave upto the promoter and parent as I would have no issue
racing against slightly older stokers as long as everyone had the same basic
goal of enjoying the event and not winning at all costs.
As for my kids, I have a hard time thinking I would ever let someone else
pilot them, but then again I can also see the case where it might be ok. As
for the people that feel we are pushing our kids too hard or putting them in
harms way ... we do that every day we get in a car, or go anywhere with our
kids. Life is about making choices and I see this as far safer than taking
my son out on the open road with cars. Basically I am paying my $20 for a
safe and organized ride with friends and my son thinks its cool because it
is called a race. They get to learn about winning and losing and being a
good sport, while spending time with daddy/mommy doing something both love.
I am also pro tagalongs for time trials only. In my opinion just about any
human powered vehicle should be allowed for any time trial as long as the
promoter is ok with special categories. I think that is the easiest way to
get someone started and actually allow you to race with your kids vs a more
low key aspect to the mass start events.
As Candi mentioned there is likely a need for a minimum age, especially for
mass start events. 8 seems like a logically starting point for me, but if
it was low key enough I could see my 5 year old doing a mass start race for
fun. I know that he would love it. For TTs I think the starting age is
even harder to set, but maybe we use the basic idea of car seats. If the
kids are 40 pounds, 40 inches which is about 4 years old, then they are ok
just like being able to be in a booster seat.
And yes I still fear for the first time we have a crash with a little kid
buried under a 40 pound tandem and 200 pound driver. But then again that is
better than being hit by a car or many of the other things that can go wrong
on a day to day basis. Heck my 2 year old nephew just broke his tibia
coming down the slide at the park ... so what are you going to do?
Jamie
----- Original Message -----
From: Leibowitz, Flo
To: OBRA
Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Juniors on Tandems
I'm not a parent, nor a tandem rider. However, I like how OBRA events
typically try to be family-friendly. So I think this is a great discussion
to have introduced. I have a couple of questions I'd like to hear more from
the tandem parents about.
1. Are you ok with youth stoking for mass-start races of any kind, even with
you as the captain? What does "youth" mean to you here?
(What if youth stokers were permitted in time trials when the captain is one
of his or her parents, but parent-child mass-start teams were restricted to
the special case of a designated parent-child field? Is that too
restrictive, in your opinion? I gather that many races might not make that
special field practical, but some dedicated tandem events and the like might
be able to do so.)
2. I love the idea of allowing tagalongs on some time trials. I assume,
though, that it'd be better to have a length limit on these, too. I have no
idea how practical this field would be for promoters, but I guess that's a
separate question.
_____
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