Bike Criterium Memo

City of Pleasant Hill M E M O R A N D U M TO: Economic Development Committee FROM: Kelly Calhoun, Economic Development Manager Martin Nelis, Public Information Officer DATE: November 14, 2013 SUBJECT: Initial Research on Bike Criterium or Vintage Motorcycle/Car Show At the July 25, 2013 Economic Development Committee meeting there was discussion related to the possibility of a City hosted bike Criterium or Vintage Motorcycle/Car Show. The Economic Development Committee requested that staff explore the feasibility of this type of an event and report back to the Committee. Staff has met with committee member Abbott on a couple of occasions to discuss the feasibility and public benefits related to events of this type. We have also spoken with Matt Larson, a bike race organizer and member of the NorCal/Nevada Cycling Association (NCNCA), one of the largest cycling organizations in the Nation. Matt provided us with an overview of a Criterium and what would likely be required from a public agency as a partner in this type of an event. First and foremost is the timing of the event and the amount of lead time that it would take to get on the race events calendar. Matt suggested that we might want to consider a race in 2015 as it takes at least 16-18 months in lead time to get on calendar and organize and promote the event. Matt indicated that often a particular race team can serve as an event organizer (and he is willing to do this) to obtain the necessary permits to have the event sanctioned by USA Cycling. Typically in order for the event to be sanctioned the City would need to guarantee a closed course race, meaning that public streets would need to be closed for the race events. Public streets that were used as the race course would be closed for the majority of one day beginning early in the morning and re-opening in the afternoon. The City would also be responsible for public safety and traffic control of the race course. Matt also commented that in order to draw participation to the event prize money is offered, typically through sponsors and racers typically look for courses that provide some element of interest and challenge (read turns and hill climbs here). We have identified a couple of potential courses that might work and that would bring the event close to Downtown but not impact access to a large number of businesses. Additional research and vetting of an appropriate course would be required and would need to be reviewed by event organizer and approved by the NCNCA. Bike Criterium 11/14/2013 – Page 2 A Vintage Motorcyle/Car Show is another event that would require the closing of a public street but on a much smaller scale. For instance this type of an event could be held on Crescent Drive in the Downtown and use the same footprint as the street closure for the Art, Jazz & Wine Festival. This is also an event that requires a significant amount of lead time for calendaring, organizing and planning. In our “brainstorming” discussions we talked about the possibility of an event that could include an evening dinner/dance type function in order to draw more visitors to the City and to our hotels for overnight stays. We discussed City Hall as a possible venue and the Downtown Plaza Area as another venue for a dinner/dance event. The Vintage Motorcycle/Car Show could be held the following day on a Saturday/Sunday Both of these types of events would be examples of good collaborative projects that could involve partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, as well as Downtown Pleasant Hill. However, prior to making a decision or recommending this type of an event for approval by the City Council it would be important to talk with other municipalities that have experience in these events to determine the actual public benefits. Matt did indicate that a past event in the City of Benicia was well received and supported by the cyclists as a great event venue but was not supported by merchants in Downtown Benicia because of the interruptions to business access created by the event. It may also be important to solicit public input as several residential areas and businesses could be impacted specifically for an event like a Criterium. Cost estimates for these events have not yet been determined but would typically involve a level of participation (for a Vintage Motorcyle/Car Show) from the City that would be similar to our participation for the Art, Jazz & Wine Festival and the Light Up The Night Event in Downtown. The City’s level of participation for a Criterium, however, could require a significantly higher level of staff resources for both coordination and closure of the public streets, event safety and logistics and promotions. Attached is additional information explaining in more detail a Criterium or short course bike race. A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course (usually less than 1 mile), often run on closed-off city center streets. Collegiate cyclists take a tight downhill corner in the Boston Beanpot Criterium at Tufts University Race length can be determined by a number of laps or total time, in which case the number of remaining laps is calculated as the race progresses. Generally the event's duration (commonly one hour) is shorter than that of a traditional road race — which can last many hours, sometimes over the course of several days or even weeks, as in a Grand Tour. However, the average speed and intensity are appreciably higher. The winner is the first rider to cross the finish line without having been "lapped." Events often have prizes (called primes, pronounced "preems", and are usually cash) for winning specific intermediate laps (for instance, every 10th lap). A bell is usually rung to announce to the riders that whoever wins the next lap, wins the prime. Success in road criteriums requires a mix of good technical skills — in particular, the ability to corner smoothly while "holding your line" on the road, as well as rapidly and sharply — and riding safely with a large group on a short circuit and exceptional "sprint" ability to attack other riders and repeatedly accelerate hard from corners. Criteriums are relatively easy to organize, do not require a large amount of space, and are good for live spectators as they allow them to see the riders pass by many times. They are the most common type of bicycle racing in the continental United States. They are also gaining popularity as a format for mountain bike events. Flanders (Belgium) hosts a number of criteriums, as does the Netherlands. The most notable of these are held just after the Tour de France. However, criteriums in Europe are mostly held in the format of a points-race. First, second, and third rider at every 5th lap gets 3, 2, 1 points respectively (with double points at final endsprint). It was a long tradition that after the Tour these criteriums were fixed to have favourable results for local favorites, who may be participating for show after having ridden in a larger race (for example, the Tour de France). What goes down?...In the early laps, when the pace is not so high, they will let a local favourite go to please the crowd. Meanwhile, the rest of the peloton will grimace in pain as though they are giving it everything to chase the local rider down, eventually succeeding at a (perceived) huge cost of energy. These guys can ride criteriums at over 50 km/h if they want, so the speed doesn't have to be that low to make it look good for the public.[1] .

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