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Thanks for coordinating a Low-Key Hillclimbs! These are a few notes on how to make a climb go super-smoothly.
Some details needed for a start location, which need not be at the actual starting point, as a promenade can be organized between the two. Also, where will registration happen? Picnic tables are a great option, if available.
We need to determine where the finish line will be, and where the food will be available. Sometimes it's better to separate the two to avoid congestion, although this increases the challenge of getting finishing times. However, collection of index cards at the finish line helps.
We've been great at attracting volunteers. Don't panic if you don't have many with more than a week to go. Most people don't like committing before the week prior. However, it helps to send out emails asking for help, or directly ask friends or family. All expenses are reimbursable.
Around Tue or Wed, we'll send out PDF files with the week's forms for the weekend. More on these later...
It's nice if you're able to pre-ride the course in the days before, or perhaps weekend before the climb, or check with someone who's ridden it recently, in case any unusual conditions exist, like road construction, road damage, etc. It's also good to know if any other big events are occurring the day of the climb which may increase vehicular traffic or otherwise affect bicycle access.
If you have a good volunteer turnout, course marshals are a great addition to an event, and one reason you can never have too many volunteers! Course marshals point out navigational challenges, warn of dangerous road sections, or warn of cross traffic. An example of where a marshal is a must is the left-hander from On Orbit onto Bohlman. We wouldn't use this climb without a marshal there.
Healthy snacks like those sold at Trader Joes are great. Also Trader Joes sells a nice selection of natural juices, which are really good. Jugs of water are also a must if no water will be available near the finish line. Make sure we have an inventory of paper cups. Bananas are also a tradition, around 1 per 2 riders is about right. Other fruits may also be substituted. Pretzels and healthy cookies are both popular. Feel free to be creative!
Thank volunteers, and remind them to be there 15 minutes before registration opens.
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Get everything set up, get volunteers coordinated, and make sure everyone understands the procedure. For example, how "returning riders" include anyone who's ridden a climb since 2006, who gets to ride for "free" (juniors, volunteers with remaining credits, coordinators of other weeks during the year, and those who object to paying). Get the forms set up, make sure pens are available, establish who will mind the cash box. Ready to go!
Registration forms:
If there are additional vehicle(s) for finish line volunteers, send them up the road adhead of time, to avoid start-line congestion. These cars may also transport course marshal(s), if you have any available.
At around the start time, which is 10 minutes after the "official" close of registration, organize riders for the start. How this is done depends on the type of start, and whether there is a promenade. But it's important to shout instructions to the riders. Key points:
How this happens depends on the event. For a typical mass-start, start the car, then honk the horn indicating riders should start, so the lead riders don't swarm you. Then up the hill you go. Drive safely!
If possible, this should go far enough from the finish line to avoid congestion.
First, the physical set up: put cones on each end of the line, and if you think it will be okay, paint a line with spray-on chalk or with tape. Riders love a finish line! Also, place Barry's "What's your number" and "200 meters to go!" signs if possible.
Then, the human set-up. You want at least 4 finish people. They have the following tasks:
Of course, on all finish forms, handwriting is key! It also helps to record notes about finishing riders, for example names of those whom are recognized, or other obvious details like "tandem" or "unicycle".
Draft rule: Early finishers are eligible for recruitment to help with results if assistance is required.
When you're confident all riders have likely finished, do a check of the results sheets for consistency. One set of sheets should include all times and numbers. Check the cards, if possible, to make sure there's agreement with the written sheets. Then give the results to Dan Connelly for results preparation. Thanks!!!!
Cash in excess of expense money goes to the treasurer (Patt Baenen) or to the treasurer's assistant (Pat Parseghian) or to Dan Connelly.
The "Climb in a Box" should be transferred to the next coordinator, or to someone who will have the responsibility to deliver it to the next climb.
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Without you, the Low-Key Hillclimbs would not happen. We hope you can coordinate again next year!
