bmxbcforum

Re: clips

zuluprinciple — Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:50 pm

Author: zuluprinciple

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:50 pm

thanks...

Re: clips

Ingee — Mon May 21, 2012 10:44 am

Author: Ingee

Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 10:44 am

The rule is for Cycling BC races only.
The CCA will be running the national championships.
The National Champs are age class only (no category classes).
You will be able to run clips at Nationals as this is not a national (UCI) rule.

Re: clips

zuluprinciple — Wed May 09, 2012 5:47 pm

Author: zuluprinciple

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 5:47 pm

Ill fire off an email too...he might be traveling

Re: CCA Canadian Nationals

DaveH — Tue May 08, 2012 7:08 pm

Author: DaveH

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:08 pm

zuluprinciple wrote:

Has the clip rule been adopted by the Canadian Cycling Association....can the kids clip in for the national in abby?

Just wondering if anyone knows the answer.

Thanks

Wendell

Emailed Adam, about 2 weeks ago, this exact question and am still waiting for a response. So I have no idea, but I believe that "clips" will be legal since this is a BC rule, not a CCA rule.

CCA Canadian Nationals

zuluprinciple — Sat May 05, 2012 9:17 pm

Author: zuluprinciple

Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 9:17 pm

Has the clip rule been adopted by the Canadian Cycling Association....can the kids clip in for the national in abby?

Just wondering if anyone knows the answer.

Thanks

Wendell

Re: it is what it is

d0ubledown — Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:46 pm

Author: d0ubledown

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:46 pm

zuluprinciple wrote:

on tuesday's my son has indicated he would rather race langley than ridge...who knows if that will stick....

Wendell

sweet! we need more 6 & 8i's at langley

clips

Mirron — Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:17 pm

Author: Mirron

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:17 pm

Nice summary of how I feel Wendell.
Cycling BC may be right that my kid will progress better without clips, but it's none of their fucking business.

In my opinion both the ABA and (Cycling BC,CBA,CCA) should be focused on promoting the sport and quality of racing, rather than items like this. Neither of the salaried people do an adequate job of bringing new people into the sport which should be their focus. By that I mean that I have huge respect for the volunteer track operators, but when the races are run by the Cycling BC,CBA,CCA I'd rather not go.

This change of rule will cost Cycling BC my family's enrolment. I assume that they have considered this and expect that more than 6 kids will sign up to cover the lost fees, otherwise they are driving the sport into the ground.

it is what it is

zuluprinciple — Fri Dec 09, 2011 9:11 pm

Author: zuluprinciple

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 9:11 pm

I received this email earlier this week

So I called Adam and he explained to me how they came to this decision....

1. We talked to the track operators
2. We talked to our coaches
3. We talked to others in the bmx community
4. We presented to the board and they accepted the rule change
5. We talked to the parents at the pre meeting for the first clinic in the abby indoor.

I interrupted him several times to get a break down on how this decision was made....my issue has never been the rule being changed the issue for me is ask some of the people who have kids racing (lots) that age, im not saying that dale or andy dont have knowledge on the situation, I just think that parents who are with kids at this age level should be consulted.

I also made points that neither UCI or the ABA have adopted rules as of yet...he told me they took that into consideration, but france, england and many other countries have restrictions....when the last time any of us raced there....

This is typical of CCA....I cant say i have any definite repercussions for this rule change the kids get it and on tuesday's my son has indicated he would rather race langley than ridge...who knows if that will stick....

Suffice to say time will tell, but I HATE being told what to do when it does not involve the safety of my kids.

Last year because of their poor attendance we did not do any BC or Western Cup Events....who knows for next year....but suffice to say, I will see many of you at the next ABA National in May.

Best of the Season to all of you.

Wendell

clips

Mirron — Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:25 pm

Author: Mirron

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:25 pm

Hello,

New for 2012: Age restriction on clipless pedals for athletes 9 & Under (U9)

Cycling BC has proposed setting the age at which riders are permitted to race with clipless pedals at 10 (born in 2003 or later), until this age all riders must race on pedals with no foot retention system. It is felt that the introduction of this rule will help all young riders develop proper riding skills and make racing in the younger classes more competitive. Riders that start using clips too early, in order to be competitive with other clipped in riders, often do not develop correct technique for executing skills fundamental to racing. By establishing a minimum age for clipping in, no riders in the younger classes will be compelled to move to clipping in by competitive pressures and the overall level of competition should be improved.

All skills can be learned, executed and practiced on flat pedals. Keep in mind children concerned that they will no longer be able to jump or manual, or feel that their feet will slip off the pedals unless clipped are merely providing evidence that they have an issue with their technique that is being masked by being attached to their bike. They should be able to execute these skills regardless of pedal choice.

For the past three seasons our youth and junior development camps have been run with athletes on flat pedals. The main goal behind this is to have athletes learn the fundamental skills on flat pedals first. �The implementation of flat pedals at the development camps has definitely been a success. It took the kids about all of half an hour to get used to it and after that there wasn't a complaint all year. Also, from a coaching standpoint it enables me to teach the athletes proper skills and techniques that are the foundation of becoming a successful rider, not just at their current age and ability but for the rest of their career as an athlete in BMX� � Mischa Partridge, Youth Development Coach.

Currently Alberta (U9) and Quebec (U12) have similar age restrictions. Several other countries including most of Europe have a similar age restriction of U12 or higher.

Our goal is assist athletes in developing skills properly, thus making them better and more complete athletes in the future. We understand that will be a learning curve involved with the changes and will be flexible to accommodate everyone in the changes.

Thank you

Adam Muys
Director of BMX
Cycling British Columbia
201-210 West Broadway
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5Y 3W2

Re: clips

DaveH — Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:21 am

Author: DaveH

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:21 am

Donny Robinson's answer to my question about clips....

Quote:

heres the problem. most kids who start bmx are gonna quit. so does it really matter what they do when they are gonna end up quitting anyway? i almost take it personally when kids quit cuz this sport is so amazing. but, when i can help a kid potentially stick with it then its worth it. so my idea about clips is keep him off. 5 years old? that ridiculous. kids shouldnt even think they are competing at that age- just have fun. worry about that stuff when hes 8 and still taking it seriously. if you put him on clips then what is there to look forward to. amazing bike setup, etc... kids have nothing to look forward to and grow with right? so perhaps the motivation of being able to move to clips when hes better will give him a longer life in racing. just like with everything in life if a person has it all...what else is there to obtain. they get bored and move on to whatever else. of course he could get discouraged by getting beat cuz hes not on clips and that could cause him to get burnt out, but we can worry about that later. i was 12 when i got on clips and i started when i was 6. kids need to learn how to ride their bike with flats. its part of training. just like theyll do sprints, etc. to get faster you cannot skip flats and expect to be as good as you could be. again, hes 5 years old, make this sport as fun as possible for him and keep him away from pressure and let him grow on his own. pushing a kid any direction is dangerous and with the right guidance they will be able to decide on their own and if racing has always been fun and he can make his own conscious decision to take it more serious and turn inter and expert and pro well then you have a kid that has got it, and it will all be thanks to you.

i want to see kids start and stick with this sport and realize how much it can give them. always feel free to run anything by me that i might be able to help with. im not perfect but i believe the way my parents raised me and how bmx was presented to me allowed me to be where im at today.

thanks

Re: clips

DaveH — Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:20 am

Author: DaveH

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:20 am

Just thought I would add to this debate with a conversation I had with DR....

Hi Donny

May I bother you with question today? My son is a 5 Inter and recently won NAG 1 here in Canada. He raced most of the season on flats but spent a lot of time mountain biking in clips. In September we finally let him try his clips on the race track and of course was instantly faster. We left him on clips until the Canadian Grands, never switching even for practice. He can load the gate, clip in, balance and never had a "I can't get out situation". He won all 3 days at Chilliwack where his speed and focus was the highest it had been all season. He also probably avoid a massive crash in the rhythm section here in Squamish because he was clipped in, since he rode it out. (flats his feet would have come off and he would have gone down)

I know the debate has been raging for years now about clips or no clips and at what age. I tend to believe the theory practice like you race, so you want your set-up to be the same during practice as it is at race time. People have told me practice flats, race clips. People have told me no clips till expert 10+. (We went to Reno in Aug., 12 5 Inter, he was the only one on flats) In terms of pedals if you constantly ride clips, they become second nature and the danger of them becomes less because you are able to find ways to get you feet out more naturally and easily. But if you ride clips all the time, your pedal weighting skills are diminished because you rely on being clipped in to lift the bike. What is interesting for me is that Canadian National coach Adam Muys has been saying that the kids that are joining him at the Jr Devo level are having problems with the big supercross jumps and he blames that on them riding in clips their whole careers and having poor pedal weighting technique.

What is a dad to do? I thinking maybe ride/race all the time on flats except for the week and 1/2 leading into a National race? Results are not that important, its more about developing strong riding technique and having fun. He obviously thinks racing/riding in clips is awesome and is what he wants to do. What are your suggestions? And I know that your answers to me will be argued by half the country, but at least a little insight would be fantastic. What are the Jr Devo coaches in the USA saying?

Thanks

Re: clips

D- Rod — Fri May 06, 2011 8:34 am

Author: D- Rod

Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 8:34 am

A local teenage bmx kid that I know started racing last year. This kid is and has always been on his bike. Among his friends that ride bmx only a few race. He has never used clipless pedals. His skill set on a bike I would say is better than most of his friends, racers or street. This is the age of kids that we need to keep racing and attract by the way.. So he is racing somenights against experts ranging from Murphys to" the Old Dog " that are fast and clipless. I have lent him my shoes and pedals to try out riding clipless pedals. I tried to use them myself but because I never used them when I was young I never could get comfortable with them. Talking with him, he is having a very hard time getting confident enough to race with them and possibly never will. To be totally honest I think I could support this rule change if it was safety or competetive driven and was straight across the board all ages and all sanctions but obviously that will never happen. I think changing a rule will not develope skills or ridership. Coaching will. Does anyone know of another sport for kids that does not have some sort of coaching or intruction when you sign up? I not complaining I have a choice, I am just saying.

hmmm

D- Rod — Thu May 05, 2011 2:20 am

Author: D- Rod

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 2:20 am

I honestly feel the racers and their parents should have the choice. I have a problem with this rule change rationale that it will improve racing skills. So if the kids race until their 12 without clips when they turn 13 they will be faster when they clip in ? To me thats like saying kids should learn to skate with dull skates and when they turn 13 sharpen their skates and watch them fly. Untill they try to stop. Truthfully though they will only have to learn to skate with sharp skates. Thing that make you go hmmm. Here's another one, Lets count how many racers there are say 13 to 19 at action,ridge,NV and abby combined. Hmmm. This happens to be the "clipped in" age group that all of these tracks are designed for. Who wants to do the abby pro section in flats. Hmmm. Does a 10 yr old ex get to clip in when he is racing in the 12 ex class. What about late birth dates. My daughters birth day is after racing season. So when she is a twelve ex racing in the 14 ex class she can't clip in because she will still only be 11. Hmmm. I hear how its painfull to watch a kid struggle to learn to use cleats it is a skill but it really isn't as painfull as watching a kid slip a peddle and go down at full sprint. Thats painfull for the kid. My personal feeling is that if a kid learns how to use them they are safer. Everything is easier learned when their young. This could suck for local tracks because ridership is low enough already and people have the choice to race ABA. Hmmm.

Re: clips

Georges Kreuzkamp — Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:47 am

Author: Georges Kreuzkamp

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:47 am

I respect peoples opinions and emotions, especially when it comes to their families and their money. The overall cost of having a childs race license for 2 sanctions is tiny compared to travel costs for one race weekend out of province.

I would like to point out that a rule change that affects your 8 year old will affect all the other 8 year olds as well, obviously. With regard to the clipless pedal issue, there may be an unforseen benefit to a ban. Time will tell.

As far as little racers being able to manual, they can learn this skill at 5 years old. Most won't, but they can.

Re: clips

andymac — Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:32 am

Author: andymac

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:32 am

Hi Lee

I can't speak for Cycling BC, only from experience. What your CCA membership gets you that the ABA one doesn't is the ability to ride in other cycling disciplines for nothing or a small upgrade. Aidan raced 4X at Pipeline and more recently at Abby Indoor. Without his CCA membership that would have cost an additional $35. He has also taken a few spins around the velodrome and may do some riding there in the winter, again no additional cost for that. We also looked at a few mountain bike races (never followed through, too many other sports in the way), some you saved a few bucks on the race fee and others you saved buying a membership with the host association, usually around $35 annually.
Of course that doesn't mean much if all you do is race BMX but for some it works out. I think the inter-discipline riding is more common outside the little world of BMX so it is likely that the licensing arrangment is better suited to the other disciplines.

My son went the opposite direction at the last race, he chose to race on flats. He got beaten, mainly off the gate, but was in the race and he seemed to have enjoyed himself. He said that it was way better for the pump race!