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Topic ClosedE-assisted race class (suspended for now)
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ChrisH View Drop Down
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Points: 747 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: E-assisted race class (suspended for now)
    Posted: 29 March 2023 at 10:03am

Hello All

I am writing to let you know that regretfully there will not be an e-assist race class in our BHPC events for the 2023 race season.

Despite our events being on privately rented race tracks, our events insurance policy only covers e-assist vehicles that satisfy the criteria of road legal electric assisted pedal cycles.

Having reviewed the running of what was initially introduced as an “experimental” race class, we are currently not comfortable that we are yet in a position to be able to confidently and fairly evaluate the road legality of the range of electric assisted HPVs that could potentially enter our race events.

Apologies to those of you who will be affected by this decision. The introduction of the e-assisted race class was (and still is) about inclusivity, and giving a growing segment of the HPV community an opportunity to get involved with our club.  Rest assured, we will continue to review this and sincerely hope we’ll able to re-introduce this race class for future race seasons.

 

Many Thanks

Chris Hamilton (Competition Secretary)

On behalf of the BHPC Committee

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RoyMacdonald View Drop Down
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Points: 981 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2023 at 6:43pm
Hi Chris
There was a unanimous vote for the class to be introduced at the AGM though. Dosn't the decision go against members wishes?
All the best.
Roy
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ChrisH View Drop Down
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Points: 747 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2023 at 8:49pm
Hello Roy

Yes, it was voted in as an experimental race class at the Oct 2021 AGM.
the race class hasn't been completely removed (which woulld be against the voting membership wishes), just been suspended.

many thanks


chris
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AlanGoodman View Drop Down
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Points: 8036 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2023 at 8:52am
Without insurance we can’t hire tracks so this is currently out of our hands unfortunately.

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RoyMacdonald View Drop Down
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Points: 981 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2023 at 9:22am
Originally posted by ChrisH ChrisH wrote:

Despite our events being on privately rented race tracks, our events insurance policy only covers e-assist vehicles that satisfy the criteria of road legal electric assisted pedal cycles.

Chris Hamilton (Competition Secretary)

On behalf of the BHPC Committee


Hi Chris.
We never voted to include bikes outside the definition of the law as to what is a legal electrically assisted bike is though, so I don't even see why we are discussing it when there is a law that defines it so clearly. Any bike outside the definition needs number plates so is clearly seen as such. 

I have to admit to being biased here though, as now I'm well on the way to 80 I can see a time when it will be the only way I can continue to race as I will need a way to smooth out those hills both for racing and training so I would be excluded from racing.
All the best.
Roy
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RoyMacdonald View Drop Down
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Points: 981 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2023 at 11:10am
Originally posted by AlanGoodman AlanGoodman wrote:

Without insurance we can’t hire tracks so this is currently out of our hands unfortunately.

Hi Alan, are you saying something different to Chris? I can't think of a reason why we would not be covered given how different our bikes are from what the type of bikes the tracks are built for. Any faired bike will be a lot faster than any e-bike currently on sale in the UK as they all meet the Goverments laws as to what is an e-bike. You would have to go to the Continent or USA and buy one that didn't there, as no one will sell a bike into the UK that does not meet the letter of the law. Of course you can import one yourself but you have to register it with the DVLA and have it type tested and fill out a lot of forms and get number plates for it.

The MTB boys already have an e-class for races I belive. Also we have two trikes that already raced last year with their motors turned off. I take it that did not null and void our insurance?

At the moment 40% of all bikes sold are e-assisted and that number is growing fast if you look at the numbers on Strava, so we will have to face the situation at some point. Even Daniel Fenn has an e-bike.
All the best.
Roy 
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Kim View Drop Down
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Points: 1256 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2023 at 12:36pm
The problem isn't legal definitions - we picked a nice clear standard one that's easy to comply with.

The problem is how we, as in whoever's organising the race on the day (who doesn't necessarily know anything about ebikes, and is otherwise busy worrying about the sign-on list and first aid kits and extension leads and who's got the key to the gate and so on), determine whether a given system actually complies with that standard, given that in some cases the difference between a legal motor and a non-legal motor is a software setting.  We simply don't now how to police this effectively.  It's easy enough to disqualify someone who achieves an unrealistic speed on the track, but they've already invalidated our insurance by that point.


Edited by Kim - 01 April 2023 at 12:41pm
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Ethan View Drop Down
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Points: 77 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2023 at 12:54pm
So realistically we're saying that we would need a technical officer to be responsible for checking the vehicles, with the added kick up the ass that if they get it wrong they've invalidated insurance and opened themselves (and the club) to liability.
Possibly this is not a massive deal, maybe a member will step forward and admit to being an e-bike shop worker with intuitive knowledge of the territory and able to simply sort this out at every event of the year.
Or perhaps not.
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AlanGoodman View Drop Down
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Points: 8036 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2023 at 1:02pm
What we’re saying is that the very small group of people who organise our events are not prepared to risk their homes when they become personally liable because an event is not insured.
At the moment it is not possible for us to guarantee to the insurers that not everyone who turns up with an electric motor is going to play by the rules.
Sorry there is no room for negotiation here.

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