What do I need to do to start racing?

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   I am looking to start racing (well, going round the track at the same time as everyone else anyway) in this year's season. I read that I need to attach race numbers to my velomobile. Can someone tell me how to get a number allocated to me and where should I get the stickers from?
Do people usually stay over the night before a race? Where do you stay and how far ahead do you need to book?

The only way I have to transport my velomobile at the moment is on my car roof bars but I don't think I will be able to do it on my own at the event. Will someone be able to help me?

Is there anything else I need to know or to bring with me?

Thanks

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Surrey-Velo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 16 January 2020 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Surrey-Velo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: What do I need to do to start racing? Posted: 16 January 2020 at 12:02pm
	I am looking to start racing (well, going round the track at the same time as everyone else anyway) in this year's season. I read that I need to attach race numbers to my velomobile. Can someone tell me how to get a number allocated to me and where should I get the stickers from? Do people usually stay over the night before a race? Where do you stay and how far ahead do you need to book? The only way I have to transport my velomobile at the moment is on my car roof bars but I don't think I will be able to do it on my own at the event. Will someone be able to help me? Is there anything else I need to know or to bring with me? Thanks

AlanGoodman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Club Chairman Joined: 04 March 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 8036	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlanGoodman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 February 2020 at 9:59pm
	Hi Tim, Apologies - Only just picked this up for some reason! You'll be more than welcome at any of our events! Most people make their own numbers or the ones intended for wheelie bins work well! We can allocate a race number to you before the season starts or at the first race of the year. Once you have a number you keep it forever as long as you race at least once a year. The stick-on tags for our timing system will be issued at the first race you attend. Depending on how far away from home the events are some of us will stay over - some camp and some book a B&B or Travelodge. There will always be somebody willing to help lift your velomobile on and off your car. You'll need to bring a helmet and a smile... :) Hope to see you on the track soon!! Edited by AlanGoodman - 27 February 2020 at 11:15pm


Kim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 13 April 2018 Location: Middle Earth Status: Offline Points: 1256	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 February 2020 at 11:06pm
	Point of order: You don't need to bring the smile, that tends to happen automatically a few laps in when you start to get the hang of the corners. :) Race numbers don't need to be any more complicated than a bit of paper scrawled on with a marker pen and attached with gaffer tape; I think that's what I used for my first event. Obviously if you're going to make a habit of racing, you can do something a bit more durable. See some of the photos linked in previous race threads for examples. (One of my favourites is the 7-segment digits constructed from strips of insulating tape: Cheap, simple and easily re-configurable to different numbers for other events.) Don't forget to bring a helmet! The insurance requires them, and that would be a really annoying reason not to be allowed to race. (I hadn't seen this thread either. My RSS reader seems to have missed the first post for some reason...) Edited by Kim - 27 February 2020 at 11:07pm

RoyMacdonald Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 09 March 2007 Location: Rye East Sussex Status: Offline Points: 981	Post Options Post Reply Quote RoyMacdonald Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2020 at 10:21am
	Hi Tim and welcome to the forum. Just to add if you click on the BHPC symbol at the top of the page the main club website will open and you will find a lot of information on racing there. On the race numbers I always get mine from Amazon or eBay (other websites are available) Some Velomobile owners get foil adverts with their names and race no's incorporated. (Probably best to find out if you enjoy it first though.) You need 3 no's because although the club normally use a sophisticated timing system it doesn't handle photo finishes and these are handled by a video camera/observers. On a velo you may like put one on the nose and two on the back at the sides, as a backwards facing single no. is obviously going to spoil your aerodynamics. You need the ones on the back as your speed may be too great for the observers to catch the front one. Also sometimes on very rare occasions the race system does not arrive and it all has to be done the old fashioned way with people and stop watches. A popular option and my preferred method is to buy or make a stencil and then you are set for as long as you race. Also the most aero. Allow a bit extra time for your first race sign in as the person doing the race transponder tags, (self adhesive) usually Kim or Andrew needs time to enter them into the clubs computer system and check they work. They don't work straight onto carbon fiber by the way and if you have a full carbon Strada You will need to ask what works for the other Velo owners.There are more and more every year. I'm not getting my special build started until next year But I've been waiting two years already so not so long to wait I guess. On the plus side Daniel Fenn has made so many improvements to the After 7 since he built the first one that some of the original purchasers are complaining that theirs are out of date. I thought he was going to build a run of the same design but he experiments with new ideas all the time. If I was only young enough to be able to take full advantage of it. All the best and good luck. Roy Edited by RoyMacdonald - 28 February 2020 at 10:25am

atlas_shrugged Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 03 November 2014 Location: Cambs Status: Offline Points: 1025	Post Options Post Reply Quote atlas_shrugged Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2020 at 1:47pm
	Tim The best way to transport the velo is inside an estate car. Failing that you can use a ramp up the front windshield of your car. The ramp can then be removed afterwards. Make sure when you secure the velo to the roof rack that you have duplicated the securing in case one strap fails. There will always be people to help you get the velo on and off the roof - you only have to ask. Some folk stay in a B&B near to the track (I use booking.com). Some folk camp nearby. Some drive very early. Some folk take public transport. The real heroes cycle their HPVs many hundred miles then race then ride back home. Edited by atlas_shrugged - 28 February 2020 at 1:53pm

RoyMacdonald Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BHPC Member Joined: 09 March 2007 Location: Rye East Sussex Status: Offline Points: 981	Post Options Post Reply Quote RoyMacdonald Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2020 at 2:47pm
	I have seen a guy use a camping mat laid over his bonnet and wheeled it up the bonnet and windshield onto his roof rack. But there is always someone who will help out anyway. All the best. Roy