Manchester Wheelers Cyclocross Preview
Manchester Wheelers Cyclocross – Sunday 5th October 2014 – Heaton Park, Manchester
Round 3 of the North West League is the Manchester Wheelers Cross Race up at Heaton Park, Manchester on Sunday 5th October 2014.
Car Parking
Please park at the Car Park on Sheepfoot Lane where there is a small parking charge for all vehicles and this applies to all racers, spectators, helpers etc.
Sheepfoot Lane Car Park is at the South end of the Park as the following useful map shows:
http://www.heatonpark.org.uk/HeatonPark/System/Right_Menu/Interactive_Map/
As usual take care of all your bikes and kit, especially on the back/top of cars etc. This is a really busy park and my advice is never leave your bike(s) unattended or insecure at the car park, at sign-on, visiting the café, going to the loo etc. and make sure someone is keeping an eye on it in the pits too.
Signing-on
Signing-on is at the Grand Lodge Entrance to the Park (the actual Grand Lodge building is at the junction of Sheepfoot Lane and Bury Old Road) at the South West corner of the park, clearly indicated on the map above, and will open at 10.00.
Toilets & washing
There will be portable toilet at the Grand Lodge sign-on area and toilets also at the Lakeside Café and up at the Farm Centre. Remember get someone to watch your bike if you’re using any facilities! Please don’t pee in public, nor use any of the Park facilities for general washing yourself or your bike down.
Courtesy to other park users
This is the second time we’ve used Heaton Park so can I ask you to always ride slowly and with care and courtesy to other park users when not on the course. We didn’t have any formal complaints last year and I want to keep it so. If you’re warming up, please do so off the course and away from other Park users.
Refreshments
Natasha is bringing her excellent mobile coffee and cakes van and she will be parked close to the start and finish area for your patronage. If you’re planning a family day-out, there’s lots of other activities further North in the Park by the Farm Centre.
The course
The course will be based in the quieter South West of the Park, crudely between the Station Gate Entrance, Lakeside café, Town Colonnade and Grand Lodge Entrance, see the map again!
We’re running the course in the opposite direction to last year to keep you interested, and we’re avoiding the busy tarmac avenue. Under wheel will be mostly grass, a short wooded section (with a few nasty roots, sorry, couldn’t quite write that feature out), a set of shallow steps and at least one set of jump boards (in handsome Wheelers livery!). There will be some elevation around the Papal monument area with some off-camber there too. It will be a fast course and we’ve tried to keep 95% of the course at least 3m wide to promote close racing.
Start/Finish area
There will be a set of double pits just after the finish area which will be around the bottom right hand corner of the ‘temporary fun fair’ site. See that map again. There will be no fun fair!
Races
League Riders – please don’t forget your numbers! The order of play is as follows and the usual rules apply – please do not warm up on any part of the course being used for the Youth Race (full course) and for the Under 12’s and 10’s who will race on a smaller loop.
Youth 11.00 30mins £6.00
Under 12’s 11.45 15mins £1
Under 10’s 12.15 15mins £1
Vets/Women 12.45 40mins £14.00*
Seniors/Juniors 2.15pm 50mins £14.00*
*£3 surcharge for non BC members applies, £2 discount for League members in Vets/Women/Seniors/Juniors
I hope that you all enjoy the day and I look forward to seeing you all again up at Heaton Park! Happy racing!
Mick Style
