Lets have a race.

Hi All

I posted elsewhere how excited I was that I passed someone while riding my cargo bike. It was later suggested that we have a Cargo Bike Race.

First up - I don't have the time to organise this. Hell, I don't even know if I have the time to go if it was organised (I'd try) - but it sounds like a great idea.

Some thoughts -

Location - perhaps a closed circuit. Can we get access to some school grounds or something? Maybe Top Gear style and use the airport? I thought about the V8 race in the city, but I think we should try and get some publicity to promote Cargo Cycling and that race is not the place to do it. Maybe on an 'open circuit' - perhaps Sunday morning through the city streets? Personally I'd like a hilly route because I have such low gears, but flat is probably preferable for most.

Cargo - we need cargo. I think everyone should have to carry the same amount. This should be seperate from the weight of the bike. If I'm 'clever' enough to have a lightweight aluminium cargo bike then good for me! In one of my earlier posts I suggested getting sponsorship from Coopers and carrying cartons of beer. I'm not actually sure that's the image I want to project. I think a good idea would be we carry whatever we want as long as it's the correct weight. That way people can carry kids if they want plus cargo, or just cargo. It would make great photos with kids for publicity - but my bike doesn't do kids! How much weight is an interesting question. As my bike is an ex-tandem I reckon it would be good for an additional 100Kg or so, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy it. Perhaps 30Kg? Then some people could carry a couple of kids. The advantage of us bringing our own cargo is that it will make for an interesting procession and showcase all the things Cargo Bikes can carry.

Advertising - needs to be broader that AC if we can. Not quite sure how to do this.

Sponsorship - probably don't really need any really. Could be good to have prizes - perhaps we charge an entry fee to raise money (good for publicity)?

Media - not really my area either, but I think we need to invite TV/papers etc. I'm sure someone can Twitter about it.

So that's my ideas (it's a long boring commute, so I have a few). Anyone is welcome as far as I'm concerned to run with this or to totally ignore it, or make fun of it!

Cheers

Simon

Tags: Cargo Bike, Race

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Permalink Reply by hozozco on February 3, 2011 at 14:35

Update - I've put a cross post under discussion 03/02/11.

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Miller on February 3, 2011 at 16:30

I would be into this - perhaps we could aim to hold it when the Bike Polo champs are on in Adelaide in May - The Bicycle Institute is looking to do some ancillary events - this could be a winner!!!

I've seen similar events as part of bike messenger championships... could be good, should put our heads together and come up with a theme and style for it

Permalink Reply by Dan Kouriah on February 3, 2011 at 18:14

i know the perfect spot, where i held GhettoBikeParty in 2008..
can y'all WAIT till may BPNC tho? it'd need to be a mid-late arvo thang & INDIE not sanctioned jus tha way we like it. but yeah ive witnessed CARGO-category races at ACMC & CMWC's being quite funnn. i have pledged to host an alleycat at BNPC's & theze gel-stage excitments are healthy. tell ur cargo-headz &gettem hyped ok

Permalink Reply by hozozco on February 4, 2011 at 10:39

Hi Dan

I love your excitement, but I don't know what all the acronyms that you refer to are. How do you host an allycat and what are 'gel-stage excitments'?

I want to be hyped, but I don't know what I am meant to get hyped about?

Simon

Permalink Reply by eeno on February 3, 2011 at 22:55

awesome idea.

FWIW the dude who won the CMWC was rocking a standard bike with a skin grows back bag.

Love the cross polo pollination idea Jeremy, that's if you can hold out til may; we're really keen to have other bike events such as an alley cat and cross town polo comp, and this would fit in perfectly.

Permalink Reply by Alexander Langman Hender on February 4, 2011 at 14:07

I was thinking about a date in June to coincide with the Danish Cargo Bike Championship.

I reckon the polo day will be full-on and that the cargo race will attract a slightly different crowd: i.e. lots of people with kids and so on.

There's no reason that we couldn't do both though; maybe an informal c-bike race on polo day and then the main even in June.

Anyway, I've created the events on FB and AC to get the ball rolling. We can refine from here.

Permalink Reply by heather on February 4, 2011 at 15:08

Danish Cargo Bike Championships takes place in April. This site has photos of cargo bikes taken during the event.

Lets have a race.

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