IMBCS Technical Guide

2022 IMBCS Technical Guide

MISSION

The Iowa Mountain Bike Championship Series (IMBCS) is dedicated to providing a series of mountain bike races in Iowa with different levels of competition for Iowans of all ages and abilities. This means that everyone can participate: from the seasoned, experienced rider to the first-time rider to those riders who only compete for fun and socialization.

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UPDATES and NOTICES

Please refer to BIKEIOWA IMBCS Page, the IMBCS Facebook group and the IMBCS page on BIKEIOWA for all Races and up-to-date information. This is a living document and these digital sources will have all the most recent information as it becomes available. All information herein is subject to change.

CHANGES FOR 2022

• In an effort to increase competition and provide larger starting fields, there will be no COMP category in 2022. Most racers that raced this category previously are encouraged to consider racing in Category I (Expert).

• There will be fewer age groups and the ages will be adjusted. This is to simplify the series and increase competition.

• Season points will use a different scoring system compared to prior years.

The USA Cycling Rulebook is available HERE.

CATEGORIES – IMBCS will use the following structure for categorizing mountain bike racers:

• Category I (Expert) for men and women

  • Winning Finish Time Target: 90 minutes (new for 2022)

  • This category is the highest level of competition that IMBCS offers. Course length, depending on the course, is approximately 18 - 22 miles. CAT I Women will race one lap less than the Cat I Men. At a Race Director’s discretion, cash payouts will be awarded for Men and Women category winners.

• Category II (Sport) for men and women

  • Winning Finish Time Target: 60-75 minutes

  • This class is for more experienced riders. Course length is approximately 12 - 15 miles.

• Category III (Novice) for men and women

  • Winning Finish Time Target: 30-45 minutes

  • This class is for adult recreational riders with little racing experience. It is ideal for a rider who may be trying out their first mountain bike race or their first racing season. Course length is approximately 5 - 10 miles. Courses will have a lower degree of difficulty.

• Marathon Category – endurance racing for men and women

  • Winning Finish Time Target: 4 hours

  • Any category (Expert, Sport, Novice) can race in Marathon

  • This class is for endurance racers.

  • One lap minimum must be completed to collect series points.

  • Racers must start their final lap before the clock hits 4 hours.

  • The race will run simultaneously with other classes.

• Juniors – 18 and under for boys and girls

  • Winning Finish Time Target: 30-45 Minutes

  • This class is for boys and girls between the ages of 11 – 18. Course length is approximately 5 – 10 miles and will be the same as the Category III (Novice) course. More advanced juniors are welcome to enter a higher level race (e.g Cat II - Sport) as they see fit.

• Kids Races

  • Kids Races are for ages 10 and under. The short distance race will be for prizes on very low degree of difficulty terrain. Series Points will not be collected for Kids Races. No license (annual or one-day) is required for Kids Races.

• Series winners in all of the men, women, and junior categories of their respective age groups will receive awards at the end of the season! See below for more information.

• Series awards will be presented at the conclusion of the last series race held.

• Series winners do not need to be present at the last series race held, but it is highly encouraged for podiums / awards ceremonies.

• Minimum Race Requirements: for a racer to qualify for an IMBCS season award within a respective category, the participant must, at a minimum, compete in the following number of IMBCS races:

  • Marathon: minimum of 3 races

  • Junior and CAT III (Novice): minimum of 3 races

  • CAT II (Sport) and CAT I (Expert): minimum of 4 IMBCS races

  • If you participate in the minimum number of IMBCS events and you happen to DNF in one or more of them, you will still qualify for a series award at the end of the season.

• Best Score Guidelines: similar to the minimum race requirements above, the number of races counting towards a racer’s season point total will be capped by the following best score guidelines:

  • Marathon: 3 best scores will count for overall series points

  • Junior and CAT III (Novice): 4 best scores will count for overall series points

  • CAT II (Sport) & CAT I (Expert): 5 best scores will count for overall series points

• Age groups within each category for IMBCS season points will be as follows:

* Racing Age will be determined by one’s age on December 31 of the current calendar year.

The IMBCS series standings will be based on points with scores as follows:

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Upgrading: If you are consistently placing in the top 3 finishers overall for your entire category and finish significantly ahead of your competitors in the results, you should consider upgrading to the next race category to compete against racers that are at a similar level. The purpose behind all of this is to encourage competition and fairness within each category. If you change categories midseason any series points earned will not transfer.

Downgrading: A rider who feels they have advanced too quickly or is otherwise no longer competitive in their category may ask for reclassification by submitting a written request to USA Cycling. If you change categories midseason any series points earned will not transfer.

More information regarding upgrades and downgrades can be found here: https://usacycling.org/about-us/governance/policy-viii.

RACE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

IMBCS Race Directors are responsible for the following:

1. Insurance for the event through USA Cycling

2. Complete the online permitting process for USA Cycling

3. BikeReg.com is required for online registrations

   1. Furthermore, IMBCS strongly encourages only allowing pre-registration (i.e. no day-of registration)

4. Entry and release forms (waivers) for the event

5. Personnel: USA Cycling Official(s), scorers, medical, volunteers, etc.

6. Awards for the event

7. Submission of results to IMBCS and USA Cycling within 3 days of race completion using the provided template (ages of racers must be included)

8. Provide a neutral Feed/Water Zone for any race that is equal to or exceeds 90 minutes in duration.

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LENGTH OF MTB MARATHON RACES

Marathon mountain bike racers will be scored using the number of laps completed within a 4-hour time frame. Racers will not be allowed to start a new lap after the 4-hour mark; however any lap started before the 4-hour mark will be allowed to be completed. Participants must complete a minimum of one lap to receive placing points for the series. A neutral FEED/WATER ZONE will be available and set up by the Race Director and/or their volunteers. Racers will be able to place coolers, water bottles, and nutrition items that they need for the race within this neutral FEED/WATER ZONE. Please do not litter. Racers are responsible for their own trash.

WEATHER/CANCELLATIONS

All IMBCS events are subject to inclement weather that could delay the race, postpone the race to a rain date, cancel a race, shorten a race, or require an alternate race loop from the original plan. Updates on race conditions will be provided on the IMBCS Facebook group and the IMBCS page on BIKEIOWA as soon as they are made available. Race Directors reserve the right to alter start times, combine groups, adjust the course length/time, reschedule, and cancel events.

IMBCS Race Entry Fees: In the interest of keeping Race Directors and their supporting organizations that host the IMBCS events viable, solvent, and financially sound, each Race Director has the right to set their entry fee schedule to meet their cost structure as they see fit. That being said, IMBCS suggests registration fees as outlined in the following table:

* The suggested entry fee does not include the cost of a USAC license. A USAC license (annual or one-day) is required for all IMBCS events as all of the races are USAC sanctioned. CAT I racers must hold an annual USAC license to participate. All other category racers will be able to purchase a One-Day USAC license for each event. No license is required for the Kids Race.

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INDIVIDUAL EVENT AWARDS: Event recognition is determined by each race director. Traditionally, recognition, awards and/or prizes are presented at an awards ceremony for each category following the individual race or at the end of the race day.

SERIES AWARDS: For each category, series winners will receive free entry into races the following season. The number of free entries will be equal to the number of races entered by the series winner the previous season (e.g. if they entered 6 races the previous season they will receive free entry to 6 races the following season). Awards are subject to change based on fundraising and sponsor donations.

Local Trail Advocacy Groups: IMBCS encourages you to join your local trail advocacy group to help with their membership drive, provide donations, and support the building and maintaining of our trails in Iowa. Please consider joining one of our trail organizations here in Iowa or making a donation: CITA, LAMBA, FORC, CVAST, ICORR.

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IMBA Membership: IMBCS also encourages our racers to consider joining IMBA.