Handicaps for Dummies

[CaroleH]

I know this is going to be a really stupid question and I will win the award for the being the thickest this year , but can someone explain to me how the handicap system works. How is it worked out, what's the point and how is the winner the winner. Give me the lowdown!!!! Mr Green was all excited about it on Tuesday night and to be honest I didn't have a clue Sorry Mr Green for not joining in in your excitement!!!!

Carole H

[Andrew G]

[quote]Mr Green was all excited about it on Tuesday night

[Snoop Doug]

Hmmmm

You get allocated a handicap based on previous performances at distance.

I think there's a dusty tome sitting somewhere on a desk...in Gandalf's library.

In it are a load of tables that can be used to calculate said handicap.

The point...? Well it gives an incentive to improving slowpokes like me. I'm not going to win the event but if I'm putting in the effort and my performances are getting better then I may have a crack @ the handicap prize (incidentally not all events are handicapped). Example. George has a handicap of 30 seconds for the race this Saturday. I have 6 minutes . These times are based on previous bests. So - when the race is over we'll both have a scratch time and a handicap time. If George does a 22 minute race then his handicap would b 21.30. If I do a 25 minute race then my handicap would be 19 minutes. So - George wins on scratch - I win on handicap.

Any use...?

Snoop

[Ivor]

[quote="Snoop Doug"]Any use...?
Snoop

[Andrew G]

Good question Ivor, I think he muct only have done one 10 before and on a unicycle.

[John the old'un]

The most accurate bit of handicapping I can recall was in 1961 in the 42 mile Purley to Brighton.
Keith Butler was off Scratch and I was on 13 minutes.He started 13 minutes after me and we crossed the line 1 hour 48 minutes later together.

[quote="Ivor"][quote="Snoop Doug"]Any use...?
Snoop

[Andrew G]

Excellent and very stirring Snoop. Good luck with the target, say hi as you catch me.

[Ivor]

er, ok a slightly more thorough answer than I was expecting!
It was more I wondered why you'd got a 6 minute handicap when you're a damned sight faster than me... and I've got a 3.10 but not done a 10 before. very confusing.

[quote]Now, after four stuttering years, I am no longer the guy who turns up to make everyone else look fast

[Jon H]

For our evening club 10s, the handicaps are based on 20 minutes being the "scratch" time. So, take 20 minutes off your PB, and that's your handicap (rounded to the nearest 10 seconds to make Tim's calculations a bit easier at the end of the night). Then that handicap is taken off your actual finishing time to give your handicap time. Easy innit.

For novices/unknowns a bit of guestimation is used, we normally give complete novices an 8 minute handicap on the basis of 28 minutes being a reasonable target for a first timer on the Holmwood course. A bit of discretion is used for those riders who we know are a bit tasty from club run or road racing performances.

For open events, if you've not put a time on your entry form some organisers exclude you from the handicap competition, others give you a nominal handicap (usually based on half of the handicap of the slowest rider in the field).

[CaroleH]

I understand the 'Hemming' method. Last year I won the handicap over the ACC series - is that taking into account for all races or is it that I made the biggest improvement as a whole.

Carole H