W.E.I.R.D. (West End Indoor Race Day)

The West End Health Foundation (WEHF) is excited to partner with Start The Cycle bike group to bring you something WEIRD!

The West End *Indoor Race Day, better known as The WEIRD, is cyclists racing bikes mounted on trainers! The event will be on May 8th, 2021, with the youth race from 9-11 am and the adult race from 12-4 pm. All events will take place *outdoors at Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming, MI.  As we plan for this upcoming event, we are proud to announce ALL of the funds raised will return to the community, getting at-risk kids involved in a healthier lifestyle through biking.

Start The Cycle is in its 9th year of leading at-risk youth to a healthier lifestyle through mentoring and mountain biking. The group is a 501(c)3 non-profit, staffed entirely by volunteers. Applicants are referred to their program by counselors, physicians, and Marquette County Juvenile Court. As a group, they fundraise and purchase all of the equipment the riders will need to train and race in the Ore To Shore Mountain Bike Epic in August. 

With our inaugural event in 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19, we are very excited to offer an in-person, *outdoor event this year. This is an inaugural event with food trucks, prizes for winning race teams, Best Weird team name, Best Weird costume/outfit and raffles, including a brand new Surly Big Easy E-bike!  All racers will be given a $5 coupon for the food trucks. T-shirts are included with racer registration if registered before April 28th, 2021.

Race info:

*Due to COVID-19, the race will be held outdoors, under a tent.

Anyone may form a team of 4-8 members (4 for Open, 4-8 for Sport and Youth). Your team of cyclists will ride bikes mounted on trainers for a total of 2 hours for youth and 3 hours for adults, and compete for team prizes. Each team member must ride for a minimum of 20 minutes.  Prizes are awarded for various categories, ranging from most mileage ridden to the best-dressed team. Teams may be sponsored by businesses or organizations of their choice but it is not required.

Whether you are a serious cyclist or a casual biker, W.E.I.R.D. has a spot for you and your team. All participants will receive a $5 lunch voucher to the food trucks on-site, race shirt, and entry into the door prize drawing!

FOR ALL CATEGORIES, YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE ON EACH TEAM!

The entry fee for adults is $50 per rider.

There will be 2 classes for the adults: Sport and Open. Open will more of a competitive or pro category, but you do not need to be a pro to compete. 

The entry fee for a Youth Team is $25 per rider. Youth team participants are anyone 16 and under. There will be handicaps for the different ages as followed (per participant of that age):

<8 years old: 1 mile handicap

8-11 years old: 0.5 mile handicap

12-14 years old: 0.25 mile handicap

15-16 years old: no handicap

NOTE: Teams must provide one bike to be mounted on a trainer. The trainer will be provided. The seat may be adjusted per rider, but the bike MUST stay the same throughout your ride.

This is the trainer we will be using: https://www.saris.com/product/mag The allows for 650b, 700c, 26", 27" and 29" wheel sizes – up to a 2.0 tire. This trainer is designed to fit common road and mountain bike frames with included steel quick release skewer and has three settings for rear dropout spacing: 120mm, 130mm and 135mm. Road, commuter, smooth or trainer tires are recommended. 

Rules
DURING THE RACE

• Trainers must not be adjusted during the race except by an official Race Marshal. Tension between the back wheel and trainer will be set equally for all bikes prior to the race.
• Riders must ride for a minimum of 20 minutes
• Each Team will have a bike host/hostess, if you need help, please ask the host/hostess, and they will get you the proper person.

GENERAL RULES

• Storage in the Bike Arena Area- each bike station will have a designated container for belongings needed by riders
• The Arena is a restricted area- Aisles within the Arena area are to stay clear for Bike Marshalls and Mechanics to get through to teams if needed
• Bikes may not be moved- once the bike stations are set, please DO NOT move them. It takes a lot of time to get bikes set for best racing
• Raising and Lowering of seats is the responsibility of your team- bring tools necessary
• At the end of the event, please DO NOT REMOVE YOUR BIKE! We have professionals to help you so trainers, computers and bikes do not get damaged
• BIKES- will be returned to a team member ONLY!

*OTHER RULES

• Please clean up after your own team!
• No alcohol on the site
• No firearms, weapons or drugs
• No sword fighting while riding
• Heckling is encouraged, bad language is not :)

ITEMS YOU MAY WANT TO BRING WITH YOU

• A fan, you will be working hard and getting sweaty!
• A spray bottle for water, for the same reason as above
• A towel, ditto
• DECORATIONS! There are prizes for the best bike station decor, you will have an 8’ x 8’ space to decorate! Come up with a theme… bring noise makers and accordions and an oompah band if you would like!
• Your friends and family! There will be room for your biggest fans!
• Your sense of Humor...we need this the most! Fun and friends on bikes
• MONEY! There are food tokens for team riders, but you will want more, you will want raffle tickets for the Bike raffle AND This is a FUNDraiser for Start The Cycle and RAMBA...you love helping kids get on bikes and our trail network!

Remember: This is a FUNdraiser, the prizes are not worth attracting bad karma! Get WEIRD!