Calvin’s Challenge

Rules for Calvin’s Challenge 12 hour, 6 hour and 100TT.

The First rule that must be addressed is the mirror rule. Yes, mirrors are required. They can be Bike, Helmet, Eye glasses or Hand mounted. (it is a recumbent way of doing it). The reasons are many, but the number one reason is to prevent your injury or death.

We take the mirror rule seriously. Each one of the Directors uses a mirror every time we ride. Disregard for the rule will get you DQ’d. Don’t test us on it.

We race on roads open to traffic. It is often windy, which limits your ability to hear vehicles coming up from behind. There are a number of left hand turns on the route. Most of them are on quite country roads with little or no traffic. There is one left hand turn off the State Route 42 that one of our racers was killed while making the turn. There is a slight bend and hill right before the turn. From the time you turn around and look to see if it clear, the situation can change by the time make your turn. This limits your sight line to vehicles coming up from behind and their ability to see you until it is too late.UMCA racing is much different than other forms of racing that you may come from. First, we don’t have categorized levels of skill, such as Cat 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. You may be lined up to a RAAM winner or next to someone that this is their first mass start. Add to the mix tandems and recumbents of all shapes and sizes and you’ll have a busy time keeping track of who is where. It is just good to be able to watch the wheel ahead of you and be able to see what is on your wheel without having to turn around. In that split second of you looking back could have you in a crash.I think it is just a great racing tool. I can easily see if I’ve got a gap or that the group in closing in. Do I go or sit up and wait? All without tipping my hand with the “Look Back”.The same arguments we hear about mirrors are the same we heard about helmets (other than they are hot). The mirror is the cheapest and simplest way to improve your safety on the road.