Race Information
The series will be using for the second time a new transponder timing system which will require riders to pay a £4 registration charge when signing on for the first time. Riders to keep their number board AND shoetag for the series.

Racing is at 7:30pm (youth at 8pm) each Wednesday evening from May 16 to July 25 at the Redbridge Cycling Centre, with weekly and series prizes for each category.

Entry is on the day, with no prior racing experience or licence necessary.

Categories

Youth B Born 1998-2000
Youth A Born 1996-97.
Juniors Born 1994-95
Sport Born 1983-93
Masters Born 1972-82
Veterans Born 1962-72
Grand Vets Born 1961 or earlier
Experts Born 1993 or earlier
Novice Born 1995 or earlier
Singlespeeds Born 1995 or earlier (and riding a singlespeed)

Please note: No riders will be allowed to ride outside their age category

Fees

- £6 for Youth A&B (U16&U14)
- £8 for Juniors, Students (with NUS), unemployed (with UB40), OAPs (with bus pass)
- £12 for Sport cat and older

£4 registration charge when signing on for the first time. Riders to keep their number board AND shoetag for the series.

- Forgotten tags will be charged at £4
- Category changes will also cost £4.

Run by
The Beastway Series is run by a group of people drawn from the cycling community of London and the surrounds. A Structureless Tyranny acts as a coordinating body and which in turn relies upon friends and cycle clubs to make the series happen.

We are very keen to hear from you if you would like to join our winning team, we have lots of jobs to do and if we all did a little no one would need to do a lot. No one is paid to work on Beastway and we all do it in our spare time. No one could afford to pay for the goodwill we get.

Money

The series is run on a non-profit basis and what money is raised is used to pay our expenses, give donations to the clubs who help us to put on each event, pay for prizes, some donations to cycling good causes around London and the Home Counties, and also to help us kick-start the following year’s series.

Prizes

We like to give prizes, not only cash prizes at each round for all categories down the results, but also series end prizes. Our policy is to spread the prizes as far down the finish list as we can afford to. Even though none of the prizes are that big, this costs a lot, as across the numerous categories between 40-50 riders a week will get a prize, usually a total of around £330 per week. But we think it's worth it - almost every week someone comments that he or she has never won a prize before as they clutch their envelope like a trophy.

Sponsors

We are privileged to have had the continued support from our sponsor Brixton Cycles since the Series began in 1994 and without them there would not have been a Beastway. Their continued support speaks volumes about their attitude and this south London bike shop adds something extra, not just to cycling but also to London life.

Enjoy
We are especially proud that we attract a good turn out of youth riders and women. Beastway is often quoted as many people’s first race. Try to arrive in time to have a warm-up lap – we encourage this so that riders don’t come up to tricky sections at race speed and make mistakes! A warm-up lap is particularly important if this is your first race, and if it is, we advise:

1) Don’t take it too seriously! Racing can be quite stressful, especially at the race start when things can be a bit congested.
2) Pace yourself – riding for up to an hour at race speed can be very tiring, and people tend to make more mistakes when tired or stressed.
3) If you’re over-tired at the end – train more. If you aren’t – ride a bit harder next time!
4) Ride around for 10 mins or so at the end of the race to warm down.
5) Bananas and cake – make you big and strong.

Rules

We do not require you to be a member or hold a race license of a cycling organisation. Although Beastway is run as simply as possible, we do believe that rules are needed to help create a good environment for all to enjoy the racing.

Just turn up, pay your money and race.

Attitude

For some it's serious, for others it's a social thing – Beastway is not just about racing, the weekly competition allows riders to meet each other, check out clubs and to show off to their friends and family.

The Beastway series is not difficult, you will find more technical terrain elsewhere, but what makes it a little tricky is that ALL categories, fast ones and slow ones are on the course at once. This makes for quite a lot of overtaking. This also means there is always someone to race against. Whilst naturally the battle for race wins catches the eye we notice the great battles for positions in all categories.

If you are new to racing, come and talk to us and enter the novice/laid back group for a shorter race.

Busy

Racing in a tightly defined area does sometimes see some conflict. We call it 'race rage' when someone acts a little uncool and we do insist that people look out for each other – however, when they don't we get tetchy and talk hard. We understand that people do get excited and it can get a little crazy at times, but we almost always sort it out.

What we will not allow under any circumstance is sexism, racism or violence - thankfully something we have as yet not had to act upon and you are welcome to talk about any concerns with us.

We want you to race with us and we feel that regulars consider that the series is just as much their property and concern as it is ours. When we get time, we race as well.

Contact: john@oandmmedia com

Location: The purpose built Redbridge Cycle Centre (Hog Hill), Forest Road, Hainault, Ilford, IG6 3HP -www.hoghill.co.uk

Websites:
www.brixtoncycles.co.uk/
www.beastway.com