Northbrook Bicycle Club
Race Descriptions
with help from www.peteslist.com
available online at
www.dafinc.com/bike.htm

Points Race: A points race is a rolling start event in which riders sprint for points on given laps. Certain laps are designated by the officials as "points laps", usually every five laps, and for those sprints points are awarded as follows: 5 pts. to first, 3 pts. to second, 2 pts. to third, and 1 pt. to fourth place in each sprint. Sometimes double points are awarded on the middle and the final "points laps". The racer with the most points accumulated over the course of the race wins. Laps are scored ahead of points, so when someone laps the field, he or she is considered to be ahead of the field.

Scratch Race: A scratch race is run over a specified number of laps and the first rider across the finish line wins the race, the second finisher is second, and so on down the line.

Miss and Out: A mass start race in which the last rider across the start/finish line each lap is eliminated from the race. The "picks" continue until there are three riders remaining; those three riders are given a neutral lap to catch their breath, and then the race in on for places 1 through 3.

Madison: A points race where teams of two, riding one at a time, compete against each other over a specified distance. The team members trade positions via a hand-sling that requires some practice to gain proficiency.

Unknown Distance: A mass start event where only the officials knows the distance to be covered by the racers. Usually the official gives the riders a range (between 5 and 20 laps), but when the bell is rung, that means one lap to go, and the first rider across the finish line wins.

Tempo Race: The top two finishers each lap for a given number of laps win points; two points are awarded for first and 1 point for second. The rider with the most points at the end of the designated number of laps wins the race.

Chariot Race: Riders start from a complete stop (with a holder) and sprint for one lap. Usually there are heats of six riders competing to qualify for the final round.

Danish: Also known as a "Win and Out". It is a mass start race where the winner of the first racing lap is the winner of the race and pulls out. Then the winner of the second lap is second overall and pulls out, and so on down the line.