1. As a rider, how do I join the league?
Registration for the 2017 leagues is via Entry Central. Registration is now open and details can be found on the Register page.
2. Can I take part in the league if I’m not based in the Eastern Region?
Yes. the league is open to all female riders regardless of where you live, however all league races will take place within the Eastern Region.
3. I organise a race, can it be part of the league?
Yes please! We are looking to grow the league and a race can be added to the league during the year, so long as sufficient notice is given to allow league riders to enter. Please contact us at werleague@gmail.com
4. I’ve registered with the league, what now?
Great! Welcome to the league. You now need to check which races are part of the league and enter the ones you want to do. Each race can be found on the corresponding ‘Events’ pages along with links to enter them via British Cycling or Cycling Time Trials.
5. Do I have to take part in all of the races?
No. you can do as few or as many as you like, however only your best six results will count towards the league placings at the end of the season. If you don’t complete 6 races, your results will still count.
6. I’m not a member of a club, can I still take part?
Yes, you can take part in most of the events, including all of the road races and closed circuit races, although we strongly recommend being part of a club as there are so many benefits! To take part in a CTT organised time trial, you will need to be a member of a CTT affiliated club.
7. I couldn’t finish the race because… Do I still get points?
If you are pulled out of a race by the commissaire due to falling too far behind or being lapped, this will count as a finish and finishing points will still be awarded. If you have to pull out of a race due to a mechanical such as a puncture, or due to injury, you will not be counted as finished, however, you will still be awarded starting points. A disqualification by the commissaire will result in no league points being awarded.
8. Do I need to be a member of British Cycling to take part in a race?
We recommend British Cycling membership as there are many benefits and it can save you money on race entries, however you do not need to be a member of British Cycling to take part. You do need to be a member of a Cycling Time Trials affiliated club to take part in any CTT time trial events.
9. Do I need to have a race licence?
In short – yes, but you can buy a day licence for a race, for around £10 on top of the race entry fee, from the race organiser on the day, or when entering online. This might be the best way for you if you are just trying out racing. If you enter lots of races, it is cheaper to purchase a full race licence along-side your British Cycling Silver or Gold membership.
10. How do I enter a race?
Race entry is either via the British Cycling website: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk , the Cycling Time Trials website: http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk, or on the day. The race organiser manages entries and a link to the online entry can be found under the corresponding events tab on this website. It is best to enter an event online, as this allows the race organiser to see if they have enough entries to run the event and it will ensure that you have the best chance of getting into the race. There are no entries on the day for CTT events and some closed circuit races only allow entry on the day and no online entry. If you are unsure whether you can enter an event on the day, it is best to contact the organiser – the contact details of the organiser can be found if you follow the link under the events tab. Make sure that you note the closing date for online entries – usually 2 weeks before the event.
11. How much does a race entry cost?
Cost of race entry is up to the race organiser and generally between £10 and £25. Please follow the link supplied under the events tab to find out. If entering on the day, you are likely to find that the cost of entry is more than had you pre-entered online. This is to encourage online entry. If you don’t have a full race licence, you will have to purchase a day licence on top of the race entry fee. These can cost between £5 and £10, depending circumstances. Please refer to the British Cycling website for more details about single day licences.
12. Can I enter an event on the day?
Some events only allow entry on the day, so make sure you check the details on the information page for the event by clicking the link under the events tab. If you haven’t entered an event online by the closing date, it is best to check with the event organiser that they will be accepting entries on the day. If an event becomes full with people entering online, you are unlikely to be able to enter on the day, although most races are unlikely to become full. All CTT events require prior entry and you will not be able to sign up after the closing date.
13. What prizes are available to win?
The league prizes are listed under the “prizes” tab on the home page.
14. How do I pass on feedback or make a complaint?
If the comment is about the league itself, please e-mail werleague@gmail.com but please bear-in-mind that the league is run by volunteers for the interest of all female racers, so your patience is appreciated. The league has no control or responsibility over the events themselves, so please contact the organiser in this instance.
15. What age is the league aimed at?
The Road League is open to all female riders over the age of 16 in order to comply with British Cycling rules for racing on the open road. Some events are open to youth riders (under 16) with dispensation from British Cycling where they do not take place on the open road (closed circuit races). The Time Trial League events are run under the Cycling Time Trials association rules. These stipulate that a rider must be 12 years or older to enter their events on the public highways. We encourage riders of all ages to take part where possible. We regularly have riders in their 50s taking part in events in this region, you are never too old to start!
16. Why are you charging for the league this year?
The 2014 league was free to be a part of as we were unsure how successful it would be and whether it would actually work. From 2015, we have been working hard to ensure the growth of the league and have successfully secured some great sponsorship. By charging for the league, we can secure the league’s future, ensure sponsorship can go directly towards the prizes rather than cover costs and help us to raise funds which will be used to support female cycle racing. We have a draft constitution which was formally agreed at a meeting at the end of the 2015 season, this can be viewed on request.
17. What is a 3rd/ 4th category rider?
The Road League has a prize for the top 3rd category rider and top 4th category rider. These categories are given by British Cycling. A new rider will be a 4th category rider when they get their first racing licence. Points are awarded based on the finishing position of the rider in races. Once a certain number of points are gained in one season, the rider will move up to the 3rd category, then 2nd, then 1st and the top category, Elite. Visit the British Cycling website for more information: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roadst_National_Regional_Rankings_Explained
18. What happens if I’m a 3rd or 4th category rider and I move up a category?
The road league has prizes for the top 3rd category and top 4th category rider at the end of the season. To qualify for these prizes, you will need to be either a 3rd category or 4th category rider at the start of the season. If you move up a category during the season, you will still be eligible for your original category prize. So if you start the year as a 4th category rider, then move up to 3rd category after a few months, you will still be within the league’s 4th category rankings.
19. How good/ fast do I need to be?
The league is set up to encourage and enable more women and girls to take up cycle racing. We cater for both experienced and novice riders, so it doesn’t matter how fast you are, you can race. We advise that you are fit and ride a bike regularly and have plenty of experience riding in a group if you are taking part in the road league (not so important for time trials!). Attending a race training session is a really good idea as you will learn the skills required for bunch racing. If you have never raced before, we advise that you start with a criterium (closed circuit or “crit” race) before you race on the open road. Race training sessions are advertised on the cycle circuit websites (our nearest are http://www.cyclopark.com at Gravesend and http://www.redbridgecyclingcentre.co.uk at Redbridge). If you want to find out more about whether you are good enough to join our league, you can e-mail us any questions to werleague@gmail.com
Got a question? e-mail: werleague@gmail.com
Women's Eastern Racing League 