How do you pick a team?

In Human Powered Vehicle racing, you only have 8 riding positions.
So how do you choose the riders from 10 fit, experienced and committed guys?

Our 2008 Australian International Pedal Prix Team. Pic from Pics08 Gallery

It's just not cricket...
It's not like footy or cricket where you can miss a week or a test and be back in the team for the next game.
We only race once or twice a year at best and we spend up to 10 months building our vehicles from scratch too. There's too much riding on it to sit one out. (pun intended)

We're not in the pro-peloton
It's not like a pro cycling squad either, who can pick their teams for the Classics, Tours or One-Day races based on riders strengths and race styles.
We are all HPV racers.

History Repeating?
In the past for Bendigo Youth Racing, we've rarely had an issue of too many riders.
In fact, Wonthaggi in '07 is the only time that we can recall where one rider elected to sit out.
In most cases our teams have come together in the final few weeks when the top 8 has become kinda obvious.
At other races, we have taken members to ride who were underdone fitness-wise because we simply didn't have a fully fit eight.

With 6 weeks to go, we've got 10 - 11 guys pushing for selection:
(in alphabetical order)
- Adam 'Gavin' King
- Cal Ridge
- Daryl 'Daz' King
- Dave Maud
- Deven Pearce
- Nige Preston
- Jarrod 'Chooka' Henderson)
- Troy Hutchins
- Charles (Mark Anson)
- Matt Anson

Here's some selection models we're looking at:

• What do you think is the best method?
• What experience have you had with your teams?

1. Team Poll
   Each team member nominates their top 8 riders - either rated 1-8 or simply 8 names on a slip. The votes are tallied and the results announced. Daz suggests that people need to be "honest and ‘think of the victory" when selecting their preferred rider line-up. They should choose "the 8 quickest riders who will bring the vehicle home safely."
   
   
2. Selectors Panel
   Similar to Cricket Australia I suppose, where a group of senior team members, ex-riders and neutral team friends choose the 8. "It's tough to do this way because you are choosing between friends and we're all deeply committed mates who have put in loads of work. It could be very personally scaring."
   
   
3. Ride-Off
   Either in a vehicle, on a road bike or on a wind-trainer, each rider is subjected to individual tests. Best 8 times get the places.
   "I don't really want to have one hour time trials in the race vehicle, because it will just end up on it's lid." BYR President Jarrod Henderson explained.
   
4. Self-Select
   We could simply wait until the final few weeks of our lead-up and those who are illness and injury free would either 'self-select' or 'self-omit'.

So, there's a few models we could use to pick our team.

• What do you think is the best method?
• What experience have you had with your teams?

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Our condolences to DAS Racing

Bendigo Youth Racing would like to convey our condolences to the DAS Racing team following the sad news of the passing of a team member during the 9 hour event in Adelaide yesterday. Whilst we were not trackside at the second round of this year's Australian HPV Super Series, we hear that one member of the team passed away whilst competing for the team.

DAS Racing have had our respect for many years as they work hard to pass on their HPV knowledge to others and build great vehicles.

This tragic event reminds us that whilst we train our bodies to be fit and strong, people are fragile. The unexpected can happen at any time and with this sad news I hope we all cherish our opportunities in racing and in life with a renewed energy.

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How do you choose a name?

We here at BYR have spent a of time lately brainstorming vehicle names for our new rig. Over the past six years we've stuck to a Formula 1 inspired naming system:

• 2003 - O-Three (entered as Bendigo Bank BYR)
• 2004 - BY-04
• 2006 - BY-06
• 2007 - BY-06 MkII
• 2008 - BY-08

We are proud of our history, but are now consulting the dictionary for some new terms. 'Consulting' is a loose term, since it involves opening to any page and pointing with a finger.

How do you choose a name?
Let us know in the Comments section.

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This process has also made me reflect today about team names of the past and I think they tend to fit into a few different categories:

'Noble' Names
These names draw on inspirational qualities or characteristics and tend to end in 'ous'
Some examples include Tenacious, Intensus, Alchemy, Conquistador, Rampage, Intrepid, Rapacious.

'Race Team' & Sponsored Names -
The team might be sponsored or wanting to add a professional touch.
eg. DAS Racing, Bendigo Bank BYR, Trend Ice.

Names with 'you-had-to-be-there' in-jokes -
Over the journey of building the vehicle, the team have had a share experience or joke that has stuck.
Eg, 'Molten Chicken' (BSSC 2001), Parade College's 'Big Papa' (2008) or Highview's '3-Nil' (2006)

'Fun' for the heck of it Names -
For those times when it all gets a bit too serious, it's great to know there are prepared to put a shoe in the front of the vehicle and call it 'The Shark', or Bendigo Senior's 'Bukkamalzir', 'The Battered Sav' or 'Grug'.

Acronym & Alphanumeric Names -
Using the flexibility of the English language, teams have been exploiting this one for years!
Flora Hill's 'WAMTOS' (We Actually Made This Ourselves) and 'Carbon8' or Padua College's 'XLR8' are some famous examples.

Characteristic names -
Here you take a unique aspect of a vehicle and incorporate it into the team name.
A four wheeler called 'N4Sir' or a front wheel drive, rear wheel steer vehicle with a differential called 'Moby Diff' or a half composite monocoque/half cromo-framed hybrid called 'Half-Coqued'.

Traditional School Names -
Year in, year out this school photocopies the previous entry form and sends it in, sometimes with some small variation for 'fun'.
A bit confused? Think the Wonthaggi 'Wizards', Berwick 'Fire____', Aberfoyle 'Hubcaps', St Therese's 'Eco Racers'

So, how do you choose a name?

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Letter from the AIPP

A while back you might have seen our post regarding a letter we sent to the Australian International Pedal Prix. (read our letter here)

Well, a while back we've received word from them, we thought we'd let you know what they said:

1. Track busy-ness
They've said: that they have received widespread positive from many teams that the 2008 edition was the 'best ever' and that the track incidents aren't caused by the race itself.
They would love to run two tracks simultaneously, but unfortunately don't have the capacity.

2. Marshals & their equipment
They've said: they have identified points requiring double marshals and that they provide vests for all points. Excellent.

3. Tail lights
They've Agreed and the regulations regarding the tail lights were modified for this year.

4. The Cycling Crit
They've said: it's a challenging issue they are continuing to work with.

Our Positive feedback regarding Paul Richards, their timing and scrutineering procedures was well received and we are glad that the AIPP team took the time to address our concerns, not dodge the questions and do so in a clear way.

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