Collegiate Intro to Bicycle Racing

As with all collegiate races across the country in 2008, the Phoenixville Fury and Philly Phlyer will include men's and women's "Introduction to Bicycle Racing" categories. These races are designed to help riders over the sometimes steep learning curve they face as they start racing. Volunteer "coaches" provide guidance to racers and ensure a safe event, helping them learn faster than they would on their own, and guaranteeing that all riders get some quality group riding experience. The general format is as follows:

At the start of the race there is a short discussion on a particular skill to be worked on for the day, such as cornering, drafting, or climbing.
The race then breaks into small groups, generally of 5 to 10 riders per coach.
Those groups then proceed around course in a controlled fashion. Coaches discuss the skill being focused on, and provide tips on riding and racing.
If time permits, the race then stops, regroups, and rides as a single large group in a controlled fashion.
Afterward, the race regroups and starts in earnest. Riders may attack, push the pace, etc, just as in every other category. However, coaches remain in the race to provide safety tips and to guide dropped riders around the course.
When the race is finished, coaches collect all the riders by the finish line and discuss how the race went, answer questions, and provide more advice.

In a criterium or circuit race, the coached segment may last for one or a few laps depending on course length, usually regrouping at the start/finish line. For longer road courses, the race is usually regrouped and restarted on-course, a few miles into the race. This ensures that every rider gets some experience riding in a group, learns a few skills, and still has plenty of time to enjoy a wide open race.

Guidance

ECCC intro races are usually lead by veteran racers as well as USAC licensed coaches. For this year's Fury and Phlyer intro races, there will be coaches from:

Quaker City Wheelmen/Breakaway Racing, a widely known Philadelphia-area USCF club. Quaker City has a strong focus on rider development in addition to its healthy squad of elite racers, and leads a number of racer clinics and popular group rides throughout the year. More information about the club is available on their website.
Philadelphia Ciclismo, a newer but powerful USCF club in the Philadelphia scene. With many elite riders and several state champions on its roster, Ciclismo is happy to help intro riders tackle the challenging twists and climbs of the Phoenixville Fury and Philly Phlyer. More information about the club is available on their website.
Veteran racers and team directors from a number of schools, including Boston U, Dartmouth, Drexel, Princeton, Rutgers, Tufts, UPenn, and the US Military Academy.
ECCC and ACCC volunteers, including the notorious Mark Abramson and Ruth Stornetta (conference directors).