KV-BATT 2020

KV-BATT is the Kissena Velodrome's Best All Around Time Trialist competition. Just because the Coronavirus is ruining our lives, doesn’t mean we should let it ruin our lives. Racers gotta race, and with inspiration from Paul Coluccio and his Long Island Social Distancing Individual Time Trial, we have developed a way to do it, while also keeping ourselves socially distanced.

In a nutshell, each rider will submit times for their time trials to be done at the track to a submission web form listed below. The times will be translated by our magic website (ENIAC) into points for each TT and tabumatized. Results will be posted on the results page.

The TTs are the Flying 200m, the 500m, the Kilometer/1000m, and the Pursuit/4000m. So there is quite a range. You must complete the two or three elements assigned for that week on the same day, but if other people are at the track to do this, you should take turns (and help them out, why dontcha?) You may take more than one crack at any element, but the last crack you take is the one that counts, regardless of the time, so think hard about that decision (and honesty is a virtue.) Multiple submissions for each week will result in the least favorable submission being used for scoring.

All starts are off the rail, behind the appropriate start line (more on where that is later.)

You will need a person to time, the “Timer”, a mass start-legal track bike (drop bar, fixed gear, no aerobars, no front disks, no visible electronics, no brake, and anything else I can’t think of at the moment), at least four index cards, a stopwatch (or just use your phone, Skippy), and a pen.

Label each card with the name of the element: 200, 500, Kilo, or Pursuit. You can also just use a pad of paper, I just picture index cards working better. Specific instructions for prepping the card for the Pursuit is included below.

Should you not have a buddy available to help with the timing, despair not.  On weekends a PRR member will be on hand during certain time periods on either Saturday or Sunday to time you. Please check the banner at the top of the page around mid week to know which weekend day and time range they will be available.

Be safe. You will be riding cross-eyed at some point, I hope. Don’t let that crash you out.

There are often others using the track for walking and casual riding. Please respect them, this is the kind of positive activity that should be encouraged as we go through life, especially in these times. They are also likely to be in the lane as you are racing one of your elements. Ya just gotta deal with it –just make sure you give them plenty of space (obviously, at least 2 meters.) You should also take time before you start to politely explain what you are doing and what they should expect. It is easy to get frustrated and develop an attitude. A trick I use is to pretend I am talking to a relative (one of about the same age) who has no idea what is going on. It works sometimes.

Week 1 (Mon, May 25 - Sun, May 31: 8pm)

Flying 200m, 500m & 4000m/Pursuit

Submit Your Results Here.

Results Page.

Week 2 (Mon, Jun 1 - Sun, June 7: 8pm)

1000m/Kilo, 4000m/Pursuit

Submit Your Results Here.

Results Page.

Week 3 (Mon, Jun 8 - Sun, June 14: 8pm)

Flying 200m, 500m & 1000m/Kilo

Submit Your Results Here.

Results Page.

Week 4 (Mon, Jun 15 - Sun, June 21: 8pm)

1000m/Kilo & 4000m/Pursuit

Submit Your Results Here.

Results Page.

Flying 200 meter

Two laps in total, the final 200 meters is timed. Rider gets whistle off the rail and Timer yells “Last lap!” the next time across the line. Timer starts time at the 200m line (white line approaching turn 3), and the normal start/finish line is the finish. Timer should stand near the S/F line. As in all these elements, the front of the front wheel stops the clock.

Index card: Simply record the time.

Standing 500 meter

1.25 laps from a standing start off the rail. Timer should, after ensuring the rider is essentially behind the 500m line (or the imaginary extension of it, since it does not go all the way up to the rail), stand on the tarmac in the infield. Timer starts rider with “Rider ready?” Upon confirmation that the rider is indeed ready (if not, repeat the question when you suspect the rider is now ready), “Go!” (or whistle) starts the time and rider releases from the rail, crosses the finish line and then completes a full lap from there. Timer should briskly walk from the standing point to as near the start finish line as practical to get an accurate reading. 

Index card: Simply record the time.

1000 meter/Kilo

2.5 laps starting from the back straight pursuit line (red line halfway round the track from the middle) and ending on the pursuit line directly across the track (the other red line). Timer should, after assuring that the rider is on the rail behind the pursuit line, stand about 2/3 of the way back to the finishing pursuit line. Timer starts rider with “Rider ready?” Upon confirmation that the rider is indeed ready (if not, repeat the question when you suspect the rider is now ready), “Go!” (or whistle) starts the time and rider releases from the rail. Timer walks towards the finishing pursuit line. As the rider crosses the first time, Timer should call out “Two!” The next time by, Timer should call out “One! (or make a loud ding dingy sound)” Time ends when the front edge of the front wheel crosses that pursuit line again.

Upon a mishap in timing (my finger has slipped and missed the button -what a horrible feeling), Timer should try her best to stop the rider as soon as safely possible so as to save energy. Then apologize (these things happen) and try again.

Index Card: Index card should have a very short column consisting of the numbers 2 and 1. Upon first crossing of the line, and upon calling out “Two!” Timer should cross off the 2. Optional crossing of the 1 next time around, but it makes good habit. Following the finish of the element, record the time.

4000m/Pursuit

10 Laps, starting and ending on the front-straight pursuit line. Starter can stand up to 2m from the rider. Timer starts rider with “Rider ready?” Upon confirmation that the rider is indeed ready (if not, repeat the question when you suspect the rider is now ready), “Go!” (or whistle) starts the time and rider releases from the rail. Rider now has ten laps to complete and Timer should be extra nervous about not messing up.

Upon a mishap in timing (my finger has slipped and missed the button -what a horrible feeling), Timer should try her best to stop the rider as soon as safely possible so as to save energy. Then apologize (sheesh, get it together) and try again.