1999 District 42 Association
Best All-Around Rider (BAR) Rules and Guidelines

Deletions to last years rules are striked out. New rules are in italics.

1. DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of these rules, the term 'event' will refer to the entire slate of racing offered by a promoter, perhaps spanning several days. The term 'race' will refer to a specific competition at a given event. In this sense, only races can be BAR races; events cannot be BAR events. It may be that at a given event, some races are designated as District 42 BAR races, while other races will not be, depending on class and category.

2. LOCATION OF BAR RACES

Only OPEN races held within DISTRICT 42 count towards the BAR. SERIES sanctioned events and events held outside the geographic boundaries of District 42 are not eligible for BAR status except by special arrangement with the District Executive Committee via the BAR Administrator(s). SERIES sanctioned events are only given BAR status in unusual circumstances.

3. DATES OF ELIGIBLE BAR RACES

Only races that fall between March 1st and September 30th will be eligible to be considered as part of the BAR.

4. ELIGIBLE PROMOTERS

Only clubs and promoters who remit the specified District 42 rider surcharge for all events which they promote within District 42 will be eligible to have races at events they promote designated as BAR races. Clubs or promoters who declare their event a "BAR Event" in either their race announcement or through other means and then fail to pay the required surcharge will be penalized by the District Association. Note that the promoter must submit the rider surcharge for ALL races within District 42 that the club or promoter organizes, whether or not that event is designated a BAR event by the club or promoter.

5. BAR RACES

a. All District 42 State/District Championship races that correspond to BAR classes are automatically designated BAR races.

b. When a club or promoter promotes only one event during the course of the racing year, that event will be designated a BAR event. Usually the event designated will have the higher prize list, however, the promoting organization may decide which event will be the BAR event.

c. Clubs or promoters organizing more than one OPEN event may designate only one of those events as a BAR event (except for District Championships). Additional races may be designated BAR races by paying a $50 fee to the District Association. Races not appearing on the event announcement in the possession of the BAR administrator will not be considered for inclusion in the BAR. The BAR administrator encourages promoters to contact him. early in the race planning process. For a race to be considered for inclusion in the BAR, the BAR administrator must have a copy of the race announcement four weeks before the date of the event, or two weeks before the submission deadline for the newsletter in which any advertisement of the race occurs, whichever is earlier. There shall be no exceptions.

d. Clubs or promoters organizing a USCF State Championship event for District 42 racers may promote another event as a BAR race in addition to the USCF Championship.

6. ALLOCATING BAR POINTS

a. The BAR is open to all riders competing in designated races. Points earned by a rider are based on the class and category of race and not on the rider's USCF class or category. Points earned by a rider in a given BAR class of race only apply to that BAR class. Example: if a Masters rider earns points in a Senior race, those points count towards the Senior BAR.

b. Riders may earn points in only one race per their BAR class at a given event. If a rider earns points in two races in his/her BAR class at the same event then the higher point total earned from the two events is awarded.

7. DISPUTES

All disputes or appeals regarding points or eligible events will be resolved by the District Executive Committee (only after the complainant has first discussed the issue with the BAR Administrator(s)).

8. BAR CLASSES

There are thirteen competitive classes within the BAR:

Cat 2 MenEvents open to all USCF Senior Cat 2 riders.
Cat 3 MenEvents open to all USCF Senior Cat 3 riders.
Cat 4 MenEvents open to all USCF Senior Cat 4 riders.
Cat 5 MenEvents open to all USCF Senior Cat 5 riders.
Masters 30+Events open to all USCF Masters age 30-39.
Masters 40+Events open to all USCF Masters age 40-49.
Masters 50+Events open to all USCF Masters age 50-99.
WomenEvents open to all USCF Women.
Women 35+Events open to all USCF Women 35+.
Women Cat 4Events open to all USCF Cat 4 Women.
Junior 10-14Events open to USCF Juniors 10-14.
Junior 15-16Events open to USCF Juniors 15-16.
Junior 17-18Events open to USCF Juniors 17-18.

a. Any rider who upgrades during the year may carry a maximum of 50% of their current points to the next category up to a maximum or 15 points.

b. Should a race span multiple BAR categories, points will be awarded to the top ten riders regardless of category. The points will then be placed in the appropriate BAR category. For example, A Cat 2/3 race will be considered both a Cat 2 and a Cat 3 BAR race.

9. AWARDING BAR POINTS

a. There shall be ten places awarded for each race, according to the schedule in Table 1 

**************************************** 
Table 1 Base points for scoring the BAR 
Place   Base Points 
 
1       15 
2       12 
3       9 
4       7 
5       6 
6       5 
7       4 
8       3 
9       2 
10      1 
****************************************

b. In time trial events where there are multiple USCF categories constituting a single BAR class, the BAR points shall be awarded by ranking in ascending order the times of all the participants in the given BAR class. Example: At the District Time Trial, although medals are awarded to the top three riders in the five year, USCF-mandated intervals, the BAR shall combine the appropriate Master riders as into their respective BAR classes, and rank the riders solely on time, without regard to age within a BAR class.

c. No BAR points will be awarded solely for medalling in a State Championship beyond those due the rider based on Rule 9(a)-(c).

d. The track championship shall be scored as an omnium of all events.

e. Results are usually provided by the promoters or USCF officials. If two sets of results are submitted, the results supplied by the Chief Referee take precedence. It is the responsibility of the individual rider to ensure that the registrar and other race officials correctly record the placing and team or club name. The promoter shall provide to the BAR administrator, within five working days of the event, copies of the results, start lists, and USCF race report. The BAR administrator will return these to the promoter if so desired.

f. A Masters riders who "races down" an age group will receive no BAR points. To receive Masters BAR point, a Masters rider must race the race containing his age group.

10. TEAM BAR CLASSIFICATION

The team competition is open to all USCF clubs. Clubs must be able to verify the membership of an eligible rider to the satisfaction of the BAR administrator.

a. The team classification is calculated by summing the points of the top three riders from each club in each BAR race and dividing by the number of placing riders. For example, Team XYZ finishes 1st, 3rd and 5th for a total of 30 BAR points. Since three riders placed, divide by 3, so the team receives 10 team BAR points.

b. Riders changing teams in mid season do not carry BAR points earned for their first team to their second team, for the purposes of determining team standings. It is the responsibility of the rider to provide proof to the BAR administrator of the change of teams.

11. AWARDS

A BAR jersey will be given to the top rider in each class. Free entry in the following years races is not guaranteed and is up to the promoter.

Juniors will receive one free jersey and all others will be able to purchase one jersey at half price with the association subsidizing the other half.

Return to VA Cycling Home page