West Virginia Mountain Bike Association Points Series

2023

Brapps Then Tapps

Family
$65

All members must reside at the same address
Individual
$35
Junior
$20

Must be under 18 by end of the year

The West Virginia Mountain Bike Association (WVMBA) Points Series allows competitors to accumulate points towards a yearly championship status. WVMBA attempts to compose a series of sanctioned races that are judged as historically exceptional events. WVMBA expects to award over $4,000 in cash and prizes to series champions at the conclusion of the final series race. The goal of the series is to encourage racers to participate in more races, participate in trail work, and generally improve the quality of mountain bike riding and racing in WV.

Series Points:

XC Points Series: Top 6 (5 to qualify) = Series Champion

Points for each race are awarded to the finishers in each class based on a 20 point system.

20 points for 1st
19 points for 2nd
18 points for 3rd
etc

One point will be awarded to those finishing 20th place and below.

To qualify for the XC series, the racer shall complete a minimum of 5 series races. The racer's final series points standings will be calculated based on the total points from the racer's best 6 races.

Race Classes:

All WVMBA Point Series events must include all of the standard WVMBA Classes regardless of field size. These classes may not be combined.

The following classes will be recognized at WVMBA XC races:

Pro/Expert

Male Open
Female Open
Vet (35+)
Masters (45+)
Singlespeed

Sport

Male Open
Female Open
Boys (14-17)
Girls (14-17)
Male Vet (35+)
Female Vet (35+)
Masters (45+)
Grand Masters (55+)
Clydesdale (> 200lbs)
Male E-bike *
Female E-bike *

* Not available at all races

Beginner

Male Open
Female Open
Boys (14-17)
Boys (12-13)
Girls (12-13)
Boys (11 & under)
Girls (11 & under)

Non-Series Class

Just For Fun!

(points are not tracked)

All age classifications are based on racers age on December 31st of the current year. Race organizers may opt to create additional ability categories within the age classifications but only official WVMBA classes will be recognized for points in the WVMBA Points Championship Series. Races completed outside of recognized Points Series classes will not qualify as "races" and no series points will be awarded for those races.

Note: The sport of mountain biking is about camaraderie and sportsmanship. A big part of sportsmanship is honor. We don't believe that this sport should ever need mountain bike police. Each racer shall behave honorably and is expected to know and understand WVMBA rules when signing up for a race. We ask that you follow these rules and sign up for the class in which you would normally race. Whether you race USAC or have any other license is irrelevant.

Number Plates:

No changes or alterations to a WVMBA number plate are permitted, this includes cutting down the size of the number plate, placing stickers on the number plate, or any type of writing on the front of the number plate. If any number plate has been changed from its original state, a replacement fee of $5.00 for a new number plate will be charged to the racer that the number plate was originally assigned to and the racer cannot compete in a WVMBA event until the plate is replaced. Every rider is required to use the same number plate at each WVMBA event. If a new number plate is required by a racer due to the original number plate being lost, left at home, or stolen the racer may be charged a $5.00 replacement fee. If the number plate is lost during a race, please notify a WVMBA official after finishing the race.

Tie-breaking:

The final race of the series breaks ties. (Example: Racer 1 & Racer 2 both have 100 points after the final race points are calculated. The winner of that final race is the series winner). If neither racer races the final race, the racer who completed the most races in the series wins the series. If they have the same amount of completed races, the racer with the most 1st place finishes, 2nd place finishes or 3rd place finishes, etc. will win. If still tied, the racer who completed the series final race is declared the winner. If they both complete the same last race, that race will be the tie breaker.

General Rules:

1

Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse. All racers are expected to understand and comply with these rules.
2

Racers shall complete the entire event on the same bicycle with the exception of cyclocross races where bike exchange can only be done in approved areas.
3

Racers must perform their own bike repairs.
4

Racers must carry their own spare parts and tools. Cannibalizing other bikes is not permitted.
5

Food and water can be taken from anyone, anywhere on the course.
6

Racers taking food or water must not impede the progress of other racers.
7

Racers riding bicycles have the right of way over racers pushing bicycles. When practical, racers pushing should yield the most rideable portion of the trail when being passed.
8

A racer pushing or carrying his or her bicycle can overtake a racer riding his bicycle provided that it does not interfere with the riding racer.
9

Riders must alert those they are passing (lapping) vocally using the announcements 'PASSING on your LEFT (RIGHT)!' or 'TRACK LEFT (RIGHT)!' It is the responsibility of the passing rider to overtake safely. Riders being lapped must yield at the first reasonable opportunity.
10

When two riders are vying for position, the leading rider does not necessarily have to yield position to the challenging rider. However, a rider may not bodily interfere, intending to impede another rider's progress; this is considered to be highly unsportsmanlike behavior.
11

Short-cutting the course by any racer shall result in a disqualification.
12

Foul riding, use of profane or abusive language and other unsportsmanlike behavior will be taken very seriously. Such behavior by any racer shall result in a warning or disqualification. This will be strictly applied when such behavior is directed at course officials, volunteers or spectators. The penalty imposed is at the discretion of the race director.
13

Federal, state and county laws and ordinances will be abided by at all times.
14

Protests can be made only by registered racers. Protests will be made in writing and delivered to the race director any time after the end of the race, up to 30 minutes after the posting of the final results. Protests should contain any information that supports the protest, including description of the incident, witnesses, names, addresses, phone numbers and signature of protester. A $25 fee shall be submitted, in cash, with the protest. The race director, after his own discovery, will promptly rule on the protest. The fee will be forfeited to the race director if the protest is denied or refunded if the protest is upheld.
15

The WVMBA Officer or timer has the final say in any ruling.
16

Wearing a bike helmet is mandatory while warming-up for, or racing in, any WVMBA sanctioned event.
17

Bicycles shall be in good repair with both front and rear brakes in good working order.
18

Violation of any of the above rules may result in disqualification.

E-bike Rules:

1

Class 1 Ebikes ONLY
2

No throttle
3

Pedal Assist Bicycles with an electric motor Peak Power of 750 watts or less
4

Approved Drive Units Only. (manufacturer's label of compliance is the minimum standard)
5

Freely operable pedaling system: rear wheel drive train of pedals, crank, chain and gear system
6

Motor engages only with pedaling and cuts off at 20 mph (32 kmh)
7

Bicycles must remain locked, i.e., no modification of wheel sensor from factory circumference or any other modification to manipulate the factory set speed of the bike. If caught with tampered/modification to equipment you will not only be disqualified from the e-series and traditional series but be on member suspension for all WVMBA events for two years
8

Production Rule: OEM drive unit and matching frame combination model required (matching year NOT required). Electric conversion kits and after-market frames are prohibited. Once qualified for the meet, the bicycle's frame may not be replaced
9

Drive Units: Current list of approved drive units: Bosch, Shimano, Panasonic, Yamaha and Brose
10

Analog Bikes have the right of way, you must yield to a racer in a different class to pass you when appropriate
11

No battery swapping during the race
12

A single battery (no extra batteries permitted)
13

Limited start assist (no pedaling) up to 4 mph (6 kmh) is allowed

Sandbagging:

Racing in a class that has an ability level below that which a racer possesses is sandbagging. Sandbagging is not cool!

Category Upgrading:

You may advance as quickly as you wish. Otherwise, as a rule of thumb for beginner and sport racers, you should advance to the next higher class the following year after placing in the top five of five races in any given season. (Note: Upgrade carefully, downgrading never looks good!)

Series Payout and Awards:

Series payouts and awards will be provided at the final series race of either series. If a racer is eligible for a series payout and/or an award and cannot attend the final race of the series, the payout will be mailed out to the racer. Awards will not be mailed-out so the racer must make arrangements with WVMBA to pick-up at a bike shop, at a following season race, or at an in-person WVMBA board meeting. Series payouts are cash or check for Expert classes and gift certificates redeemable at retailers sponsoring WVMBA for all other eligible classes.

USA Cycling

By partnering with USA Cycling we are joining a larger point series along with gaining affordable focused insurance for our promoters, land managers, and participants. Each WVMBA Sanctioned race is a qualifying race for the National series. By being part of these available points we have a larger draw. Racers in other states can participate in our race and get points through the USA Cycling body allowing them to move up the ranks in the National Series.