Lancaster County is cementing its reputation as the amateur bicycle racing mecca of the Mid-Atlantic with the combination of events of two local race promoters.
Rich Ruoff, director of RedRoseRaces.com, recently acquired the bicycle races promoted by colleague David Butterworth, of Pro-Am Cycling, for an undisclosed price.
RedRoseRaces recently announced a 2008 racing schedule with 23 events and 29 races March 15 and Nov. 22.
The acquisition makes RedRoseRaces.com the nation’s largest bicycle race promoter based on number of events.
Pro-Am will continue to offer some of its own events, including a Harrisburg downtown criterium and a criterium race in downtown Lancaster on Sunday, June 1.
This year, that race was held in conjunction with a men’s professional road race and a women’s professional criterium. Those professional races will be held in Allentown in 2008.
With the combined schedule, there will be races in Lancaster County nearly every weekend from spring to fall.
Those races typically attract about 400 racers participating in a range of age categories and ability levels from beginner to advanced. In addition to regular local racers, participants also come from the Mid-Atlantic region, between New York and Washington, D.C., Ruoff said.
Those out-of-town racers come with their cash. Ruoff expects the economic impact of the racing season to be about $1.5 million.
One-day races typically bring in about $40,000, while three-race stage events bring in about $200,000, he said.
In addition to the combination of the racing schedules, new for the coming year Ruoff is adding amenities, offering season-long packages and is considering enhancing equipment.
Beginning with the season’s first race, the Strasburg Road Race on March 15, RedRoseRaces.com may be selling and renting the timing chips. Ruoff said he will make a decision in about two weeks whether to use the system in 2008 or 2009. The chips will send an electronic signal when racers cross the start and finish line. The bicycle-mounted timing chips will allow for lap splits and eliminate questions about close finishes.
Timing chips have been used for several years in running races. Ruoff said it took some time for the systems to be refined for bicycle racing. The system RedRoseRaces will use is the same one used in Olympic competition and the Tour de France. It can record bunch sprints of as many as 40-riders crossing the finish line within 1,000th of a second, Ruoff contends on his web site.
If chip-timing is used, racers will have the option of purchasing a time chip for $80 or renting one for a fee of $5 per day.
The chips will also be included in season-long entry fees which Ruoff is promoting for the first time in the coming year. Racers have the opportunity to purchase advance entry into 18 events for $450. Three of those events are three-race events, or 26 races. After Jan. 20, the price for the season increases to $500. After Feb. 20, the price is $550. Fees of between $20 and $30 are common for participation in each race.
Also, next year, RedRoseRaces.com events will have food and beverages available. The Feed Zone Cafe will likely offer a simple menu of water, soda and hot dogs, but it may be the only amenities around. The start and finish lines of races are typically on the edge of a field with nothing else around.
More information and a complete race schedule can be found at: redroseraces.com.
