Thank you so much for participating in the survey we sent out in January! We received some very helpful data and a lot of enthusiasm to get back to racing.
In accordance with your responses, guidelines set by USAC and the Parks Dept., and the current state of the pandemic, the Board is excited to announce that we are still aiming for a June start to the 2021 CRCA Club Racing Season! In the interest of full transparency as we navigate this year, we’d like to share our thought process and current plan of events.
Why June? The health and safety of our racers, volunteers, staff, and community members remains our top priority. We are closely monitoring COVID numbers and calendars of other organizations, and June reopening is in line with most (including USAC). Also, over 60% of survey participants responded that they would need either required or recommended vaccinations in order to feel comfortable racing again. With the current rollout, it seems likely the public will have access to the vaccine and ample time to build immunity by June.
No Really Why Not Now? We are aware there are racing events happening in this city and neighboring states, but it is not possible to hold races at our scale and up to our safety standards at the moment in NYC.
The COVID-19 guidelines from the Parks Department will not allow any event that prevents members of the public from reasonable simultaneous use of the park, requires vehicles, or allows participants to be closer than 6 feet without masks. Even if races contained smaller waves of racers, there couldn't be marshals at every checkpoint or lead/follow motos for safety. Plus, everyone would be in masks for the duration, which was not a popular survey response. (See Parks Department Safety Guidelines for more info.) We are in contact with Parks and are closely monitoring the monthly updates to the Executive Order that affect these limitations on outdoor gatherings.
There are still some moving parts that could present a challenge to June start, such as race staff and moto availability, but the CRCA Board has secured permits and is working hard to get everything in place for summer!
Provisional Schedule for Resuming CRCA Activities
Coming soon (Phase 1):
Zwift Race series (with prizes!) - Dates TBA
Membership open - You will be able to roll over your membership from last year at no extra cost during an opt-in period. More details and dates to follow. Time to renew your USAC license if you haven't already!
Coming next (Phase 2):
CRCA Coaching - These will be in smaller groups with mask requirements. Look for the announcement and updated calendar in April.
Online Events - Info sessions, guest speakers, etc.
June - September: Racing!
FAQ
Yes, you should still have your timing chip! You will use the same chip for the life of the chip (at least 5 years) or as long as you race as a CRCA member. If you need a replacement at membership renewal, there will be a fee.
We are still exploring options for alternative races, but it is unlikely we’ll be able to extend the CRCA Central Park series into the fall. We will keep you updated!
Thank you all for all your input and understanding! We can't wait to ride with you again.
- 2021 CRCA Board
