The Sanctuary Summer Series
Brought to you by 4Five+ Athlete Collective
The cycling community has been struggling for years to encourage more women to come and race. We asked women why they don’t race more often, and what they wanted to make racing more accessible for them - long discussions followed both online and offline. This is the 4Five+ Athlete Collective’s response: a twilight women’s only criterium event series, run by women, for women (with the help of a few good men).
It’s a little bit different.
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”
What is it?
The series is designed to be welcoming, safe, fun, affordable and social. The events will be run at the Midvale Speed Dome purpose-built criterium circuit (so no traffic). Each event will include mentoring and racing, as well as family-friendly activities.
Save the dates! 5.00 - 7.00pm Saturdays:
15 January
29 January
12 February
Race format
2 races, each a 20min + 2 laps handicap, with two grades/groups on course
Total field capacity is 60 riders, with grades/groups limited to 15 riders
Mini Teams!
It’s a team event, with all entrants in teams of three. Team members can be in any grade (e.g. one rider in A, one in B and one in D grade etc.) If you want to race but don’t have a team, you will be able to register in the Mixed Lollies team, and we’ll match you up with others.
Team members can be substituted, in case a team member cannot do all three events.
All team members earn points for riding, and the top 5 in each event get additional points towards the overall series team prize. There are bonus points for first time racers, and for teams that supply a volunteer.
Matching kit is encouraged, but not required (coz $$ - similar colour-ways or matching socks are inexpensive options).
An appropriate AusCycling membership is required - Racing license for racing, and 4 week free trial memberships can be purchased, but refer to the T&C. And yes, Little Critters need one too. All the details at AusCycling Membership.
Cost
Thanks to the enormous generosity of our sponsors, we’re able to offer these events at the super-low cost of $10 per event. Without them, we couldn’t do this. More about our sponsors & supporters below.
How is this different to other crits?
I’m glad you asked. As well as the awesome benefits already mentioned (no cars, restricted numbers, women only, low cost) we are also offering:
A free creche for racers’ children (bookings essential), thanks to Dome Westralia Plaza
Gifts for first-time racers
Mentoring sessions - free for people entering the crit, $10 for anyone else that wants to join in
Little Critters circuit time
It’s short, and sharp. Each ride is over in about 25 minutes, so you can still do your ride the next day (or have a rest, whatever suits), and the whole event only lasts two hours. Bring a picnic, bring the family, spend a lovely Saturday evening riding your bike and watching others.
Prizes
There are no individual podiums at each event (it’s all about the team), but there will be spot prizes and novelty prizes - you’ll have to wait and see! The Sanctuary Summer Series Team prize will be a gorgeous hamper of Things Women Want to share amongst your teamies. Sorry, no new bikes, but there will be some sweet merch and kit vouchers thanks to escape.cc
Team registrations are opening soon via EntryBoss, so start getting your team together now!
And let us know if there is anything else you'd like to see (except donuts, I already tried to get those ☹).
With thanks to our sponsors and supporters whose generosity make this event possible:
The Sanctuary: The 4Five+ Athlete Collective is grateful to have the continued support of The Sanctuary, a multidisciplinary practice that is a safe place which helps people who have survived, violence, trauma and mental illness. You can read more about The Sanctuary’s work here.
Dome Westralia Plaza: a free creche will enable mums from all family situations to enjoy their racing
escape.cc: some of the most stylish kit in Perth up for grabs in the prize hamper
Thanks also to Roues Chaudes Cycling Club and AusCycling for supporting 4Five+ with the loan of equipment.
