Seeding FAQ
Q: What’s this I hear about new MTB seeded numbers?
A: The good news is: After years of talking about it, we are finally able to split road and MTB seeding and from now on, our members will have a different road and MTB seeding and different PPA seeded number for the two disciplines. To set the ball rolling and to test the new system, we are now issuing new MTB ‘back numbers’ to all paid-up PPA members who participate in MTB events on the PPA calendar; the intention being to replace the MTB back numbers with seeded (permanent) frame numbers from 2012. Paid-up PPA members with a road event result in the past funride year will receive a road funride number for the new 2011-2012 funride year. Paid-up PPA members with a MTB result in the past funride year will receive a MTB funride number. If you have done both road and MTB events in the past funride year, you will receive both numbers. If you have not done any events in the past year, you will receive a road funride number.
What if you get a road number, but you decide halfway through the year that you want to do a MTB event, but you don’t have a MTB number (or vice versa)? It’s very easy – you just come to the PPA Office in the week prior to the event, and collect your free number relating to the “other” discipline.
Q: When do the (re)seeding runs take place?
A: Around mid-year, seeding runs take place to seed members as they join the Association or renew their subs. No reseeding takes place during this period, which usually lasts until mid-September. After that, reseedings will be announced on the website and in the email to the database.
Q: I recently joined PPA/renewed my membership, and want to enter an upcoming event, but have not yet received my membership card or seeded number. What must I do?
A: (a) Your membership number is displayed on your MyPPA landing page on the website, as is your seeding and results. As soon as you are a paid-up member, register with the website so that you can log onto MyPPA. If you do not have regular internet access, you can phone the PPA Office to get your membership number (if you renew online, that number is displayed when you renew, and your membership status is automatically updated on the PPA/CycleTour/Racetec database).
(b) Your new seeded number will be posted to you if you renew/join between July and end-September. If you join/renew between October and May, you can either elect to collect the number at the PPA Office, or it can be posted to you, or it can be sent out for collection at the next event. During this period (Oct-May), your seeded number should reach you within two weeks after you paid your subs. If you have not yet received your seeded number and wish to participate in an event, contact the PPA Office immediately on (021) 689-8420 so that an alternative plan can be made so that you can still start in the seeded groups.
c) Your membership card can be printed off the MyPPA section on the website, as and when you need it. Just log on, and click on the membership card.
Q: I see my seeding changed in July from the previous season and that I have dropped down one or two groups, although my times have generally improved. Why is this?
A: The seeding index usually changes when we do the annual reseeding in August. This is because a 1% penalty per month comes into play for results that are more than 5 months old.
Q: Which events are taken into consideration for seeding?
A: All events timed by RaceTec are used for seeding although for PPA-supported events, only paid-up PPA members are eligible for a result. Team events eg the Double Century and listed events are not normally used for seeding. Events where there is insufficient data to gauge the difficulty of he event relative to other events are also not used. While all results are used “as is” for road seeding, for MTB seeding, road results receive a 15% penalty.
Q: Will I still be able to use last year’s funride number at funrides?
A: Seeded numbers expire annually on 30 June, and specifically so as soon as the new season’s funride numbers are distributed.
Q: Which events use the PPA seeded back numbers for the start groups?
A: Most road events on the PPA calendar, excluding the Cycle Tour and Cycle Tour seeding series events. You must use your PPA road number for road funrides, and the new PPA MTB seeded number for the MTB funrides – you cannot use your road number at the MTB events. PPA members wearing their seeded funride numbers on their back line up in front of non-members.
Q: What seeded number am I getting?
A: Paid-up PPA members with a road event result in the past funride year will receive a road funride number for the new 2011-2012 funride year. Paid-up PPA members with a MTB result in the past funride year will receive a MTB funride number. If you have done both road and MTB events in the past funride year, you will receive both numbers. If you have not done any events in the past year, you will receive a road funride number.
What if you get a road number, but you decide halfway through the year that you want to do a MTB event, but you don’t have a MTB number (or vice versa)? It’s very easy – you just come to the PPA Office in the week prior to the event, and collect your free number relating to the “other” discipline.
Q: Which events will count? Will I have the same road and MTB seeding?
A: For your road funride seeding, all your results will count, as it has done in the past. For your new MTB seeding, all your results will still count, but your road results will now carry a penalty of 15%, while MTB results will not carry any penalty. The index calculations for road and MTB categories differ quite a bit. For the road funrides, we are working with 24 seeded start groups, while for MTB seeding we are working with only ten seeded start groups. This means that, in all likelihood, your road and MTB seeding will differ quite a bit and your MTB seeding could even be higher than your road seeding.
Q: I have a query around how my seeding was calculated. What must I do?
A: Please look at the next page to see how your seeding index was calculated. If, according to your calculations, a mistake has been made, then please email the PPA office, providing all the following information: – Your name and PPA membership number – Your ID number – Your new seeding, according to the database (eg 29.0045) – What you think your seeding should be, and why it should be different to that displayed on the database – Any additional supporting evidence (eg triathlon or tt or overseas results).
Q: How can I improve my seeding? How and when can I get a new seeded number?
A: Firstly, regularly participate in a PPA event, as events older than 5 months start carrying a 1% penalty (recent results are a truer reflection of ability than old results). Then regularly check your seeding to see if you qualify for a higher number than the one you currently hold. If the answer is ‘yes’, please bring your old (current) number to the PPA office. The old number needs to be returned before a new number can be issued. It costs R50 to reseed if you want to do so during the year. Upgrades are not automatically issued – should you qualify, you need to obtain your new number from the PPA Office before lining up with the new (higher) group. You cannot line up wearing your old number, even if you qualify for the new seeded group – you must wear the correct number on your back.
Q: What about reseeding, or forgotten numbers?
A: You can upgrade your seeded number (should you qualify) by paying the R50 admin fee – please organise this with the PPA Office during the week. If you have been issued with a seeded number (whether road or MTB) and you forget it at home on the day of an event, you can either purchase a temp seeded number to use on the day for R30, or buy an unseeded number for R5 and ride with the unseeded groups.
Q: My seeding index seems to be incorrect, what do I do?
A: Funride results count 1/3 towards your seeding, provided all the criteria stated on the next page are met. You need results from THREE rides, and generally only the long routes count, before the system will seed you. If you do have results from three long rides, you have taken the adjusted winner’s time into consideration and the seeding still seems to be incorrect, then please email us. Please note that funride results will only be displayed for paid-up PPA members. If you pay your subs after an event, then your results for that event will be displayed only the next time the results for that event is rerun.
