Last week a newcomer to the cycling scene asked how MTB seeded starts and day licences work, so… here’s a bit of info again:

Why seeded starts at MTB events?

PPA members who regularly ride MTB events last year started asking for seeded starts, as problems arise when, for instance, keen youngsters line up in front on the start line, sprint off at great speed and soon come to a grinding halt once the riding gets a bit more technical, thereby blocking more experienced riders.

The first step to seeding was therefore to have PPA members lining up in front of non-members. This system was implemented at most MTB events since June last year.

But, “We want more!” our members said, so at this year’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, we conducted a survey, one of the questions being asked relating to seeding at MTB events.

The overwhelming response was that PPA members want seeding for MTB events, similar to road events. This system has been phased in since May this year.

As the MTB field is generally smaller than for road events, four combined start groups are used at this stage: A-H; I-Q; R-Z and Temp. If a route demands a smaller start group (eg due to singletrack shortly after the start), or if the abovementioned start groups get too big, these start groups will be changed.

This means – if you want to start in the start group as per your current seeded number on the PPA database, you need to bring and wear your current PPA seeded number at MTB events (as well as road events).

What if you forget your number at home?

If you are not too worried about which group you start in, you can simply buy a temporary unseeded number from the organisers for R5 and start at the back in the unseeded group.

If, however, you have forgotten your number but want to start in your actual seeded group, you are welcome to buy a temporary seeded number corresponding to your seeded number on the database from the PPA table. This seeded number will be valid only for the day and currently costs R30.

What is this new Day License?

As a PPA member, you are exempt from having to buy an additional Day License, but here's what it means:

Cycling South Africa, the umbrella body that oversees cycling in the country, has stipulated that all riders who participate in a MTB event over 20km and/or a road event over 40km, must have a license of sorts.

This license can be a full racing or cyclosport license, a CSA “recreational license” or a Day License.

Cyclists who are members of any affiliate of CSA, eg a provincial cycling union or PPA, already hold a CSA “recreational membership license” through virtue of the fact that PPA and/or the Provincial Cycling Union are affiliates of CSA. This means no further day licenses are required. (Note: No license card is issued for the membership/recreational license class; we simply provide CSA with a copy of the database for electronic verification purposes)

Cyclists who do NOT belong to CSA or any affiliate of CSA, need to take out a Day License in order to participate in the longer MTB routes over 20 km (or road routes over 40km). At PPA events, this Day License incorporates your unseeded back number and is available at R30 from the organisers, who have to take down your details to supply to CSA.

Happy cycling!