Introduction guide
What?
The Bicycle League is a program that grew out of the learnings of the operation of The Spur Schools League and the effects that the Covid pandemic had on sport and event participation in general.
Who?
The program is operated by Cycle2Ride and Meurant Botha, who acts as program director. Cycle2Ride is a cycling NGO driving youth cycling through various programs, including Out of the Blocks, an accredited balance bike program for educators as well as a coaching
component. Cycle2Ride believes in the power of cycling as a driver of family cohesion and focuses on this aspect of the sport
Meurant Botha is the founder of Dirtopia (2000), Amarider (2006) and the Spur Schools League (2009-2020). As course builder for the first South African UCI World Cups in 1997/1998, designer of the first Cape Epic route in 2003 and countless events, Meurant is an experienced mountain bike trail builder and race organiser. Having served on the boards of the Pedal Power Association, The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust and Cycling South Africa, he has an intimate knowledge of cycling administration. In 2017, Meurant was instrumental in formalising Schools Cycling South Africa into its current structure.
What?
Together, Cycle2Ride and Meurant developed cycling facilities and grassroots events, primarily at Curro facilities throughout the pandemic. It was this development that drove the realisation that cycling needs to decentralise and offer local participation opportunities in order to address the perpetual demographic challenges faced by the sport. Using the Short track racing format, the program was refined over the last 2 years and thanks to support from the EduInnov8 Foundation, the Bicycle League was born. In short, The Bicycle League is a grassroots, open source program aimed at driving localised participation in the sport. Taking place on, and around school properties the bulk of program events are scheduled after school, making it more accessible, while at the same time providing more calendar opportunities than the overtraded weekends.
When?
The core League is planned for the 1st term of each year. This is done to extend the cycling season for schools as well as to ensure that teams can prepare for the official SCSA season. The bulk of the events are planned for midweek afternoons. New clusters are targeted throughout the year at schools and areas that are not currently active within the SCSA space. This allows us to continuously drive the creation of new teams with the view of incorporating them into the 1st term Bicycle League as well as SCSA events in the
following year. Positioning The Bicycle League is positioned to be a feeder program to existing Schools Cycling South Africa events.
Any outcomes of the League are those of the League and no official provincial, national colours or similar sanction is required.
Further, the Bicycle League seeks no exclusivity and participation in the League is entirely voluntary.
Look and Feel.
Events are very basic, but in full compliance with SASREA. The aim is to up-skill new organisers so that they can learn the ropes of event planning at low outcome events. Basic timekeeping systems teaches the core of registration and result dynamics. Schools are geo-fenced into local Clusters. Each cluster runs 2-3 events with an individual and school team rank as outcomes. Qualifying individuals and School teams are then invited to a District Final. Qualifiers from these District events then progress to a Regional Final.
For example:
Region: Gauteng North
Districts: Tshwane, Ekurhuleni etc
Clusters: Centurion, Ga-Rankuwa, Mamelodi, Boksburg,Benoni etc.
The establisment of Cluster Leagues must be our focus!
Registration and event entries
The Parents register their children for R49 which gives the participant a personalised season raceboard and upload to result platform, and manages the indemnity.
The Cluster Entry fees are R80 pre entry and R100 late entry. (provisional)
District Final entry fees are R100 and only open to qualified riders and their teams.
Meurant Botha
Program Director
The Bicycle League
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