i have just been looking on the NPS website and i was looking at the dates of the rounds etc. and for round 5 it says its at Carlton Bank?????? is there more than one carlton bank or something cause i cant see it being there!!!!!

The silton crew are busy building a new track up at carlton bank! Should be from the top to near the pond if it all goes to plan!

Carlton is no way near good enough for an nps venue!! In my opinion they would need to redesign the whole thing for it to be any good.

On a differnet note, to race in the nps this year you must have a race licence and have gained 5 bc points to compete!!! The winter series at hamsterley is bc points so if you are racing nps next year i would suggest getting a licence before hamsterley to get those points.

i was just looking at getting a licence as well, i might get one for the 2009 season so i will definately have enough points to race then.

does no one fancy racing the NPS if they get a licence and the points etc.

I will be and already have the points so am ok!!

do you already have a licence or do you mean when you get a licence your results from this season count??

im confused

I already have a licence and the points i get at the end of this season are taken over to next season. For example i now have 5 points from the SDA Race at inners as that was all i raced all season. Say for example i get in the top 20 again at Hamsterley i might get another 5 or 10 points which takes it up to 10 or 15 points.

Say if you got a licence now all the races you entered previously won't be included because at that time you didn't have a licence. If you get a licence now and race hamsterley and inners all the points from them will be counted!!!

One thing to consider is what cat you will be racing in next year. A BC licence runs from december to december. If you are moving up from junior to Senior next year then race the Hamsterley series under senior as the points will go on for next season. If you race as a junior and move up to senior the points won't be carried across.

Does that make sence???

yes it does thanks.

i will be in junior for all of next year so i think it will be best to get a licence and use it next year. i think even if i get a licence before the hamsterley race it wont cound even if i do get 5 points cause the cut off date if the end of the month unless i have got it wrong.

Cheers.

yeh if i was you i would get a licence next year, ready for round 2 so you have a few rounds at Hamsterley and inners to get the required points. Although you are bound to get them at the first round at hamsterley mate but don't risk it cause you never know you might crash 3 times and get mud in your eyes and come last! something i know only too well!!!

whats the point in needing a 'lisence' :S you already havta pay a fortune (45quid compared to 5) to race at hamsterly, is this just another way for people to earn money?

what are the points for? do you win something when you get so many or are they as pointless at the lisence?

maybe im missing something here but it just seems like you are wasting alot of money just to ride.... (specially when you can ride there any other time for alot less money and sometimes free (like carlton and places))

surely im missing something....

yes you could ride everywhere cheaply but i want to become a better ride and hopefully make it my job so thats why i want to race everywhere and get better.

A licence is required to be able to race in the nps the money you pay for the licence also includes insurance for non-competitive, social, leisure and utility cycling and also competitive cycling in events held under the auspices of British Cycling. The other beniftis of the licence include:

Permanent disability - £50,000
Total and irrecoverable loss of sight of one or both eyes - £50,000
Loss of one or both limbs - £50,000
Total and permanent loss of hearing in one ear - £12,500
Total and permanent loss of hearing in both ears - £50,000
Total and permanent loss of speech - £50,000
Death - £7,500 (£5,000 for under 16 and 71-75 years old)
Hospital cash benefit - £25 for each complete 24 hour period up to a maximum £750.

For £60.00 / £30.00 a year i don't think its bad at all.

who pays the 50,000quid when you loose a limb though? and how likely isit for you to loose one? theres not that many cyclists that will claim for this money to be honest

if you want to ride your taking the risk of knacking yourself up, you shouldnt need other people to pay you money to you when you get hurt. its your choice to do it and your fully aware of the risks of it.

i understand that its a requirement if you want to race i just dont understand why, if anyone can get a lisence without doing any tests etc for it, then surely anyone can race.... it just seems that people ran out of ways of making money honestly and decided to make a 'lisence' to get more money from people.

the carlton run is going to be built from the glider station and down there so they can uplift etc. i believe Ed is building it.