The next Handicap Chase is 2016 Banff GranFondo S3
Next run is 8pm (plus Start Time) this Tuesday 1st November 2016.
Start Times (Handicaps) are as follows... (when underway time equals or exceeds the given Start Time).
If anyone else wants to take part, can they let us know a competitive time for the stage, or failing that their fitness level and who they usually finish close to.
Your handicap is based on your previous times, and is used to generate a Start Time.
Like golf,
the higher the Handicap the more assistance you get, so
the earlier the Start Time.
Your Handicap is reduced slightly if you have only completed one chase, and reduced more if you have completed none (and your time is based on doing the stage outside the handicap format). Therefore you are rewarded for completing the handicap chase once, and rewarded more for a second one, as your time should more closely reflect your current potential.
Finally, the Handicap is also reduced slightly for those who are furthest behind the fastest time, as they have more chance of significantly improving their times. The front runners will always struggle to improve their times much, especially after a couple of runs, so they need the full Handicap to stay competitive.
This algorithm has developed across several stages (and previous Chain Gang rides) and closed the bulk of the field from around 10 minutes to around 3 minutes, and hopefully future runs will close it up again slightly.
It is always likely that the win will be taken by an early starter who improves significantly, which is probably a good thing as it improves motivation. It is also possible that any significant under performance on previous bests will result in trailing in at the back, for even the fastest riders. I don't think this can be helped. However, so long as the bulk of the entrants finish close together it should make for a more entertaining session for the majority, and make the format worthwhile.
Geoff
it was nice when they screamed past instead of saying your nicked sonny 
