General
Grading System - What Grade do I race in?
Summary
1. All riders must be graded by the HWCC Handicapper before being able to race at a HWCC event. This should be completed two days before the event using the form below.
2. All riders must race ONLY in the grade they are allocated to.
3. Re-grading is dependent on:
(a) Performance based on accumulated points and/or
(b) the discretion of the HWCC handicapper
4. Junior grading (U/19 and younger) – re-grading can be determined by either:
- Endorsement by HWCC Junior Coach at weekly training sessions
- Pre-arranged race day assessment
- Demonstrated ability and race results approved by the HWCC handicapper
Our Grading System
The underlying principle behind grading is that riders are allocated to a grade where they will be competitive regardless of age or gender, AND with all riders’ safety being a paramount consideration. Note there each rider only has one grading - there are no seperate grades for men and women, or for younger or older riders, or for different courses or types of race.
Our Club does everything possible to ensure everyone is racing in the appropriate grade, both in the interest of safety and fairness of competition. Our policy is to place riders in a grade where they will be safe and competitive, based on their experience and bike fitness and regardless of gender or age, and for riders to learn how to race and win in a range of scenarios before moving up through the grades. Once a rider is assigned to a grade, they must only race in that grade regardless of the course or how much they have ridden, where their mates are riding, what their form is, or what grade they race elsewhere.
All race entries are done online via EntryBoss. Each rider's Hamilton grading will appear as the default option when entering.
Moving up a Grade
To move up a grade riders must score 10 points over a 6 month period, or show cause to the handicapper that they would be safe and truly competitive in a higher grade.
Riders may request to enter a different grade, but this is entirely up to the discretion of the handicapper. Providing evidence (such as the equivalent of 10 points scored elsewhere) to justify a change is grade must be provided.
See below for full details on the points system. This provides an incentive for riders to aim for, and also eliminates countless arguments about who should ride in what grade. The rules are applied equally to all riders.
Moving down a Grade
Riders who are uncompetitive (e.g. not attacking in breakaways, no 10 top places and/or multiple DNFs) may be moved down a grade. If you feel you would be more competitive in a lower grade please contact the handicapper.
Ladies Only Racing
We now longer conduct Ladies Only racing at Nundah. Instead, if there are more than 7 ladies in a particular grade, there will be a separate Ladies only race, but run as a race within a race. e.g. if 8 ladies enter C grade, gents and ladies race together in C grade, but places for the first three ladies and a prime will be awarded seperately.
For example, if 20 men and 8 women entered a D grade race, the start and finish would be the same for all riders, but the women would be also be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Prizemoney will be allocated based on the existing formula used for distribution of cash, based on the number of riders in any race.
If there are between 2 and 7 ladies in a grade, there is a prize for first unplaced lady (unplaced means they do not come first, second or third outright).
The grading philosophy is that riders, regardless of age or gender, should race in a grade where they are competitive, meaning on a good day they are fighting for a podium position, not just hanging on at the back.
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About our Club
We are proud to have directly supported cycle racing for over 110 years in Queensland (SINCE 1908), and are one of the only clubs in the country to offer the full breadth of this racing experience; from crits to road racing, as well as ITT and track. 
Join now, to be part of our History!
- A new sleek new club kit; a modern-classic design, from a high-quality manufacturer and at an irresistible price!
- Over 50 scheduled races, covering Criterium, Kermesse, Road Races, Individual Time Trials (ITT), and Track, as well as Handicaps and Points Races
- An Elite Team in the QLD Road Teams Series (QRTS)
- A clubhouse with cafe and audiovisual facilities
- Professional First-Aid and Qualified Commisairs at all events
- Regular specific Junior and Women's events
- A Junior program with qualified coaches and regular training sessions
- Regular social and team rides and various weekly training sessions
- Free musette or T-shirt for volunteers' duty
- A revamped Club Championship
- An experienced and passionate executive team, who have put us in a strong financial position that will keep the club prosperous for many years to come.
Be part of the club that makes cycling racing in Brisbane happen!
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Racing Locations
We conduct criterium races at the Albert Bishop Park Criterium Course at Hedley Ave Nundah which is also the site of the HPRW Clubhouse, and at Lakeside Park the home of many great car and motorcycle races in the past. During the winter season we conduct road races (both scratch race and handicaps) and time trials at various open road locations such as Elimbah, Pine Dam, Somerset Dam and Mt Mee.
Here are some maps for some of our regular courses:
Albert Bishop Park Criterium Course
Lakeside Park Motor Racing circuit
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Getting Started Guide
STEP 1. Get a Licence
Getting started in competitive cycling is easy. To race you need to be a member of a Queensland cycling club and also have a AusCycling race licence.
You can join a club and obtain a licence online through through the AusCycling Membership system (you can also click on the image below). There are various membership options to suit what sort of riding you are into, but if you'd like to race you will need a Race-All Discipline licence which now lets you race in Road, Track, BMX, MTB and Cyclocross.
Costs vary depending on age, and you can elect to pay for 12 months, or month-by-month.
If you are not sure about racing and just want to give it a go you can get a Free 4 Week Trial membership which is a great offer. This offer is only open to riders who have not held a racing licence in the last 3 years. It offers the opportunity for people to try out racing (club races only) for 4 weeks from the date of purchase. During this period, you can race with any club that supports this product (as many times as you like) noting normal race participation fees apply. Note that a Free Membership Trial is not a membership with any club (Hamilton or otherwise) so you are not eligible for Club only events (such as interclub or club championship races).
STEP 2. Get a Grading
The next step before you race is to contact the club so you can be placed in the most appropriate grade. We race in different grades from A grade through to F grade, plus racing for Juniors (kids) with ages ranging from 7 through 90 so there is sure to be a race that will suit you.
Once you have licence complete this online grading application form. Our handicappers will endeavour to place you in the correct grade based on your experience ability and fitness. This is both for safety and to ensure a level field for races. New riders start out in the lower grades and then earn points towards a move to a higher grade. You must accumulate 10 points in a 6 month period to move up a grade. Conversely, if you keep getting dropped from the bunch, you may be able to drop a grade. The aim is to race in a grade in which you are competitive in, regardless of age or gender, not just making up the numbers. We ask all new riders to request to be graded by thursday 8pm before race day - this allows time for us to get it right.
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Hamilton Wheelers Weekly e-mail reminder
If you have subscribed to our weekly E-Newsletters but are not receiving them (usually on Tuesday evenings), please check your junk mail or spam mail folder.
If the club emails are there, change your settings to accept these emails in the future. Hotmail spam filters have always caused problems with our email newsletters – please subscribe using a different email address if possible.
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Club Kit/Uniform Prices
Order Now
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Guide to the Winter Season and Club Championship
This Winter Season Guide will hopefully be useful to those new to the club, and those not so new!
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Sponsored Riders Policy
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Hamilton Wheelers Facebook Group
Our Hamilton Wheelers Facebook group is open to anyone with a Cycling Australia Licence interested in racing with us, and not just members. Feel free to join us! Remember content is monitored and any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported. The group is a place to organise rides, talk about racing, and all things 'bike', but is not a place for promoting businesses, selling or spamming.
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