Race! Heckle your friends! Drink Beer!!

The Iron City Bikes Racing team will be hosting their first fund raiser for the burgeoning team, The Black and Gold Sprints Roller Race Series. The first stage in the series will be held this Saturday, 3-21, at the Over the Bar Bicycle Cafe in the South Side.

Caroline and Rachel battle it out at a Black and Gold Sprints party
What is roller racing you ask? Well, it’s a form of bike racing that’s been going on for quite a long time, but the mechanical rollers and timing devices have been replaced by cables and a laptop. The sport has been experiencing a rebirth of sorts in the cycling world. This event marks Pittsburgh’s first modern appearance of a public roller racing event (as far as we know).

All are invited to come join the fun since no bikes, equipment, or skills with rollers are required, but rather encouraged. The races last a grueling 20 seconds where the winner is determined based on the fasted time to a fixed distance. According to the organizers, “Open Qualifying, for men and womyn’s categories, will be between 7 and 9 pm. The best times will fill out an elimination bracket for the most exciting racing of the evening.”

The event is free to watch, but if you want to race, bring yourself and a $10 entry fee, which includes a free t shirt. Prizes will be given to qualifying racers.

Even more…

To double your fun, this event will also be the “officially unofficial” release of the twelfth issue of local cycling magazine, Urban Velo.

So, come race, get a free magazine and t shirt, and have a blast.

Date: 3/21/09 7:00pm

Location: Over The Bar Cafe: Over the Bar Bicycle Cafe 2518 E Carson Street

Cost Free to watch, $10 to race (includes t shirt)