The Numbers Game Part II

A few follow-up additions to Z's jersey numbers post:

• Jeff N. wrote to recommend using brass safety pins instead of steel, as rusty steel can stain both your jersey and your cloth race number.
• As Z noted you can also use magnets (special magnets designed for this purpose are available)and double sided tape to attach your number, but last year Lloyd L. simply sewed his numbers on.  He used a big stitch and bang the numbers were there for the season.
• Don't think that the finish line camera will read your number if you cover it with a translucent vest or jacket during the early season wet races.  Not wanting to poke holes in my rain coat, on several wet races I've pinned my numbers onto my team wind vest and then pulled that over my translucent rain coat.  It looked dorky but at least I was dry and, more importantly, I was scored.

The Numbers Game

Race Season is upon us.  Here is some good info from Z regarding WSBA jersey numbers (use the WSBA numbers at sanctioned road/crit races and at the Thursday night Seward Park Series).

Some races require the number to be on the left side of your jersey, some the right, and some both.  I put both numbers on and just leave them on all season even in the washer/dryer.  Personally, I hate pinning numbers so by leaving them on it saves me a lot of time and my jersey is all set for either side number call out. (Tip: Don't train or commute in your race numbers. Save that jersey just for racing).

Whatever you decide to do it's always helpful to pin your numbers on before you get to the race.  You don't want to be scrambling around fumbling with pins while people are lining up at the start. If you don't have someone to help you pin your numbers (while wearing the jersey) you can use a big pillow to stuff inside while you pin the number on (if you find yourself at the race without a friend or a pillow you can drape your jersey over the steering wheel while you pin the number). 

Your numbers should read from left to right from the side as you are bent over on the bike so officials and the finish line camera can easily see them.  It never fails that you'll see some guys line up with their numbers on upside down.

Use 8 pins minimum per number.  Pinning just 4 in the corners will give you a floppy parachute.  And make sure the safety pin stays within the cloth number and not half on the number and half on the jersey. This is so you can capture more material and keep the number flat.  Some people will use double sided tape or even magnets to hold their numbers in place.  Pins are probably your best sure thing.

Attached is a picture of my jersey (2013 version) with two numbers. (I didn't actually use 8 pins per number in this example because I overlapped the top edges of the two numbers).

Don't be Soft

In 1960 President-elect John F. Kennedy wrote an article for Sports Illustrated titled The Soft American.  Odd how something written 55 years ago could seem so timely:

http://www.ihpra.org/soft_american.htm

..."intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong; that hardy spirits and tough minds usually inhabit sound bodies."

John F. Kennedy