Volunteering | Northern Combine Cycling

How To Volunteer in 2022

Volunteers are an integral aspect of the Combine. They are essential for the smooth, safe and economical running of races.

We rely on you and your mates to 'give something back' and support the Combine. And of course we look after those who contribute to the community with various benefits such as $15 race entry (vs. $30+ for others), $45 season pass and preferred entry to races.

The following roles are required to run a race which will be assigned to individuals as required on the day. We do our best to match your preferences with what is required.

Corner Marshal - Ensure safety of riders at corners and other areas of the race course.
Lead Car - The driver of the lead car will follow the first rider on the road in a race.
Follow Car - The driver of the follow car will follow the last bunch/rider on the road and will also act as a sweep of the course to ensure everyone has finished.
Finish Line - Write down rider numbers as they pass the finish line in the order that they finish
Entry Steward - Collecting licences, handing out numbers before the race and reorganising numbers at the end of the race. This person may be involved with other aspects of the race as needed.

Volunteers that are unable to meet their commitment are required to find a replacement person to perform their role - cancelling or not showing up is the kind of stuff that causes us to cancel events. They are also asked to notify the Volunteer Coordinator before COB Thursday that the person performing their role has changed. Please see this page for details

Looking to get more involved with racing?
If you are looking to learn more about cycling management or have a greater impact on Combine racing, we have different ways for people to contribute.

There are two distinct roles which are a bit more involved than volunteering for a single race. We have developed tools and mentoring frameworks for those who wish to assist through these roles.

	Race Director	Commissaire	Committee
What is it?	The RD is responsible for organising and promoting the race, then making sure things happen on the day. This can vary from arranging first aid to obtaining trophies to arranging a BBQ with the local CFA.	The umpire of the cycling world. Comms are responsible for running the race an hour before and an hour after the event.	The Combine committee has various roles that contribute to running the season. Without the committee, we are just a loose confederation of flailing limbs
Why?	This is a chance to get into cycling event management. You can inject your own interests and personality into an event then see the results on the day. This counts as a volunteer role	A rewarding role in that you have an active hand in developing the racing community, improving safety and fairness. You will develop stronger communication skills and improve your own cycling knowledge and tactics. This counts as a volunteer role	There are various roles which can either leverage your existing experience, and/or provide you exposure to new skills. You will have the chance to impact items that are personally important to you which run across all of our events
Time commitment?	The RD is a critical role for making races happen and the workload can vary depending on the race. We ask that you attend one Committee meeting before the race There is a clear set of tasks, some very quick, which are addressed a month, 2 weeks, a week, days before and during the race.	You get to choose which and how many races you want to Commissaire for. It can fit well into your recovery weeks or on courses which don’t suit your racing. A Comm arrives at a race at least 60 mins before the start and sticks around until the end.	The time required varies by role. They are generally split between: - roles that require a heavy focus at one point during the season (usually during Feb - Apr) - roles that require consistent, small bits of work throughout the season
Support available	Over years, the Combine has developed tools to assist RD’s to understand what they need to do and when. You certainly won’t be starting from scratch and by attending a Committee meeting, you will be assisted by some very experienced individuals.	After obtaining your Commissaire certification, each club has a senior member to assist you with any questions. The Combine has also developed a training pack and will match you with senior Comms during races.	We work together and talk through things - we want the group and individual efforts to succeed. Roles such as the Treasurer, Marketing and to some extent the Cyclist team require little prior racing experience, more a passion for helping The Event, Commissaire and Racing teams require more knowledge about managing cycling events
Who?	Those who are interested	You must be certified as a Commissaire by Cycling Victoria.	Combine club members
How do I find out more	Contact your Combine Committee Member	You can read more on CV’s page or contact	Contact the committee president or somebody you know from the committee