Comments on : Money, Money, Money.....MON-EY!

The votes are in! Welcome to USAC.

2011-11-20T08:04:15.820-07:00

The votes are in! Welcome to USAC.

Rich, I got into racing through NCAA racing and n...

2011-11-18T21:55:30.452-07:00

Rich,

I got into racing through NCAA racing and now I am just some older masters guy, was never that good, and I am worse now. I think it is one of the best and more pure forms of racing out there, it is based on how the team does as a whole, top to bottom and men and women. It is the opposite of a lot of what we have in the ACA now with too many small teams that just race one category and do not add much to the sport (like grow it, put on a race, get riders involved). Collegiate cycling is sanctioned by USAC and USAC only. It needs to to be to work on a national level, kids race in their region, they get points, the most points go to nationals, and so on. I actually think it is one thing USAC does pretty well. So you are wrong, there is plenty stopping college racing from happening with the ACA.

I am surprised you are saying you have never seen a college race with USAC races too as we have a bunch of them in CO that have been going on for years, like CU's race at the Research Park, the Oval Crit at CSU, DU's race at City Park, and Mesa hosts a stage race Junction. NCAA Nationals has also been held in CO 3 times in recent memory, twice in the Fort and once in the Springs. I do not know how someone so involved would not be aware of this. A typically college schedule is 3 to 6 races, so it does not take a whole day. So for example at the CU Research Park crit they will have collegiate races until about 1 pm, and then run a scaled down USAC schedule that might be cat 4 men, cat 3 men, pro/1/2 men, and women. It is a good deal for everyone as the college team makes a few extra bucks and as the races are in the spring there is generally demand from racers in the state.

You talk about ACA supporting juniors, while collegiate racing is really about the best thing out there. The numbers are much higher than junior and these kids do move into the senior ranks (cat 4, cat 3, or higher). This is an area where we could help them out by getting the schedule synced together for better exposure to their races, thus giving these kids more $. It would help out all CO riders as it would provide more racing in the spring and might remove date conflicts. It would also provide a new growth opportunity as we try to grow the sport with younger rider and masters.

Back to the point, you never answered Pete's direct question, what would you say to some of the people who could really benefit from going back like college kids?

Hey Pete, First, thanks for reading. I have thoug...

2011-11-17T20:13:21.553-07:00

Hey Pete,
First, thanks for reading.

I have thought about this all day and haven't come up with a happy medium for anybody. Maybe there should be both a new LA and still have the ACA together for the first year and see how everyone likes it. Make it so the license are good for either, fees are the same for clubs and let the market work it out. People go to the best race venues all the time.

Our race day is already super full. I don't know how you bring in collegiate kids except have them race in their regular category. I have seen race flyers from around the US and have never seen collegiate races with USAC races. Nobody is stopping them from joining ACA right?

For the elites that are here, this is a new issue. I can't believe we can't work this out but we can't be told how it will be. USAC needs to be flexible and cooperative. I think they want to work it out but they only want to play hardball. Common sense has to be used.

I think the ACA BOD wants the reintegration at this point. Will there be increased income, maybe. With such a big state, we don't have a lot of folks traveling here though. If the fees weren't so high, promotors possibly losing money on races and the thought of funding something that has no tangible value to the local community, this would be a slam dunk

Maybe the "old guard" is seeing the light of the situation?

Rich

Pete, The issues you note for the more elite rider...

2011-11-16T22:58:59.382-07:00

Pete,
The issues you note for the more elite riders are real, and deserve attention. Just as the needs of the "recreational" and local only riders are deserving.

As written this plan puts the new cost burden on the people LEAST likely to swallow a higher license cost, the riders who race a few races, only local. They are being asked to fund 2 organizations now, mostly to address issues they don't have or maybe even care about. In my opinion, I don't think that raising the cost and barriers to entering the sport at the bottom end is how to grow the sport. People who race more will probably justify the cost, and continue as is.

New and less active racers will simply look at the cost of one-day licenses vs annuals. Today, it is a 5 race break even, in the proposed system, it's 9 races. This will mean a loss of many of these riders out of the "system".

The only option presented at this time is to fully fund BOTH bureauocracies. Other options, a reduced ACA size (NOT the best Idea mind you...), a split focus of ACA running a "grassroots" focus, and USAC running the "elite" side in Colorado under a cooperative arrangement, or for that matter ANY other option to vote on has not been presented.

-Dale

Rich, What would you say to the riders who suppor...

2011-11-16T21:31:45.702-07:00

Rich,

What would you say to the riders who support reintegration? Their issues seem real. Collegiate, elite, future elite, higher level masters, serious juniors, racers who visit CO... these riders have to juggle two organizations, two+ licenses, travel out of region to earn points/results, convince promoters to host duel permit events, etc. I am one of these riders (it is a sickness ha ha) but I am certainly not the only one. Sure, USAC has created some of these problems, but how do we solve them today?

Thanks, Pete Webber

Just FYI...Boulder Cycle Sport will not be voting ...

2011-11-16T18:30:21.429-07:00

Just FYI...Boulder Cycle Sport will not be voting NO on this. They want it. Their position is stated in the comments on 303Cycling. http://303cycling.com/special-aca-usac-meeting-nov-18#comment-5714
They don't care about the Juniors - You said it ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THE MONEY!

Dear Anonymous, There are no scare tactics involve...

2011-11-16T16:36:53.500-07:00

Dear Anonymous,
There are no scare tactics involved in the post. Since I am the person in charge of the ACA/ROL Wheels support program, I am pretty sure that I know what I am talking about. The program was started about 5 years ago with Beth Estes and Luke Jeter. Both Luke and myself are USAC certified mechancis, helped create the ACA mechanics test and have 8 mechanics that have passed the ACA test. Please verify this info with Yvonne if you dont believe me. The program is paid for by the ACA, not the promoters. We have been to every BAR/BAT crit on the calendar plus support the Mt Evans HC. Please show me a bike shop that has been to all the BAR/BAT crits the past 5 years?

I also personally know the person running the MAVIC support program. He is based out of Longmont and he has a USAC license and only works a couple of races in CO anywhay. You are required to have a license if you are going to work any USAC/UCI race in the states.

What I dont know is this: Will the new LA be willing to keep paying for this program if ACA goes away? Will ACA want to keep this program if we vote no on Friday?

For the promotors angle, it has been verified, in the USAC rule book, that 7% of all prize lists over $2000 dollars will be given to USAC. We dont have any rule like that in CO as it stands. DBC Events has already stated that they are not going to vote for this. Do you really think that Chris wants to give that much money away for the "priveledge" of hosting a race with USAC? Not hardly. For an outfit like Boulder Racing, just the 7% of their prizelist from the Superior Stage race would have totalled over $2000 dollars going to USAC. Crazy talk if you ask me.

Sometimes you just have to stand up and say enough is enough. This is what OBRA, SoCalCycling, ABR out of Chicage, Utah Cyclocross and others have said to USAC. You cost us to much money, not enough value and hit the road.

I thank you for reading the blog and hope you continue to do so. I will be at the meeting Friday night. Come find me and we can discuss over beers and popcorn. I will be the one in the blue Yeti hoodie.

Thanks
Rich
Rich

You are entitled to your opinion and I enjoy your ...

2011-11-16T09:07:42.596-07:00

You are entitled to your opinion and I enjoy your blog, but try not to make stuff up. ROL neutral support is going to go away if we go back to USAC? This is the sort of stupid scare tactics people make up in debates like this, to support their own point of view. There is no rule that the people working in pits at races have to be certified mechanics with ACA or USAC. So as long as ROL wants to continue to support racing in CO, they are free to do so, as is any of the other wheels companies/bike shops that have helped out like Mavic and others.

Here is another distorted statement “Where this is really going to be a cold shower of reality is for the promoters who want to put on any race.”, please give any factually support for this? Somehow thousands of bike races go on across the US under USAC in nearly every state and those promoters can magically handle the cold shower you mention. How can that be? Maybe they are just better promoters than what we have in CO?

I am not sure how I feel about this, still on the fence, as I find equal levels of things to like and dislike with both organizations (I do have both licenses currently). But I find it frustrating when I read distorted opinions passed off as facts supporting both USAC and the ACA.

Amen, Brother Rich, Amen. You can add High Pe...

2011-11-14T21:57:47.367-07:00

Amen, Brother Rich, Amen. You can add High Peaks Masters to the NO party. Sadly I would not be surprised to see this pass.