Feb 01, 2020 at 01:16 PM
on value — cx worlds started today w the first ever female junior champs. Maddie Munro killed it. Your USAC membership fee helped her do this. You killed it too.
USAC
Feb 01, 2020 at 02:42 PM
Feb 04, 2020 at 11:06 AM
Mar 27, 2020 at 12:56 AM
USAC letter coming tonight. They’re down 30%+ revenue. You can guess the rest.
Apr 10, 2020 at 01:37 PM
Apr 10, 2020 at 05:36 PM
Nooo, the Bear Mountain Classic... that is the ONE race I want to do well at.
Hope it gets rescheduled
Hope it gets rescheduled
Apr 14, 2020 at 03:44 PM
We're running out of dates to move stuff to, since there are already other events scheduled for later in the summer and into the fall. There is already a delicate balance of getting events onto the calendar as is, where promoters are looking to not poach participants from each other in a normal year, without shifting three months worth of events into the remaining three to five months of season left (they're not going to run Bear Mt in November or December), and in effect running the same number of events in the space of 12-20 weekends.
There is discussion between promoters about whether or not to even run events this year. Even if it is determined to be OK to go back to work, reopen restaurants, or non-essential travel opens up, recreation is very low on the priority list and gathering hundreds of folks from a 300+ mile radius to all sweat and breath all over each other in close proximity is a recipe for resurgence. I don't think anybody wants to create a COVID cluster because of a bike race.
TL:DR don't hold your breath that your favorite event will be rescheduled.
Apr 17, 2020 at 02:25 PM
Sorry to miss the Zoom.
I was thinking about this because there is a discussion right now between NYS racing officials and organizers about whether or not to run any events for the rest of the year. Intially the discussion was about pushing events back to the back half of the year, but the tone has changed and is looking more like just cancelling the 2020 road and track season. Even with opening up, will riders, volunteers, officials feel safe gathering in large groups and then dispersing to their communities and possibly spreading disease. This is especially important for rural areas upstate which don't have the health services we do down here.
I know we all want to do our favorite events, and this is devastating for many of us, since it means taking a major set of goals and the way we structure our lives.
The question I have is since USAC has been on a slide in membership and road racing participation is down, what can we do to grow participation in road racing when it finally does come back? How do we use social media to reach new riders? How do we vet potential new members in a solo riding world? Who are the groups of people we are not currently reaching that we could be reaching out to now? Can we use Zwift racing to recruit members and are there opportunities to introduce new riders to racing via Zwift in a low risk way?
The leap from an online Peloton class to a Zwift race can't be too steep, and significantly less than the learning curve for IRL racing, can we use that as a stepping stone/gateway drug?
Are there other non-Zwift digital racing opportunities we can use to identify new riders or introduce prospects without the costs related to Zwift (power meter, trainer, subscriptions)?
All this is posing the question of while our brains are still taken up with bike racing and training, are there ways we can make it better for ourselves and others who are coming up behind us?
Apr 17, 2020 at 02:48 PM
I think the average peloton user is pretty much the diametric opposite of an IRL road, cx or track racer.
Peloton is an in-person cheerleader for what amounts to 20 minutes of hard work, in a totally controlled environment.
IRL racing involves an environment you cannot control, with little encouragement and plenty of the opposite; the efforts are much harder and longer, and it's the opposite of "from the comfort of your own home"
I *do* think the concern abound USAC's relevance is valid, and heightened. I have felt for a long time that USAC's reliance on essentially unsupported volunteer labor to organize, fund and run races is an Achilles heel.
There are a lot of economies of scale to be had with race organization from advertising, insurance, contracts with cities, relationships with traffic enforcement, sponsorship, advertising, photographers & videographers, etc. If I was in charge I'd try and find what bulk of common "work" that goes into race organizing can be helped by USAC and put a lot of weight into it.
Right now races are essentially all homebrew and I think the model could be closer to a "turnkey" franchise.
Peloton is an in-person cheerleader for what amounts to 20 minutes of hard work, in a totally controlled environment.
IRL racing involves an environment you cannot control, with little encouragement and plenty of the opposite; the efforts are much harder and longer, and it's the opposite of "from the comfort of your own home"
I *do* think the concern abound USAC's relevance is valid, and heightened. I have felt for a long time that USAC's reliance on essentially unsupported volunteer labor to organize, fund and run races is an Achilles heel.
There are a lot of economies of scale to be had with race organization from advertising, insurance, contracts with cities, relationships with traffic enforcement, sponsorship, advertising, photographers & videographers, etc. If I was in charge I'd try and find what bulk of common "work" that goes into race organizing can be helped by USAC and put a lot of weight into it.
Right now races are essentially all homebrew and I think the model could be closer to a "turnkey" franchise.
Apr 17, 2020 at 02:54 PM
Next up is support for local high school leagues - much like what we're seeing with Mtn bikes. That means inking deals with bike manufacturers - and providing similar support for youth races.
Velodromes & stadiums? There is a lot more that can be done there.
Permanent bike parks and support for municipal bike trail systems.
Conversion of the domestic scene into a proper league with permanent teams, and mandated prize parity for women.
Lastly would a full court press on legislation to make it safer for bikes. USAC's pathetic silence on this front is galling.
I find the annual hand wringing over USAC's relevance very frustrating in light of tiny, timid steps taken every year.
Velodromes & stadiums? There is a lot more that can be done there.
Permanent bike parks and support for municipal bike trail systems.
Conversion of the domestic scene into a proper league with permanent teams, and mandated prize parity for women.
Lastly would a full court press on legislation to make it safer for bikes. USAC's pathetic silence on this front is galling.
I find the annual hand wringing over USAC's relevance very frustrating in light of tiny, timid steps taken every year.
Apr 17, 2020 at 03:28 PM
@Jules I see a lot of wisdom in what you say. I find it very strange that USAC doesn't have a stronger centralizing drive to improve their organisational structure and physical infrastructure.
For example, bike parks and velodromes are great pieces of unifying infrastructure around which you can build organisational structures (such as leagues) which can organize junior, senior, pro level racing around. Take for example FBF, a huge potential facility which already has a track record of hosting cycling events. Imagine if this was taken a step further with re-surfacing, creation of cyclocross facilities, lighting, a track etc etc. You could imagine a situation whereby cycling (across all levels) would be possible there almost 7 days a week, throughout the year. This would follow similar set ups such as Herne Hill velodrome and the olympic bike park in London.
Obviously this would cost a significant amount in investment and ongoing funding, however where you already have large populations this to me would make sense as a place to start...
For example, bike parks and velodromes are great pieces of unifying infrastructure around which you can build organisational structures (such as leagues) which can organize junior, senior, pro level racing around. Take for example FBF, a huge potential facility which already has a track record of hosting cycling events. Imagine if this was taken a step further with re-surfacing, creation of cyclocross facilities, lighting, a track etc etc. You could imagine a situation whereby cycling (across all levels) would be possible there almost 7 days a week, throughout the year. This would follow similar set ups such as Herne Hill velodrome and the olympic bike park in London.
Obviously this would cost a significant amount in investment and ongoing funding, however where you already have large populations this to me would make sense as a place to start...
Apr 17, 2020 at 03:59 PM
@Dan Reiners @Jules
First, could we put this on the USAC Thread? I think it's a valuable discussion but think it is better placed over there.
I don't see Peloton people riding on the road, let alone racing IRL. Jules hits on several of the reasons, but it's also that Peloton is a plug-and-play commitment where you switch from off to on back to off in less than an hour, whereas racing takes a deeper interest. I have a good friend, an ex racer, who does Peloton, but only because his wife bought it. She's in the cult, he still prefers to ride on the road. They almost never rode or ride together.
I think getting people riding for commuting now, particularly kids, would be a help. I think youth bike facilities--I'd love to create a "bike park" in city parks that would be for things like learning bike skills safety skills and putting on mini-races for 5-8 year olds. Yes to tracks.
I've written elsewhere about how American life isn't that compatible with cycling in general, and that's a huge obstacle to overcome. here's the piece http://jralong.com/2019/06/27/fewer-kids-are-riding-cyclists-are-worried/
First, could we put this on the USAC Thread? I think it's a valuable discussion but think it is better placed over there.
I don't see Peloton people riding on the road, let alone racing IRL. Jules hits on several of the reasons, but it's also that Peloton is a plug-and-play commitment where you switch from off to on back to off in less than an hour, whereas racing takes a deeper interest. I have a good friend, an ex racer, who does Peloton, but only because his wife bought it. She's in the cult, he still prefers to ride on the road. They almost never rode or ride together.
I think getting people riding for commuting now, particularly kids, would be a help. I think youth bike facilities--I'd love to create a "bike park" in city parks that would be for things like learning bike skills safety skills and putting on mini-races for 5-8 year olds. Yes to tracks.
I've written elsewhere about how American life isn't that compatible with cycling in general, and that's a huge obstacle to overcome. here's the piece http://jralong.com/2019/06/27/fewer-kids-are-riding-cyclists-are-worried/
Apr 17, 2020 at 04:11 PM
This discussion was created from comments split from: COVID 19.
Apr 17, 2020 at 04:12 PM
Merged.
Apr 17, 2020 at 04:18 PM
Yes most Peloton users are not a good target audience but there has to be a segment of that audience that would be 'race curious' but has traditionally been turned off by the steep racing learning curve of IRL racing. The shift from Peloton to Zwift is a lower bar (no bumping, no crashing, but you can still get dropped), and gives you a taste of what effort it takes to race, so you can answer the question "can I keep up in a race", sure it doesn't answer the questions about bike handling, drafting, positioning.
I also don't think that is the only audience we should look to as a potential pipeline. High school leagues are another good example. Is there also a pipeline of folks who are new to riding to work to avoid the subway that could be another potential source of riders.
Permanent bicycle infrastructure is also a great idea, but seeing how every attempt at adding more infrastructure even in the best time in NYC is one step forward two step back. For every Prospect Park West bike lane there is a Dykman Street bike lane removal, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Velodrome. Summer streets (which is in no way permanent infrastructure) is probably going to be a casualty of this epidemic as all non-essential police overtime is going to be cut back, and the failure of the city to open any streets to pedestrians/cyclists suggests the already slow pace of growth is going to become glacial.
Apr 17, 2020 at 04:55 PM
This discussion was created from comments split from: COVID 19.
Apr 22, 2020 at 10:41 PM
For people living in NYC, there is, or maybe was, a way to change things. It's not only going to your local community board and park conservancy to speak with them about creating bike programs or facilities, but also building on relationships with both of those to press your borough president to disburse discretionary funding for something bike related. The "was" of the first sentence is that I don't know if such funding will be available for this year or in the near future.
My community board is pretty anti-bike and we don't really have much park space to work with so I don't know how I'd be able to convince them, at least yet, on doing more bike programs.
There are these things called "safety city" in various spots around the city. It's something the DOT created to teach kids about road safety. You can read about them here https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/safety-city.shtml
Consider the DOT already supports safety city, I don't think it's a stretch to suggest the DOT and the parks department should get together to do the same to help teach kids about riding safely. Such a thing could be set up any number of ways, and in such a way that it could be open all the time and anyone can use it. There are already pump tracks in a number of places, seems like teaching kids how to ride in a straight line, turn, stop, etc. is in the same realm. But more practical.
My community board is pretty anti-bike and we don't really have much park space to work with so I don't know how I'd be able to convince them, at least yet, on doing more bike programs.
There are these things called "safety city" in various spots around the city. It's something the DOT created to teach kids about road safety. You can read about them here https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/safety-city.shtml
Consider the DOT already supports safety city, I don't think it's a stretch to suggest the DOT and the parks department should get together to do the same to help teach kids about riding safely. Such a thing could be set up any number of ways, and in such a way that it could be open all the time and anyone can use it. There are already pump tracks in a number of places, seems like teaching kids how to ride in a straight line, turn, stop, etc. is in the same realm. But more practical.
May 22, 2020 at 05:22 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGhDAbaHcCg
May 22, 2020 at 05:25 PM
Anyone have a summary of takeaways? That's an hour long that video...
May 22, 2020 at 05:48 PM
@JohnOlsson
I found this to be a bit better https://s3.amazonaws.com/craft-prod-assets/documents/COVID-19-Event-Resources/USAC_Return_to_Riding_and_Racing_5_17_20.pdf
Basically its saying all mass starts-->time trials with 6 ft distancing. Not sure if I agree/disagree yet
I found this to be a bit better https://s3.amazonaws.com/craft-prod-assets/documents/COVID-19-Event-Resources/USAC_Return_to_Riding_and_Racing_5_17_20.pdf
Basically its saying all mass starts-->time trials with 6 ft distancing. Not sure if I agree/disagree yet
May 22, 2020 at 09:00 PM
"The virus is easily transmitted, but easily controlled. Biking as an activity is low risk, but it's what we do off the bike that matters, like who we get in the car with on the way to the race etc. We have a responsibility not to get other people sick. If you're at the head of a paceline and you need to cough/sneeze, you need to get out of that paceline." USAC chief medical officer
May 22, 2020 at 09:03 PM
Down for CX time trials, clip on bars, disc wheel, aero helmet and shoe covers all mandatory.
May 22, 2020 at 09:13 PM
I love you all, but there's no way in hell I'm riding in close proximity with a group of people snotting and spitting and coughing for any amount of time.
May 22, 2020 at 09:15 PM
"Vigorous breathing around people particularly in tight quarters that can happen in a pack definitely has transmission risk." USOPC chief medical officer.
May 22, 2020 at 09:29 PM
They didn't really say anything new in the video. Covered what the guidelines would be about starting races (they will follow local government guidelines). Their surveys indicated that people still would like to race if/when they can this year (up to 75% of respondents). Time trials most suited for current situation and social distancing. And then a medical update from the two doctors from USAC and USOPC about the SarsCov2 virus.
Also masks in group rides are probably a good thing right now.
Also masks in group rides are probably a good thing right now.
May 23, 2020 at 03:09 AM
At least one local group ride here has reconstituted as a time trial. Riding hard is heard enough without worrying about being in someone’s droplet cone.
Jun 10, 2021 at 07:53 PM
https://usacycling.org/article/usa-cycling-tokyo-2020-olympic-team-announced?fbclid=IwAR1y5ipyNP2-_ojQl-YEHLr885Vo0TXFoAClNavl9BxA3k41b61JgcIMEIM
Pretty obvious that Women is where is at for the US.
Pretty obvious that Women is where is at for the US.
USA Cycling Olympic Team:
Road:
Men:
Lawson Craddock (Houston; EF Education - Nippo) – Road Race & Time Trial
Brandon McNulty (Phoenix; UAE Team Emirates) – Road Race & Time Trial
Women:
Chloé Dygert (Brownsburg, Ind.; CANYON//SRAM Racing) – Road Race & Time Trial
Amber Neben (Irvine, Calif.; Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling) – Time Trial
Coryn Rivera (Tustin, Calif.; Team DSM) – Road Race
Leah Thomas (Santa Clara, Calif.; Moviestar Team Women) – Road Race
Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif.; Trek-Segafredo) – Road Race
Mountain Bike:
Men:
Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo.; Trinity Racing)
Women:
Haley Batten (Park City, Utah; Trinity Racing)
Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif.; SCOTT-SRAM Factory Racing)
Chloe Woodruff (Tempe, Ariz.; Stan's-Pivot)
BMX Racing:
Men:
Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev.; Chase Bicycles/ Monster Energy)
Corben Sharrah (Tucson, Ariz.; Daylight Cycle Co.)
Women:
Payton Ridenour (Pottstown; Penn.; Mongoose Bicycles)
Felicia Stancil (Lake Villa, Ill.; Factory Answer SSquared)
Alise Willoughby (Saint Cloud, Minn.; Team Toyota/ GW Bicycles)
BMX Freestyle:
Men:
Nick Bruce (Youngstown, Ohio)
Justin Dowell (Virginia Beach, V.A.)
Women:
Perris Benegas (Reno, Nev.)
Hannah Roberts (Buchanan, Mich.)
Track:
Men:
Adrian Hegyvary (Seattle) – Madison
Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Elevate-Webiplex Pro Cycling) – Madison & Omnium
Women:
Chloé Dygert (Brownsburg, Ind.; CANYON//SRAM Racing) – Team Pursuit
Maddie Godby (Louisville, Colo.) – Keirin & Sprint
Megan Jastrab (Apple Valley, Calif.; Team DSM) – Team Pursuit & Madison
Jennifer Valente (San Diego; Twenty24) – Team Pursuit, Madison, & Omnium
Emma White (Duanesburg, N.Y.; Rally Cycling) – Team Pursuit
Lily Williams (Tallahassee, Fla.; Rally Cycling) – Team Pursuit
Aug 31, 2021 at 05:55 PM
Aug 31, 2021 at 07:50 PM
I like that they had all the sponsors, but for some reason had to remove zwift, so the doc is called nozwift-4 
Aug 31, 2021 at 07:57 PM
That title/logo thing is... not great.
We Champion
Inclusion.
We Champion
Inclusion.