This is a great topic that raises a lot of money questions.

I agree with Lorri & Warren, it helps to think of USAC as primarily elite development with very little help at the local level - shifting that responsibility to NCNCA and the clubs. Maybe it shouldn't be that way but it's the way it is right now.

If that's the scheme, then I think NCNCA should put some attention and maybe some money into what I'd call "district pride." Some of the top riders (all ages) are well financed but plenty could use support for specific big events, especially out of district and internationally. When there's a need for that kind of help, USAC usually isn't going to provide it - it has to come from us. And we should want that kind of rider to get it, so it's an NCNCA rider on the podium at who knows where.

One possibility: NCNCA could act as a clearinghouse for "grant requests" from riders. CRC supported some riders over the years when we heard of them, that had no way of tapping USAC support, like Barb Howe going to Cyclocross Worlds and a few others that we didn't publicize. There may be other club or sponsor money that would step up when these needs arose. I think this is a valid use of NCNCA funds too. It needs a thought-through plan though because some riders have the funding already and there's less reason to put budget there.

A starving-biker job board could be a possibility. Think of how many small-biz owners race bikes and would happily send some work the way of one of our P/1/2s who is shooting for the NRC. That's local support to get someone up to the level where USAC picks up.

Nationals factor into this too, there could be an incentive for top NCNCA racers to go and represent the district. But that is different by category and event because natz are kind of weird these days (using the Woody Allen criteria that if I can sign up for natz something is wrong!). There's a similar issue with districts which should be better-attended and a bigger deal than they are, Perhaps NCNCA could incentivize that as a big event with a carrot of a ride (or several) to natz or something else. These all end up being budget questions but it's the kind of stuff I'm thinking of for "district pride."

One other USAC money-thing - I've followed and digested the USAC 990s (tax returns) and annual reports over the years and that's something I'd see as part of the Treasurer role - looking at how it affects NCNCA's budget and workload. There are other people who represent the district to USAC and I'd keep in touch on money issues through them as well. Ultimately USAC's actions have a pretty big impact on the district budget and costs of racing so I think it's important to stay on top of all that.

-Tad

Candidate for Treasurer

velogirl wrote:Warren, thanks for participating in this conversation (are you sure you don't want to run for office?).

(My) talk is cheap, and easier than doing anything! Really, I've thought about getting more involved with NCNCA but I already devote a lot of volunteer hours for the velodrome community.

It seems like there could be a few separate prizes within NCNCA races for U23. And an U23 championship RR?

USAC no longer provides much support for promising riders. Remember when we had a year-long US National Team? For awhile now, USAC has left rider development up to the "pro" teams. Essentially, USAC takes the approach that if a rider has real potential they will get support from a team.

The NCVA is providing a $500 sponsorship this season for each of two riders, Shelley Olds and Daniel Holloway who have gotten a top 10 result at a World Cup, or similar. (If a road rider was this good they'd be well-paid on a pro team.) For a rider to qualify they also have to be racing here, i.e. be active in the community, and licensed here for at least the previous 2 years. This is to ensure that sponsored rider(s) are part of the local community.

Shelley's team also organizes some fund-raising races at the track on her behalf. These races also sell raffle tickets and accept donations for the offered food and drinks. I think similar could be done for some road riders at a criterium or rr.

Lorri wrote: "Too often, promoters look at the bread + butter of their race day (masters men) and forget the folks who still have potential to live the dream."

"Forget"? How so? It's rare that entry fees from the "riders who have the potential to live the dream" cover their prizelists, but the masters men almost always pay substantially more in entry fees than their prizelists. The masters men are in effect already subsidizing those other fields to a substantial degree.

In what other way are some riders "forgotten"? Are there too many race days with masters but not E12 and W12? Are the E12 and W12 races too short because the schedule has so many masters fields? Some ideas that can be addressed in the promoter workshop?

Warren, thanks for participating in this conversation (are you sure you don't want to run for office?).

Yes, USAC has a broader mission. But in my interactions with the NGB, it's been stated many times that the ultimate goal is medals (Olympic, Worlds, etc). This was one of the reasons that the Women's Coaching Summit wasn't continued beyond the first year, even though it was a sold out event.

The bottom line (to me), is that we could focus on another under-served group: the aspiring professional bike racer -- the U23 men and women in our district. USAC does a lot through their talent ID camps and their European programs (for the men) to develop athletes who can compete on the world stage. But beyond that, I think the NCNCA can also help develop these groups.

It's expensive to race on the NRC calendar. Is there a way for the NCNCA to provide financial assistance to racers who choose to do so?

Liza Rachetto has been instrumental in taking aspiring professional women to Europe to gain valuable racing experience. NCNCA has provided funding for two of these women in 2009. But we can do more, namely, to advertise that we have funds available to assist these racers and to then provide them with financial support?

Larry Nolan has also been instrumental in developing young riders, both at the team level and through his coaching at the regional camps.

Too often, promoters look at the bread + butter of their race day (masters men) and forget the folks who still have potential to live the dream.

Have we considered having a BAR/BAT category to recognize the best of this upcoming talent? That might be one way that the NCNCA could influence promoters to recognize this group of racers.

I'm sure there are other ways as well and I would encourage others to share their thoughts on this topic.

Lorri

I'm not sure that's the entire, stated mission of USAC, but most of the time it's seems that Lorri's paraphrasing of UCAC's mission is accurate. The sooner that riders and promoters understand that when it comes to local racing we're pretty much on our own out here, the better they/we will be able to address the needs of both. This lack of understanding about USAC"s true mission has been plaguing the track racing community for a decade, at least.

We need to think and act locally. USAC can deal with the rest.

1. Promoters might think they know enough, but most of us know they need more help in several areas. Fostering this education, and improving intercommunication among promoters would be two good areas to focus.

2. Riders, especially cat 5's and cat 3's, don't know what they don't know. Is there a way to help them learn more? There could be a page at the NCNCA website that lists online resources for riders who want to learn more about cycling and physiology.

3. Coaches. To my knowledge there is no one place riders can go to learn about the local coaches that are available to help them. For the Velodrome website we have a page that lists all of the coaches who have expressed an interest in coaching the community's riders.