Mark Camaniti called in near Kentucky Canyon!
Joe Polk
The Arizona Trail Race kicks off tomorrow, Friday, April 19th, 2013! There’s a 300mi and a 750mi! Look for call ins from riders over on our AZT13 page.
You can also click on the racer links to view their track on Trackleaders.com. You can get updates at Bikepacking.net as well!
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) are teaming up for “The Spirit of Howdy,” a new trail etiquette initiative designed “to illuminate and advance a trail riding ethos key to the national high school mountain biking movement.”
SpiritOfHowdy.org will offer coaches tools for helping guide young athletes into responsible and respectful users and stewards of the trail. Additionally, the site will offer IMBA information on trail maintenance and shared use initiatives for working with other riding groups and land managers.
The idea, started by NICE founder Matt Fitzburger, is to instill a riding code in young riders to bolster better trail relationships among users.
“Teaching young student-athletes that their behavior and riding style on the trail directly affects other trail user and the natural environment and, ultimately, the support from their schools, has always been central in our philosophy. Recently NICA student-athletes coined the phrase “Spirit of Howdy,” and I’m thrilled to work with IMBA to launch the Spirit of Howdy website as the site effectively advances what our community stands for.” – NICA’s executive director, Austin McInerny
“The Spirit of Howdy campaign represents the values that both IMBA and NICA wish to teach our youth. The Spirit of Howdy is more than being friendly to other trail users — it’s also about caring for the trails and our environment, stewarding our parks and natural resources, and giving back to our communities.” – IMBA Executive Director, Mike van Abel
The initiative will be launched at the screening of Singletrack High at the Golden State Theater in Monterey, Calif. 7:30 p.m., April 20th.
Get the full press release here.
An Oregon-based group has launched the North American Bicycle Racing Association, or NABRA, born out of the frustration with UCI/USAC’s restrictions even before the recent rule clarification. Current focus appears, for now, to be on Cyclocross, Oregon Bicycling Racing Association events and other races with which OBRA has some familiarity. But the hope appears to be that this will expand and stand as a legitimate alternative to USA Cycling and the UCI.
“It was basically a reaction to the first time they came to us and said they would no longer allow dual-sanctioned races or permit UCI-licensed pros to compete in our races here in Oregon,” explained [Kenji] Sugahara, “…our membership loves what OBRA does here in Oregon, we create a lot of value for our customer, we have a good product and a good community, and that is something we feel we can produce across the whole country.”
Get the full story here.
Racers and promotors will have 8 months before the UCI will start enforcing rule 1.2.019 but issues what Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski referred to as a “veiled threat” that enforcement will commence in 2014.
CyclingNews reported the news this morning.
“The UCI has decided to postpone strict enforcement of rule 1.2.019 in 2013 with the expectation that all stakeholders (National Federations, race directors, teams and riders) will discuss and do what is necessary to prepare for the rule’s full enforcement in 2014.”
Promoter Mike McCormack, who puts on the Breck Epic mountain bike stage race posted on Facebook, “… We will NOT be dictated to by the UCI or USAC. Now, in 2014 or ever.”
Get the full story here.
Check out Part 2 of The Dirt over on Mountain Bike Radio for more discussion on the USAC/UCI enforcement of rule 1.2.019.
The group discusses the current situation as well as some changes they would like to see.
Guests include:
Scott Tedro – Team Sho-Air
Ty Kady – Team Sho-Air
Austin McInerny – Executive Director of NICA
Mike McCormack – Director – Breck Epic
Jason Sager – Team Jamis
Kevin Forrester – Director – Tatanka 100
Burke Swindlehurst – Director – Crusher in the Tushar
Carlos Perez – Event Coordinator Levi’s GranFondo
Jason Ranao –
Mitch Hoke – Kenda/Felt Pro Mountain Bike Team
Tom Coleman – Wobble-Naught Laser Precision Bike Fitting
Get it here.
In this interview via CyclingNews, USA Cycling attempts to address the hoopla over 1.2.019. In the end, their position seems to be that they have to enforce it and elude to no attempt to advocate for exceptions to UCI. In fact, the much debated “exceptions” would appear to be far narrower. It doesn’t appear, from where I’m sitting, there would be very many mountain bike event that would receive such an exception.
USA Cycling appears to rather be pushing that events pay the permit fee and get sanctioned and questions promoters’ reasons for not doing so:
“The only reasons not to sanction an event with USA Cycling are if the organizer is: 1) under-insuring the volunteers and/or participants, 2) avoiding the requirement to have USA Cycling licensed officials at the event and the athlete protection policies they enforce or 3) avoiding the USA Cycling RaceClean program.”
Certainly not a diplomatic response. The insurance angle appears to be the bait USAC thinks will lure promoters but doubling the sale with a veiled threat isn’t going to be received well.
See the full interview here.
From Facebook to blogs amateurs, pros, and fans have been lighting up the Internet voicing their disapproval of the UCI clarification on rule 1.2.019 which bars UCI licensee’s from competing in non-sanctioned events. Team Sho-Air / Cannondale announced today that a full roster of riders from are being sent to participate at the Whiskey 50, a non-sanctioned event!
“We have had hundreds of phone calls, e-mails and Facebook posts regarding this issue by fans, friends and fellow riders stating their discontent and asking for help. We have always done our best to support USAC by permitting…I have spent countless hours trying to negotiate a solution for all parties involved regarding this issue to no avail. The time has come to take a stand and lead by example, as this issue will affect us all, not only the Professional rider, but the Master and Junior amateur rider as well, that just want to race their bikes and have fun. We also are supporting the promoter’s right to choose not to sanction with USA Cycling. Freedom of choice is a right that must be protected.” – Sho-Air Company President and CEO, R. Scott Tedro
Read the entire press release here.
Former National and Master’s World Champ Steve Tilford has chimed in on the USAC/UCI controversy on his blog:
First of all I need to state that the rule itself just plain sucks…2nd of all, I doubt that the sanctions are legal. I’m not sure if the rule itself is legal in the United States. It’s like the UCI rule that states that more than 50% of the riders on a Continental Pro team have to be under 27 years old. Someone needs to legally challenge both these rules.
Pro rider and former USAC board member Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski has a great opinion piece in Velonews as well:
Friday’s announcement, though, renders all unsanctioned racing off-limits for all licensed professionals in this country, as well as all UCI licensed masters and junior racers in all disciplines — including cyclocross, which is simply not realistic, given the culture and history of mountain bike racing in this country…Given Friday’s developments, I won’t be taking a UCI or USAC license this year unless a viable solution is negotiated where professionals can race in events of their choosing — a solution that promotes the grassroots growth of the sport, balances the needs of the athletes and the industry, and above all, preserves the culture of mountain biking in the country that started it.
The issue is gaining steam with professionals from Eddie O’Dea to Rebecca Rush vocalizing their disapproval. As more high-profile pro riders consider dropping licenses this could very well limit USA Cycling’s influence in mountain biking1
The Munda Biddi Trail, the world’s longest continuous bike trail, will open in Western Australia this month. The Welldrill Munda Biddi Epic 1000 will kick off the opening of the trail with twenty-six cyclists starting in Albany on April 7 and finishing in Mundaring on April 28.
“Cyclists on the Epic will become the first Munda Biddi Trail Blazers and the first people in the world to ride the full length of the iconic trail, which means ‘path through the forest’ in Noongar Aboriginal language.”
It sounds like a time trial is in order!
Check out Friday’s edition of The Dirt over on Mountain Bike Radio! Drew and guests discuss USA Cycling’s statement on Friday clarifying their stance on the UCI Rule 1.2.019
Drew is joined by Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Macky Franklin to cohost the discussion. Listen in to hear what the pros, who are affected by the decision, are thinking.
Also:
Justin Lindine and Scott Tedro called in during the show to discuss what is going on, what can be done, and more.
USCup Racing reported today on their Facebook page that the UCI has released a clarification on “forbidden races.”
We received this mandate from the UCI regarding forbidden races and rule 1.2.019. They now clarify ALL license holders are now subject to fines and suspension for attending any “Non Sanctioned” events, regardless if they are on a UCI team or not. We are also told this applies to any Amateur holding a USAC license.
Scott Tedro later posted:
“The key sentence in the UCI statement is “A national federation may grant special exceptions for races or particular events run in its own country.” This is not the UCI, this is in fact the USAC is trying to force promoters to use their product…
He intends to review this clarification with his legal team.
USA Cycling has chimed in as well and as Tedro notes, their answer seems to be to encourage promotors and racers join USAC.
A bigger question is that does this mean for pro-riders who want to race non-UCI and non-USAC races? With so many series like NUE, USCup, and many other events drawing pro-riders this could have a chilling effect on race promotion.
So far, people aren’t taking kindly to UCI or USAC. Cyclocross Magazine posted the clarification and notes the impact on their events. Comments are coming in:
CXMagazine.com:
twohandmath: Bike racing existed before USAC/UCI, exists without them, and will continue to do so. While there is value in national and international federations regulating the sport at the highest level, they’ve done a real poor job at that the last 20 years or so, and lose credibility in all aspects.Facebook:
Allen Ball: A good move to reduce UCI membership roles. Arrogance will be it’s own reward.
And even Bicycling Magazine is tweeting that this is “bad news:”
@BicyclingMag
Bad news UCI license holders & non-USAC events: RT @USACycling Clarification from@UCI_cycling on rule 1.2.019: http://bit.ly/10zvEnI
The Trans Iowa Race is coming up April 27th-28th! Trans Iowa is a self-navigated and self-supported 300-plus mile race across Iowa.
Check out TIv9’s director Guitar Ted on the Guitar Ted Show on Mountain Bike Radio Wednesday April 3rd at 8:00pm Central! He’ll be talking with Ben Welnak and Tim Elk about the race and race prep. This is a forum so feel free to call in!
The NUE 2013 is under way with the first race in the books! The True Grit Epic 100 was completed out in St. George, Utah on March 16th. Get the results here!
Next up is the Cohutta 100 set for April 27th in Ducktown, TN. Get the entire NUE 2013 Schedule here!
So here’s the new setup. I replaced the Behringer mixer I sent out on Facebook with an Allen & Heath Zed10FX. The mixer will allow me to pull audio from other sources, like a conference call on another computer. Output can go to the Zoom H4 (pictured left) and/or to the Mac Mini via USB or audio-in. Hopefully construction on the new office will commence soon and a smaller, sound-friendly room will be my new home.
