USA Cycling Tells CyclingNews Riders Should Contact UCI

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cyclingnews1In 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.

Sho-Air International Takes Stand Against USAC/UCI Rule

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USAC1From 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.

 

JHK and Steve Tilford Chime in on USAC/UCI Controversy

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USAC1Former 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

World’s Longest Cycling Trail To Open In April

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MundaBiddi1The 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!

Mountain Bike Radio’s “The Dirt” Hosts Pro Discussion Over USAC/UCI Clarification

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USAC1Check 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.

 

UCI Clamps Down on “Forbidden Races”

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Forbid2USCup 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 New Recording Setup

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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.

new_rig1

2013 Allegheny Mountains Loop dates announced!

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2013 Allegheny Mountains Loop Grand Depart is Friday, October 4th 2013 – 8:00am

The Allegheny Mountains Loop is a 400 mile bicycle route created and mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association.

The route begins and ends at Virginia Tech’s War Memorial Chapel in Blacksburg, VA.

A “mass start” of individual time trails is proposed each year on the first Friday in October at 8:00am (local time).

Head over to alleghenymountainsloop.blogspot.com for details. RSVP if you plan to race this event!

MTBCast: Huracan300 2013 – Karlos Bernart called in after crossing the river

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Karlos Bernart called in to say he crossed the river! Naked, of course.

All audio is also available via RSS link or iTunes!

MTBCast: Huracan300 2013 – Karlos Bernart called in from the route

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Karlos Bernart called in to say Chris Tompkins caught him! He’s going solo for a bit.

All audio is also available via RSS link or iTunes!

MTBCast: Huracan300 2013 – Karlos Bernart called in on his way to Clermont

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Karlos Bernart called in on his way to Clermont. He was on a climb near Glassy Lake.

All audio is also available via RSS link or iTunes!