2006 WCA News Archive |
Bike Camp a SuccessApril 27, 2006 30 riders including 12 juniors attended the inaugural WCA bike racing camp. The attendees heard an opening session from Colin O'Brien on bike fit that sent some of us running for our phones to make an appointment for a cleat fitting. Attendees had their Choice of breakout sessions that were repeated throughout the morning. Bike maintenance, women's racing, time trailing, training plans and more were covered at camp. The feedback received was that the camp was extremely helpful and next year to add a ride. We heard you so in 07 look for a new and improved edition of Bike Racing Camp.
WCA sends a heartfelt thanks to the Endeavour Cycling Club and to the Brazen Dropouts for sponsoring the camp. With their help we were able to keep the entry fee modest. Thanks to our presenters who gave up a Saturday to teach others about the sport we all love: Casey McCauley (bike care), Colin O'Brien (bike fit and time trials), Heidi Mingesz (Junior racing), Kristin Wentworth and Carrieann Kopernik (women's racing) and Ben Lund (basic strategy).
Last Chance to Sign up: WCA Bike Racing Camp Update & RegistrationApril 17, 2006 Last chance to sign up for the Endeavour/Brazen Dropouts Bike Racing Camp on April 22. A registration form can be found here. Only pre-registered applicants, please. To pre-register, send an email to: Rebecca@tds.net indicating how many people will be attending. The fee is $22 for adults, and thanks to the Brazen Dropouts who have underwritten the junior camp, the fee for juniors and parents of juniors to attend is just $5. Questions: contact Rebecca@tds.net.
Lapham Peak Preseason Spin SessionsMarch 5, 2006 Lapham Peak will be supporting 5 sessions of spinning at Lapham Park just south of Delafield. The spinning sessions are a fund raiser for the park. For more information, click here.
WCA Bike Racing Camp Scheduled for April 22February 22, 2006 Did you know that most races come down to a field sprint? Want to know how to win a field sprint? Billy Jones of Endeavour will give you the nuances of tactics that can help you win. Want to time trial better or learn if your bike fits? Colin O’Brien, former holder of the American Hour Record and owner of Cronometro will share the finer points of TTing and bike fit. Want to know the TWO THINGS you should never, ever do on a bike?? You’ll have to sign up to find out! WCA has put together its first instructional camp for riders new to the sport or those wishing to step up a level. This half-day camp features current and former WCA champions sharing their knowledge with riders in an informal setting. The fee is $22 for adults, and thanks
to the Brazen Dropouts who have underwritten the junior camp, the
fee for juniors and parents of juniors to attend is just $5. A sign
up sheet will be posted on February 26. Space is limited, breakfast
included. Questions: contact Rebecca@tds.net. IS Corp Rider Randy HillFebruary 15, 2006
Randy always said the best part of racing was the camaraderie, friendship and memories that were developed during all those training rides. Randy has always enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the sport and using his mechanical abilities to help others in bike maintenance. Randy and Barb are facing this challenge with amazing courage and grace. They are discovering that they draw great strength from their family and friends, as well as from each other. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time. Written by Nancy Wisniewski, RN and
friend of Barbara Hamill Lapham Peak Spring Bike SwapFebruary 14, 2006 Saturday, March 25th Indoors-Rain or Shine; Cushing School - Delafield, WI. Lapham Peak Friends Spring Bike Swap is a fundraiser for the Lapham Peak Snowmaker Project at Lapham Peak State Park. flyer
WCA Bike Racing Camp Update & RegistrationApril 9, 2006 Two weeks until camp! Click here for registration form. Haven't signed up but want to come? Space is limited, and we need to give the Brewhaus a headcount by April 17. If you want to attend and plan to pay at the door, PLEASE pre-register by sending an email to rebecca@tds.net. We need to get you in the headcount. Only pre-registered folks, please. WCA Bike Racing Camp Update & RegistrationMarch 21, 2006 Hey there campers. Interest in the Endeavour/Brazen Dropouts Bike Racing Camp on April 22 has far surpassed what we organizers had envisioned. Our advice? Don’t wait to sign up. A registration form can be found here. This half day instructional camp was designed for the beginner to intermediate racer but even the experienced racer can gain from the camp. Pros who somehow have gotten through 10 years of riding and never learned to adjust a derailleur or lube a chain (you know who you are) will be happy to learn how from Casey McCauley, team mechanic. Other colorful characters such as top sprinter Billy Jones will teach you how to win a field sprint. Colin O’Brien will teach what he knows about time trailing—tips that helped him win the American Hour record. Kristin Wentworth and Carrie Ann Kopernik of the IS Corp squad will give women wanting to get into or step up in the sport an idea of how to prepare and what to expect. Kenny Crook will give an overview of junior racing for the under 18 crowd and their parents. Other current and former WCA champions are sharing their knowledge to help riders improve their results. Join us in an informal setting at the Delafield Brewhaus gathering hall on April 22. University of Wisconsin Cycling Awards Wittig ScholarshipMarch 8, 2006 MADISON, Wis. – A sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Cycling Team has been awarded the first cycling scholarship named for Matthew Wittig, a member of the school’s cycling team who died last May from head injuries sustained in a race. Mary Coats, who also is an officer of the UW Cycling Team, received a $500 scholarship awarded through the UW Foundation for the current academic semester. Coats was one of approximately 20 team members who submitted essay applications. The applications were judged by a three-person committee: Sue Wittig, Matt’s mother; Stephanie Birkenstock, a four-year member of the UW team and its current vice president; and Gary Achterberg, a coach previously active in Wisconsin cycling and now director of cycling at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Club members raised more than $10,000 in scholarship contributions from businesses and individuals. The principal will remain untouched and a $500 scholarship will be awarded each semester. Organizers hope that the size of each award will grow as the principal increases. Scholarship donations may be sent to UW Foundation; 1848 University Ave.; Madison, WI 53726. Checks should be made payable to “UW Foundation” with a message-line notation of “Matthew J. Wittig Cycling Scholarship.”
Gathering in Honor of Randy Hill on March 18March 7, 2006 The Celebration of Life Gathering for Randy Hill DATE: Saturday, March 18th, 2006 CELEBRATION: Join us for a celebration of Randy's life featuring a music video of Randy, plenty of food and beverages and the comraderie of Randy's friends from the cycling community. Directions: I-45 North to Watertown Plank Road. West on Watertown Plank Road to 123rd Street. North on 123rd Street to1647 (Hawks Nursery is on the south side of Watertown Plank Road before you turn onto 123rd). In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation in Randy's name to the www.maccfund.org or to the UW Foundation/Matt Wittig Fund: https://www.uwfoundation.wisc.edu/giving/giving2.nsf/jsCheck (be sure to add "Matt Wittig").
Cyclocross Payouts AvailableJanuary 29, 2006 If you were among the winners of the Bianchi Cyclocross series and didn’t make the annual dinner, contact Amy Miller to collect your prize: avasimon@execpc.com.
Cabin Fever Sets InFebruary 14, 2006 After four (or is it six?) consecutive weeks without sun and temps hovering in the 20s, are you questioning why you live here? To relieve the ennui, this pale, white, beached Midwestern tuna of an editor asked around how some Wisconsin riders would finish this statement: “I’m so sick of winter I (fill in the blank)” Read on for what sort of replies this statement elicted... - "I'm so sick of winter I have finally managed to convince the boss I can work remotely from AZ every winter till I retire." - "I'm so sick of winter I got a Blockbuster card and started renting bad DVD's to train to--first bad selection: Blue Crush” - "I'm so sick of winter I started doing yogicycling--1.5 hours of fast-paced yoga followed by 1.5 hours of roller riding.” - “I think I’ve started hibernating because it’s been dark for weeks now. If I practice and get good at it I could save a lot of money on food next year.” - I’m so sick of winter that I didn’t even mind watching “Wheel of Fortune” while riding my trainer.” So there you have the skinny from the locals. We’re sick of winter. Can I get a witness?
WCA Rider Randy Hill (Nova/IS Corp) Fights Serious IllnessJanuary 29, 2006 Most
of you probably know by now that Randy Hill has been diagnosed with
Amyloidosis, a rare and dangerous protein disorder. He was in the
hospital until late last week, when they sent him home, unsure about
the next treatment, but he's been readmitted (Froedert). Randy can
receive visitors but please call ahead. Many of you may know Randy’s
wife, Barb who is also a rider in the WI peloton. Please Keep Randy
and Barb in your thoughts as they work through this setback. Barb
can be reached at (414)397-0583. WCA Annual Meeting MinutesJanuary 29, 2006 The 2006 annual meeting at the Delafield Brewhaus was well-attended, and several significant tasks were accomplished. Among them: the 2006 Wisconsin Cup Race Calendar underwent some final adjustments, discussion concluded that there was a way to fit a masters 45+ open race into a race day without removing any other races, and the WCA Code of Ethnics Was revitalized. Click here to read the meeting minutes. New Link for Club OrganizersJanuary 29, 2006 We’ve changed the promoter resource link to “Club/Race Organizer Rescoures” and added more forms that club presidents and organizers can use to more efficiently run their organizations. Included in the link are sample rider agreements, WCA renewal forms, a worksheet to help race organizers calculate their race schedule, and more. Riders and Club/Race Organizers would do well to check it out! Bjorn Selander Racing Junior Cross WORLDS This WeekendJanuary 29, 2006 Keep an eye on cylcingnews for information on how Wisconsin’s Bjorn Selander does! News Flash Bjorn finished 7th in the Junior Cyclocross Worlds competion, only 20 seconds down on the leader. Congratulations, Bjorn. New Web Feature for JuniorsJanuary 29, 2006 WCA introduces a new Juniors’ forum which has been set up to provide juniors with a way to gain knowledge from more experienced riders from Wisconsin who have been successful in their cycling career. Spearheaded by Bryan Smith, former UW rider and 2004 Collegiate Criterium Champion (now riding with TIAA-CREF), the forum will allow juniors to ask questions about racing, training, nutrition, equipment, and other cycling-related topics. The forum will be moderated by three successful racers whose roots in cycling began in Wisconsin. Aside from Bryan, other riders that have volunteered to contribute are Nick Reistad, Garrett Peltonen, and Megan Monroe. Nick is from Brookfield, Wisconsin and began his racing career as a junior in Wisconsin area races. He continued his cycling career with the UW Cycling Team while he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During his time with the team, he attended several collegiate national championship events and obtained a national champion title in the 2004 National Collegiate Team Time Trial. He went on to race at the elite level with the Endeavor Advantage Benefits cycling team for two years. Among his palmares is a win at the Whitefish Bay stage of Super Week. This year, he will be riding professionally with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team and will begin his season in the Tour of California. Garrett grew up in Asheville, Wisconsin where his parents currently reside. After attending college in Arizona, he returned to Wisconsin to go to school at UW-Madison. Within a year, he was recruited by Advantage Benefits Endeavor and enjoyed a successful season racing on the team. Among his successes was winning the Downers Avenue Criterium stage of Super Week in 2005. His talent as a cyclist was noted, and in 2006, he will be racing for the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis. Megan Monroe hails from Green Lake, Wisconsin and went to college at UW-Madison. She raced for the UW Cycling team for three years while in school and during that time won the National Collegiate Cyclocross Championship, placed top 5 in the Collegiate National Road Race, and placed top 5 in the Collegiate National Cross Country Mountain Bike race. She went on to ride professionally on the road for the TDS Telecom team for one year. After that, she toured the NORBA circuit racing off the road for PCW Cycling. In 2006, she will be racing professionally on the road again for Colorado Premier Training-Colnago. To participate in the forum, point your browser window to http://www.wicycling.org/phpBB2/index.php. The display will show the number of topics in each category and the number of posts. Click on the category, and then click on the topic you would like to read. To post to the forum, navigate to the category under which your questions applies, and click “new topic.” Currently there are few restrictions on the forum. Users do not have to be registered in order to contribute. The WCA will monitor the contents of the forum and change security as needed if the content begins to get inappropriate. If you wish to register as a user and
provide an image that will be pictured along with your posts, Brian, Megan, Nick, and Garrett will log in to the forum and post answers to questions. Questions regarding the mechanics of the board should go to webmaster Rachel Eichers, raeichers@charter.net. Questions regarding the content of the forum can go to Bryan Smith, bs8930@hotmail.com. Happy posting! Annual Meeting AgendaJanuary 18, 2005 All clubs are invited to send a representative or two or three to the annual meeting. It's an informative meeting and networking with other riders and clubs is just one of the benefits. Click here to see the agenda. Cyclocross Banquet happy hour immediately follows the WCA Annual Meeting. Stay for the fun! |
As
most of you are aware by now, Randy Hill is seriously ill with a
rare protein disorder called Amyloidosis. This update, following
a doctor’s visit this week (2-13-06), is to let everyone know
that the prognosis is very grave. Randy is currently receiving chemotherapy
and his response to this treatment is being monitored, however,
his doctors give him a very slim chance of surviving another 6 months.
The odds are that Randy will experience a sudden and fatal organ
failure, which could happen at any time. 
