2008 WCA News Archive |
UW Cycling's "Tour Baby" Cancelledfrom Ashley Simon, Vice President UW Cycling Club: "Between the low ticket sales, bad weather, and Obama at the Kohl Center, it's in the club's best interest to cancel the event. It is very disheartening for those that have put countless hours into the event. For those of you that were planning on coming, I thank you for supporting our club."
Clif Bar Wrappers Worth Cash!Clif Bar is partnering with TerraCycle
to reduce the number of energy bar wrappers in landfills. The Wrapper
Brigade program asks us to collect energy bar wrappers (any brand),
send them in, and receive 2 cents apiece for a charity that we choose.
The collected wrappers will be recycled into outdoor products like
backpacks. If you're interested, sign up for Wrapper Brigade by
visiting: http://www.terracycle.net/brigades.
WCA ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE - SAVE THE DATEThe annual meeting will be Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 2 p.m. Location: Delafield Brewhaus. Clubs are invited to send as many delegates to the meeting as they wish and any rider can send suggested agenda items. Traditionally, the annual meeting serves to iron out any new race categories, elect the board of directors, and brainstrorm future intitiatives to strengthen WCA racing. Please send agenda suggestions to Gordy Paulson at gordo0106@hotmail.com. Be in a Trek TV CommercialBicycle Racers and Tri-athletes needed for Trek TV commercial: $500 for principals, $150 for extras. Trek is looking for males aged 20-40 and 55 - 80. No acting experience necessary. Filming will take place on June 6th and 7th in Milwaukee area. Casting is scheduled for May 16th and 17th on the eastside of Madison. To make an appointment to audition, call or email Rebecca Vaughn: 414-562-8687 or rebeccajvaughn@gmail.com.
Bayshore Town Center Criterium AnnouncedTeam Wheel & Sprocket, in conjunction with the Bayshore Town Center in Glendale, WI have announced a new criterium to be held the evening of Friday June 20th. The event will feature five races - Junior 15-18, Women open, Masters 30+, Cat 3-4 and Pro 1-2. The Pro 1-2 event will be presented by Sun-Ringle and will feature a cash prize list of at least $4,000. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Visit www.teamwheelandsprocket.com to keep up with additional details as they are announced. For more information:
Ride to the Movies with Gary FisherThe dude who started the mountain bike craze is coming to Madison in May. Fishman (as he is known around Trek) is giving a talk before the presentation of the movie “Klunkerz.” The movie features all of the characters that worked with Fish to build the machine and the momentum for mountain biking. Click here for details. Space is limited and is filling fast (we’re not kidding)..
Are you New to Racing?Here’s a few things you need to know to race a bike and you can find more information two ways; explore this site and ask your fellow riders! Arrival
Warm up
Numbers
Start Time
Rules
Have fun, and if you have questions just send a note to becx6132@gmail.com. We’ll post commonly asked questions on-line with answers provided by WCA riders.
SHEBOYGAN WCA OPENER CANCELLEDWith great regret the organizers of the WCA Sheboygan race have had no other choice but to cancel the race due to the snow and ice that remains on the course. All avenues have been pursued to remove the snow but to no avail. Go ahead and make plans for the 100 mile ride on that day. See you at GDVC #1.
2008 WCA Cyclocross Series2008 is shaping up to be another great year of cyclocross racing for the WCA. This year’s series will kick off with a weekend of UCI racing on September 27 and 28 and then will continue through to the state championships at Hales Corner on November 23. Most of the race venues remained unchanged from 2007 with the exception of the race sponsored by the UW Whitewater Cycling team. UWW has several new venues that are under consideration and look forward to offering a new challenge to racers. Only a few changes were made to the series with the most notable being the addition of a Cat 4 50+ race that will race at the beginning of the day with the very popular Cat 4 40+ event. Also, in 2008 the Cat 1-2 race will no longer be open to Cat 3 riders. However, new USA Cycling upgrade rules should make it easier for those wanting to upgrade to Cat 2. Watch for more information on the WCA
Cyclocross Series this summer. It’s shaping up to be the best
one yet.
Women's Road/Criterium Racing ClinicWhether you are just thinking about trying bike racing and would like to learn more, or if you are a current racer wanting to develop your skills and strategy, this will be a great learning opportunity. Kristin Wentworth and Monique Karlen of Team Kenda, along with other experienced women racers, will share knowledge and experience to give you the confidence to try your first race or help you work on areas you would like to improve. We will start with a classroom portion and then later work on practical skills on our bikes, and finish with our own practice crit for those who would like to try. When: Sunday, April
6th Lance Armstrong Visits Shorewood (Milwaukee) to Advocate for Smoking BanAmy Miller, WCA Treasurer and resident of Shorewood got to hear Lance Armstrong make an eloquent pitch to ban smoking in all public places in Wisconsin. Armstrong was joined by Governor Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett the Oakcrest Tavern. The tavern is a non-smoking establishment that has thrived due to their nonsmoking stance.
According to Amy Miller, Armstrong spoke in Wisconsin to support the proposed state-wide no smoking ban currently before the Wisconsin legislature. "Without a doubt Lance was the best speaker - it's probably the same speech he delivers over and over, but nonetheless it was great he's willing to use his fame to push our lawmakers to decide when (not if) they will implement a state-wide ban," said Miller. Now a forward-thinking Wisconsin rider might look up their legislator right now and send him or her a note asking them to support the no smoking ban. Let's see how many WCA riders we can get to write a short email to their elected official(s). Go!
Annual Meeting Minutes OnlineAnnual Meeting Minutes are online. If you didn't make the meeting in January please click here to read what your fellow riders cooked up for you in the '08 season.
UW Cycling Screens "Tour Baby" on February 12 in MadisonThe UW Cycling Club is holding a special screening of the movie "Tour Baby" to raise funds for the Davis Phinney foundation and, well, to have a good time watching a movie about cycling. The UW club has cooked up some raffles and a silent auction and this being Madison, you know there will be some good cycling goodies up for bid. Need info? Contact simon2@wisc.edu.
2008 WCA Road Schedule ReleasedClick here to see what exoctic Wisconsin cities you'll spend time in this spring and summer! It's a great calendar and thanks to all the WCA clubs for making it happen.
WCA Day at a UCI World Cup Track EventHeidi Mingesz, WCAs Technical Director was selected as an official for the World Cup Track event in Los Angeles last week. A world cup event is similar to, say, a NFC Play off game; lots of hype, tight regulations and nerves are on edge. Heidi sent this "postcard" from L.A. about her experience. Enjoy! I was fortunate to be appointed to work at the World Cup track event in Los Angeles this year. With one day down, and two to go, here are a few of the highlights! Now we have a plane; when we find a pilot.... It was an arduous journey - got in to LA four hours later than planned due to a ridiculous chain of circumstances with airlines and airplanes. And some days I think bike racing is disorganized? Met up with my ride - Rey Trevino and Mike McCartan had only been circling the airport for an hour- to learn that, instead of a cushy job turning lap cards, I was to be the arrival judge! (that's chief judge in non-UCI-speak) Still something of a sinecure, given the array of technical support Tissot gives. A. Fourteen laptops, five printers,
three timing consoles, five technicians, half a dozen officials
and a couple of UCI delegates UCI fashions Uniforms are much more casual and fashion forward than they were in the '80's, but I was still a little concerned that I'd brought the wrong shoes. First thing I noticed this morning was that Andy Taus had exactly the same shoes as I! If Andy does anything, you can be sure it's all right. Is that a banana in your pocket?, or.... Neophyte officials may laugh, but in a move reminiscent of The Chocolate Solder (an operetta based on Shaw's Arms and the Man) veteran UCI comm Andy Taus stocked up on fruit and bagels at the breakfast buffet. Andy definitely had the last laugh today! Even on the track... Failure of the starting blocks and a malfunction of the starter's pistol caused injury and heartache during the team sprint. The blocks failed to release the lead rider, the gun wouldn't fire, the other team came around at full speed (half a lap is about 7 seconds), and a rider hit the machine, sending the trapped rider flying as well. I've never seen a bike break into so many pieces. Both riders eventually walked away, but one suffered a concussion and broken arm. We are all thankful and amazed that it was no worse. Another advance in technology Remember when pursuits were started and ended with a gunshot? The starting shot has long since been replaced with the electronic countdown clock, and now Tissot has incorporated a simulated ending shot into the device. Sounds more like a video game than a gunshot, but it's much more environmentally friendly (not to mention cheaper! it used to take hundreds of blanks to get through a championship) Record number of riders With everyone trying to qualify for the Olympics, there are billions and billions (sorry Mr. Sagan) of riders here. The morning session was moved up to 9:00, and we knew it would be a long one. At 5:42 p.m., with breakfast just a distant memory, we were released to enjoy our sumptuous bag lunches (according to Andy Taus, the UCI regs used to require that there be a slice of cheese in every commissaire's lunch, and today, there wasn't) for eighteen minutes before we needed to hit the track for the evening session. Bird needs new music Anyone who has lasted through an entire Superweek knows this, good race music though it may be. Viktor Rapinski is here, so is Wan Kam Po. If I closed my eyes I could easily imagine I was back in a hot and humid Wisconsin July. Oh, wait - last night I slept in a luxurious king-sized bed with about fifteen assorted pillows in an expansive suite at a good hotel. We're not at Superweek any more, Toto! |
LANCE ARMSTRONG JUNIOR OLYMPIC RACE SERIES APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
Series is Part of USA Cycling’s Junior Development Efforts and Provides Gateway to USA Cycling Junior Development Camps
Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 5, 2007)—Applications for the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series are now available to race promoters interested in supporting the junior development efforts of USA Cycling.
Entering its 15th year in 2007, the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series is a program designed by USA Cycling and endorsed by seven-time Tour de France winner and Olympic medalist Lance Armstrong and provides racing opportunities for junior and U23-aged athletes. Over the course of the last 15 years, the series has evolved into a nationally-recognized junior development program with 88 events on the calendar in 2006.
In 2007, USA Cycling hopes to provide even more racing opportunities for young riders through the development of long-term partnerships with race organizers who will create a safe and fun racing environment.
The Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series is part of USA Cycling’s athlete development pipeline and gives developing riders aged 15-22 a chance to earn an invitation to USA Cycling Regional Development Camps via a top-five placing in a series race.
Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series events will provide racing opportunities for boys and girls as young as 10 years old to 22-year-old men and women.
Invitations to USA Cycling Regional Development Camps are based on competitive race results from either Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series events or its mountain bike counterpart, the Alison Dunlap Junior Olympic Mountain Bike Series, in the 15-18-year-old age groups. Riders aged 14 are eligible for camp invitations provided they achieve competitive results racing in the 15-18-year-old age group categories.
Race promoters interested in becoming part of the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series can download an application here: http://www.usacycling.org/forms/lajorsapp.pdf, or, for more information, contact USA Cycling National Events Manager Tom Vinson at tvinson@usacycling.org.
About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale,
USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 60,000 members and 2,500
annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX),
National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation
(road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S.
Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For
more information visit www.usacycling.org or contact USA Cycling Director
of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.
It's time for an upgrade if
- You're a category 5 and have raced in 10 races
- You're a category 4 and consistently in the top ten places
- You're a category 3 and consistently in the top six places
Go to www.usacycling.org and click on "My USA Cycling". Create an online account page for yourself if you have not already done so. Near the bottom of the page are buttons for "upgrade/downgrade" for the various disciplines. Click on the appropriate button; indicate the category you are requesting, and include a resume of pertinent experience and/or results. This request is automatically forwarded to WCA's Technical Director, Heidi Mingesz, for approval.
Renew Your Club Online
Club Memberships expire December 31, so renew now to avoid your members getting "unattached" licenses! If you are already listed as a club contact person with USA Cycling (you can check at https://www.usacycling.org/clubs/index.php?state=WI) the procedure is:
- Go to www.usacycling.
- Click on "My USA Cycling" and about midway down the page you will see a light blue bar that says "Special USA Cycling Roles". Under that heading, you should find "Manage USA Cycling Clubs"
- This should take you to your club page, where you can edit any contact information and renew with a credit card
- This is a good time to specify "event
organizers" for your club, as only persons listed are able to file
permit applications online.
If you are not currently listed as a club contact, please email Heidi Mingesz, wcatech @ earthlink.net to have this corrected.
TENTATIVE 2007 Calendar
We've heard from a number of people who just can't wait until February to see the schedule. We have put together a list of events which are confirmed for next year, but this is not the final schedule. view tentative list.
Win a Free Frame, Fork and Fit in the Transition Triple
$2,500 in Give-a-ways Marks Opening of 1st All-in-one Personal Training Studio, Performance Center & Bicycle Store
Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24 at Transition in Pewaukee.
What: Indoor bike time trails, fitness challenges, family fun and $2,500 in prizes and give-a-ways mark the grand opening of, Transition, Milwaukee’s first all-in-one personal training studio, performance center and bicycle store.
Where: Lakeside at 203 W. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee.
When: Friday, March 23, 5p
• Hydrate with free wine & beer and fuel up with delicious appetizers
• Start warming up early -- Indoor time trials start at 5:30p
• Transition Triple: Where Finishing Last Wins – Last one
holding on wins free bicycle frame, fork and fit. We’ll stay with
you as long as it takes – hours, days or even weeks. Starts at 6p.
When will it end?
Saturday, March 24, 7a
• Free Breakfast & Lunch
• Indoor time trials 7a, 10a, 1p
• Stability Ball Balance Contest 9a
• Push-ups Contest 10a
• Monkey Bars Pull-ups Contest Noon
• Kid’s Fitness & Fun Circuit 1:30p
• Stability Ball Balance Contest 2:30p
About: For the first time in Southeastern Wisconsin, weekend warriors, recreational and endurance athletes alike have a single destination for personal and group training, advanced fitness testing, movement and massage, coaching and full-service bicycle needs. Transition is Metro Milwaukee’s first all-in-one personal training studio, performance center and bicycle store. Whether the goal is a daily walk or a first-place finish, Transition offers customers the same types of services and equipment that were once reserved just for elite and professional athletes. Owned and operated by one of the area’s leading personal trainers, Pete Mueller, and former competitive cyclist and bicycle retailer John Huenink.
Contact: Transition, 262-264-0070, www.transition.bz
Lapham Peak Friends Spring Bike Swap
As many cyclists anticipate this year's bike season, many have equipment they no longer use or they are looking for changes. Five bike shops will be attending this year and many private vendors. The Bike Swap is on Saturday, March 24. Click here for the flyer.
Good News for Juniors
The entire Wisconsin Cup series has been accepted into the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Road Series. Juniors and U-23 riders will receive recognition, and points towards qualifying for development camps.
USAC Grant Application for Juniors Available
Juniors interested in attending a regional USAC camp in LaCrosse or any other USAC event but don't have the financial means to go are encouraged to apply for a grant to cover some or all of the cost. Click here for the application.
PCW Introduces JOE GRINDER Coffee
This
editor/addict did not need another reason to buy coffee but all the same
PCW Cycling of Sheboygan came up with the perfect reason: a catchy name
and great artwork to match.
According to Paul Weaver, the club got into
the retail coffee business about two months ago. PCW Team members have
been selling the brand to bike shops in Wisconsin. The goal is to promote
the PCW team and raise some extra funds for the club’s sponsored
riders and juniors.
Weaver came up with the “Gear Grinder” name and found out
the name was available and some leg work later, the brand was born. The
coffee is locally roasted by Milwaukee’s own Stone Creek Coffee
(many of you will remember, fondly, the team that Stone Creek sponsored.
*Sigh* miss those free coffee coupons!).Gear Grinder blend can be purchased
from the PCW website, under the “merchandise” tab:
www.pcwcycling.org
State Crit Championship Date Change
The date of the State Criterium Championship has changed; please mark you calendars for July 7.
WCA Season Kicks off - Belgian Style
Driving
to Sheboygan Sunday for opening day of the ‘07 season was an exercise
in expectation management. Since the day started sunny in Madison it was
taken for granted that sun would prevail. Alas, the rain we left behind
followed us.
A gentle rain became a slashing downpour and everything in between all the way to Sheboygan. There was sliver of sun as we pulled into Everygreen Park and we thought we might just have squeaked past the squall line. That euphoria lasted all of 10 seconds as the rain caught up to us as soon as the car stopped. It didn’t matter though as Team Polska was ready for all conditions. What they had organized was a well run, Belgian-style Spring Classic and while the conditions weren’t the best the course was absolutely safe. The course was in a park which meant no road oil so the twisty descent proved to be a non-issue.
Team
Polska debuted the cat 4 women’s race and 20 riders turned out to
contest the first race of the new women’s series, a race taken by
Ashley James. Fortunately that race was held earlier in the day and with
lighter turnout in the remaining races it was obvious that the weather
scared a few people off.
The start/finish line had been moved to a spot where the organizers and officials could take cover in the park office. That also proved to be the best (driest) viewing point for the race. At least 30 people were jammed under the building’s awning, cheering, and teasing the riders who passed and who were carrying more mud each lap. Where the mud came from is a mystery, but there was plenty of it on the riders faces at the end of every race that started after 2:30. Also under the awning was a jovial Gordy Paulson (WCA President) and Jeff Littman (past WCA board member) who looked way too clean for the conditions. Heidi Mingesz was at her usual post, with daughter Emma keeping things running smoothly.
Team Polska and WCA would like to thank the City of Sheboygan for use of the park, and John Bartow at Fond du Lac Cycle and Fitness for allowing us to represent his event as the sponsoring team. Chad Wilsing, the race director did a fabulous job at planning the event and laying the groundwork for seamless race.
Team Polska will be back on the WCA calendar with a European-style cyclocross event in November. Brief results of some of yesterday’s events:
Women’s Open
1, Casey Cissna Nova/ IS Corp
2. Madeline Puissant Nova/ IS Corp
3. Rebecca Anderson Americas Dairyland
Men 1,2:
1. John Acker Wheel and Sprocket
2. Ryan White PCW Cycling
3. Kyle Jacobson Nova/ IS Corp
Women’s Cat 4
Sponsored by Brazen Dropouts/Beans & Barley
1. Ashley James Nova/ IS Corp
2. Kaitie Antonneau Nova/ IS Corp
3. Kate Ross America's Dairyland
Mmasters 1,2,3
1. Chris Halverson Spring Street
2. Brian Rybarik Schwinn Homegrown
3. Dave Eckel Wheaton Franciscan
Photos compliments of Andy Reiland and Chris Schutte...
Cycle & Run Night & New Madison Bike Shop
A new bike shop is opening in the Madison burb of Verona. Called “Exclusive Cycles” the shop has teamed up with a local pub, Irish Waters, to host a series called “Cycle & Run Night” that kicks off on March 27. Tammy Zurak is behind this gathering and she intends to host informational clinics weekly to provide a welcome atmosphere to new and seasoned riders alike. Details here:
WHO: You! You’re cordially
invited to the new CYCLE & RUN NIGHT each Tuesday Night at Irish Waters
pub/restaurant in Madison. Please also invite your friends!
WHAT: Our kickoff gathering will introduce you to “Exclusive
Cycles”, Madison’s newest bike shop. Please come in for a
chance to win:
• A free set of Michelin Pro2 Race Tires (MSRP $54.00 each) your
choice of color!
• Half off ($150 Value) an elite bicycle fitting performed by Exclusive
Cycles owner Jeff Mawhinney. He will analyze you in a real world setting
(not just plumb lines!) and utilize biomechanics and Dartfish to give
you the best fit you’ve ever had! (Both items are sponsored by Exclusive
Cycles.)
HOW: CYCLE & RUN NIGHT will start after work every Tuesday evening.
Please come to Irish Waters and do the following:
• Park in our lot.
• Come in and get a free raffle ticket and fill up your wattle bottles
if necessary.
• Pick up (if you choose) a ride or run cue sheet and map. Rides/runs
will be informal, plan to leave at 5:30pm or whenever you get there! There
will not be leaders or sweepers unless designated each week.
WHY: You can mingle with a variety of Madison’s cycling and running
community, make new friends, find new training partners, listen to great
speakers or clinics to get interesting info about your sport, and eat
great food and have great drink! Best of all there will be cool gifts
given away weekly to those present with their raffle ticket in hand between
8pm-9pm. Each week will be a rotating list of cycle and run related topics
and giveaways.
WHEN: Starts this coming Tuesday, March 27th after work.
Speakers/clinics will generally be around 7-7:30pm and the giveaways will
happen after 8pm.
WHERE: We’re on the corner of Whitney Way &
University Ave. Our phone number is 608-233-3398. You can see our menu
on the web at www.foodspot.com/irishwaters
RSVP- Please RVSP to me: Tammy Zurak (Manager, Irish
Waters) at this email address (irishwaterspub@yahoo.com) if you know you
are coming so we can be properly staffed to meet your needs quickly! J
Look forward to seeing you there!
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