2008
Madison Practice Crits
Practice crits are being help
in Madison on Tuesday nights in May and June: May 13, 20;
June 3,10, 17, 24. Practice crits are help at Research Park
in Madison, WI (the same location as the GDVC crits). Registration
starts at 6:00 PM; B-Race starts at 6:30 PM, and A-Race starts
at 7:10 PM.
USA Cycling license is required
to race. One Day and Annual licenses are available on site.
Fees are $5 to race, $5 for a one day license, and $60 for
an annual license. B-racers that help corner guard for the
A-Race get a free race.
Helmets required, USCF rules apply.
This is a bike community-wide event. Riders are asked to help
corner guard or provide some other help sometime during the
season. We all must help or the event does not go on. For
information call Craig Heywood 608-256-1357 (h) or 608-516-8529
(c).
Be
in a Trek TV Commercial
Bicycle 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.
Racing
at Kenosha Velodrome to Start May 20
Kenosha , WI -- The 2008 schedule
for Tuesday Night Racing at the Washington Park Velodrome
in Kenosha has been finalized this week. Racing will begin
May 20 with two weeks of pre-season races to get the cobwebs
out of your track legs. The regular season then begins with
Danishes and Miss-n-Outs on June 3.
Marquee races again include the
Unofficial Keirin Cup on June 17, Mayor's Cup Points Race
on July 8, Bob Pfarr Classic during Superweek on July 22,
and Kenosha News Junior Trophy Race on Aug 5.
The Kenosha Velodrome is a mere
40-minute drive from Milwaukee -- carpool on down Tuesday
nights this summer to watch some of the most explosive bike
racing around!! Better yet: lash on your toe clips and race!
The Kenosha Velodrome Association has track bikes to rent
at very reasonable rates.
For any questions regarding the
track racing schedule or to sponsor track racing at the oldest
operating velodrome in the States, contact Nick Holbus, WCA
Track Liasson, at [holbus@yahoo.com].
View
2008 track schedule.
The
Story Behind WIBIKELAW.COM
 I
think there is a saying about lawyers that says something
like “you hate them until you need one.”
Dan Goldberg just might be the
guy you need, although we hope you don’t. Goldberg (IS
Corp) is the brain behind WIBIKELAW.com a new website advertiser
on WCA. Like a lot of WCA riders he is a full time professional
and unassuming behind his blue and white kit.
Goldberg started bike racing in
1968 when he was 10 years old and practicing law since 1983.
So why did he start the website?
“Much of the development
of the website comes from being out on the road on group rides
and running into situations where laws were unclear or misunderstood.
There are always questions about cyclists’ rights to
the road, interactions with police or group riding considerations.
The questions always pop up, so that’s why the website
came about. Plus, riders have been involved in accidents and
don’t know their rights or how to be treated fairly.
Rather than trying to get these questions answered on the
road, the website is designed to be a tool in getting the
information riders need,” says Goldberg.
Goldberg’s first bicycle
accident case was in 1986 and since then he has represented
hundreds of cyclists. Being a competitive cyclist gives him
a perspective that proves valuable in these cases. His goal
is to resolve claims smoothly and effectively so that the
riders can take care of their expenses, get their bikes replaced
or repaired, and move on with their riding.
Goldberg designed the website
to be a one-stop site for cycling information -- especially
from the legal standpoint. On it you’ll find information
such as what to do after an accident, what to do about traffic
tickets, or what to do when your bike gets damaged. Insurance
issues are also confusing; from crashes to airline travel
issues. People are often surprised to hear that even roof
rack mishaps may be covered by insurance.
I’ve also included local
rider resources. There’s a list and description of local
group rides. There’s also a marketplace section in which
cyclists can post free listings to buy or sell bikes or cycling
items. There’s a growing cycling links section. Each
section is going to get better as people contribute information
about rides, events, activities. It’s a great hub for
the local cycling community.
Clearly, no one seeks a bike accident
but what can one do if they are in such a situation? According
to Goldberg “it’s important to gather witness
names and have the police called to the accident scene to
investigate. It’s also a good idea to seek medical attention
as soon as possible. A person should make certain to take
photographs of cuts, bruises and other signs of injury. Get
a picture of your bike before anyone works on it. Don’t
ever give a voluntary statement to an insurance company. I’m
always a phone call away and my consultations are free.”
So what are some things that riders
can do to avoid an accident?
1) Ride like drivers are trying
to hit you. They really are not, but many of them are distracted
so you are better off aiming to make eye contact to know if
they see you before you make a move—even IF you have
the right of way. In the game of car vs. bike, you’ll
lose every time if you want to push your luck or make assumptions.
And for you young folk out there, ask anyone over 40 what
ASSUME really means.
2) Make yourself seen by wearing
brightly colored clothing, especially at dawn and dusk. Get
a blinking light for the back of your bike if you ride in
early spring, late fall, or if your group rides go past dusk.
3) Avoid high-traffic areas if
possible; it’s just too dangerous. You’ve got
car doors opening, slow riders weaving in and out of traffic,
and too much traffic.
4) Drive your bike. Riders have
duties too. Avoid sudden lane changes and intersection “roll
throughs.” And never, ever assume drivers will avoid
you. One of the worst offenses a rider can make is rolling
past a line of cars waiting to make a right turn. By law,
you need to take your place in line, maybe not behind the
car but behind the one that is last in line. By zooming to
the front of the line you are ensuring that you’ll startle
the car at the front of the line making a right turn. Capice?
Don’t think you’re innocent…we’ve
all seen enough stupid rider moves (and made them ourselves)
to pretend we aren’t part of the problem.
Safe travels, all.
Bayshore
Town Center Criterium Announced
Team 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:
Morgan Wiswall – 920-727-1721
morgan.wiswall@sbcglobal.net
Ride
to the Movies with Gary Fisher
The 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
- Arrive at the race about 1.5
hours early to allow time to register, pin your numbers
on your jersey, check the course and warm up
Warm up
- It’s a good idea to
warm up the muscles before you get to the start line. A
trainer is handy as you can place it out of the wind and
pedal away without missing your start. If you prefer the
real road, be sure to keep an eye out for glass on the road.
You don’t need to be fixing flats before a race if
you can help it.
- Everyone is different when
it comes to warm ups; some need 5 minutes, others may need
30 minutes. Figure out what works for you
Numbers
- Ask at registration which side
your numbers get pinned on. Ask someone (anyone will do)
how to pin a number on properly. When pinning a number never
use the pre-cut holes as you’ll never get the pin
out without tearing your jersey. Always pin through the
number and jersey, then back out. Don't use the holes. Craig
will make fun of you if you show up with your number upside
down, in the wrong spot, or something else that will make
your number hard to read.
Start Time
- Always be ready to go and
at the start line at the appointed time. I.e, if you race
starts at 9, it’s best to be at the start line about
8:50. If the races are on time you’ll appreciate the
front row starting spot. OrRaces may be running behind schedule
but the official will be able to tell you how far behind.
It's your responsibility to be at the start on time.
Rules
- It’s your responsibility
to know the rules. The officials will give instructions
at the start time, but mainly that is to remind riders of
the length of the race and any special features of the race
(primes, for example). Take some time to read the USCF rule
book. You can find it at usacycling.org.
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 CANCELLED
With 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.
State
Criterium Location Changed
LAPT and Ripon College Cycling
Team are pleased to announce that the State Crit Championships
will be held in Ripon this year. Those of you who raced in
the 90's will remember the very cool racing venue of Ripon
College. The course includes moderate hills, six corners and
Ripon's Mainstreet. $5K prize list, too! Be sure to check
out the hotels and restaurants in town.
Ripon is the home of Ripon College,
the first college in American to offer a bicycle to incoming
students who don't bring a car to campus. Ripon is also home
to Rippin' Good COokies and was the site of the "Great Milk
Race" back in the 80s, coordinated by none other than Tom
Schuler and friends.
New
Policy on Upgrades
USAC has announced an ew policy
on category upgrades. The new policy can be seen at http://www.usacycling.org/forms/USAC_rulebook.pdf.
In brief, the upgrade requirements
for road and CX have been changed significantly and it's the
RIDER'S responsibility to know the rules. The essential differences
compared to last year are:
- There is now a tiered scale
of points based on how many participants were in the race.
In some cases, this will make it easier to upgrade, especially
in classes with small fields, but it will take more races
to do so as the points are fewer.
- If road races do not meet
the distance requirement to be considered a road race, they
may still be long enough to be considered a criterium or
circuit race. In that case there is a different points table
to use, but points would still be available.
- The parameters for upgrading
from 4 to 3 on experience alone have been modified.
Please consult the rulebook and
if you have questions contact Heidi Mingesz or see an official
at an upcoming race.
Introducing
a New Category for 2008: Masters 3/4
A new Masters 3/4 category was
proposed by riders and approved at the annual WCA Board meeting
in January. All race organizers are encouraged to include
this new category in their races as the category will be a
part of the Wisconsin Cup. To make room for this new scored
category, the riders decided that Wisconsin Cup points will
no longer be awarded for the Masters 45+ category. While,
if your event schedule has room to include other, none WCA
Cup scored, events, you are certainly welcome to include them.
You need not feel obligated to include 45+ since it won't
be scored, and encouraged to offer this new scored category.
In case you were not able to attend the board meeting, the
information below was presented at the meeting.
- Table 1 shows that there are
more Masters Cat 3 racers than any other Masters category
other than Cat 5.
TABLE 1. Number of licensed Masters riders in Wisconsin
by category.
Category |
Number
WI 30+ Riders |
Cat
1 |
32 |
Cat
2 |
89 |
Cat
3 |
149 |
Cat
4 |
118 |
Cat
5 |
156 |
TOTAL |
544
(67% of all WI riders) |
- The success of the Masters
Cat 4/5 category suggests that the addition of another Masters
level category could be successful, particularly given the
number of Masters Cat 3 riders shown in the table above.
It is also worth noting that, based upon reports to us,
there are many more licensed Masters Cat 3 riders than the
number who actually race. Many of these "inactive"
Masters Cat 3 license holders very likely would return to
racing if a Masters Cat 3 category existed.
- The addition of the new Masters
Cat 3/4 category would also allow riders to "double-up"
in that Masters Cat 3 riders could race both Masters Cat
3/4 and Masters Cat 1/2/3, and Masters Cat 4 riders could
race both Masters Cat 3/4 and Masters Cat 4/5. Thus, it
seems unlikely that the numbers of riders participating
in a given category would drop significantly as a result
of adding the new Masters Cat 3/4 category.
In conclusion, please consider
adding this new category to your event. If you have questions,
or need clarification, please feel free to contact Gordy Paulson
at gordo0106@hotmail.com.
2008
WCA Cyclocross Series
2008 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.
2008 Schedule:
September 27 – MadCross presents Jonathon Page’s
Planet Bike Cup
September 28 - Mad Cross presents Jonathon Page’s Planet
Bike Cup
October 4 - Cam-Rock Cyclocross
October 5 - Lapham Peak Cyclocross
October 18 - Badger Prairie Cyclocross
October 19 - Gibbs Lake Cyclocross
October 26 - Washington Park Cyclocross
November 1 - Kletsch Park Cyclocross
November 2 - Estabrook Cyclocross
November 15 - UW Whitewater Cyclocross (new venue TBA)
November 23 - Hales Corner State Cyclocross Championship
Women's
Road/Criterium Racing Clinic
Whether 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
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: HospiceCare, Inc. 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway
Who: Any current or prospective women racers
(can be from any team, or even not on a team)
Lunch: You have the option of purchasing
really great food from the Café on site (really….the
food is awesome!) or bringing a brown bag lunch.
Cost: Clinic itself is free! For insurance
purposes we will be requiring participants to have either
an annual WCA license or purchase a one-day license (would
be $5.) More info to come. Bring lunch money if desired.
Attire: Just be comfortable. Bring your bike
and cycling clothes for the afternoon. For safety reasons,
no aerobars.
For questions or to register, please contact Amanda Pischke
at amanda_pischke@yahoo.com. Pre-registration is highly encouraged,
and much appreciated.
Dowload
flyer
Lance
Armstrong Visits Shorewood (Milwaukee) to Advocate for Smoking
Ban
Amy 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 Online
Annual 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.
2008
WCA Road Schedule Released
Click 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.
New
Rules Regarding Upgrades
USAC recently made changes to
the upgrade system. The new rules are found at: www.usacycling.org/forms/USAC_rulebook.pdf.
It should be easier to upgrade
from 4 to 3, particularly in road races, where points go 9
deep for fields over 50 and there were some adjustments to
the points to accommodate reduced fields. Please consult the
rule book on line for clarification.
UW
Cycling Screens "Tour Baby" on February 12 in Madison
The 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.
WCA
Day at a UCI World Cup Track Event
Heidi 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
Q. What do you need on the judges stand at a World Cup?
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! |
