I'd be pissed too, but I imagine they're tinkering on the brink of collapse.

 

Nitpicking, but I (believe) they sanctioned the Pike's Peak Apex this year?

Given that I'm out a decent amount of money on cancelled races this year (Whiskey 50 didn't refund, etc.), I'm of a couple minds on who bears the risk of event planning. There is obviously sunk cost and overhead that goes into an event well before the day. Orgs such as USAC have overhead for, at a bare minimum, employing people. If we expect these orgs to bear all of the risk, then what will happen is fees will go up, since they're going to insure against things like the pandemic, and that will, on average, be more expensive than spreading the risk between participants and organizers.

There's also a sort of investment issue that's worth considered. Not that this is necessarily the case, but if it were the choice between paying fees for a lame duck year, or getting a refund at the expense of the org dissolving, I'd probably opt for paying the fees. This is because I'd rather race 9/10 years at the expense of 10/10 events, versus not racing and not paying.

But, I'm also not tuned in to what USAC is actually doing on behalf of a given event or racer. So, perhaps $100 just for the opportunity to race an entirely over-segmented (e.g. 1000 categories, each with 1-3 people in them) is asking too much to begin with.

 

thoughtful response, yeah. all good points. AFAIK they haven't really invested in any events they have to cover. certainly, they have overhead and/but were very quick to do layoffs earlier this year. maybe just some transparency would be a start. i donated a small bit of money to my favorite local promoter because they do such a damn good job and we all want to see them survive this nonsense. USAC...yeah, maybe they're taken for granted and i'm just ignorant, but i don't see it. so, transparency from them would be a great start. maybe their new celebrity officer can bail them out.

 

Honestly, I mostly view a USAC license as the cost of racing nats and CX. I'm not stoked about having to pay, but Nats is fantastic.

 

I feel like I'm one of the few that didn't have their account auto renew. Whew.

I had purchased my 2020 license early, before the pandemic, so I was definitely annoyed when everything started getting cancelled. However, we thankfully had a cyclocross season in Colorado so I was able to use my license, even though it was cut a bit short and had about half of the races as normal. I won't renew in 2021 until I absolutely have to - depending on how XC MTB nationals shapes up and if they drop the qualification requirement for Cat 1's (which is already tough in Colorado and Wyoming as we typically do not sanction our MTB races with USAC so qualifying in a non-pandemic is tough enough between travel time, competing events on the schedule, etc).

I don't know how I feel about USAC. As I said, our MTB racing is nearly all unsanctioned in my region, and most of the promoters put on events that are far better than even USAC nationals in terms of organization, timing, results, entry fees, etc. Now that I'm into the gravel racing thing, once again USAC doesn't matter. It's pretty much cyclocross that keeps me renewing an annual license. And after their $10,000-pay-to-play development model, they're almost bordering on being a joke.

My local association, BRAC, is restructuring apparently so I've even held off on renewing my membership with them until there's more details (and since I live in a state that was merely adopted into CO's association). When it comes to entering races, I'm only registering for ones in areas I know will allow racing, and those with sound refund/deferment policies and race plans in place and published on their website. I'm not made of money. I did my share of partial refunds and what not in 2020, I can't afford to throw money around without a guarantee of something in return.

 

And after their $10,000-pay-to-play development model, they're almost bordering on being a joke.

You were smart not to auto renew!

Is this for promoters? Is this like a Bond? Where can i read more?

 

ah. there's a similar concept in motocross; but unlike cycling there's money in that sport if you're talented.

ClubMX | Chesterfield, SC

ClubMX | Chesterfield, SC

www.clubmx.com

 

What elite level sport doesn't have athletes primarily from highly privileged backgrounds? It's silly to think that's limited to cycling. And sports that require investments in technology (cycling, skiing, moto, etc.) will be especially biased towards the wealthy given that it not only requires leisure time, but also investment in and maintenance of equipment. I don't think race is a necessary category to understand this; class is sufficient.

 

Ugh; I barely do any races that require a license myself. I hate paying that fee for little in return, but like Ranzin stated, it's worth it in some cases.

 

their copy pasta response me. they were kind enough to refund.

"We have introduced a new membership structure for 2021 that includes a $50 core membership with the option of a $50 race license add on (for a total of $100). For $50 a year, the core membership provides access to all member benefits plus it champions the programs, participation and performances essential to growing cycling in America. As we plan to bring more riders into the sport, consistent support is critical to stand up these plans. "

re the bolded, i looked around their site and i really didn't see any programs. no mention of NICA support. no mention of bike schools or clinics or bike pools. just some virtue signaling (sorry not sorry) around teaming up with EF to provide bikes to historically black colleges. so, i really don't know what programs and performances they have planned. FWIW, their new Chief Commercial Officer, Bouker Pool, only races destination Triathlons and a few years ago tried to get investors on-board a $20 million-dollar all-enclosed artificial Triathlon course facility that failed.

World's first self-contained triathlon facility close to breaking ground - Lumina News

A triathlon facility unlike any in the world could break ground soon on a 1,100-acre piece of land adjacent to the northeast Cape Fear River just outside of Wilmington. Nearly a decade ago, the facility’s chief executive officer Bill Scott first imagined the concept of a self-contained racing...

luminanews.com

Plug pulled on proposed Rocky Point triathlon center

Company now says looking at Orlando for facility.

www.starnewsonline.com

 

I cancelled mine this year. Last year it auto renewed. I did two pre COVID-19 crits and then realized that I didn't miss crit racing or cross after spending the rest of the year without it. I'm going to try and stick to non sanctioned events from here on out. The value proposition isn't there anymore for me.

 

Agreed.

 

you don't miss Cross?? sadboyz.....outlaw cross out here is WAY better than USAC cross tho 100%

 

Ha! It's prime mountain biking season on the east coast.

 

I did 10 usac events last year.

Ill do at least that next year. 2 in January.


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let's hope. (you never answered my q about supercal

 

We are racing right now, so most races aren't cancelled.

Did you ask about the supercal in another thread? I intentionally didn't quote you because I didn't want to debate the fact the bike is a heavy swing and a miss. #lessarguingin2021

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My $250 license didn't get much use last year. I allowed the auto renewal because I am hoping to use it this year.