Coming Up This Week (May 16 – 22)

Announcements

1. Season Pass to Donor Membership Upgrade

If you are a Season Pass member and would like to upgrade to a Donor membership, CRCA will now deduct your Season Pass membership ($100).

This means Donor membership is only $500 for current Season Pass members.

Furthermore, if you upgrade and have already marshalled, your marshal credits will be carried over to next year.

Please contact communications@crca.net to request an upgrade or for any questions.

2. Season Pass Waivers

We will no longer be accepting Season Pass waivers at races.

If you are a Season Pass member and have not yet submitted a season waiver, please submit one by e-mail prior to racing.

Instructions on how to do so are available at http://archive.crca.net/racing/eventwaivers/, under the "2016 Season Pass Waiver" section.

If you don't remember whether your waiver was submitted and accepted, please refer to the April 16 roster, available at: http://archive.crca.net/wp-content/uploads/crca-roster-2016-april-16-final-B.pdf.

If your name is highlighted in purple on the roster, you must submit a season waiver prior to racing.

For any questions, please e-mail communications@crca.net.

3. Club Racing Schedule Changes (Power Points)

Club Race 8, on June 19, has been changed from a Power Points race to a Scratch race.

The finish for the race has been moved to Cat's Paw Hill.

Club Race 9, on August 6, is now the Power Points race, with the finish at West 97th Street.

Please refer to the race schedule for details: http://archive.crca.net/racing/race-schedule/.

Races

Club Race 6 is set to take place on Saturday, May 21, at 05:35 AM.

The race finishes at Tavern on the Green, and is a points race for the W, A, and B fields.

The race is a scratch for the C and W3/4 fields. The W3/4 field is open, as part of the Women’s Development Series (BikeReg).

Laps (~10km each):

W: 7.7 A: 8.7 B: 7.7 C: 6.7 W3/4: 6.7

Events

1. Monday, May 16 Screening of Cheetah: The Nelson Vails Story, 7:00 – 8:30PM, Axis Theatre Co.

Tickets $25. Proceeds go to supporting Recycle-A-Bicycle’s student leadership development program.

Nelson Vails himself will be there for a Q&A and to sign and give-away memorabilia.

More information here; Facebook event page here.

2. Tuesday, May 17

Screening of Cheetah: The Nelson Vails Story, 6:00 – 7:30PM, MIST Theater.

Free; doors open at 5:30PM.

Nelson Vails himself will be there for a Q&A and to sign and give-away posters and memorabilia.

3. Saturday, May 21

Nomad Cycle's Grand Opening Party, 6:00 - 10:00PM, Nomad Cycle. Free.

4. Saturday, May 21

NYRR is seeking cyclist volunteers for the Airbnb Brooklyn Half Marathon. Details below; please contact communications@crca.net for any questions.

Course Team:

• 2:00am to approximately 2:00pm • Oversee delivery and setup of equipment • Reporting any issues to race command center • Join sweep package for any late runners

Transportation Team:

• 6:00am to approximately 8:30am • Lead Handcycle Spotter: Lead handcyclist along course while communicating location updates throughout the race • Lead Male Spotter: Lead male leaders along course while communicating location updates throughout the race

Have any announcements or events you would like to make for next week's post? Please contact communications@crca.net. 

Race Report: Women’s Race Clinic, April 2016

CRCA held its first women’s race clinic of the year on Saturday, April 23. Intended as an introduction to racing for both new and experienced cyclists, the clinic offered two laps of guided racing around Central Park. Experienced racers chaperoned the participants, offering instruction and feedback as the race went on. Our new women racers put on an exhilarating race, effectively employing the tactical fundamentals of bike racing.

The initial weather forecast for the clinic was a bit grim, with a 60% chance of rain predicted from Friday afternoon through to Saturday morning. The absence of rain on Friday gave us optimism, however, that the race would be dry.

That changed around 2:00AM on Saturday, when pouring rain could be heard rattling on the AC units that hang out of the City’s apartment windows. Clinic riders did not let the wet roads deter them, though, with 25 making it to the start at Cat’s Paw Hill. Spirits were high. By 5:15AM, the rain had slowed to a light drizzle, and the temperature was a comfortable 60-degrees. The race would be wet, but not miserable.

Coach Tara Parsons gave a pre-race pep and safety talk. The riders then began to take their place on the start line, where the race director repeated important race directions, such as staying out of the recreation lane.

At 6:00AM the whistle blew and the riders were off, fast. The race was supposed to stay neutral until the top of Harlem Hill. The lead moto, it seems, was not aware of this, so the peloton cruised between 20 to 25 mph from the start.

While it wasn’t exactly a neutral start, no one attacked, and the field stayed together until the road turned up on Harlem Hill. By that point, nervous jitters had subsided, and the race was truly on.

The field split on Harlem Hill, with about 15 riders making the front group. The pace stayed fast through the rollers on the west side. Lisa Hom launched the first attack, followed quickly by Lesley McTague. Riders continued to move safely and smoothly in the field. This group knew how to race their bikes!

Another attack was launched by Alicia Stansbury the first time up Cat’s Paw Hill. This split the front group of riders. By Engineer’s Gate (East 90^th Street), a breakaway formed with Shara Arnofsky, Emma Sherer, Sarah Sjöman, Bryna Cofrin-Shaw, Chesley Andrews, and Blythe Austin. They worked together for the remainder of the lap, stayed away from chasers, and finished in the order noted.

For half a lap, Lesley McTague chased the leaders on her own. She was eventually joined by Lisa Hom and JoAnn Cruz Ryder. They worked together to chase, demonstrating the importance of knowing when to cooperate with other riders. Despite a strong chase, they were not able to bridge the field, but dug deep and sprinted at the finish.

Behind them, Elena Stojanova worked solo and took the last top ten placing. Riders not in the top ten learned how to form groups, work together, and stay focused, making their own race count.

It was great to see all the smiles coming across the finish line. All racers did fantastic, and hopefully got a glimpse of what coach Tara stated at the beginning of the race clinic: “Bike racing is the most glorious and comprehensive of the endurance sports. It is not only a measure of strength and fitness, but also a measure of tactics and strategy.”

Results for the clinic are available here: https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2016-1058.

Congratulations to all our new racers! We hope to see you all at our races. Our next race clinic is set to happen in June.

CRCA Board Meeting Minutes (2016/03/29)

CENTURY ROAD CLUB ASSOCIATIONMEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

March 29, 2016

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Century Road Club Association (the “CRCA”) held a duly noticed meeting on March 29, 2016 at the offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York.

The meeting was called to order by Alexis Kraft, President of the Board, at approximately 6:30 PM.

The following members of the Board, constituting a quorum of the Board, were present:

• Alexis Kraft – President
• Gabrielle Fisher – Vice President, Racing
• Tara Parsons – Vice President, Rider Development
• Fred David – Secretary
• Ken Edwards – Treasurer
• Russ Bogin – Public Relations
• Randy Locklair – Membership Director
• David Wen Riccardi-Zhu – Communications Director
• Ted Teyber – Director of Open Racing

1. TREASURY / FINANCIAL

Ken Edwards provided an update on the status of the CRCA’s financial position, including a presentation of the CRCA’s available cash, the current revenue from membership enrollment and donations (which is still currently trending down compared to 2015) and open race registrations.

Mr. Edwards will provide an update regarding the CRCA’s 2015 state and federal tax returns at the Board’s next meeting.

2. SPONSORSHIPS

The Board discussed the importance of finding sponsors for the year’s remaining open races, including the Bear Mountain Classic, to help offset the CRCA’s expenses incurred in connection with hosting such races and the decrease in revenue from donors this year. The Board will reach out to their own subteams for sponsorship opportunities and will forward any prospects to Russ Bogin who will contact such prospects regarding sponsorship opportunities.

3. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Board also agreed that the CRCA’s 2016 Club Championship would be held at the Bear Mountain Classic.

4. CLUB RACES

The Board discussed the need to send a reminder to members regarding the requirement to wear CRCA-approved kit at club races, and David Wen Riccardi-Zhu agreed to send email reminders to the members.

5. FALL ACTION ITEMS

The Board discussed several long-term projects, including revamping the CRCA’s website and changing the date of the Bear Mountain Classic for future years to a date other than Mother’s Day. The Board agreed that such topics should be reconsidered later in the year towards the end of the season. Fred David will create a running list of the various topics that the Board will reconsider later in the year on the Board’s Google Drive.

6. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________ Fred David Secretary

IMPORTANT: 4/16 Roster Draft Published

Hi All! Tomorrow's race draft roster is posted.

If you have not submitted a valid waiver yet, please remember the following:

1. You must fill out the 2016 SEASON PASS waiver from USAC. Previous years are not valid. (Single) Event waivers are not valid.
2. You must fill out EVERY field. The series permit # is 2016-524, and your series name you can put CRCA. Today's date, everything else, must be filled in, or we cannot accept it.
3. The waiver must be printed out EXACTLY as it is in the PDF. Landscape/horizontally, taking the full page, and not cut off. Anything else, we cannot accept. (This is not us being a pain, it actually says this in the very first paragraph of the waiver.)

Anyway, the usual other notes:

• Take a quick look, especially if you're racing Saturday, to make sure not only that you're clear to race but you've got the right number.
• If you haven't picked up your number yet, have no fear, we'll have them ready to pick up at the race.  Please come early,  please know what your number is, and please have your USAC license out and ready.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN YELLOW: You are NOT cleared to race, and its because of something critical.  You are either suspended due to not marshaling, you do not have a valid USAC license/number in our system, or you have not taken a new members race clinic (mandatory for ALL cat 4/5 racers).  Please get in touch with me ASAP at membership@crca.net if you were intending to race and you are yellow.  Hopefully if its a USAC issue we can get it resolved ASAP.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN PURPLE: You are a season pass member (THANKS!) but you have not submitted your season pass waiver.  If you can get them to me by 5pm, that's great, and i'll update it.  If not, you MUST bring it to the race tomorrow.  If you submit it digitally i will NOT process it for tomorrow's race, and then you MUST fill one out on the spot.    The waivers are  available here, please use the 2016 season pass one (the second link), and please fill out EVERY field.  The series permit number is 2016-524.  If you do not fill out EVERY line, date, etc., I cannot accept the waiver.

On behalf of the entire board, thanks so much !

-Randy

Draft roster is here: crca roster 2016 april 16 final B

IMPORTANT: 4/9 Roster Draft Published

Hi All! Tomorrow's race draft roster is posted. I know a lot of people had issues with number pickup and waivers last week and we're doing everything we can to make that waaaaaay better tomorrow. If you got a temporary number last week, please come pick up your real number tomorrow morning. We'll have everything alphabetized and ready to go super efficiently. I do expect a lot of people picking up their numbers, so please be patient -- remember everyone working at number pickup in the morning is volunteering to be there and wants nothing more than to get you your number. :) As far as waivers go, we did locate the missing stack of waivers from week 1 in the trailer, and have also processed your week 2 waivers. There were a few that were invalid, and those people have been notified via email. If you have not submitted a valid waiver yet, please remember the following:

1. You must fill out the 2016 SEASON PASS waiver from USAC. Previous years are not valid. (Single) Event waivers are not valid.
2. You must fill out EVERY field. The series permit # is 2016-524, and your series name you can put CRCA. Today's date, everything else, must be filled in, or we cannot accept it.
3. The waiver must be printed out EXACTLY as it is in the PDF. Landscape/horizontally, taking the full page, and not cut off. Anything else, we cannot accept. (This is not us being a pain, it actually says this in the very first paragraph of the waiver.)

Anyway, the usual other notes:

• Take a quick look, especially if you're racing Saturday, to make sure not only that you're clear to race but you've got the right number.
• If you haven't picked up your number yet, have no fear, we'll have them ready to pick up at the race.  Please come early,  please know what your number is, and please have your USAC license out and ready.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN YELLOW: You are NOT cleared to race, and its because of something critical.  You are either suspended due to not marshaling, you do not have a valid USAC license/number in our system, or you have not taken a new members race clinic (mandatory for ALL cat 4/5 racers).  Please get in touch with me ASAP at membership@crca.net if you were intending to race and you are yellow.  Hopefully if its a USAC issue we can get it resolved ASAP.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN PURPLE: You are a season pass member (THANKS!) but you have not submitted your season pass waiver.  If you can get them to me by 5pm, that's great, and i'll update it.  If not, you MUST bring it to the race tomorrow.  If you submit it digitally i will NOT process it for tomorrow's race, and then you MUST fill one out on the spot.    The waivers are  available here, please use the 2016 season pass one (the second link), and please fill out EVERY field.  The series permit number is 2016-524.  If you do not fill out EVERY line, date, etc., I cannot accept the waiver.

On behalf of the entire board, thanks so much !

-Randy

Draft roster is here: roster 4-9

IMPORTANT: Latest Roster Draft Published

• Take a quick look, especially if you're racing Saturday, to make sure not only that you're clear to race but you've got the right number.
• If you haven't picked up your number yet, have no fear, we'll have them ready to pick up at the race.  Please come early,  please know what your number is, and please have your USAC license out and ready.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN YELLOW: You are NOT cleared to race, and its because of something critical.  You are either suspended due to not marshaling last year, you do not have a valid USAC license/number in our system, or you have not taken a new members race clinic (mandatory for ALL cat 4/5 racers).  Please get in touch with me ASAP at membership@crca.net if you were intending to race and you are purple.  Hopefully if its a USAC issue we can get it resolved ASAP.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN PURPLE: You are a season pass member (THANKS!) but you have not submitted your season pass waiver.  If you can get them to me by 5pm, that's great, and i'll update it.  If not, you MUST bring it to the race tomorrow.  If you submit it digitally i will NOT process it for tomorrow's race, and then you MUST fill one out on the spot.    The waivers are  available here, please use the 2016 season pass one (the second link), and please fill out EVERY field.  The series permit number is 2016-524.  If you do not fill out EVERY line, date, etc., I cannot accept the waiver.

On behalf of the entire board, thanks so much and happy racing season eve!

-Randy

Draft roster is here: roster 03-24

IMPORTANT: Race Roster Draft Posted

Good afternoon from your friendly membership director.  It's been a lot of waivers and USAC Authorizations to Ride, but we're finally at our first roster draft.  I've attached it here.  I ask everyone to please do a few things:

• Take a quick look, especially if you're racing tomorrow, to make sure not only that you're clear to race but you've got the right number.
• If you haven't picked up your number yet, have no fear, we'll have them ready to pick up at the race.  Please come early,  please know what your number is, and please have your USAC license out and ready.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN PURPLE: You are NOT cleared to race, and its because of something critical.  You are either suspended due to not marshaling last year, you do not have a valid USAC license/number in our system, or you have not taken a new members race clinic (mandatory for ALL cat 4/5 racers).  Please get in touch with me ASAP at membership@crca.net if you were intending to race and you are purple.  Hopefully if its a USAC issue we can get it resolved ASAP.
• IF YOUR NAME IS IN YELLOW: You are a season pass member (THANKS!) but you have not submitted your season pass waiver.  If you can get them to me by 5pm, that's great, and i'll update it.  If not, you MUST bring it to the race tomorrow.  If you submit it digitally i will NOT process it for tomorrow's race, and then you MUST fill one out on the spot.    The waivers are  available here, please use the 2016 season pass one (the second link), and please fill out EVERY field.  The series permit number is 2016-524.  If you do not fill out EVERY line, date, etc., I cannot accept the waiver.

On behalf of the entire board, thanks so much and happy racing season eve!

-Randy

Draft roster is here: 2016 first race draft roster

2016 Race Number Pick-Up Parties @ Veselka

This year's number pick-up parties will be held on Monday, February 29 (5-8PM) and Wednesday, March 2 (5-7PM), at Veselka. Veselka will be offering $4 beers and a beer and plate of pierogies for $10! On both days, a $5 gift certificate will also be given to the first 50 members picking up a number that day.

Season Pass and Donor members will be able to drop-off their series waivers, which are available here. Members can also submit their series waivers by e-mail, to waivers@crca.net. To be accepted, waivers must be scanned in full size, and every field must be filled out. The series permit number is 2016-524.

Members who are not able to attend the events may pick up their numbers at their first race. Members should arrive early for number pick-up on a race morning.

Club Race 1 is a 06:30 AM start, so early number pick-up and waiver drop-off means a less hectic race morning and maybe a chance to sleep in a little longer.

Best of all, you'll get to enjoy some food and drink in the company of your fellow club members!

The events are also a great opportunity to back a generous and enthusiastic supporter of NYC cycling and racing. Veselka is now in its fifth year of team sponsorship, and has worked with Transportation Alternatives for many years. Tips will be kindly appreciated.

New Member Welcome & Orientation

CRCA invites all new members to attend a welcome orientation on March 1, at the Rapha Cycle Club (159 Prince Street, between Thompson St & West Broadway). The program will begin at 7:00 PM. The orientation will help to answer any club related racing questions, and is an opportunity for new members to meet each other and more experienced racers. We will review all membership requirements, including marshaling policy and club race rules, as well as USA Cycling rules and Central Park guidelines.

A Champion Systems fit kit with size samples will also be available, to help new members determine the correct size CRCA clothing to order.

Attendance is not mandatory, but is highly recommended for all new CRCA members.

To RSVP, please sign up at mindbodyoline.com. Drop-ins are welcome.

For any questions, please contact Tara Parsons at velogrrrl[at]gmail.com.

CRCA Now on Zwift

 

CRCA kit is now available on Zwift! If you already have a Zwift account, hit “p” on your keyboard and enter the promo code CRCANYC.

Don’t know what Zwift is? Zwift is a whole new way to cycle indoors. It will transport you and your bicycle into immersive, detailed, 3D landscapes where you can ride with other cyclists from around the world.

Download a FREE trial at www.zwift.com -- and ride in style in our CRCA club kit!