Road racing getting organized

[bschinke]

So I want to start this post by first saying a huge thank you and that I am very grateful to all race promoters and officials, and all they do to provide us with so many race options.

However, in this post I want to express a little frustration or maybe ask the question that I have not seen addressed yet.

It seems like the ability to plan ahead or get flyers posted in advance of races is getting worse and worse. I personally having done many of the races have not cared and know what to expect. However, this came to light loudly recently. There are many people I know or have been talking to this year who are interested in starting bike racing, or getting more serious about racing. So beyond what I can tell them, this site is really the one and only place to send people for local racing info. Then when they get here all I hear from them is that they can maybe stumble upon the schedule, but then when we are even less than a week or two out there is not more additional information that can be found about the race. Like where it is, when is it, what will it cost me? All things newbies are very concerned about , on top of their many anxieties and nerves they already have about their first possible race. Also, newer racers who don't dedicate their entire summer to doing just about every race, are more in planning out there whole summer, and they have no idea how to do this, with no info.

Seems like we could get more racers locally and keep them if we were more upfront or advertised events a little better as this is really the only place to do that. I don't know the answer to this. I am sure there is not a way to really enforce this or have accountability for this, but I would think promoter who wanted large attendance would do anything to get the word out. If I wanted to sell anything I would see advertising and marketing as the key ingredient.

It seems like for the CX season we were able to do it, as I think I saw every single (or most of them) flyer for the whole season last year posted before the season even got started.

Thoughts, and seriously this is not about finger pointing, as I would never do that unless I was more actively involved in promoting, but am open to how I as a racer can help.

I would prefer to talk to younger racers or newbies that are being mentored, and say go to MCF.net and look through the calendar and flyers and maybe pick a race you think you would like to be your first few races and have an idea of what they are about or what categories are offered at what time of the day.

Okay off my little soapbox now, and sorry if this already has been discussed, or if I am bringing up something already obvious to everyone else, or if I am missing something here.

Thanks

[rLoucks]

This sounds like a perfect teaching moment...

It seems like the ability to plan ahead or get flyers posted in advance of races is getting worse and worse.

Yes, you are correct. However, ranting a week before an event is not helpful. Something like the following would have been very helpful and respectful in late March:

"Hey, it looks like there are some races on the calendar that may need some help. Who can I contact with offers of assistance?"

or

"It looks like the website needs some updating with current information. How about meeting me at <such n such cafe> on <such n such Saturday afternoon> and teaching me how to update the site?"

There are many people I know or have been talking to this year who are interested in starting bike racing, or getting more serious about racing. So beyond what I can tell them, this site is really the one and only place to send people for local racing info.

Great! Glad to hear it!

For those people interested in racing in races on the MCF calendar - Welcome! As you may have figured out, races and promotion and organization are all done on a volunteer basis by MCF members. Do you race? Then you're an MCF member. Help out.

Comments like "It would be nice if there were another TT on the schedule" are not helpful. Comments like "Hey, who can I work with to get another TT on schedule [while noting that we try to set the schedule in the December and January MCF meetings]?" are helpful. Proposals with actions defined are acted upon at the meetings.

If there are promoters listening who do, indeed, need help, here is where you can ask for assistance. Don't be shy.

[thayes]

Sorry Russ, but resorting to the ol' "go to a meeting" defense is misplaced. The creator of this post makes some very good points. The MCF cx promoters have gotten their act together under the leadership of Jim Cullen and have their flyers submitted months in advance.

Why is this not even possible for ROY events? The supposed marquee events in the state?

Promoting races is thankless and tiring. However, this is what promoters sign up for when they agree to promote a race in the first place. Just because they are a road promoter doesn't mean you are immune from the thoughtful constructive criticism that was offered above.

It would be great if more people were involved in making the MCF a better place, but sometimes it is a message board post that gets people involved. It's how we ended up doing the Campus Crit in 2007 via LaPorte's help on a post that I made about the lack of organization in the mcf.

Bravo to Mr. Schinke for having the courage to share his frustrations.

[rdanneker]

Sorry Russ, but resorting to the ol' "go to a meeting" defense is misplaced. The creator of this post makes some very good points. The MCF cx promoters have gotten their act together under the leadership of Jim Cullen and have their flyers submitted months in advance.

Funny. You know where Jim Cullen organized CX? Yep: MCF meetings.

Why is this not even possible for ROY events? The supposed marquee events in the state?

Let's not generalize. Information for the Shamrocks Capitol Crit (ROY) has been posted on the team's website, Facebook (http://www.Facebook.com/CapitolCrit), USA Cycling and the Twitter accounts for both Shamrocks Racing (@ShamrocksRacing) and the Shamrocks Capitol Crit (@CapitolCrit). The flyer for Ken Woods RR is up, as well. Every other ROY race beyond that is over two months off.

Promoting races is thankless and tiring. However, this is what promoters sign up for when they agree to promote a race in the first place. Just because they are a road promoter doesn't mean you are immune from the thoughtful constructive criticism that was offered above.

It would be great if more people were involved in making the MCF a better place, but sometimes it is a message board post that gets people involved. It's how we ended up doing the Campus Crit in 2007 via LaPorte's help on a post that I made about the lack of organization in the mcf.

Bravo to Mr. Schinke for having the courage to share his frustrations.

Good ideas for riders/teams that don't promote races.

[ctsmith]

Sorry Russ, but resorting to the ol' "go to a meeting" defense is misplaced.

Sorry Tim, Russ did not say "go to a meeting", he said "get involved."

Getting involved helps to solve problems.

[rLoucks]

The MCF cx promoters have gotten their act together under the leadership of Jim Cullen and have their flyers submitted months in advance.

Jim and I may have differed in our process. I don't remember exactly what Jim did so I can't speak for him.

I am reeeeeally leary of posting flyers for events that have not been approved by USAC or the local officiating crew. I have received flyers from ROY event promoters at least 60 days in advance of the event. Last year I had a helper with that process and it worked out well.

I've gotten bitten in the past in posting flyers before they had been approved. Turned out not so well. So, yes, I'm working with promoters to make sure the process continues to be improved.

One doesn't need to attend the MCF meetings to be involved. One could be in, say, Florida to be involved....

[thayes]

Tuffy-

My blanket statement was an overreach. From what I heard your event was well done last year and that should be commended. However, I tend to remember getting countless emails from Jim regarding the organization of CX months in advance, but we do not need to split hairs as we both agree that the CX series seems to have a leg up on getting things out in a timely manner, as Shinke suggested in his post.

Russ-

Doing what I can to stay involved. Who know, I may ruin everyone's day by moving back sometime.

As mentioned above the generalization of this just being about ROY events was an overreach. I am sure you would agree that we have had many posts about this very topic over the years in regards to events like Hopkins and KW. All Shinke seems to be suggesting is trying to organize the promoters a little bit more and holding their feet to the fire.

Yet, that would be like herding cats.

Have a great week and early start of the year.

[tbjames]

Getting involved helps to solve problems.

Well stated. MCF welcomes any involvement as the more responsibilities we can divide out the more likely it will get done in a timely fashion. It's hard to rely on few volunteer individuals year after year.

Terra
MCF Treasurer

[mkelly]

The KWMR flyer has been up at USAC for about a month now.
Maybe something we could do to decrease confusion over where and when flyers are posted is add a statement to the calendar page on mcf.net: "This calendar is for planning purposes. You can find the most up-to-date event information at http://www.usacycling.org/events/?state=MN."

Since USAC has a paid staff updating that website and MCF doesn't... plus, in the event a flyer gets updated, it doesn't need to get updated in two places.

As for the U of M Crit, which I suspect is one of the events people are grumbling about, I'm sure you can imagine some of the challenges generated by having folks barely old enough to vote organize an event subject to restrictions of two large non-profit entities. It is in the final stages of approval.

As assistant conference director of the North Central Collegiate Cycling Conference, I see a lot of flyers for small races from out-of-state, and I will tell you that one of the reasons flyers in MN get delayed is that we have a local administrator who reads them before approving them. This takes extra time, but in the end, you get a flyer that makes sense, which is a good thing. Thanks Jeff!

[APausteck]

So, assuming an unlimited supply of volunteers to help the current crop of volunteers...

What are some of the roles or functions we could fulfill to help out?

Just saying that I'd like to help doesn't help in any way, unless the areas that are deficient in resources or manpower are identified.. yes?