Jim VanSchoonhoven
I would like to make a point or two concerning this topic. First off, what
has been said about Barry being over looked is very true!!! If Barry was
from California or Colorado, things would be much different for him. I
believe that Barry would be winning National Championships, if he was
getting support from the powers that be.
How things work at nationals---I was at a National Cyclo-cross Championship
a few years ago when Barry rode by, the announcer skipped over announcing
his name and the state where he was from. They had mentioned the riders
before him and after him, since I was standing right there I told them who
he was and where he was from, they told be they knew who he was and that he
was from Oregon. They skipped over him every time. Many little things like
this went on at that race. Including little things done to my son, who won
a medal. I was told, by some one high up in USA Cycling that when Oregon
starts treating us right we will start treating them (the Oregon riders)
right. They were actually taking their anger out on the few Oregon riders
that had spent money buying their expensive licenses.
The truth concerning USA Cycling's spending money on Elite athletes--- is
they are spending a lot of money on very few riders, and many times it is
not even on the best riders, but on the riders that know the right people,
are from the right areas or have the right sponsors.
This is one of the reasons that even most elite riders are upset with them.
For instance they are spending or at least they were spending a lot of money
on coaches, the problem is only a very few of the elite athletes rising
through the ranks have any access to these coaches. On the other hand the
very few athletes that do have access to these coaches already have coaches
and do not appreciate these outside coaches telling them what to do. But
the USA Cycling coaches love to put these elite athletes and their coaches
in place by forcing them to jump through certain hoops or be off the team.
So you have a huge conflict with the top few riders about this, and the guys
that could use the coaching and desire the coaching are left out in the
cold.
The actual amount of money to send a full team to the World Championships is
small compared to the amount of money that was being wasted on programs that
would have an impact on hardly anyone. I believe the money spent on the
actual riders, such as sending them to the World Championships would have
been an important part of making a successful showing at the Worlds, and as
a National Organization that is part of what they should be doing.
My son has been on three World Teams, he is the top UCI ranked American and
USA cycling has never helped him out with any of the cost of going to the
World Championships. He has gone because of the thoughtfulness of OBRA
members, family, sponsors and donations from the public at large.
The things he has learned at these competitions has changed his life and his
riding level. The sad thing is, many of our best riders have not gone to
competitions at the Worlds, because they didn't have the money. They have
missed events that would have raised their level of competition. And when
these riders come back to the US, they could have helped raised many other
riders level of competition. It is a fact of sports in the US, the more
"hero's" a sport has the more people that are drawn into the sport. Of
course USA Cycling does seem to be the exception to that, even with more top
riders doing well, they are unable to take advantage of the situation and
expand membership.
On the other hand, they were taking in a lot of money from the whole
membership and wasting it on personal (jobs that were not needed) and
coaches maybe these things are changing, but so far I don't see many
changes, but I do hear some talking that at least sounds better.
Jim VanSchoonhoven
-----Original Message-----
From: mark.sc-@milliman.com [mailto:mark.sc-@milliman.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 9:28 AM
To: mg.h-@charter.net
Cc: ob-@topica.com
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] US cycling development
I definitely do not want to defend the USCF (USA Cycling), but it seems to
me the biggest complaint against them was that they were using all their
money to fund elite athletes, instead of the rank and file riders. No
offense Barry, but it seems to me that funding all the costs of multiple
riders to attend worlds is exactly what everyone was complaining about. You
can't have your cake and eat it, too.
Mark Schwyhart
mg.h-@charter.net
01/08/03 08:31 PM
To: ob-@topica.com @ INTERNET
cc: (bcc: Mark Schwyhart/PTLD/M&R)
Subject: [OBRA Chat] US cycling development
I spoke with Barry Wicks today. Being from Southern Oregon, I've never met
him or even laid eyes on him (Josh Conner tells me he's tall <g>). In the
last two days, I've learned several things. First, Barry seems like a nice
young man. Second, from conversations and reading the results as they scroll
across my e-mail in-basket week after week, he's a hammer. Last, he's being
let down, screwed, ignored, or what ever the term you feel is appropriate by
the powers that are in charge of "US cycling development."
Ryan Trebon, who Barry tells me is also a nice kid and who I've also never
met, was in the lead at Nationals when he double flatted. By the time he got
to the pits he'd dropped to seventh place. He finished third. He was also
"selected" for the Worlds team. He too will get NO funding from the U.S. to
race.
U.S. cycling is floundering. How can that be with Lance, Tyler, Levi and the
rest? It seems like who ever is in charge hand picks one or two, and ignores
the rest. We need to encourage as many as possible, not just a chosen few.
Until then its up to all of us to keep the dreams alive in those, who in
spite of the lack of national support, love to compete, do it well, have a
chance, are good kids and are being left behind by USA cycling.
Please step up and help.
Michael Hoyt
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