LeM-@aol.com

Dear John,

I appreciate your measured response to Bonnie Martin. She may be a gadfly,

but like the Murrays, she has done so much for racing, and for Oregon.

I think you speak correctly, but only when thinking of the likes of Team-O's

recent 14yr. Old Natz Champ. She is so strong, she could beat most of the

Adult MEN on my team.

My concern is that there is no race for Juniors en-masse like age graded

juniors events with there own prizes and everything. USA sets this up with

Lance Armstong and Marty Nofstein Junior Olympic Events. These are

qualifying events for development camps and teams.

Thanks to the Murrays,Dana Bandy, Phil Saunders, and the Martins, the Junior

Development stucture of USA Cycling became the strong but singular arm of

Junior and Espoire National Pipeline placement for Oregon.

These events died of course, because there aren't enough USCF licenses around

to make a race. Most Junior OLy. Select. races have to be thrown in with

adults to float. --Like Bike Affair, Beaverton Crit., or Woodland Omnium. If

it is a USCF deal you get $500-$1000-$1500 from the Lance A. foundation to

make the race fly(still losing money of course). Now, no one will come to

such and event. No USCF, no Support, and no (alright, less) development and

national pipeline placement.

To replace it all, we need to do some pretty special stuff.

We need to have a Development Camp

We need several Multi Race Series for Age Graded Juniors on Road, Trail, and

Track.

A Stage Race for age Graded Jrs.

A liason with OTC or our own pipeline up to say a trade team, composite team,

or a budget and connections to Europe, S. America. etc.

At least, I would like to see in 2000, Oregon promoters and racers being

extra kind to the developing Junior peloton of Oregon pride, while we all

transition through this. I am suggesting, Promoters help, with age grade

races, and racers help with a kind word and a benevolent hand at the races.



Your battle cry could be



Hey, Hey, What do you Say?

Did You develop a Junior Today!



Best Regards,

John Benenate