Rick Johnson

Dan raises a good point about the efforts at cost containment in
motorsports. There is indeed a significant effort at almost all levels
of motorsports to ensure a smooth transition from low cost entry level
(usually production based) to the higher cost and performance levels.

The way I would see such a structure applied to bicycle racing would be
to have an "approved equipment" list for junior racing. Thus each
manufacturer could offer equivalent low cost options and competitors
would still have some measure of freedom to combine equipment to suit
their particular needs.
All this of course would require the cooperation of manufacturers and
oversight from the sanctioning bodies but the overall benefit to the
sport could be considerable.

Rick

>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FW: USAC JR Talent Search
> Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 21:35:35 -0700
> From: Dan H
> To: Erik Long , ,
>
> References:
>
>
>
> Eric,
> Checked the price of a high end BMX bike?
> How about identical bikes like in some forms of auto racing or like
> the Little 500 Roadmasters? Trek is so huge now they could make a
> stock junior bike. Everybody would have the same tires and everything.
> A component manufacturer would have to be on board so the same stuff
> would be available year after year. Wouldn't it be nice to have
> interchangeable stock parts? Hello, bike shop? I need a stock junior
> rim and spoke set.
> The only negative I can think of is being forced to buy your race bike
> from only Trek or whoever.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Erik Long"
> To: ;
> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FW: USAC JR Talent Search
>
>
>> USAC needs to pull all the stops and get thier hands on Simon Cowell,
>> Lance
>> Armstrong, and Connie Carpenter for their own reality show. I'm sure
>> that
>> "American Cyclist" could be a huge success for the VS. network.
>>
>> Or they could just make the sport more affordable for Johnny
>> Highschooler by
>> enforcing a weight limit on race bikes, making it a possibility to be
>> competitive on an entry-level road bike. More Moms and Dads might be
>> willing to let their kids compete in a sport that requires equipment
>> expenses on par with say, BMX racing.
>>
>> -Erik Long
>> long-time XC/road racer,
>> Industry schlub
>>
>> ----Original Message Follows----
>> From: "Candi Murray"
>> Reply-To: cmurray@obra.org
>> To:
>> Subject: [OBRA Chat] FW: USAC JR Talent Search
>> Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:44:20 -0700
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _____
>>
>> From: Jan Luke-Hamasaki [mailto:Luke2@ix.netcom.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 8:48 PM
>> To: 'Casey Kerrigan'; 'David Douglas'; 'eric smith'; 'don melhado';
>> cmurray@obra.org
>> Cc: Patty Peoples MA; 'Lee, Andy'; Callan, Sam; O2 Paul Skilbeck;
>> chuckwurster
>> Subject: USAC JR Talent Search
>>
>>
>>
>> USA Cycling Talent Search, Powered by RacerMate, Extended to May 7th
>>
>> Nationwide Program Identifies Talented Juniors for Fast Track
>> Development
>>
>>
>>
>> Good evening,
>>
>> I am attaching a document for your review and posting. I know that
>> some of
>> the discussion groups do not allow for attachments, so if you would
>> be so
>> kind, I would appreciate it that after you have viewed it you would
>> convert
>> and post. Please feel free to post on any LA website.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Track and road cycling ABRA, NCNCA, SCNCA, WSBA, Oregon, Hawaii and
>> Alaska
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jan Luke-Hamasaki
>> USAC Pacific Regional Coordinator
>>
>> USA Cycling
>> P.O. Box 231910
>> Encinitas,Ca 92023
>>
>>
>> JLuke@usacycling.org
>>
>>
>> tel:
>>
>>
>> >
>> luke@usacycling.org> 760-525-8557
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Add me
>> to your address book...
>>
>> Want a signature like this?
>>
>>
>>
>> << image001.gif >>
>>
>>
>> << 2007-03-21-USAC-NTS-ExtendFINAL(2)Release.doc >>
>>
>>