Candi Murray/Oregon Bicycle Racing Assn

"It seemed like a good idea

The board also reviewed and approved an effort by Bisceglia to end the

governing body's reliance on its current "regional rep" program and pursue

an aggressive effort to woo back several state and regional organizations

that broke away from USA Cycling in recent years.



The USCF currently uses five regional representatives, each responsible for

coordinating licensing, scheduling and member services for a ten-state

region. The system was established in 1999 and replaced the USCF's earlier

reliance on its old "district reps" who fulfilled those same

responsibilities for significantly smaller areas. It was that decision that

then spawned breakaway associations in several parts of the country,

including California, Oregon and Colorado.



"It may have seemed like a good idea at the time," Bisceglia said Tuesday,

"but it hasn't worked out."



Bisceglia instead proposed a system in which state or regional associations

oversee cycling in their respective districts and coordinate their efforts

with USA Cycling. State associations would receive an automatic $10 share of

licenses sold within their regions and USA Cycling would oversee permitting,

insurance and coordinate a national ranking system.



Bisceglia suggested that between improved services, insurance and a "real

time ranking system that doesn't make people wait three months to see their

results," the organization may succeed in bringing back several of the

splinter groups, now operating under the umbrella of the Federation of

Independent Associations for Cycling (FIAC). Bisceglia is scheduled to meet

with one of the largest breakaway groups, the Northern California Nevada

Cycling Association, on Monday. "



Bisceglia is meeting with OBRA today, not sure of what this all will mean to

OBRA members.



candi