I am passionate about the sport and it’s future. I would never insult anyone, sorry if you took something I said as an insult.

The sport needs help, our help, USAC isn’t gonna get it done.

I thoroughly enjoy the discussion, but your points really have nothing to do with the subject brought up by the original post. The debate here is about what USAC (formerly NORBA on the MTB side) can do to promote MTB racing. That is what I discussed.

Racers are customers. Always conscious of where their money is going. The successful midwest and east coast races I’ve seen cater to the customer. I pointed out that USAC has not been successful promoting MTB racing because of lack of attention to the racers/customers.

I’ll give you other examples why NORBA/USAC is failing MTB’ers and why racers choose non-USAC series. They can’t even support their pros. Look at Sue Haywood, who lost an Olympic spot because they failed to report points. Or, look at what I saw a couple summers ago. Jeremiah Bishop showed up at a nearby 100 mile endurance race, he won and received his check (presumably a few hundred dollars). I ran into him 2 months later at the NORBA marathon race at Snowshoe, where he had to race much harder to beat Chris Eatough. You know what the great NORBA/USAC gave him, a pro, who trains tons more than us mortals, drives all over the country, never complained and was friendly and open with every amateur racer present? A CAMELBACK! If your right that the cash prizes should go to the pros, which is a reasonable thought, then at least our leading MTB race organization could come up with a better prize than a camelback for 5 hours of superb racing at LT through WV mud against other top pros!

Your example of cyclocross is also excellent. But, I can use it also to demonstrate how a poorly run series fails (as did all the NORBA stuff in this area over the past 10 years) Locally for the last couple of years a local promoter ran a cross series. He didn’t even bother trying again after his reputation for poor treatment of his racers continued. This year an alternate cross series with a different attitude and better customer service is succeeding in his place.

I am disturbed that you could turn what started as an intelligent discussion into a personal attack. If my teenage child needed a sponsor or coach, I don’t think I’d send him or her your way no matter how much support offered.

All y’all need to catch up on the East Coast DH scene. There are some young rippers moving up that will start putting the US on the map very soon. And they are cutting their teeth at local events. $60+ minimum E.F.s.

DH racing allows a wider demographic to potentially excel at the sport. I would highly recommend some of you guys checking out a DH race. Training involves a nice mix of aerobic, bike handling, skill building, and confidence building…and it isn’t on the road with those crazy bastards who are more and more out to take us all out. And you can compete with that snazy new all mountain rig…hell the latest DH rigs weigh about as much.

I do not disagree about returning to the racers, but there will be no races if the promoters don’t turn a small profit. I’m not talking Granny Gear like profit either. There are few who do it out of charity. I run a team out of charity, it is almost a full time job at times. If I get burnt out, it is likely the team will shrivel. It is a lot of work, with little return, except for Granny Gear.

Races are like that to. The MTB series finals in Utah is going away, because the promoter is burnt out after 14 years. So much work, such little return.

The highest racer turnouts in Utah are the CX races, where there isn’t even a podium post race, just an occasional raffle of shirts and socks and the like. Close to 250 racers a week.

I race to push my self as well, my point about the 33-34.5 year old sport category is that is helps create the ‘everybody is a winner’ mentality.

I won 3 Intermountaincup expert 40-49 races this year, including the season overall. I won one expert 40-44 national this year. It was great to win and a lack of swag or cash took nothing away from the feeling.

I have made close to 600 bucks in my 8 year racing ‘career’ that would pay for my wheel-set, maybe.
Most of that came from the Solitude mid week series which has a 150% pay out. But that is rare and unheard of. The top pro’s in the US barely get a paycheck and those that do are a part of the old boy network, Non-Pro’s should expect less is all I am saying, not nothing, but less. Maybe swag, but cash, not really reasonable.

Grass roots racing is where it is at and Scott of Sho-Air has pumped hope back into the sport at the national level. It is up to us to help him and those like him by racing our local series, and nearby nationals or whatever they are called and by helping juniors race.

It is about the cost. I don’t know many 15-18 year-olds who find $40 to $70 dollars easy, especially when the gas for the trip costs $$$. Racers are consumers and we know the value of our money. I feel much better about spending money on the entry fee when part of that money is returned to the racers in terms of prize money, food and good times.

You missed the point about participation. Some of us race because its fun to push ourselves to our limit and see what we can do. Some of us don’t win races, despite training and effort. It’s still fun to be mid pack, knowing an upgrade is not in the future. It’s the act of participating that makes it worth it. Many non-Pro’s appreciate when a race promoter thinks as much of them as they do the pros. After all, where the hell do you think the money for the sponsorships, appearance fees, and prizes comes from? You gotta take care of the common man or business is going to fail. NORBA is a perfect example!

Viva Le Clydesdale Division

muafuka

Tri Athletes pay much more to enter a race, and there is a waiting list to get into most events.

People who pay 4k for a bike then complain about a 40 dollar entry fee, humor me.

Pro’s are the only ones who should get paid prize money. Plaques and ribbons are good enough for non Pro’s.

Seriously, you won the sport 33-34.5 age group local race, whoopdee shit, now upgrade.

But for a mortal like me, mountain bike racing is generally ruined. Don’t even get me started on the problems with Leadville (where I live). I grew up racing in Maine, and had a blast until races started to cost 50 bucks plus. I’m also sick of the consumerism, the elitism, and chest-thumping that comes with racing in Colorado.

I’m proud to be a mountain biker, but instead of wasting time and money on mediocre courses racing stuck-up assholes, I’m going to invest in my local trail advocacy club, building trails that future generations can enjoy. Sure, racing has been important to the technology of our sport, but right now what we need more than anything is trails and access. See you out there.

I am not sure how that this is the trend anymore in the Mountain Bike industry regardless of Racing however. Most of the R and D money in the Industry is spent on the Free Ride crew. X Games type of culture is serving the same process now.

Bike companies are less focused on XC bikes regardless. It is all about all mountain and big hit which lends itself to the recreational trail rider.

They said the same thing when the DH series dried up. But a Free Ride culture developed giving us more riders to work with than say the top 10 guys who hammer up a hill.

I disagree with your statement that XC Racing alone lends itself to Long Travel development. It has shifted. All the bike Co. dudes are in Whistler and the like on a year round basis with the boys and girls looking to modify this and that etc. It is a new venue and it is shifting and arguably causing some of the break down in Racing as well.

One might even argue that the 29er movement came from the consumer need for fun comfort bikes to the average Joe not the XC Race circuit.

While it sucks to lose racing more and more I disagree with part of your premise. And MTB is alive and well and will survive with or with out XC racing alone

The essense of Free riding is the spirit of being out riding the high, whether it be coasting a road bike at 45mph downhill, letting go of the brakes on the xc, jumping effortlessly on the squish, or ralleying it up with some beer and friends.

Now, I’m like the only guy left in my riding circle that still has a big ring hardtail…and like KG said, they’ve all gone the way of the bashguard and 5″ travel. Hell…I think I’ll pick one up next year…although I really want to do the Iceman…maybe ONE last race…

KG and I are in agreement.

Fuck racing… just go ride with friends.

Over and out.