WCU Criterium

[YellowLemondTed]

This could be an individual idea from somebody within the club, but not shared with the rest of the club until now.

There had been talks about a WCU race weekend in the past. Perhaps the club should put together a task force to help get this ball rolling. In this part of the country, I believe there are two collegiate race weekends up in the mountains. A good goal for this task force/committee would be to create the toughest/best race weekend in this region.

This isn't a project that would be able to be created asap, it would need uber time to be sure all the loose ends were accounted for to ensure there is not legal difficulty created by it.

I challenge the bike club to make this a project either for the whole club or a task force to begin working on for this next semester. A group project like this will build a stronger bond within the club, but also between the club and the WNC cycling community. Go for it WCU Bike Club

[Nikki Alexander]

Okay in response to ted... (I know I am posting here a lot) wcuracer pretty much does say bike club because Clint has been working very intently to get a team part of the club going, and its working, he's got a few freshmen with him and they've been training hard. Also, they were talking about a crit, but never mentioned in a meeting about it being a big thing other than just the guys going and riding for fun. Yes, someone could have taken this up on their own however what we've been trying to say is that there are lots of legal issues, and even if they did it on their own, the school is going to take their name, connect it with WCU bike club and then connect the names of those of us affiliated with the club.

We've considered getting a wcu race held, however we think that the club right now is way too small to handle such a thing. We are about 12 members officially... schools that hold races are teams of 40 or so. We could do it if we had help from others. Not to mention whenever we try to plan things, not everyone, if anyone is willing to participate. We are still trying to work together and have yet again split into separate groups.

I may not have time to be apart of the club next semester, however if I do, I may try to keep my position as VP to try and help the club with what may be apparently missing here and other things. If however, things go the right way and "splintering" of the group stops. I was elected for my organization and similiar characteristics, so I would hope to still be some kind of use due to stuff like this. However, that is club stuff, not board stuff.

I hope one of the organizers of this event reads this sometime soon so they can fix it, or postpone it until fixed. I think getting into trouble is not an if, but a when for this event. Maybe.

[wcuracer]

WCU police should be at the event if not they already know about it and there approval is mandatory. The police already know about the event. Currently I know the event isn't going to be a failure because the collegiate team alone said they wanted to do that which totals 5 serious riders as it is (Jay, Chris, Clint, Adam, Louis) = almost half the club (yes most of the road bikers in the club have heard this idea + a few other locals who said they wanted to attend if you haven't heard of it its probably because you don't have a road bike. Also we have a volunteer helping out if not a few. The course will be swept, caution tape will be in place, cones where needed, and hopefully police on hand even though we really don't need them to be. As far as telling everyone else and taking every pre-caution its probably not going to happen due to time but safety is an issue that is why we will have caution tape, cones, and etc. Money isn't the issue they can give or not its a donation not an entry fee. Well I don't check this board much so that is my reply probably the last. This event is totally for fun. Sorry for the delay its the holidays.

This event was created mainly for the collegiate team but it was released to the public so that any of the locals who know about it may want to attend. The collegiate team starts racing late Feb./first week of Mar. so this was started mainly as a learning experience for these guys.

Sorry if I didn't answer your reply it was way to much to read.

Well, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[YellowLemondTed]

Each and every comment listed from the community and students about this event need to be taken into consideration. The organizer would be a fool not to consider those points provided. Don't jump into the water before you test the water to see what the temperature feels like. You may wish you did test it before you jumped in if you don't.

[Jackson Amburn]

Welcome back to the board Clint. I have a road bike, and ride it as frequently as the wind blows. I heard talk of it but no official plan. Do you know the legal ramifications of hosting an event without prior approval? If you don't, they're significant; fortunately, I know you will not host the event with the name of the Bike Club. If you do and someone falls the school can be sued, and then they'll come after you. Also, come after any member the lawyers see fit; including me! I'm not involved with the event whatsoever.

So, I plead with you: get this approved and have some form of emergency service their. May want to start over or not have an event and keep it underground, but do what you want. Have a great night Clint.

[YellowLemondTed]

I suppose the club died when I defied death. I look forward to the WNC Cycling community since I cannot look toward the WCU bike club it appears.

[Nikki Alexander]

Our points have to been taken into account, however it does not seem they have.

However I would like to thank the outside [of wcu cycling] community for throwing in your suggestions and concerns to help. So... the best that other club members can do is disaffiliate themselves with this event. And I do believe that a lot of this conversation should have taken place on the club message board, so hopefully no one is mad at us for yet another lack of agreement. We're just trying to protect others, which I guess does involve others due to the fact that it was posted publicly, inviting anyone interested. We want to have fun and include the cycling community, but I think I speak for everyone else when I say it should be organized properly and safely.

I'm not going to plead anymore, or argue my point, but merely make sure my name and the club for that matter, is not tied to this or the organizers. I think my mother scared me a little bit, she's seen lawsuits form out of a nothing little incident and she's not even a lawyer.

I do however look forward to riding my bike A LOT more next semester (mountain), so maybe I can get out there and actually figure out who some of these WNC cyclists are, especially since I am always having something to say on this board!

Also, for the club, to ease planning in the future, as I stated in a meeting, as soon as I get my NC EMT-B certification, I am willing to stand in as some form of "emergency service" should it be permitted.

[mvi]

This all is why racing in the US is so expensive. Just say: We will be doing a training ride on the parking lot, for 30 minutes all out. Everybody welcome. No organizers, just riders. Ride safe, have fun.
ps I crashed myself into the ER a couple of years ago at the combined NC/SC road races (my own fault). The races were USCF, there must have been 400 people road racing that day. There was no ambulance, the dressings I got were from a private person. Don't get me wrong. I really appreciated the care from the people that followed our race, but there was no ambulance.
Don,t call it a race, and keep it low profile I would say.
And legally, my advice is likely the wrong one too.

[wcuracer]

Guess I am back on here and posting I read your reply MVI and I like it. I modified the post and put Training Ride in it because thats what it really is. So everyone now knows it says "its not a race but a training ride ." So the only thing that makes this different is
A. Its on a closed course (much safer) I would think Mr. Denning along with many others would think this is very true.
B. We accept donations if no one donates big deal we still have the training ride and have fun!

Police have approved of the training ride on campus now. Also EMS may/may not be on hand I am in the process of talking with them!

[mvi]

Forget EMS, carry a cellphone. There is no ambulance at many large road/MTB/ cross races.
It is a training ride, just like Whittier I would say, we don't ride each other into the gutter there either.
Any low key initiative is great IMO, although I don't expect many people will show in January.
Even if you would ride with two people around the cones, it would make for GREAT-race specific- training, that can nowhere be found otherwise.

BTW, There are a lot of "underground" events in the MTB world put on nationwide, without sanctioning, just rules to go by.

[wcuracer]

Reminder to everyone the training ride is tomorrow night, baseball lot 6:30PM

Dress very warm and come out to have some fun

In case the roads are still wet the ride is canceled! If the roads are dry here in Cullowhee the course will be swept and ready to go!

[Nikki Alexander]

Yeah, i doubt that now! Check out the snow!!!!!!

It's gonna be a pool out there even if it all melts.

[wcuracer]

The criterium will be going on tonight I had approval by 3 bike riders who decided the course was fine!

[Jackson Amburn]

That's like saying: "Hey, those two said it's okay to jump, so why not?" The validity of your argument is slim. Riding while it's wet is dangerous and will continue to be dangerous no matter how many people say it's fine to ride. Just remember that if someone's seriously hurt the parents will be looking for deep pockets. ;D

[wcuracer]

Weren't you in a very bad bike wreck? Did you sue anyone? Probably not. Most people's reaction from any wreck is to just get back on the bike and keep on pedaling its a training ride not a race and races are usually insured. This is no different from the MM ride the Whittier ride, Waynesville ride or any other group ride for that matter except the course is closed (=safer) so if your going to hark on this ride, hark on them all.

Your reasoning may be its categorized a lot of group rides are. The MM ride is categorized by A/B at times depending on the number of people on the ride. I don't have any further explanations for the ride. No one donated last week so it looks like that is out of the picture which is cool it isn't about money its about having fun at 6:30PM instead of setting around eating junk food, or etc...Your a college student so I am sure you know what I mean. Well safe riding!