The Problem with USA Cycling

I just completed a survey for USA Cycling. The survey was sent to me because I haven't renewed my membership in two years. I was more than happy to give them my reasoning because I'd love to see changes in the sport of cycling - specifically racing, not recreational weekend cycling.

For starters, let's have more local events. If you live in Charleston, you can race locally one weekend per year. I repeat. One weekend per year! That's ridiculous. What if there was only one 5k road race per year? It makes no sense. Why aren't local bike shops sponsoring races every few months? Wouldn't that grow the sport? Wouldn't that generate a few bike sales and local shop loyalty? I can race eight local triathlons per year, but only one cycling event? Why is that?

If there were more races, more people would be introduced to the sport. More people would get involved. More beginner and novice riders would participate. Most first-timers are going to try a local race first, before making any significant financial commitment for travel or hotel. So give them some local options!

All inclusive
And when you add more races, do everything you can to make them inclusive to beginners. On the USA Cycling race circuit, there is not a category for a first time racer with no clue. Or for someone who just wants to race his old Schwinn. Or for someone who just wants to bring his kid out to race with him. And guess what? Because USA Cycling does not care about those people, they will never become members and grow with the sport.

To continue with my 5k road race analogy, would you want to do the 5k race if there were only 10 participants, and they all ran a sub-20 time? Would you feel like that's something you want to try? Would you want your kids to get involved in that?

Simply put, USA Cycling caters to hard core cyclists only. I wonder what the organization would look like if it tried to somehow roll in the larger group of cyclists?

Lastly, if I had a bike race for kids in my neighborhood, and targeted any kid who owns a bike that wants to ride and have fun, there would be a big turnout. If USA Cycling were to have a kids event, it would be for license carrying Junior USA Cycling members with aspirations of making the Olympic team. That's great for the 6 kids in the entire state with that goal in mind and a $4k bike, but what about the kids who just want to pull the bike out of the garage and race with his friends around the park? That race does not exist.

Cycling has basically gotten as niche and accessible as Polo, and that's a shame because every kid has access to a bike. They just don't have anywhere to race it.