mike868y

it's embarrassing that USA Crits can't even afford a real domain name.

carpediemracing 

To be fair wpengine hosts Word Press based sites. I think it's fair to say that they don't have a site savvy person. I think it's less about affording a domain name and more about not knowing how to do it.

I know I don't, for my sites. I relied on others to set up my domains. I update them and such but I learned from two others (who raced at Bethel and offered to help set up the sites). Without their help I would still have a something.blogspot.com type site.

Still, though, it doesn't look professional.

FFJ

This is definitely a bummer. Two years ago we had 3 or 4 great one-day hilly races plus the ToC that Dieter put on around Hunter and Wyndham, and now we have none.

Also, I wish Dieter had made the call about switching Catskills to a fondo before I paid for the Battenkill/Catskills combo registration.

Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll change his mind and bring the pro/am back.

DieterDrake

It won't happen. You'll be getting an email this week with an offer of a refund or a credit. In any case, I am sorry for the inconvenience. It's not what we planned.

FFJ

Don't sweat it. I'm just sad to see another good race disappear.

What prompted the change on Catskills?

DieterDrake

Poor behavior by racers toward our staff and my family last year, cost/benefits, etc. Battenkill is our last race.

Homebrew01

Don't you know that bike racers are special, and entitled to pee in public, have their 37th placing posted promptly, and leave their goo packs anywhere they please ??

DieterDrake

90% are really great and we're extremely happy to have them racing. The other 10 should really find something else to do - I don't want to be around them for any reason.

YMCA

That's normal in all life. LOL. I want the bottom 10% of our work place fired monthly!

DieterDrake

No question about that. The problems come when the 10% run to their Twitter accounts when their often-unrealistic expectations aren't met at any particular event. That, in turn, affects the 90%.

In the rapid fire communication age that we live in, and with the reality that event promoters have one chance per year to get it right, the fire spreads quickly and the event goes sour. There's no room for error, and lots can go wrong - especially with a road race (cars, marshals, timing, etc). I think that dynamic has turned away lots of people from the sport, racers and promoters alike. I'm certainly one of them.

YMCA

Dieter, don't be disheartened. I've been thru it all and have learned how to filter the nonsense and strategically displace the naysayers. A few bad apples can't spoil a pie that has enough good apples and plenty of sugar to cover the rot.

DieterDrake

Well, I'm not interested any longer. My organization can produce any level event, anywhere. We've proven that beyond any doubt with Battenkill, the UCI races, the Tour of Vail, etc. In an environment of declining participation, increased costs, and the bottoming out of sponsorship, I honestly have better things to do than take the enormous risk of an event for the sake of continuity or the fantastical expectations of a vocal minority that has the power to destroy my business, however.

gsteinb

Sorry to see you go, Dieter. Thanks for what you've done.

shovelhd

Has anyone at USAC reached out to you?

mike868y

sounds like some good things to come for NEBRA. i have faith in JD. A Letter to the New England Cycling Community from NEBRA President John Laupheimer

FFJ

Agreed.

carpediemracing 

Just read it. Didn't realize John put up the money. It's a lot of money, I'm guessing in the $50k range annually (for 2 years, from what I understand). He really put his money where his mouth is.

DieterDrake

Yes, here's a summary:

1. A 'major donor' to the USAC Development Fund said he was planning to "sponsor" my event if only it were USAC. Nice try. I want a refund, first, for the $100k+ that I put into USAC via permits, NRC fees, and "insurance surcharges" (though they've been recently discovered to be at least 80% pure profit to USAC despite the fact that they are selling medical insurance illegally in the State of Colorado).

2. Another major USAC supporter, benefactor, and subcontractor has actively been trying to undermine my now non-USAC event via social media and through NYSBRA. Great.

3. I've traded a few emails with DBH. Nothing of substance there...

shovelhd

Not surprising but disappointing. I'm with Gary. Thank you for everything that you have done. I wish you the best with your gran fondo series.

mike868y

just realized i can't do bkill because of a work conference. so frustrating. also can't do fitchburg. between that and browsing the calendar on NEBRA's website I'm suddenly bummed about this season. just seems like there aren't that many road races. maybe i'm just used to CX where there are races every saturday and sunday for like 4 months straight.

TheKillerPenguin

Come do Bear. It's a good course for you.

mike868y

what's the date for that this year? i definitely want to do it. that and capital region.

TheKillerPenguin

May 8th. The last time I rode in harriman the bridge on Tiorati was out, but given the weather this winter I'd be amazed if it wasn't fixed by then.

mike868y

cool i can do that. there's also no sunapee this year (at least on the schedule yet and the rumor mill says it's not happening) which I couldn't be more bummed about.

gsteinb

Mother's Day race has always been dumb.