Rochester, MN Junior Cycling League
Here's an idea I have to encourage the sport of cycling to the kids of Rochester. And that's to go in together with USCF and Rochester Community ED to hold a training and race series for junior cyclists(and possible for U23/Espoirs too). Something similar to other sport leagues.
You take an 8-10 week time frame, maybe start it with 6 weeks of school left, finishing 4 weeks after school lets out. The first 2 or 3 weeks hold a practice (like soccer practice after school) once or twice a week with mostly skills clinics. Real basic stuff, getting on and off the bike. Proper fitting (frame size, seat height, reach). Gettin in and out of pedals. Stopping correctly. Road rules. Basic handling skills.
After a couple weeks of skills clinics, shift focus to more training type of clinics. Group rides and stuff. And adding a race day. Each Saturday will host a race. Maybe start with a short time trial, then a longer time trial, a circuit race, and a crit. Then repeat the time trials and crit.
The reason to repeat the races is to show the progression over the season. If there are enough participants there can be awards at the end of the season for an overall league winner (gender seperated), as well as most improved, and possibly team (if there's enough and a way to evenly make teams).
The goal is to introduce kids to the sport, and identify kids who may like to continue in the sport. The timing would be such that they are introduced in the spring and early summer, so that when the season is over, we can continue training as a group and attending regional races together.
What I'd really like to see is that anyone who want's to try to race bicycles to be able to do sao. What this may mean, is finding corporate sponsors to help with equipment for participants that cannot afford to purchase thier own equipment. Either a loan or rental program depending on financial need so that they have access to a bike to train on.
I know that Northern California has a mountain bike league and it would be awesome to get insights and ideas from them, and also to grow as large as them and hold races pitting high-school vs. high-school (and city vs. city for middle-schools).
Hopefully, something else this will do is create more considerate drivers. If you know your kid, your co-workers kid, your neice or nephew could be the one riding that bike up ahead, you will be less aggressive and more forgiving in passing. Or, as a developing driver, you know what it's like to share the road, you gain a whole new perspective.
This is all just in the very initial idea stage. But if you are interested is discussing (and taking this out of idea and into reality) drop me a line and we'll talk.
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Monday 08/18/2008 | 12:10 pm
Terry Lott on Wednesday 08/20/2008 | 07:57 am
Let's do this! I've had some ideas about a Rochester Youth Cycling League as well. I've had some experience setting up programs in Colorado and in the Caribbean as well.
Hit me up either online or phone?
Cheers,
T
719.648.2985
http://www.myspace.com/evilsved
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=621356922
Gunnar on Thursday 08/21/2008 | 09:03 am
Yo T,
I'll contact you in the next week.
Matt Fritzinger on Monday 08/25/2008 | 09:15 pm
Gunnar/Terry:
I read this thread as it triggered a google alert. Sounds like a good idea to me . . .
I'm the founder of the NorCal League and we are currently creating a separate SoCal League. I encourage you to keep an eye on our progress there -- this time next year we are interested in helping other League's launch. Feel free to call me anytime you'd like to discuss how that might work. Also, if you send me your email(s) I can add you to a newsletter.
Kind regards,
Matt Fritzinger
fritz@norcalmtb.org
(510) 653-2453
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