NYSBRA official interim statement in Harlem/Prize List Parity

Please read: NYSBRA Statement on Prize List Parity

NYSBRA is aware of the circumstances surrounding this past weekend’s Harlem Skyscraper Criterium, where the race director reduced the Women’s P123 prize list at or immediately before the start of their race. Reduction of prize lists in this manner is in violation of USAC policy, and NYSBRA is currently working with USAC and the race promoter to investigate this issue.

NYSBRA believes prize list parity is a vital component to providing quality bicycle racing in New York State. So in addition, NYSBRA is currently reviewing its existing race permitting guidelines, as well as creating Race Director Best Practices, to enable race directors in NY to have the resources needed to commit to providing high quality and equitable race experiences for our members in a sustainable manner.

-NYSBRA Board

 

American Rock Salt to Sponsor 4th Annual Cycling and Running Races

 

MOUNT MORRIS, NY - American Rock Salt is proud to announce that for the 4th year it will be the title sponsor of the The Rock Criterium and Gran Fondo hosted by the Livingston Cycling Club on July 22 - 23.

The Rock is a two-day event that brings together nearly 300 athletes from all over the East Coast and Canada for family-friendly weekend of racing, riding and running.

Day 1: The Criterium

On the first day of the event, hundreds of racers gather in the quiet, historic village of Mount Morris to race around a residential neighborhood for prizes, cash, glory, free socks, and the ever-coveted Rock Trophy - a handmade trophy constructed from real American Rock Salt.

“The crit races are electrifying to watch,” said Joe Bucci, Jr. of American Rock Salt. “It has been especially fun to cheer on the local riders. The speed of the bikes and determination of the riders is amazing! The running race is also a lot of fun. It was especially great to see the number of kids that participated in the run last year. My son, daughter and their friends really enjoyed it and are looking forward to it again this summer!

In addition to 15 bike-race fields that host kids and adults of all ages and abilities, The Rock also offers a running race where athletes run two laps of the 1-mile course for cash and prizes of their own as well as their own Rock Trophy.

Day 2: The Gran Fondo

The Rock Gran Fondo is one of the toughest rides in the country. The event offers three distance options to accommodate riders of all abilities, the grand daddy of which is more than 100 miles and takes riders up some of the longest, steepest hills in the Finger Lakes Region.

Continue reading

Skills Clinics Grow NYS Bicycle Racing

Last month saw several skills/race clinic across NYS.  These clinics are great opportunities for new riders to build the race specific skills that will help them become safer and faster on the bike.  Additionally, clinics can be a great ways to acquire race days or experience points for category 5 and category 4 racers seeking upgrades.

Here are a few pictures shared to us from two recent clinics that were supported by NYSBRA Grants. Don’t forget to check the calendar for more clinics throughout the season.

Plan2Peak Buffalo Skills Clinic (April 21st – 23rd, Buffalo)

“Just a brief note of thanks to NYSBRA for your support of this great event.  By all accounts those that participated where united in saying that this clinic was terrific.  As advertised they all learned how to be more safe, confident and competitive racers going forward.  Here is a post from one of the participants which captures how they all felt.  Special kudos to Coach Peter Cummings for being both competent and professional throughout the 3 days. “Denise Hochul Wonderful clinic!!! Thanks so much BBC for offering this!! Peter and mentors were incredible–I learned so much by observing and doing—so great to have all the assistance and feedback—the training race was great, too!!”  (Robert Johnson – BBC)

 

BonkWerx Coaching Race Clinic (April 30th – Syracuse)

 “Even with the rain (and a few flashes of lightning), we had 13 participants including 2 new Juniors and 5 brand new racers attend.  For a single day clinic –  we covered A LOT of material –  including protecting your front wheel in a pack, proper high speed (and wet weather) cornering, contact drills and even some basic race strategies.  Feedback was extremely positive on all portions of the clinic, with many of the riders aiming to put their new skills to use in their first ever races next weekend.” (Noel Bonk)

 

If you have a clinic supported by NYSBRA please send us pictures to share!

34th Annual Army Spring Classic race weekend

An exciting weekend of racing at the 34th Annual Army Spring Classic. Thank you to Donald Jackson for the great pictures and write-up below.

On April 1th and 16th, the Army West Point Cycling Team held its 34th Annual Army Spring Classic race weekend, consisting of a team time trial and hilly road race conducted at Harriman State Park and a short fast criterium on Sunday at United States Military Academy. The weekend went very well and the cycling team put a lot of planning and preparation into making the event as safe and successful as possible for all collegiate and USAC riders, which really paid off during and after the races. Many racers were especially excited for the criterium, and overall all participants in the Army Spring Classic seemedpleased with the weekend events. We are very grateful to NYSBRA for our grant, which assisted us with meeting the extensive resource demands needed to host the Army Spring Classic again this year.

Thanks to NYSBRA's grant, it was a very successful and smoothly run weekend.

Donald R. Jackson

Center for the Army Profession and Ethic (CAPE) Training Development -ARMY

CYCLING TEAM-OIC- USMA, West Point, NY 10996