Yup, BMX is going to save Canadian cycling!!!!

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I think this speaks for itself....prophetic aren't I!!!!


Good job overseeing that Lorraine Lafreniere!!!

Resign.

http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews/images/dnews-1.gif (http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews/dailynews.shtml)
November 2/07 11:00 am EDT - BMX Worlds Declare Bankruptcy

Posted by Editor on 11/2/07.

BMX Worlds Declare Bankruptcy

Very quietly, the Victoria BMX 2007 World Championship Society - organizer of this year's world championships - declared bankruptcy in the middle of last month. The local newspaper (Victoria Times Colonist) had a succinct announcement stating that the organization declared bankruptcy on October 17th, and that a creditors meeting would be held November 2nd:

IN THE MATTER OF THE BANKRUPTCY OF VICTORIA BMX 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SOCIETY

Notice of Bankruptcy and First Meeting of Creditors in Local Newspaper (Section 102(4)) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the bankruptcy of VICTORIA BMX 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SOCIETY occurred on the 17th day of October 2007, and that the first meeting of creditors will be held on the 2nd day of November 2007, at the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the location of the Ocean Pointe Resort, Pacific Suite, 45 Songhees Road, in the city of Victoria, in the province of BC. To be eligible to vote, creditors must file with the Trustee prior to that meeting Proofs of Claim and where necessary, proxies.

DATED at the city of Victoria, in the province of BC, this 17th day of October 2007. C.E. CRAIG & ASSOCIATES INC. Trustee in Bankruptcy Tel: (250) 386-8778 Fax: (250) 386-6864 418183

It has been difficult to obtain information on the bankruptcy, but from what we have been able to determine, the organizers owe over $100,000 - the majority to local suppliers of services. The Canadian Cycling Association is owed approximately $15,000, according to CEO Lorraine Lafreniere.

Lafreniere believes that the shortfall can be traced to a lack of corporate sponsorship. "They were just not able to attract the level of corporate sponsorship that they had forecast." She also points to the Under-20 Soccer World Cup drawing away potential sponsors.

A further disappointing outcome of the event was the track, which was scheduled to become a UCI track for future events. Instead (if it survives), it is going to become an ABA run track.

from Canadian Cyclist.com

I think this speaks for itself....prophetic aren't I!!!!


Good job overseeing that Lorraine Lafreniere!!!

Resign.

http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews/images/dnews-1.gif (http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews/dailynews.shtml)
November 2/07 11:00 am EDT - BMX Worlds Declare Bankruptcy

Posted by Editor on 11/2/07.

BMX Worlds Declare Bankruptcy

Very quietly, the Victoria BMX 2007 World Championship Society - organizer of this year's world championships - declared bankruptcy in the middle of last month. The local newspaper (Victoria Times Colonist) had a succinct announcement stating that the organization declared bankruptcy on October 17th, and that a creditors meeting would be held November 2nd:

IN THE MATTER OF THE BANKRUPTCY OF VICTORIA BMX 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SOCIETY

Notice of Bankruptcy and First Meeting of Creditors in Local Newspaper (Section 102(4)) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the bankruptcy of VICTORIA BMX 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SOCIETY occurred on the 17th day of October 2007, and that the first meeting of creditors will be held on the 2nd day of November 2007, at the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the location of the Ocean Pointe Resort, Pacific Suite, 45 Songhees Road, in the city of Victoria, in the province of BC. To be eligible to vote, creditors must file with the Trustee prior to that meeting Proofs of Claim and where necessary, proxies.

DATED at the city of Victoria, in the province of BC, this 17th day of October 2007. C.E. CRAIG & ASSOCIATES INC. Trustee in Bankruptcy Tel: (250) 386-8778 Fax: (250) 386-6864 418183

It has been difficult to obtain information on the bankruptcy, but from what we have been able to determine, the organizers owe over $100,000 - the majority to local suppliers of services. The Canadian Cycling Association is owed approximately $15,000, according to CEO Lorraine Lafreniere.

Lafreniere believes that the shortfall can be traced to a lack of corporate sponsorship. "They were just not able to attract the level of corporate sponsorship that they had forecast." She also points to the Under-20 Soccer World Cup drawing away potential sponsors.

A further disappointing outcome of the event was the track, which was scheduled to become a UCI track for future events. Instead (if it survives), it is going to become an ABA run track.

from Canadian Cyclist.com
Get all of the facts right! The BMX Worlds where awarded to Victoria 4 years ago, which I complained about to the CCA, and Lorraine had nothing to due with the CCA at that time. So get your facts right and quit blaming the wrong people! Because the newly built track is 100 km's from where I live I followed it's progress closely since inception and the organizing body bit off more than they could chew. Track construction cost $200,000 and the organizors had to use the services of the official UCI BMX track builder! As the CCA refused to recognize Nanaimo BMX.com (which has hosted 2 successful ABA Worlds), there are certain elements within the CCA that need take responsiblity for this problem.

I am still confident that you ED/Fausto are not the savoir for cycling in Canada.

Gregor T.,



While I may not have all the facts, as you claim, you seem confused yourself.

First ,you say the CCA was to blame four ago. Ok, I'll buy that, let's blame the CCA President at the time, Bill Kinash. He has been a disaster from the moment he took office.

You then say certain other "elements" in the CCA are to blame.

What "elements' would those be? When we they invovled?

It is no surprise the CCA and the organizers had to use the UCI BMX track builder, that's the way the UCI works. The Worlds are a UCI event.


If the BMX Worlds are anything like the Road Worlds the CCA would have had to obtain the sanction from the UCI for the event to go forward. They would have a contract with the UCI and the BMX Worlds Organizing Committee.


So the CCA was probably represented on the Board of Directors of the BMX Worlds Organizing Committee as would have been a representative from the BC Cycling Association.


They all share the blame.


Therefore I still believe Lorraine Lafrenière shares the blame as well.


Since she has never organized a bike races she has no idea what was going on.

Finally, while I may not be the "savior" of Canadian cycling, I sure as hell could do a better job than Lafrenière who has no understanding of the sport and no relevant experience to run it.

What has she done in more than a year? Not a god damn thing worth mentioning.

Gregor T.,



While I may not have all the facts, as you claim, you seem confused yourself.

First ,you say the CCA was to blame four ago. Ok, I'll buy that, let's blame the CCA President at the time, Bill Kinash. He has been a disaster from the moment he took office.

You then say certain other "elements" in the CCA are to blame.

What "elements' would those be? When we they invovled?

It is no surprise the CCA and the organizers had to use the UCI BMX track builder, that's the way the UCI works. The Worlds are a UCI event.


If the BMX Worlds are anything like the Road Worlds the CCA would have had to obtain the sanction from the UCI for the event to go forward. They would have a contract with the UCI and the BMX Worlds Organizing Committee.


So the CCA was probably represented on the Board of Directors of the BMX Worlds Organizing Committee as would have been a representative from the BC Cycling Association.


They all share the blame.


Therefore I still believe Lorraine Lafrenière shares the blame as well.


Since she has never organized a bike races she has no idea what was going on.

Finally, while I may not be the "savior" of Canadian cycling, I sure as hell could do a better job than Lafrenière who has no understanding of the sport and no relevant experience to run it.

What has she done in more than a year? Not a god damn thing worth mentioning.
Lorraine is still not to blame and Bill Kinash was only 1 vote on the board of directors. I am not confused! Before I quit, as a mountainbike commissaire, the CCA put on 3 National Commissaire Certification Courses for mountainbike referees in two years and for some strange reason B.C. candidates were exempt to participate. Yes there are certain elements within the CCA causing havoc. My passion in the sport was for the sport, while others have passion in the sport for themselves!

I may have quit the CCA 3 years ago but I continue to volunteer at various Vancouver Is. races, but refuse to castize the CCA on a daily basis as constantly as you do! You are still obsessed and need professional help, good luck.

You continue to collaborate with people you know are killing the sport.

You lack the balls to name names of those screwing up.

I have been correct in every assesment of the CCA I have made.

If you think having a woman who knows nothing about the sport, who has never organized an event herself in amny sport, is going to assist the CCA, you need help not me.

Mountain biking is killing the sport of cycling.
Get on the road.

You continue to collaborate with people you know are killing the sport.

You lack the balls to name names of those screwing up.

I have been correct in every assesment of the CCA I have made.

If you think having a woman who knows nothing about the sport, who has never organized an event herself in amny sport, is going to assist the CCA, you need help not me.

Mountain biking is killing the sport of cycling.
Get on the road.
The Last Word On The BMX Worlds 07

The Victoria BMX Worlds Society has filed for bankruptcy not the track. Therefore the track might revert back to ABA sanction and the judge should grant the Westshore BMX Association full automony with the strict provision that they also incorporate UCI sanction events as well into the Westshore calender. Just like the CFL and the NFL play football, same game, different rules.

Two Heros that deserve credit for the New Victoria BMX Track are the father and son team named Daryle and Kyle Mitchell of Mitchell Excavating, if it wasn't for them the event would have fell flat on it's face.

And I still have the balls and correct assessment about you Ed/Fausto!

Gregor T.,

You still appear to be a namelss eunuch to me.

Here are more words on the World BMX. they contradict yours.

Why would the ABA get the track?

Victoria BMX Worlds Society Declares Bankruptcy
by pedalmag.com November 2, 2007 (Victoria, BC) - The organization that hosted and organized the 2007 UCI BMX World Championships in Victoria this past July, the Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Society, has declared bankruptcy according to documents filed in BC courts on October 17. C.E. Craig and Associates Inc. was apppointed the trustee.

The organization apparently owes some $308,053 against assets worth about $166,992, leaving a shortfall of $141,131. Among the creditors - all of whom are unsecured - we find organizer De Armond Management Ltd. ($62,500); CBC ($43,000); and the Canadian Cycling Association ($15,000). The first meeting of the creditors on the matter was held today in Victoria.

The 2007 BMX World Championships took place in Victoria from July 26-29 and while hoped for sponsorships were not realized the news of the bankruptcy has surprised the industry.

What's still up in the air is the status of the BMX Worlds UCI level track which is rumoured to possibly end up in the hands of the US-based BMX organization, ABA (American Bicycle Association), as British Columbia remains a stronghold for the ABA within Canada in the ongoing turf war with the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA).

Pedal reached Lorraine Lafrenière, Chief Executive Officer of the CCA, who confirmed that the CCA is a creditor and confirmed that the BMX Worlds organizers had trouble securing corporate support. She also spoke about the "ongoing turf war" with the ABA BMX, describing the latter group as "an American, for profit organization." Lafrenière pointed out that the BMX track was built with Canadian government funds, raising questions about what taxpayers might think if the facility was taken over by a foreign entity. She also hopes that all BMX events in Canada will fall under Canadian jurisdiction. Lafrenière continued however to emphasize that the CCA was willing to share the facility and stressed that club members should not be punished because of the turf war.

Pedal tried to reach Victoria-based BMX World's event organizer, Marischal De Armond of De Armond Management Ltd., without success. De Armond Management Ltd., as noted, is also a creditor.

The The Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Society Board of Directors issued the following statement regarding their decision to file for bankruptcy.

The Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Statement

Date: October 16, 2007

RE: Decision to file for bankcruptcy

Statement

It is with profound disappointment that the Board of Directors of the Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Soceity has announced a decision to file for bankruptcy.

It is truly unfortunate that an event as successful as the 2007 UCI BMX World Championship, an event that showcased the community and Canada in the best possible light, left a world-class track to help develop the sport of BMX and generated more than $2.1 million in government tax revenues should end on a disappointing note.

Despite the tremendous success of the event itself and an estimated economic impact in excess of $4.3 million, the project concluded with a deficit and is unable to pay its suppliers in full.

The Society was preparing to make a proposal to its suppliers, averaging 50% to 55%. The proposal would have asked the larger public sector suppliers to agree to accept less in order to provide more to the smaller private sector suppliers. However, when one of the suppliers placed a garnishment on its bank account, the Society had no viable option but to file bankruptcy to ensure fairness to all the other creditors.

All questions should be directed to the bankruptcy Trustee Collen Craig 250-386-8778.

Board of Directors
Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Society

Gregor T.,

You still appear to be a namelss eunuch to me.

Here are more words on the World BMX. they contradict yours.

Why would the ABA get the track?

Victoria BMX Worlds Society Declares Bankruptcy
by pedalmag.com November 2, 2007 (Victoria, BC) - The organization that hosted and organized the 2007 UCI BMX World Championships in Victoria this past July, the Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Society, has declared bankruptcy according to documents filed in BC courts on October 17. C.E. Craig and Associates Inc. was apppointed the trustee.

The organization apparently owes some $308,053 against assets worth about $166,992, leaving a shortfall of $141,131. Among the creditors - all of whom are unsecured - we find organizer De Armond Management Ltd. ($62,500); CBC ($43,000); and the Canadian Cycling Association ($15,000). The first meeting of the creditors on the matter was held today in Victoria.

The 2007 BMX World Championships took place in Victoria from July 26-29 and while hoped for sponsorships were not realized the news of the bankruptcy has surprised the industry.

What's still up in the air is the status of the BMX Worlds UCI level track which is rumoured to possibly end up in the hands of the US-based BMX organization, ABA (American Bicycle Association), as British Columbia remains a stronghold for the ABA within Canada in the ongoing turf war with the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA).

Pedal reached Lorraine Lafrenière, Chief Executive Officer of the CCA, who confirmed that the CCA is a creditor and confirmed that the BMX Worlds organizers had trouble securing corporate support. She also spoke about the "ongoing turf war" with the ABA BMX, describing the latter group as "an American, for profit organization." Lafrenière pointed out that the BMX track was built with Canadian government funds, raising questions about what taxpayers might think if the facility was taken over by a foreign entity. She also hopes that all BMX events in Canada will fall under Canadian jurisdiction. Lafrenière continued however to emphasize that the CCA was willing to share the facility and stressed that club members should not be punished because of the turf war.

Pedal tried to reach Victoria-based BMX World's event organizer, Marischal De Armond of De Armond Management Ltd., without success. De Armond Management Ltd., as noted, is also a creditor.

The The Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Society Board of Directors issued the following statement regarding their decision to file for bankruptcy.

The Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Statement

Date: October 16, 2007

RE: Decision to file for bankcruptcy

Statement

It is with profound disappointment that the Board of Directors of the Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Soceity has announced a decision to file for bankruptcy.

It is truly unfortunate that an event as successful as the 2007 UCI BMX World Championship, an event that showcased the community and Canada in the best possible light, left a world-class track to help develop the sport of BMX and generated more than $2.1 million in government tax revenues should end on a disappointing note.

Despite the tremendous success of the event itself and an estimated economic impact in excess of $4.3 million, the project concluded with a deficit and is unable to pay its suppliers in full.

The Society was preparing to make a proposal to its suppliers, averaging 50% to 55%. The proposal would have asked the larger public sector suppliers to agree to accept less in order to provide more to the smaller private sector suppliers. However, when one of the suppliers placed a garnishment on its bank account, the Society had no viable option but to file bankruptcy to ensure fairness to all the other creditors.

All questions should be directed to the bankruptcy Trustee Collen Craig 250-386-8778.

Board of Directors
Victoria 2007 BMX World Championship Society
As I said earlier "The BMX Society" as declared bankruptcy and the track is owned by the Juan De Fuca Recreation Commission. The Westshore BMX Club (ABA sanction) has a small track on the Juan De Fuca site, yet Pacific Sport (a legacy after the 94 Commonwealth Games) and others, want to build an indoor veldrome where the Westshore BMX track is and wants to cut the ends off the existing (large, outdoor) velodrome and turn it into a soccer field. Therefore why not rent out the new BMX Track to a club that can manage it.

If the UCI can recognize NORBA in the United States why can't they recognize the ABA?

It is one big convoluted mess that needs to be fixed before track and BMX racing resumes in the spring, hopefully.

Who do you think is going to fix this mess?


Do you think the Canadian Cycling Association and Lorraine Lafreniere will work it out?

They have done nothing right in five years, she in more than one.

This woman can barely stay afloat in the stuff she has to do, you think she can reach and agreement regarding this when she has never negotiated anything of consequence in her life. Who will they send, Bill Kinash, who got us into the mes in the first place?

Who from BC Cycling and CCA were on that board of directors when all this was going down? Why didn't they say anything?
All just more incompetence.

Who do you think is going to fix this mess?


Do you think the Canadian Cycling Association and Lorraine Lafreniere will work it out?

They have done nothing right in five years, she in more than one.

This woman can barely stay afloat in the stuff she has to do, you think she can reach and agreement regarding this when she has never negotiated anything of consequence in her life. Who will they send, Bill Kinash, who got us into the mes in the first place?

Who from BC Cycling and CCA were on that board of directors when all this was going down? Why didn't they say anything?
All just more incompetence.
As I said once before, if you aren't happy with the situation at the CCA, then just walk away! And start your own association!

Lets talk about the UCI. Two months before the Tour De France this year, the UCI were trumpeting their own horn with a big announcement praising Pat McQuad(UCI President) on how he has cleaned up "doping" in the sport, yet this years "Tour" had the worst record for doping scandles.

The UCI Vice President is from Australia, could this be a factor in awarding Australia with the 2009 Mountainbike World Championship, especially when they haven't even hosted a World Cup yet? I have seen and volunteered at the proposed race course.

Why is Italy hosting 4(disciplines) World Championships in 2008?

Shouldn't leadership come from the top - down?

Forming another Association might be the way to go since the CCA refuses to do the right thing.

It is not that easy.

It requires money. It almost happened back in the late 1980s when Serge Arsenault began putting on the Pro Men's Road World Cups. He was fed up with the pencil-pushers in Ottawa at the CCA and wanted to start his own pro federation like USA Pro. He explained it to me one day in his offices on Ile Notre-Dame beside the F1 track.

Certainly it would be easier if a major sponsor signed on and decided that they wanted to take over the CCA. For a couple million dollars, less than the cost of one hockey player, they could own the entire sport across the board in Canada. That's a pretty good deal.


Think of it, a big sponsor coming into the CCA, moving them from that stifling Ottawa office building to a full-service headquarters with velodrome, BMX track, gym, cycling museum, mechanic shops, etc.!!! (say beside the Forrest City Track)



That will never happen while we have the bumbling mediocrity at the CCA. Lorraine Lafreniere’s biggest idea for change is dyeing her hair.



A group of people could take over the CCA if they banded together presented themselves as slate of candidates for the AGM and had a sponsors lined up guaranteeing two million dollars or so.



It is all about the money.



There will be litigation. Court battles cost money.



It would be much easier if the current CCA corpses just rolled over and died before they infect and kill the whole sport in country.

It would be much easier if the current CCA corpses just rolled over and died before they infect and kill the whole sport in country.


Jeez, I go away or a little while and come back to see that nothings changed.

Jeez

Jeez, I go away or a little while and come back to see that nothings changed.

Jeez
Actually things have gotten worse.

Didn't you hear about the BMX World championship organization going broke and making the sport look like shit again?

Doesn't that fly in the face of your earlier comment in this thread, "Our sport is growing...and we don't need to dope up like them roadies".

Do you think a bankruptcy implies the sport is growing?

Do you think CBC Sports is pleased they are owed $43,000.

Where was BC Cycling and the CCA, they sat on the board of this organization, didn't they?

Actually things have gotten worse.

Didn't you hear about the BMX World championship organization going broke and making the sport look like shit again?

Doesn't that fly in the face of your earlier comment in this thread, "Our sport is growing...and we don't need to dope up like them roadies".

Do you think a bankruptcy implies the sport is growing?

Do you think CBC Sports is pleased they are owed $43,000.

Where was BC Cycling and the CCA, they sat on the board of this organization, didn't they?
Our sport is growing, the bankruptcy of a BMX park really isn't that significant, in the long run...it's just that bike world is changing, but some are still stuck in the old days. Support for a tiny group of elite roadies is really irrelevant to the biking world.

In our area, mountain bike activity is increasing, and when I'm on the roads, I'm amazed at the increasing number of cyclists that I now see. Toronto is a biking city with over 50,000 bikes on our roads, and I just won the City of Toronto Business Biking Award for our support of our biking employees..

My retail contacts tell me that bikes are becoming the hottest Christmas gift this year, so our sport continues to grow.

When Pythagoras discovered the mathematical theorem that bears his name, the Greeks sacrificed 200 oxen in his honour...ever since, whenever someone comes up with a new idea, the oxen begin to worry.

Just a long way of saying that to many oxen, the old days are the best days...their survival depends on this.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Are you sayng we are asking for the status quo?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Obviously change is needed because the current state of affairs sucks.

I'm not sure what you're drinking but maybe we should all try it.

There is less money in the sport, both in races and in most teams.

There are fewer teams.

There are few racers IN EVERY CATEGORY & DISCIPLINE.

There are fewer events.

There are worse international results.

There is less media coverage.
Ands somehow you think the sport is grwoing??????

Obviously you have no idea what used to be, no benchmark, so you have no clue.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Are you sayng we are asking for the status quo?

There is less media coverage.
Ands somehow you think the sport is grwoing??????

Obviously you have no idea what used to be, no benchmark, so you have no clue.
Let me try again...

...the common theme of all of your posts is that things aren't the way they used to be and you long for the "good old days"...I can relate, you have much in common with my 90 year old dad.

Perhaps it's time to face reality...Elite road biking has lost a lot of support in Canada and the organizations that regulate and promote this activity reflect that apathy...they are probably doing as good a job as they can with limited resources and the lack of public interest, but those days that you long for are gone for good.

However, our sport (biking) is growing, more popular than ever...but its more of a grass roots activity...yes, us plebs are taking over. Mountain biking, road, BMX (for kids, mostly), and commuting have grown exponentially over the years...no one cares about those elite racers because they're biking at their own levels....many of my MTB friends race and are sponsored...my son in law is a semi-pro downhill racer, sponsored by his LBS and does well at Blue in Collingwood...and he couldn't care less about the snotty roadies (roadietude?) in our area.

Like that old Dylan song, "The times they are a'changin', Mr. Jones"

JM01,

You seems very confused. You say, " Elite road biking has lost a lot of support in Canada"

Then you say, " no one cares about those elite racers because they're biking at their own levels....many of my MTB friends race and are sponsored...my son in law is a semi-pro downhill racer."

What does "biking at their own level" mean? Can you translate that to English?

Your son is a "semi-pro downhill racer" so does that make him in the elite? I've known a few semi-pros myself, if you they like you they won't charge for an evening.....Is he "biking at his own level"?

BMX you say is growing, then why did the World Championships in Victoria go bankrupt? If they sport is doing well then it must be the organizers themselves did avery opor job so I guess they are not doing as , "good a job as they can with limited resources", nor were their resouces very limited since though owe thousands and thousands of dollars.

You post is one of the most disjointed, confused, unsubstanitated post I've seen in a long time.

Did you crash on your head recently without a helmet?

Finally, I understand the good old days are gone in Canada but they are actually better in the US and other countries. Why is that? Used to be things were in Canada than in the US. Is the US culture that much different than Canadian? Certainlynot, the US does not have cycling ingrained in their culture any more than Canada does. Is it a question of economies? I don't think so because the Canadian economy is better now than the US.

In fact, about the only reason you can really attribute the poor performance of the sport of cycling in Canada on all levels in all disciplines in all facets (events, teams, media coverage, sponsorship, etc. ) is due primarily to incompetence from those people in charge.

I'm sick of you apologists for the sport and those running/ruining it. You accept mediocrity. That is the main problem.

sorry but it is only the high level competitive events that are suffering. the primidona attitude that the high level racer exhibits has turned me off as a race organizer for wanting to put on high level events.

my focus for the past few years has been to the grass root racer who may only do 1/2/3 events a year and are totaly appreciative of the efforts of race organizers.

in b.c. grass roots racing is growing leaps and bounds. in 2007 there were 5 major mountain bike events that were not sanctioned by cycling b.c.

in 2008 look for that number to grow. the cca and cbc need to get their collective heads out of the sand and realize the number of competitive racers is shrinking and grass root racers is growing. the amount of red tape put up by the governing body of the sport is doing more to kill the sport than anything else.

I'm curious, what do "grass root racers" in any cycling discipline aspire to?You wrote, "In 2007 there were 5 major mountain bike events that were not sanctioned by cycling b.c."

What were these "grass roots' guys racing for?

What did they hope to obtain?

Why do they want to compete if not to be better than somebody else? Given that what do they do once they win your unsanctioned events? where do they go next?

they were racing for the fun of seeing who they could beat on that day. kinda like some one playing football in canada because they love the sport and playing in the usa because they want the money. why do you you have to aspire to anything aside from being the best you can be.

once they win an event they come back next year and see if they can better their time.

why does everything have to be about gold medals and elite level racing? what about just going out and giving the best that you have?

i have nothing against the athlete who wants to win a gold medal at the olympics. i have a problem with the governing bodies of any given sport supporting the 1% of the people who aspire to a gold medal level at the expense of the other 99% of the sport's participants who want to take part in the sport just because they enjoy it.