T
Tom Arsenault
Guest
Read the article below. I know many of you on here race and or love cross. We from NC are trying to
send Ryan Trebon to kick some ass in Italy, but of course, the wisdom that is the USCF has seen fit
to only pay the way for 2 people in the U23 division. Read on, and donate if you can and or want to.
Tom
Below is the text from Derek Powers' "Spoke n' Word" column, which runs tommorrow in the Chapel Hill
News. It concerns Ryan Trebons selection to the US Cyclocross Worlds Team. As many of you know, he
has to come up with all the money himself. Several people at the recent cross races have given their
race winnings to help Ryan go to Italy. Read below for a little insight to see what you can do to
help a boy from the Dirty South out!!!!!!!!
--------------------
From an aesthetic point of view, the United States National Cycling Team jersey is a failure. It's
nowhere near as cool as the ones worn by Italy, Belgium, Germany or France. The colors are ok, but
the stars that are stuck all over the place kind of makes you look like a kindergartner's art
project. You'd expect more from a superpower. Look how cool the space shuttle is.
You take a cyclist, though, and you let him pull that fashion faux pas over his head, and there's
not an Armani suit in the world that would make him feel better dressed.
Representing your country is pretty much the universal dream of all young cyclists. Whether it's the
world championships or the 2 day Tour of Bermuda, the opportunity to race in the stars and stripes
jersey is the chance of a lifetime.
The easiest way to earn that privilege, if there is an easy way, is to win the National
Championships. In cyclocross, at least, if you win the National Championships, you win an all
expense paid trip to the World Championships. You also get a bunch of cool luggage, some
deodorant, some Frisco, a shiny medal, and a rather gaudy cycling jersey that has stars and
stripes all over it.
While racing in the recent national championships out in Napa Valley California, North Carolina
rider Ryan Trebon was doing his best to get his soda and luggage and plane tickets when he flatted.
Not once, of course, but twice. Trebon had led the race from practically the start and could have
been heading towards a win and a trip to Italy for the World Championships in February when he
suffered those 2 flats. The flats dropped him back to 7th, well out of contention, but he stuck with
it and managed to finish 3rd. Third in the National Championships is the crowning achievement in
most cyclists' careers. I'd trade almost all my results over my 20 years to have finished on the
podium in a National Championship. Third, however, at least in respect to Worlds qualification, is a
handshake and a medal - no soda, no jersey, no luggage, and no plane ticket to Italy.
The selection committee DID offer Trebon one of 5 spots on the World Championship roster, of course
- an indication that he is QUALIFIED to represent the country in the prestigious event - they're
just not going to foot the bill for his travel expenses. The free trip goes to the National Champ
and one other coach's choice (not Trebon, in this case, but rather the rider who finished 5th in
national championships), the other 3 members of the team can race if they can manage to get
themselves to the starting line.
Racing my bike is a lot of fun, but losing to Ryan Trebon week in and week out gets old real fast. I
can't beat him, no matter what I do. I can't even come close. You can't coach the things he has. You
can teach tactics and technique and tell people about training, but if you're not born with four
foot long femurs you're never gonna have them. And you can have heart and you can have guts and you
can be as tough as nails, but if you don't have double the lung capacity of Jesse Jackson you're
just out of luck. My mediocrity is the product of years of hard work and perseverance - any one of
you reading this column could be as good (or bad) as me if you tried long enough. A kid like Ryan
Trebon, on the other hand, is an elite athlete waiting to happen. You're born that way or you're
not, it's that black and white. It's just a question of discovering it and developing it.
That's where the World Championships comes in.
Racing in that environment - against the best in the world - is an invaluable experience. Going
straight from high school to the pros might work for some young basketball stars, but the vast
majority need the skills and discipline that you develop in college to be the best they can be. The
equivalent to college sports in cycling is international experience. There aren't a lot of
scholarships out there, that's all.
And that's the rub -- the little matter of a plane ticket to Monopoli, Italy. Ryan's not sure he can
afford to go. That would be a shame. I never came close to qualifying, but I'll tell you what --
When I was his age
I'd have sold a kidney to go to World Championships. I might have even thrown in my spleen, if it
would have gotten me a window seat. Ryan isn't auctioning off organs (if he were, I'd be bidding),
but he IS trying to come up with the funds to make the trip.
I talked with his girlfriend, a UNC graduate who recently purchased Katie's Pretzels in Carr Mill
Mall, and we discussed a couple of different fundraising ideas. We came up with some creative stuff,
but we've got a long way to go. And since you have to start somewhere, I'd like to announce that....
This column is my contribution.
I'm dedicating my pay for this column to the Ryan Trebon World Championship fund. It may not be a
lot, but it's that much more than he had this morning. I'm also appealing to my legion of loyal
readers. I might not have a huge army of fans, and many of you might be dirt poor bike bums like me.
But if this story resonates with any of you and you feel inspired to help out, great. We might not
pay for the whole trip, but a few dollars here and a few dollars there and the burden for him is
that much easier to handle. If you are interested, send your checks to Katie's Pretzels, 200 N
Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC, 27510, Attn Ryan Trebon.
I know there are diseases to cure and hungry people who need your help. This cause is NOT the most
deserving of your charity. I know that. This is just an chance for a kid with a gift to go and do
something that most of us will never get to do. That I know him, and his girlfriend, and that I race
against him make me want to help. I would go looking for help if I were in his shoes, that's for
sure, and my kidneys would be on E-Bay tomorrow.
Jacques Cousteau wrote that a man with an opportunity to lead an extraordinary life has no right to
keep it to himself. I feel that way about Ryan's chance to go to Europe and race in the World
Championships. And if I can contribute to that in some small way then it's well worth it for me.
And if he stays there, well, that's one less guy I've got to race against next fall.
send Ryan Trebon to kick some ass in Italy, but of course, the wisdom that is the USCF has seen fit
to only pay the way for 2 people in the U23 division. Read on, and donate if you can and or want to.
Tom
Below is the text from Derek Powers' "Spoke n' Word" column, which runs tommorrow in the Chapel Hill
News. It concerns Ryan Trebons selection to the US Cyclocross Worlds Team. As many of you know, he
has to come up with all the money himself. Several people at the recent cross races have given their
race winnings to help Ryan go to Italy. Read below for a little insight to see what you can do to
help a boy from the Dirty South out!!!!!!!!
--------------------
From an aesthetic point of view, the United States National Cycling Team jersey is a failure. It's
nowhere near as cool as the ones worn by Italy, Belgium, Germany or France. The colors are ok, but
the stars that are stuck all over the place kind of makes you look like a kindergartner's art
project. You'd expect more from a superpower. Look how cool the space shuttle is.
You take a cyclist, though, and you let him pull that fashion faux pas over his head, and there's
not an Armani suit in the world that would make him feel better dressed.
Representing your country is pretty much the universal dream of all young cyclists. Whether it's the
world championships or the 2 day Tour of Bermuda, the opportunity to race in the stars and stripes
jersey is the chance of a lifetime.
The easiest way to earn that privilege, if there is an easy way, is to win the National
Championships. In cyclocross, at least, if you win the National Championships, you win an all
expense paid trip to the World Championships. You also get a bunch of cool luggage, some
deodorant, some Frisco, a shiny medal, and a rather gaudy cycling jersey that has stars and
stripes all over it.
While racing in the recent national championships out in Napa Valley California, North Carolina
rider Ryan Trebon was doing his best to get his soda and luggage and plane tickets when he flatted.
Not once, of course, but twice. Trebon had led the race from practically the start and could have
been heading towards a win and a trip to Italy for the World Championships in February when he
suffered those 2 flats. The flats dropped him back to 7th, well out of contention, but he stuck with
it and managed to finish 3rd. Third in the National Championships is the crowning achievement in
most cyclists' careers. I'd trade almost all my results over my 20 years to have finished on the
podium in a National Championship. Third, however, at least in respect to Worlds qualification, is a
handshake and a medal - no soda, no jersey, no luggage, and no plane ticket to Italy.
The selection committee DID offer Trebon one of 5 spots on the World Championship roster, of course
- an indication that he is QUALIFIED to represent the country in the prestigious event - they're
just not going to foot the bill for his travel expenses. The free trip goes to the National Champ
and one other coach's choice (not Trebon, in this case, but rather the rider who finished 5th in
national championships), the other 3 members of the team can race if they can manage to get
themselves to the starting line.
Racing my bike is a lot of fun, but losing to Ryan Trebon week in and week out gets old real fast. I
can't beat him, no matter what I do. I can't even come close. You can't coach the things he has. You
can teach tactics and technique and tell people about training, but if you're not born with four
foot long femurs you're never gonna have them. And you can have heart and you can have guts and you
can be as tough as nails, but if you don't have double the lung capacity of Jesse Jackson you're
just out of luck. My mediocrity is the product of years of hard work and perseverance - any one of
you reading this column could be as good (or bad) as me if you tried long enough. A kid like Ryan
Trebon, on the other hand, is an elite athlete waiting to happen. You're born that way or you're
not, it's that black and white. It's just a question of discovering it and developing it.
That's where the World Championships comes in.
Racing in that environment - against the best in the world - is an invaluable experience. Going
straight from high school to the pros might work for some young basketball stars, but the vast
majority need the skills and discipline that you develop in college to be the best they can be. The
equivalent to college sports in cycling is international experience. There aren't a lot of
scholarships out there, that's all.
And that's the rub -- the little matter of a plane ticket to Monopoli, Italy. Ryan's not sure he can
afford to go. That would be a shame. I never came close to qualifying, but I'll tell you what --
When I was his age
I'd have sold a kidney to go to World Championships. I might have even thrown in my spleen, if it
would have gotten me a window seat. Ryan isn't auctioning off organs (if he were, I'd be bidding),
but he IS trying to come up with the funds to make the trip.
I talked with his girlfriend, a UNC graduate who recently purchased Katie's Pretzels in Carr Mill
Mall, and we discussed a couple of different fundraising ideas. We came up with some creative stuff,
but we've got a long way to go. And since you have to start somewhere, I'd like to announce that....
This column is my contribution.
I'm dedicating my pay for this column to the Ryan Trebon World Championship fund. It may not be a
lot, but it's that much more than he had this morning. I'm also appealing to my legion of loyal
readers. I might not have a huge army of fans, and many of you might be dirt poor bike bums like me.
But if this story resonates with any of you and you feel inspired to help out, great. We might not
pay for the whole trip, but a few dollars here and a few dollars there and the burden for him is
that much easier to handle. If you are interested, send your checks to Katie's Pretzels, 200 N
Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC, 27510, Attn Ryan Trebon.
I know there are diseases to cure and hungry people who need your help. This cause is NOT the most
deserving of your charity. I know that. This is just an chance for a kid with a gift to go and do
something that most of us will never get to do. That I know him, and his girlfriend, and that I race
against him make me want to help. I would go looking for help if I were in his shoes, that's for
sure, and my kidneys would be on E-Bay tomorrow.
Jacques Cousteau wrote that a man with an opportunity to lead an extraordinary life has no right to
keep it to himself. I feel that way about Ryan's chance to go to Europe and race in the World
Championships. And if I can contribute to that in some small way then it's well worth it for me.
And if he stays there, well, that's one less guy I've got to race against next fall.