Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Go online to handle annual membership renewals

By JESSICA MUNDIE, Cycling/ triathlons
Published January 2, 2008

To ring in the new cycling season, many cyclists renew their annual memberships.

Those who join their federations each year show support for cycling and triathlons, while making sure they can participate in Florida's early events already on the calendar.

Time-saving online renewals are popular with area athletes because our cycling and triathlon seasons begin months earlier than the rest of the country.

USA CYCLING: USA Cycling is the governing body for the sport of bicycle racing in the United States. Board members call USA Cycling a "family of organizations" that promote and govern the sport, assist in rider development and sustain international competitive excellence. Its mission is to grow competitive cycling in the United States.

For most riders, USA Cycling grants permits and sanctions to the important events they compete in, holding the events to standards like safe courses and fair officiating, while encouraging good sportsmanship in the racing peloton.

Get a license and you can learn to race, officiate, coach or work as a race mechanic. Go to: www.usacycling.org; or contact USA Cycling at 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80909; 719 866-4581.

Thinking of organizing a bicycle race in our local area? Do you have questions about the area's 2008 events calendar? Are you a racer who wants a category upgrade? Contact Tim Molyneauxat the Florida Road Cycling Association at molyneauxt@yahoo.com or write Molyneaux at 413 S. Alderwood Street, Winter Springs, 32708; (407) 256-7971.

NORBA: National Offroad Bicycle Association is the organization that creates the rules mountain bike racing in the United States. NORBA is a division of USA Cycling with its own board of directors.

NORBA members are thrilled to have made their mark in Olympic cycling. In 1996, many locals witnessed mountain bike history, as they watched the first Olympic mountain bike races for men and women.

The United States will send teams in all these disciplines to compete in Beijing, China, at the Summer Gamesheld Aug. 8-24.

To join NORBA visit www.usacycling.org .

Want to learn about Florida's challenging mountain bike scene? Check out: www.goneriding.com.

USA TRIATHLON: There is no question the number of popular multisport events in our area (they all encourage tri-newbies or first-timers) has helped grow the sport of triathlon. USAT annual memberships have soared to more than 90,000.

Looking forward into another Olympic year (American men and women competed in the inaugural Olympic triathlon in Sydney, Australia, in 2000), USAT board of directors lists its vision as setting the standard of excellence as a world leader in the sport by promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging participation and achievement.

Visit the USAT Web site and click on membership: www.usatriathlon.org ; or contact the USAT National Office at 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80909; (719) 866-4121.

Triathletes who are looking for solutions to local issues can contact St. Petersburg's Brian Harrington, who leads USAT Florida Region: Brian.Harrington@usatriathlon.org

FLORIDA BICYCLE ASSOCIATION: FBA is a nonprofit organization mostly known as the promoter of Florida's Share the Road license plates.

The Florida Bicycle Association conducts workshops, creates booklets, maps and pamphlets, offers tours, and teaches students, all for helping make Florida more cycling-friendly.

Check out FBA at www.floridabicycle.org; or write to Florida Bicycle Association, P.O. Box 718, Waldo, 32694-0718; (352) 468-3430.

Times correspondent Jessica Mundie can be reached at: sptimescycling@yahoo.com.

[Last modified January 1, 2008, 22:47:49]