more blather about USAC.

This is an interesting and pretty spot-on take on USAC. I had never thought about how USAC uses some programs as cash cows while throwing money at others... and that the kind of riding I like is all in that first category.

Look, I'm a rider ("racer?") in both USAC and non-USAC events. I also promote USAC races. I used to help promote USAC clinics but we're not doing them as USAC anymore. I also used to hold a completely useless and meaningless USAC mechanic's license (that they charged me $$$ every year for) and an annoying USAC official's license (which meant I was under Fowkes' thumb in his happy little power game). The entire experience has been nothing but forking over money for misery.

I'm not an olympian or pro. I don't want to be, I have no hope of ever being. Why am I expected to follow (or enforce on others) draconian rules meant for those levels of racing? Why do I have to pay to support olympic programs when all I wanna do is ride my bike?

I like non-USAC events so much more. Less bullshit. Cheaper. No officials to throw you out of the race when someone else helps out by straightening your seatpost/saddle after a crash. No bloated beaurocracy to pay for.

The only reason people keep subjecting themselves to this system is the dangling carrot of upgrades and USAC's monopoly thereon. Is it worth it?