June Online Meeting

Items for discussion:

Re-evaluation of the U17 category: there is some confusion with the U17 category. Earlier we decided to make one U17 category, eliminating the Sport and Expert categories. The reason for eliminating these designations was to there were too many 2 person categories in the old system. It was thought that racers who were in this age bracket would could race as U17 OR one of SPORT, COMP, or EXPERT if they were strong enough to compete in those categories - most likely under the direction of the provincial coach. There has been some confusion with some of the racers in this category, not quite sure where they are suppose to go. The whole premiss of the MB Cup series is to create a system to put riders in categories where they can be competitive and challenged, but not overmatched. We also wanted to eliminate the number of categories (frankly having 1200 MB Provincial Cup champion jerseys out there cheapens their significance). Is this worth continuing?

Provincials: It is time to start planning the Provincials course out at Falcon. With the race this past weekend fresh in your mind think of elements you liked, disliked and want in a course. First reconnaissance will be July long weekend. Comment if you are interested in helping with this. An extended agenda of planning will be forthcoming.

Other?

May 17 Minutes

1. Online Registration:

• Clubs need to take into account the transaction fees associated with each event
• Registration information needs to be sent to the MCA office one month in advance of the event
• Clubs are encouraged to use the online waiver form - see past races for examples
• Information forms will be reformat  to reflect the information needs of the race bibles and in a format that can be written to (Word over PDF)

2. Late Fees and Race Costs

• Will introduce a family price for next year to make races more cost friendly for families
• Out of province racers who show up the day of the race to register will not be charged late fees
• It was decided to keep the same day registration fees high to encourage advanced registration for events. Suggested that this should be a minimum of $40

  
3. Club Points

• A new system will be developed for next year to make it fairer and to take into account the number of riders in a category
• The system should reward clubs that bring people into the sport, i.e. points for new participants, increases in riders from one year to the next
• There was discussion on the merits of separating kids from adults in the results

4. Movement between categories

• Need to make sure that racers know there categories and that they consistently race in that category. If a rider races in another category without getting permission from the committee they will not receive any points for that race
• The number of points that a rider takes with them to the next category is thought to be too high, this will be readdressed for next year
• Hal will check the results from the current races to verify that there has not been any movement between categories without written permission

5. Leaders plates

• Concern by commissaires that it was difficult to track racers who had leader plates (there are no numbers on the leaders plate). It was decided that we would like to stay with the current systems and that we would ask the commissaires if they could try and make it work

6. Reach the Beach

• Race date to be changed because of availability of facilities - changed to August 1.

7. Promotion

• Bur Oak – set up a booth on a Saturday to promote the MTB racing and hand out information to casual riders using the trails
• There should be an MCA booth at the Ice Bike event
• A MTB Ambassador should be at all races and events to answer questions about cycling
• Draws for free races from Ice Bike and Bring a Friend
• Interview new racers and put the interview up on the MCA website

8. Junior category clarification

• Hal to clarify the junior category and post information on the commissaires blog

9. Trails, mapping and trail marking

• Discussion on the importance of cleaning up the signs and tape used to mark trails for races - all tape and markings are to be removed from a race site following a race, especially if it is in a public park
• A post calling for contributions of trial maps and GPS files will be posted. This is to build a resource that mountain bikers can use for their trail rides

10. Provincial Falcon create timeline and tasks

• A timeline and planning schedule regarding the provincials is to be created.

Next Meeting - Monday, May 17th

Where: Sport Manitoba, MCA office.
Time: 6:30 -8:00

Agenda:

1. Online Registration
2. Late fees 
3. Club Points
4. Promotion
5. Junior category clarification
6. Trails and trail marking

Others stuff?

Updates 2

1. The online registration for the Cup Series and Wednesday Night Series are up, register online now.
2. The new MCA website is up. The new url is mbcycling.ca. You will be redirected from the old url. More importantly we now have a mountain bike page (woohoo). Take a look and see if there is anything you want added. Race organizers take a look at the "Race Organizer" tab on the page - let me know if there is anything you want to find here. All of our races are up in the race calendar (you can get to it by clicking on the dates on the race calendar or by going to "Races & Events" and then clicking on the 2010 MTB Race Dates and Results. If you look at the Grand Beach race it shows the race bible that we want up two weeks prior to each event, sooner is even better.

Updates

 A couple of important updates:

1. Karleo online registration is ready to go for the Cup race series and the Wednesday Night Series. The individual races will be up shortly.
2. The information forms that all organizers need to fill out will be online in a day or two. Right now they are in PDF form but will be made into online forms shortly. Check the MCA site.
3. We're working on still getting a commissaire's course for this year. I know it is late, but things have not lined up the way they should have on this - keep checking here or the MCA site for updates. 
4. All the clubs have agreed to change the levy system from $2 per U15 and older racer for Cup races to $1 per U15 and older racer for any MCA sanctioned mountain bike event.

April Online Meeting

Four items are posted below for the April meeting. Each item is its own post, please comment on each item and offer suggestions etc. If you want to add another item please comment to this post.

1. Promotion
2. Plates
3. Commissaires 
4. Canada Cup

A couple of documents will be posted shortly where I am looking for input before they are published - please keep checking this site.

Also, I am looking for a volunteer to track the MTB Cup points and the inter-club competition, any takers?

Thanks,
Hal Loewen
MTB Coordinator

April Online Meeting - Promotion

These cards where designed as a promotional tool for our MTB races. The idea was to have business cards beside cash registers in the shop and have them hand them out, directing people to our web site for more information.

I priced out that it is roughly $100 for 1000 cards. We have roughly $120 in our budget for these types of promotions. 1000 cards distributed to roughly 10 supporting shops might last a few days or a week or two, do we want to pursue this? Can somebody get a better price than this?

April Online Meeting - Plates

Last year we used the plates from the previous season, saving a lot of money. Our inventory is running low and we will need to get new plates for this season. We have lost a lot plates over the last two years, mostly at events where we use the plates and they do not come back at the end of the event.

We are currently pricing them out the cost of getting new plates but we need to come up with a strategy to get the most use out of the plates we order; what are your ideas? Here are a couple to get started with:

1. Issue a plate for 5 years - the only time you change the plate is if you go to a new category, you would then have turn in your old plate to get the new plate.
2. You loose or break your plate you need to pay for the replacement.
3. Buy a bunch of tyvek sheets  with numbers to hand out at events that are not races or to participants who are not MCA members - if they do not get returned no biggie, also, it makes it easier to distinguish who is and who is not an MCA member (don't know if that is important).
4. Other ideas???

April Online Meeting - Commissaries

After many attempts to try and organize a commissaire training course this spring we came to the conclusion putting a session on this year is not possible. Our only qualified commissaire who can teach this course was unable to do so this year. We tried to bring someone in, but we could not make it fit our schedule.

After speaking to our head commissaire we decided that we have enough current commissaires to run this year's schedule., which is fine for this year but does not bode well for the future. It is imperative that we continue to train commissaires so we have officials for our races. To accomplish this we have three options before us:

1. Continue with our one current commissaire who is qualified to teach new commissaires
2. Look to bring in out-of-province commissaires to train new commissaires
3. Send one of our commissaires to get the qualifications to train new commissaires

Both #'s 2 and 3 are costly and our budget's are tight. I am inclined to go with #3 - thoughts?

April Online Meeting - Canada Cup

Since we are shooting for a Canada Cup in 2012 there are a couple of things that we can do to prep:

1. Prepare a course - this we are starting to do by holding Provincials at the likely venue for the CC, Falcon Ridge. Falcon Ridge has been secured for this year's provincials and will have to be the location for next year's provincials as well. The MTB committee is in charge of the provincials and we'll be going out early to scout a course. We will meet with the organizers of the other events there this year to see how much we can work in conjunction with our events - maybe by helping each other out we can enhance all the events there. We will call a meeting of all of the organizers who are putting on events at Falcon to plan this.
2. There is a Canada Cup in Edmonton and Canmore this summer. Edmonton is July 11th weekend (same as weekend as the Swan River Cup race) and Canmore is the following weekend, July 17-18 (same weekend as the Training Coop event). Any one who is interested in going to one of these and is also interested in assisting with the CC should contact me - I would like to go to see how it is organized and what we are getting ourselves into.

March 15th Minutes

March 15th MTB Meeting
Location: MCA Office, 145 Pacific
Time: 7:00 – 8:40
Present: Kevin B, Dave D, George M, Shawn Z, Carl (BBC), Mike H, Hal L, Ron B,

1.    Review of the February Online Meeting

• It was decided that for the time being we would keep the alternating meeting system where one month we meet in person and the next month the meeting would be online via the blog (http://mcamountainbikecommitteeblog.blogspot.com/).

2.    Race Categories and Movement - review and vote on policy

• Changed the points requirement from 70 to 80
• Changed the time requirement from 50% to 70%.
• Changed the wording from three consecutive races to three consecutive races entered – this is not limited to one season
• Policy was passed
• The Racer Information Manual was also reviewed and passed 

3.    Cup Points - review and vote on policy

• Changed to line-up with Road system

4.    Online Registration - identify races to be included

• Two methods run through MCA or set up your own. It was decided that we would use the MCA. This means that the MCA administers the payment of money collected. The advantage of this is it saves organizations the setup fee of $199 and monthly maintenance fees of $15 a month. The MCA will hold back all levy fees and other administrative fees owed for each race or event.
• ACTION – Hal to email all the clubs about the online registration system and to get information about each event so the online registration page can be set up
• It was decided that all the organizations would be approached to see if there would be agreement for switching the levy from the $2 for each participant in Cup races to $1 for each participant in any sanctioned MTB event
• ACTION – Hal to survey all organizing clubs to see if there is agreement on the changes to the levy system

5.    Promotion

• Posters have been distributed to almost all the bike shops. Business style cards pointing potential new racers to the MCA website to be designed and printed.
• ACTION – Kevin to design cards
• Additional posters to be printed and distributed to YMCAs, gyms, etc.
• It was suggested that all those holding a citizen license would get into all MTB races and events for free (they may be asked to purchase a food ticket). Citizen racers can race but do not need to prized. This is to be promoted on the MCA website
• Draws for free citizen license to be held at various races. One citizen will receive their fee back in a draw at various events throughout the season.

6.    Participation Series

• Clubs were polled about the creation of participation series – most felt that there were better ways to attract new participants to racing (see above)

7.    Risk and Liability

• Ron attended and reported on a risk management workshop he attended in Ottawa
• Clubs are covered if:

1. Clubs are full paid members of the MCA
2. All race and event organizers have to have the organizer designation on their MCA license – if a club is listed as an organizer they must have a member with the organizer designation on their license 
3. The event has to be on MCA calendar – this makes it a MCA sanctioned event

• Club rides are different; any coverage is void if non-licensed riders participate in any group ride or event. Rides with a mix of riders from different clubs are covered so long as all riders have their MCA license
• ACTION - Ron to send email to all organizers informing them of this

8.    Provincials

•  Provincials are slated for Falcon Lake. We are waiting for word from the Falcon Lake group that we can use the facilities
• All clubs need to provide volunteers for this event
• The MTB committee will be setting the course in June/July
• This will be the location of Provincials for the next couple of years in anticipation of using the venue for a Canada Cup in 2012

9.    Information Forms

• Information forms to distributed by email to all organizers to start collecting information about each event
• ACTION – Hal to send out information forms

10.    Rules

• ACTION – George and Shawn to provide rules for Enduro and Super D events

11.    Meeting Dates

• It was decided to keep Mondays as the meeting date for meetings for the time being

12.    Other – Trail Association

• The promotion of trail associations that are interested in trail building will be supported by the MTB committee through the website
• Possible other support could be: the use of equipment, letters of support, access to site development fund – to be discussed further

Meeting Info

Location: 145 Pacific (room TBD).
Time: 7:00
Date: Monday, March 15th

Agenda:

1. Review of the February Online Meeting
2. Race Categories and Movement - review and vote on policy
3. Cup Points - review and vote on policy
4. Online Registration - identify races to be included
5. Promotion
6. Participation Series - review
7. Risk and Liablity
8. Provincials 
9. Information Forms
10. Rules
11. Meeting Dates
12. Other

March Meeting

The next mountain bike meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 15th @7:00. The meeting is at the new MCA digs, 145 Pacific Avenue. I will be setting out the agenda and attaching documents shortly.

See you all there.

Hal
MTB Coordinator

February Online Meeting - New Agenda Items

Five items are posted below for the February meeting. Each item is its own post, please comment on each item and offer suggestions etc. If you want to add another item please comment to this post.

The posts for the online meeting are:

1. Race Categories and Movement
2. Online Registration
3. Documentation 
4. Promotion
5. Participation Series

Race Categories and Movement

Riders who raced well enough to move to the next competitive category will be contacted and asked to register in that category. Also, this year we'll have an Elite category as enough racers have been identified to make this category viable.

Online Registration

This item is added to the February Online meeting agenda - we need to follow through on the option for online registration. Last year we agreed to have online registration for the Cup series: $25 for individual races and $100 for the series (the money collected for the series would be split evenly among all the organizing clubs). We'll also have online registration available for all the other mountain bike events. We'll find out what the set up costs for this would be and come up with a time line for clubs to submit the costs of their events, and appropriate contact information.

February Online Meeting

Three items are posted below for the February meeting. Each item is its own post, please comment on each item and offer suggestions etc. If you want to add another item please comment to this post.

The posts for the online meeting are:

1. Documentation 
2. Promotion
3. Participation Series

Documentation

Make sure that all the following MTB documentation is up-to-date and ready for publication by the end of February, this includes:

• Race organizer's manual
• Racer information package (to come shortly)
• Enduro rules
• Cup points

Promotion

Promotion of the MTB season:

1. Print 11"X17" posters listing the MTB schedule and distribute to shops and recreational centres (based on last year's design by Kevin). Distribute these posters by the beginning of March.
2. Follow the deadlines on the race information form
3. Have detailed "race bibles" for each event that can be distributed to websites (MCA) and blogs at least 2 weeks prior to the event
4. Agree that Cup results be distributed to media for publication. This will be the top three in each category, men and women. This is the responsibility of the race organizer.

Participation Series

The idea is create a participation series for mountain biking that is similar to the road and cyclocross series. These series reward participants with the opportunity to win prizes based on their participation in MCA sanctioned races. If we agree, the mountain bike participation series will be base on a similar set of rules as the road and cyclocross series.

The first order of business is to find sponsors who are willing to contribute prizes to this series. One suggestion is to have each club who is sponsoring a MTB race contribute a prize to the series; please indicate if your club is interested in contributing a prize

Participation Rules:

1. Participants must hold a full race license
2. There will be two category of prizes: 18+ and U17 (If Olympia put together a Chris King package it would not be quite right to see it go to 9 year old Stephanie to put on her pink "My L'il Pony" bike - having said that the kids deserve to have prizes as well).
3. Participants will have their name entered into the draw for prizes for every MCA sanctioned mountain bike race (Cup, enduro, downhill, event)
4. The draw for the prizes will take place at the MCA AGM 

 Clubs contributing to the series (to-date):

• Olympia Cycling Club

online meetings

How about one more kick at this cat (not a real cat because that would be cruel)?

In an effort to try and accommodate people's busy lives, travel restricitons (Dale, Greg, Pat), and the current difficulties in finding a meeting space I propose that we try the online meetings again. Here is one way that this could work:

1. We alternate between in-person and online meetings
2. Online meetings for 2010 are February, April, June, August, October, December
3. In-person meetings for 2010 are March, May, July, September, November
4. For each online meeting I will post a list of agenda items, each agenda item will then get its own post
5. Committee members can then comment on each post as a form of discussion
6. After a set time (say, 3 weeks) the comments will be closed and I will summarize what has been said, and if warranted, asking for a vote on some items in order to make a decision
7. If the online forum does not work, we can carry the item to the in-person meeting

In-person meeting will continue as they have in the past. One thing we need to decide is the preferred day to hold the in-person meeting. We've tried Mondays and Tuesdays, what is your preference.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

halATshawDOTca

Joint MTB Road Schedule

Here is the way we see it...

Date, Discipline -  Race -  Location - Organizer

April 25, Road - Spring Classic - Bruxelles, MB - Olympia
May 2, Road -  ITT - BH Park -  FOG
May 2, MTB - Cup #1 - Grand Beach - Olympia
May 4, Road - Tues Crit 1 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
May 8–9, Road - Woodcock Stage - BH Park - Woodcock
May 11, Road - Stage 3 Stage Race - Assiniboine Park - Woodcock
May 15, Road - Road Race - Darlingford - Lifesport
May 12, MTB - WNS #1 - Bur Oak - Olympia
May 16, MTB - Cup #2 - Brandon - BBC
May 18, Road - Tues Crit #2 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
May 25, Road - Tues Crit #3 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
June 1, Road - Tues Crit #4 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
June 6, MTB - Back 40 Enduro - Morden - Tinker
June 8, Road - Tues Crit #5 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
June 9, MTB - WNS #2 - Bur Oak - Olympia
June 13, MTB - Cup #3 & Downhill - Falcon - B&B
June 15, Road - Stony Crit - Stony Mountain - FOG
June 20, Road - PLP Double Header - Portage La Prairie - JYD
June 22, Road - Tues Crit #6 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
June 23, MTB - WNS #3 - Bur Oak - Olympia
June 26, MTB - Cup #4 - BAF Birch - JYD
June 29, Road - Tues Crit #7 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
July 4, MTB - Reach Beach Enduro - Grand Beach - Olympia
July 6, Road - Tues Crit #8 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
July 7, MTB - WNS #4 - Bur Oak - Olympia
July 11, MTB - Cup #5 - Swan River - TTT
July 13, Road - Tues Crit #9 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
July 17, MTB - Enduro - Pembina Valley - Training Coop
July 18, Road - ITT - Morden - Alter Ego
July 20, Road - Tues Crit #10 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
July 21, MTB - WNS #5 - Bur Oak - Olympia
July 25, Road - Prov. Road Race - Wawanessa, MB - MCA Road
July 25, MTB - 24 hr Enduro - Falcon - FGBC/Birch/RRR
July 27, Road - Tues Crit #11 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
Aug 1, Road - Road Race - TBA - Lifesport
Aug 3, Road - Tues Crit #12 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
Aug 4, MTB - WNS #6 - Bur Oak - Olympia
Aug 8, Road - Muddy Waters - TBA - FOG*
Aug 10, Road - Tues Crit #13 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
Aug 15, Road - Provincial ITT - BH Park - FOG
Aug 15, MTB - Alter 8 Enduro - Birch - Alter Ego
Aug 17, Road - Tues Crit #14 - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
Aug 22, Road - Provincial Crit - Broadway Ave - Woodcock
Aug 24, Road - Tues Crit #15 - Assiniboine - Park Prov Team
Aug 29, MTB - MTB Provincials - Falcon - MTB Committe
Aug 31, Road - The Finals - Assiniboine Park - Prov Team
Sep ?, MTB - Event - Sandilands - Body Driven
Sept 12, Cross - Belgian Supercross - Belgian Club Olympia
Sept 19, Cross - Wildwood - Wildwood - Woodcock
Sept 25, Cross - CMU Cross - CMU - FGBC
Sep 25, MTB - Fall Classic Event - Birch - JYD
Oct 3, Cross - Omands Creek - Training Coop
Oct 16, Cross - St.Malo, MB - Olympia
Oct 17, Cross - Southern Cross - Altona, MB - FGBC
Oct 24, Cross - Whittier Park - FOG
Oct 30, Cross - TBA - RRR
Nov 7, Cross - Cross Provincials - TBA - Woodcock

Women's Mountain Bike Committee Meeting - Rescheduled

Due to the weather on Monday, January 25th, we have rescheduled the Women's Mountain Bike Committee Meeting to Thursday, January 28th at 8pm.

Please email Jane Braun to let her know if you are attending.

Meeting location

Complete Mountain Bike Schedule - Almost Final Draft

This schedule includes the Wednesday Night Series at Bur Oak, any comments (comments are open now).

May 2 (Grand Beach - Olympia - Cup #1)
May 12 WNS #1 Bur Oak
May 16 (Brandon - BBC - Cup #2)
June 6 (Morden Back 40 - Tinker - Enduro #1)
June 9 WNS #2 Bur Oak
June 13 (Falcon - B&B - Downhill/Cup #3)
June 23 WNS #3 Bur Oak
June 26 (BAF/Birch - JYD - Cup #4)
July 4 (Reach the Beach - Olympia - Enduro #2)
July 7 WNS #4 Bur Oak
July 11 (Swan River - TTT - Cup #5)
July 17 (A Rocha Pembina Valley - Training Coop - Enduro/MTB Event)
July 21 WNS #5 Bur Oak
July 25 (Falcon - FGBC/Birch/RRR - 24hr Enduro #3)
Aug 4 WNS #6 Bur Oak
Aug 15 (Birch - Alter Ego - Enduro #4)
Aug 29 (Falcon? - MCA MTB - Provincials)
Sep ? (Sandilands - Body Driven - Event)
Sep 25 (Fall Classic - JYD - Event)

Race Organizer's Meeting

Here is the list of proposed race dates, events and organizers. We will go over this at 9:30 on Saturday

May 2 (Grand Beach - Olympia - Cup #1)
May 16 (Brandon - BBC - Cup #2)
June 6 (Morden Back 40 - Tinker - Enduro #1)
June 13 (Falcon - B&B/Woodcock - Downhill/Cup #3)
June 27 (BAF/Birch - JYD - Cup #4)
July 4 (Reach the Beach - Olympia - Enduro #2)
July 11 (Swan River - TTT - Cup #5)
July 18 (Morden area - Training Coop - Event)
July 25 (Falcon - FGBC/Birch/RRR - 24hr Enduro #3)
Aug 15 (Birch/Assissippi? - Alter Ego - Enduro #4)
Aug 29 (Falcon - MCA MTB - Provincials)

Other items I would like to discuss:

1. Participation Series
2. Promotion

Following the race organizer's meeting there will be a joint meeting for the road and mountain bike organizer's where we will cover the following items:

Agenda:

• 9:30 - 10:30 MTB committee meets to finalize its dates and to discuss participation series and promotion
•  10:30 - 12:30 (or sooner) joint meeting with Road to cover the following items:

1. Setting the 2010 race schedule
   
2. Goals and Objectives - races as events, better organization, professionalism
3. Emergency Preparedness Plan
4. Race Organizer Information Form
5. Promotion - how the MCA can facilitate the promotion of your event (website, news releases through the MCA office?)
6. Posting Results
7. Insurance - what is covered and what is not
8. Commissaire training and First Aid

How to get to the meeting:

The location of the meeting will be the Neil John Maclean Health Science Library, located on the mezzanine level of the Brodie Centre, 727 McDermot Avenue.

There are two parkades plus street parking available at the library: one off of Emily St and one off of Techumseh St, the Emily Street Parkade would be the best choice. There should be plenty of parking available on the 16th.

To get to the library enter through the doors of the Brodie Centre and go to the mezzanine level (stairs and elevators are to your left just past the bookstore. We will be meeting in the Ross Computer Lab, located on the main floor of the library. In case you are going to be late or you get lost you can call me on my cell at 299-5872.

Here are some maps: U of M map / Google Maps

Women's Mountain Bike Meeting - January 25th, 7:30pm

The MCA Mountain Bike committee would like to get the input of more female riders and racers for the upcoming 2010 season, on how to keep racing competitive and enjoyable for all levels of female racers. We will be discussing the current categories, the race day experience as well as the retention of female racers. We will hopefully also have time for any other comments and concerns.

You do not have to be a racer to participate; past racers, juniors, current racers - the only requirements are being female and coming with a constructive attitude.

We will try to keep the meeting to two hours or less. The feedback will be presented to the MTB committee to help them make some important decisions for the coming season.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 PM, Monday, January 25th at the home of Jane and Kevin Braun. 1140 Lee Blvd. Winnipeg -  255-3245
Refreshments will be served.

If you do not have time to attend, please feel free to forward any feedback to info(AT)elementbdesign.com

Sincerely,
Kevin Braun